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CENSUS OF 1971

SEalES 22 WIrB'I BENGAL

Part I·A General Report

BHASKAR GHOSE

OF THE INDIAN ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE DIRECToR OF CENSUS OPERATIONS , CONTENTS

PII,. No,. PREFACE I

CHAPTBR.S

I General R.eport 1-5 . II Size, Distribution and Density of Population 6-39

III Growth of Population 40-.55 IV Rural and Urban Population 56-160 V Sex Ratio and Age Structure 161-195 VI Literacy 196-232 VII Mother Tongue 233-255 VIII Religion 257-281

IX Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Population 182-333

PREFACE

It is the tradition of Indian Census that a leneral report on each decennial cen'lls is published for every state. The present volume, Part I-A: General Report, follows the tradition and presents a very broa. analysis of the demographic trend in West Bengal as rerIected in the data thrown up by the census of 1971. Topics such as size, distribution and density of population, Ifowth of population, distribution of population in tbe rural and urban areas, urbanisation, sex ratio and age structure, etc. have beea discussed in this volume. In preparing the report I have followed the pideliaes set by the Regiltrar General of India. The conclusions and observations are of course mine and do not in any way reBect the views of the Government. The report is in very general terms and has no claim to orilin.lity.

I am srateful to Shri B. Ohose. Director of Census Operations, West Bertpl for sivina me the opportunity to write out the report and also for allowing me to draw on the draft of one or two chapt.. which he himself prepared but could not finalise due to other pressing preoccupations. I am allO thankful to Shri R. B. Chari, Registrar General and Shri K.K. Chakraborty, Assistant Registrar General for tbrir kind guidance and help. The Registrar General took the trouble of going through the draft or • few chapters of the report personally and suggesting aome important changes. My Irateful thanka are also due to Shri P. Padmanabha, the present Registrar General for'1he valuable suggestions and guidance.

The publication could not have been possibJe but for the wholehearted labour put in by the entire cen~us organisation. I am grateful to all member. of the stafC of the Census Directorate.. I would, however, like to place on record my thanks for the unfailing a9sistance which I had from Shri Manindra Nath Sarkar, Investigator, Shri Kamalesh Dhani, Computor, Smt. Nira Chakraborty, Smt. Mira Banerjee, Smt. Krishna Chowdhury, Smt. Dolly Roy and other Assistant Compilers of the Central Tabulation Unit. They worked hard for long periods in preparing the statements included in the report for ensuring accuracy of the data. Shri Kalyan Kumar Datta. Senior Technical Assistant, Smt. Dipti Rudra, Stenographer. Sm'. Shila Chakraborty and Smt. Suniti Sharma, Lower Division Assistants worked hard in finalising and typing the manuscript. Shri Sukumar Sinha, Oeputy Director helped me with valuable suggestions on varioul topics. Shri Dipanlcar Sen, Inve~tig.tor tOlk keen intere~t to ma.ke the mlnuscript ready for the press.

The data on which the report is based were checked and rechocked in the office of the Directorate of Census Operations. West Bengal, and the Registrar General, India. The comments and oonclusions are or course mine and mistakes which may. have crept in the report are also my responsibility. . I will conlider my efforts emply rewarded if the volume evokes some interest in tbe readers in the cenlus data Which are a unique wealth of information.

CALCV1TA, M.e. DATTA 1, NOVEMBER. J977 Deputy Dlr~ctD' of C"'IIU OP~'llllo. Welt Be",o/

