Chapter Four

CHAPTER FOUR \ \ CHAPTER IV SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROFILE OF THE STUDY AREA 4.1 Introduction : With a broad survey of reports regarding the working of the RRBs in India, the study moves over to investigations of the progress of the AJGB with the ground realities. It becomes neces sary to understand the socio-economic environment of the dis tricts under study before studying the micro level aspects of the selected blocks. The reports of the various committees have been ana lysed and commented upon in the previous chapter. It may be remarked here that, the different committees have opined in dif ferent ways. To evaluate such views it becomes necessary to study the working of the RRBs based on primary observations. It is already mentioned in the first chapter that the AJGB as one of the RRBs in Maharashtra is selected for the study. The present chapter aims at providing the background for an indepth study of the AJGB. The background sketches the demographic and socio economic profile of the two districts also. The socio-economic environment of the two districts gives an idea of the available agricultural and man-power assets in the districts. Furthermore the micro level study of the socio economic environment of these selected blocks from the study area, is quite relevant for understanding the working of the RRB. 101 Thus t-he present chapter mainly deals with brief history, physio graphic and demographic features of the districts. In addition to this socio-economic characters of the three blocks selected for primary observations have also been incorporated in this chapter. 4.2 A Brief History Of The Districts : The Aurangabad district is known as Aurangabad after the name of the district headquarters at Aurangabad. It was founded on the site of a village called Khirki in 1610 by Malik Amber, Prime Minister of Murtaza Nazim Shah II. After his death in 1626, the name was changed to Fatehpur by his son Fateh Khan who succeeded him as Prime Minister. When Aurangzeb invaded the Deccan in the year 1653, he made Fathepur his capital and changed the name to Aurangabad. Since then, the place has come to be known as Aurangabad. More than a third of the district was a jagir area under the Nazim’s regime. The Nazam’s own state was called "Sarf-e-khas" which along with the Government area in 1949. Aurangabad district was formerely included in the Hydrabad State with the reorganisation of states in 1956, the district was transferred from Hydrabad state to Bombay State. Since 1st May L960, it has become a part of Maharashtra. Now the Aurangabad district comprises of 8 blocks. Aurangabad is the Division Head Quarters for Marathwada Revenue Division and is also an important 1 National-International Tourist Center. L. Census Of India.1981.District Census Handbook Aurangabad.?. 9. 102 On the eve of the Maharashtra day of 1981, following the reorganisation of districts and blocks in the state, Jalna District came into existence. Initially it had 5 blocks vi2 . Jalna, Bhokerdan, Jafrabad, Partur and Ambad, Keeping in view the Administrative convenience the 3 blocks, vi2 . Jalna, Ambad and Partur were further bifurcated to form additional three blocks viz. Badnapur, Ghansawangi and Mantha. This structural change was effected on 15th August, 1993. Jalna is the smallest district in the Marathwada region. 4.3 Location, Boundaries And Area Of The Districts : The major part of the Aurangabad district falls in Godavari basin, only a small portion in the north and north-west beyond the Satmala hills lies in Tapi basin. The global position 0 of the district can be explained in terms of area between 19 18 0 and 20 40 east longitudes. It is roughly triangular in shape as shown in Map No. 1 on page no. 105. The southern side correspond ing to the Godavari river and the Northern side to the northeast trending arm of the Ajantha ranges, which themselves form the natural boundaries of the district. The district is bounded by the Jalgaon district in the North, Buldhana and Parabhani in the East, Bid in the south and Nasik and Ahmednagar in the west. 2 Aurangabad district covers an area of 10107 K.M. 103 Table 4.1 Demographic Features Of The Aurangabad And Jalna Districts Sr. No. Particulars Maharashtra Aurangabad Jalna 01. Gross Area Sq.km. 3,07,690 10107 773 02. Total Population (1991) 78,706,719 2,209,052 1,364,718 Male 40,652,056 1,146,889 696,855 Female 38,054,663 1,062,163 667,863 03. Decennial Growth Rate For 25.36 39.30 32.47 1981-91(ln Percentage) 04, Density Of Population 256 219 179 05. Sex Ratio 934 922 958 06. Percentage Of Literacy 64.9 56.48 