ChapterJ GENERAL· ·llEPORT

I Dtrodaetory oen~us had to be taken. SiDee it bact ,to be to., tbe most opportune period' mthat dUBou1t: period Thi, rlCport presents the basic demographic, had to be chosen. The only coune wa. to 84val1ce . social and economic characteristics of the population the enumeration to a compar.tiv~r • .rer. period aiUS of the W~st Bengal as revealed by the census of this was done. The revisional touad· on,.... ,that 1971. It covers the following features : size, distribu­ the population nguaes were corrected' .:with reterence tion, density and growth rate of population; i~s rural to the same date all over the cOUIlUy.. It c.allot 'be and urban break-up, sex ratio and age structure; said tha t this was the best arran.cm.cnt•.. but· it ,·w•• literacy; mother tongues spoken in the state; religion; the only one possible. the demographic features of the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes; and the distribution of The 1971 census set-up in West Ben.al 'Was population by main economic activity. Some other almost the same as in 1961. Eaeh District·Magi.tr.lte characteristics will be covered in the second palt of was appointed a district ·census ofBcer and· charged the report to be. publisl ed later. These are, age and with the respO'ftsibility of tui])S the cen_us in h.is marital status; educational levels; migration; detailed district. One of the officers ott seneral duty • the . classification of workers and non-workers. district headquarters who belonged to the West The census of West BengaJ was taken over a Bengal Civil Service or the West Bengal Junior Civil period which extended from 19 February to 28 Service was designated as offiter-in-charge of ceIl.US February, 1971. The figures were revised in the for the district It was the oflicel'"'in-charge who field from 1 to 3 April to ascertain the population orga.nised the entire census operations in the district as it was on 1 April, 1971. this rather disjoined under the over-all ,control and guidanoe of the programme became necessary owing to the elections District Magistrate. which were held on 10 March, 1971. In the rest of the country the enumeration period was commenced A similar organization was set up in the sub.. on 10 Ma.rch, ]971. In West Bengal, the enumera­ divisions with· the sub-divisional oftic~rs beins tion was advanced and was comple.ted well before appointed sub-divisional census officers and one of the ge.neral elections. The revisiona! round from 1 the officers on general duty being appointed officer­ to 3 April was, however, held along with the rest of in-charge of census of each sub-division. The vari­ the country so that the population figures were ous development blocks which go to make up the corrected to refer to the same date throughout sub-division were constituted into census charges, India. and each block development oBicer was desipated census charge superintendent for his charBe~ At It js necessary to record here why West Bengal's this point, tbe identity with revenue and admhds­ enumeration prqgramme differed from that of the tration bounda.ries ceased. Each charge was d,ivided rest..of the country. The reader will remember that into a· number of censUs circle. and a local official 1910 was a highly disturbed period in West Bengal such 'as an anchal pradban or a viUale social .and' the maintenance of public peace and security wOrker was appointed circle supervisor. Each \VIS the ,prj~ary concern of the authorities. The circle was made up of fiv·e or· more enumeration tAkiug 01\.a c~sus was, ~ethapa, the last thing ,they, .. ~lock$, which constituted ,the basic censu, .uni~ in ~I'ould ,.hav.e· att~mpted. For various re.sons it 'tdt.ms of ter~tory add pOl)uJation~ An enumeratJon .. ~o:uld ~t. ·be .pC)$tponed. : The: .,round work had .:," 't,l(tcic '. WSs co1:ermmolls·· with a f..even.ue villi" or Tti~ pl'9ared. ,A. {J~n,,,., is .an ,csacntially all-lnclia mc;;uza, provided the population was not Jready in i"~tati~ .'1l~. t(t a~~~hllc ...•..~ ~•• te·. fro·m· ~t wovld ixcess o·f 750 perIOn.. . .If it was Ifluch. biqc:r. tb. "J~!*> ~d .;10 ',,;~ilution ,of :the.. .~.JltY· or· th~; cen.us tba.:t, .the mouza· ",,$ dh~ided into &. numb., Qt,lIlu"· Y'., a )\I~~~.~ : F:~Jhi8.. alld"iO,tt.e( 'y~Ud' r,edOl1S tb#· • meratlol1 bl'ocks ot.ui"~lc ··site1 .· The',pP"'lIm~fe •. 2 population of each block was ascertained at the filling up the schedules in a number of training time of houselisting, which was an operation classes as well as practical classes in the field. The conducted towards the end of 1970 and has been advancing of the census enumeration programme described in detail in the housing report. An meant that the training had in some places to be enumerator was appointed for each census block. necessarily hurried through and, while every effort They were usually primary school teachers but in was made to give the enumerators a clear idea of several places local young men had to be appointed the work to be done and the concepts involved, in since some primary school teachers refused to do some places there were deficiencies in this respect. the work. The enumerator was a voluntary worker After the enumeration and the revisional round, in the sense that he was persuaded to do the work popUlation totals were collected in abstracts and without any remuneration except an honorarium. communicated to the district offices by the lower In fact, all the census officers from the district level echelons on the basis of which provisional' district downwards did their work on an honorary basis. totals were sent to the Registrar General of India and the state census office. Paper No. 1 of 1971, The urban areas, Le., cities and towns (exclud­ Provisional Population Totals, was brought out a ing Calcutta city which is dealt with later on) and month after the enumeration so that a first glimpse those areas which were declared to be urban though of the characteristics of the population was available they did not have the status of a municipal town, to the public. . The actual schedules were despatch­ were constituted into census charges if the popula­ ed to eight regional tabulation offices set up in the tion of an urban area was roughly 80,000. .If the state in , Suri, , Chandernagore, population was greatly in excess of 80,000 it was and iri Calcutta, where a portion of the constituted into as many charges as contained detailed tabulation of the data was done. This roughly that number or into charges of equal size. book presents the result of the work done in these An attempt was made to make census circles con­ offices form to municipal ward,s though it was not always possible owing to the size of the words. Each The enumerators were trained to fill in four .circle was divided into enumeration blocks, in each schedules. These were the individual slip which of which the population was about 600. Enumer­ contained the basic demographic, social and econo­ tors were appointed in each block mainly from mic data for each individual in the state; the among local young men and primary school population record, in which some details regarding teachers, in that order. The refusal by primary each household were recorded separately; the enu­ school teachers to do census work was more wide­ merator's daily posting statement in which, again, spread in the urban areas of the state. Where there some selected items were noted separately for maJes were no ward boundaries, a circle was constituted and females; and the enumerator's abstract which on the basis of convenience, each covering about 7 contained the totals struck by the enumerator at the or 8 enumeration blocks. Where the urban areas end of his work. While the Provisional Population were relatively smaller. the block development Totals (Paper No. 1 of 1971) related to the figures officer was made census charge superintendent of recorded in the abstract, the final figures presented the town or urban area in addition to being charge in the census volumes and in this report are based superintendent for his own development block. In on the tabulation of the data contained in the in .. cities, there was a town census officer who was dividual slips. usually the chairman of the , assisted by The items on which this report has been written an officer drawn from the administration who actu­ were tabulated in the tabulation offices on a 100 per ally built up the organisation and conducted the cent basis, i.e., all the slips were tabuhl.ted to arrive operations. Circle supervisers were drawn from at the final totals. After this operation, which con­ the ranks of civil defence wardens or local non­ cluded with the preparation of the primary census officials such as ward commissioners or government abstract which is available in Part IlA of the census officers. On the eve of the census, the organisation publications series -General Population Totals-a consistt!d of charge superintendents, circle super­ visiors and enumerators. 20 per cent sample was taken from the urban slips. These sample slips were coded, punched and taped. This army of census workers was trained as in­ These tapes were fed into the computer in the tensively as it was possible in the concepts and in Registrar General's Office, from where more detailed 3 tables have been prepared. Simultaneously, a ten The urban areas of the state have been divided percent sample of the rural slips was taken and into three categories: cities, municipal towns (which tables were prepared. But unlike the urban slips include towns under town committees) and non­ they were not computerised. Tables were prepared municipal urban areas. All urban areas under a manually in the regional tabulation offices. unified civic set up which have a popUlation of more than 100,000 have been categorised as cities. The The State state has .15 cities, namely Calcutta. , , , , South , West Bengal was carved out of the province of Garden Reach and South Suburban in Twenty-four Bengal when India was partitioned and had an area Parganas district; in ; of 30,775.3 square miles. In 1949, the state of in ; HooShly-Chinsurah was added to it and in 1956 some por­ and in ; and Asan601, tions of PUfnia and districts of Burdwan and in Burdwan district. were added. The portions from district were added to the newly formed district of West Dinajpur Other. urban areas under a unified CIVJC and the Purulia sub-division of Manbhum became administration whose boundaries have been notified . The additions to the state have been by the government of West Bengal have been cate­ set out in detail in the report of' the 1961 census. gorised as municipal towns. There are, in this state, With these additions, the area of the state now is 82 or town committees. excluding the 87.853 km::. Since then there have been no major cities listed above. additions or alterations to the state or district boun­ daries. A few minor changes, involving the addition The other urban areas have been treated as and of a mouza or two from one police station to an­ calied towns although they do not have any inde­ other or division of a mouza into two or more parts pendent civic administration. These are, in some have been effected, and a few new police stations cases, townships whicb bave been set up by a large have been created out of existing police stations. industrial concern such as J.K. Nager, Chittaranjan or Farakka. Others are either outgrowths of West Bengal now consists of three revenue d ivi­ existing municipal towns or urban areas which have sions. division consists of the districts of sprung up recently owing to a number of factors. Jalpaiguri, , Cooch Behar, MaIda and They were identified for the purposes of the census West Dinajpur with headquarters at Jalpaiguri; by applying a set of four criteria. The density consists of the districts of had to be more than 386 per sq. km, the popula­ Hooghly, Burdwan, Midnapore, Purulia, tion had to be more than 5,000; 75 per cent of the and Birbhum with the headquarters at Chinsurah; male working force had to be engaged in non­ and consists of the districts of agricultural pursuits; and tbe Directors of Census , Nadia, Twenty-four Parganas and Operations had to satisfy himself that it was an Howrah, with headquarters in Calcutta city. urban area.