46.25 07. Percent Scheduled Cast 11.1 13.79 12.93 Percent Scheduled Tribe 9.3 3.77 2.07 08. No. Of Villages 41833 1959 915 09. No. Of Towns - 10 04 10. Literate Male Per 100- - 201 249 Literate Females (1991) 1 1 . Female Literacy Range - 30 to 40 Less- For 1991 ( in percent ) than 30 L2. Total Workers 33,737,036 946,928 657,443 Rural 23,872,005 737,892 589,252 (77.9 X) (89.6 X) Urban 9,856,031 209,036 68,191 (22.1 X) (10.4 %) 13. Work Participation Rate 42.84 45.86 48.25 Source : Census Of India 1991, Series 14, Maharashtra : Provisional Population Tables 104 Location map of the Aurangabad and Jalna Districts 105 0 Absolute location of the Jalna district is 19 15 to 0 0 ’ 0 20 32 north latitudes, and 75 36 to 76 45 east longitudes. It is surrounded by the Jalgaon district from the northern and the Buldhana and Parbhani districts from the eastern sides. On the southern there is the Beed district and at its west there is the Aurangabad district. The total area of the Jalan district is 2 273 K.M. 4.4 Physiography : 4.4.1 Relief : The study area lies on Maharashtra Plateau, the northern part of the study area is marked by the AJantha and Sathmala hills, dissected by the branches of Purna and Dhudhna Rivers. The southern part of both the districts is comparatively a plain region, in the vicinity of the river Godavari. The blocks selected for micro level studies have three different physio graphic categories. Vaijapur block is distinctly a plain and dry region. The Aurangabad block is a partly hilly and a partly plain region. In the Sillod block offshoots of AJantha ranges and tributaries of Dhudhna river offer advantages for construction of minor irrigation projects. Furthermore, the ground water resource is also comparatively good in this block. 4.4.2 Climate : Except for the southwest monsoon period the climate of both the districts is generally dry but pleasant and agreeable during the greater part of the year. Periodically, the climate year can be classified into three seasons. 1 0 6 tl} Moderately warm wet season from June to September. C2J Cool dry season from October to February. C3J Hot dry season from March to May. Minimum temperature in both the districts is in Janu- 0 ary. ( 1 5 C ). In rainy season the temperature normally ranges 0 0 between 20 C to 30 C. May is the hottest month in which maximum 0 temperature rises as high as 41 C. During summer the days are hot and nights are fairly cool. In winter, night cooling is fairly intense, leading to a formation of dew. This has been considered as a supplementary water resource for rabbi cultiva tion. The south-west monsoon is responsible for the rains. The variability of rainfall is very high, due to prevalence of dryness diurnal range of temperature is high. It is reflected in the fact that the probability of getting assured and timely rainfall is quite low. According to the fact-finding committee of the State Government of Maharashtra (1973) the major portion of the districts lies in the drought prone zone. In both the dis tricts the average rainfall ranges between 600 mm to 800 mm. In the span of about every three years both the districts generally experience scarcity of rains. 4,4.3 Soil : The soil of both the districts is black cotton ( clay ) soil, which is helpful for kharif and rabbi crops like cotton. 107 jawar, bajra, wheat, groundnut,, sunflower and pulses. The soil can be classified as light, medium and heavy according to its texture and depth. In the Aurangabad district, particularly in the southern blocks, and along the river banks the soil is deep black and very fertile. The soil along the river banks in the Jalna district, especially in Ambad and Partur blocks is deep black and quite fertile, while in the Aurangabad district in the northern and western portions is hilly and rocky where soil is shallow and poor. Similar types of soils are observed in northern parts of the Jalna district i.e. in Jalna, Bhokardhan and Jafra- bad blocks. The broad view of physiographich characteristics of the study area suggests that the area is poor in physiographic resources. It is obvious that the study area must get erogenic support so far as water resources are concerned. In addition, the techniques of management of these resources must be improved. The scope of such improvement may be understood with the help of the knowledge of demographic and socio-economic features of the study area. 4.5 Demographic And Socio-economic Features : Some basic statistics indicating broad demographic features of the two districts along with the state are mentioned in Table 4.1.

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