Each d.istrict is divided into a number of sub­ The city of Calcutta divisions, which, in turn, consist of a number of police stations. A police station is considered the The status of the city of Calcutta needs to be basic unit of administration wbose boundaries have considered separately. Calcutta began as a com­ been strictly defined by the Directorate of Land mercial settlement; its area was bounded by the Records and SUlveys and the Home (Police) Depart­ on the west and the immense curve ment by notification. Census data are, therefore, of the Maratha ditch which was dug to protect the presented according to police stations. Presentation settlement from the depredations of the Maratbas according to any other unit such as development and which was later filled up and became the blocks was not practical as their boundaries were ~ourse of the Upper and Lower Circular Roads. not as strictly demarcated. Police stations consist of The town was surrounded on the north, east and a number of villages or revenue mouzas the boun­ south by the Twenty-four Parganas, which was the daries of which have demarcated by the Directorate zamindary given to Robert Clive and later became, of Land Records and Surveys. with a few changes, a revenue district. 4

With the years, the city spread outwards to the first to be typically flat agricultural districts but north, south and east, beyond the circular roads. there are certain differences between these districts The 1irst municipal corporation of Calcutta was set and the districts south of the Ganga. The diffe­ up in 1727. Its jurisdiction was ex.tended from rence is greatest in the northern areas, where villages time to time to keep pace with the expanding city. as they are commonly understood, are not usual; Mean while urban centres sprang up on either side houses are scattered across the fields with a little of the river to the north and south of the city and hat or a market which is held twice or thrice in a these were duly constituted into municipalities~ week providing commercial focal points. These as and when it was considered necessary. areas are laced with rivers slower than those further north near the foothi1ls, less green and less noisy, Really speaking, the urban spread to the north since the boulders and stones which form their beds and south of the city of Calcutta is one unbroken in the are embedded in the silt which the drop giant metropolitan area : demographically and in speed precipitates, yet equally unpredictable; economically it is a single entity and deserves to be there are floods, when the rivers rise, often in a few treated as such. As things stand, however, the dis­ hours and submerge the countryside for miles around; trict boundaries must be accepted by the census as equally quickly the waters recede, often leaving the presentation of data is on the basis of the dis­ behind valuable deposit of loam (paJi mati). West tricts and their constituent units. these being the Dinajpur and MaIda districts also have their share only really accurately demarcated territorial units. of rivers but these arc not as unprcdict:tblc; here The existence of the corporation of Calcutta outside the soil is softer and the bnd more fertile. the boundaries of revenue districts results therefore In the presentation of data for Calcutta city as if The river Ganga cuts the state into two and it was a separate district, which it ;s not officially. used to be a formidable physical barrier till the construction of the Farakka barrage, which meant a West Bengal is the only state in India which direct road and rail I ink across the barrage between has the Himalayas marching across its northern the northern and southern regions of the state. Jt boundaries and the sea washing the southern reaches, will be of immense benefit to the hitherto rather and is yet one of about the smallest states in terms backward northern districts. of size, with an area of 88,000 sq. km. Consequen­ tly, the variety in its physical features is consider­ The southern portion of West Bengal can be con­ able. Other has conditioned the economic and veniently grouped into three regions: the districts of demographic characteristics of the state. In the Murshidabad, Nadia and Twenty four Parganas which north, there is the district of Darjeeling; a large adjoin or centre on the Bhagirathi can be taken as' portion of th is district consists of the first ranges one region though the-ir appearance is not always the of the Himalayas. On its steep slopes, often same. Journeying from Murshidabad southwards one covered with forest. and in the narrow valleys, passes through regions which are undoubtedly fertile, life is moulded to 11t these d )minant physical fea­ but dusty, with relatively few trees and occasional, tures; agriculture, h(>us~ construction, social habits gentle undulations of land. As one passes through and customs are peculiar to tile area, with marked , one finds that the landscape is more differences from living patterns a few miles away, wooded; there are more ponds and dobas. The d strict in the plains. The remaining portion of the district, of 24~Parganas is definitely greener, with more trees viz., Siliguri sub-division and the district of JaJpai­ and the beginnings of the palm trees which become gud cover the Terai region in this state, which common as one approaches the sea. In the southern cons ~ sts of the f,)othllls covered with forests, tea arcas of the Twenty four Parganas district there are gardens and several rivers and streams which emerge broad, twisting riveers and if one fonows them one from the mountains s()metimes as noisy streams comes finally to the Sunderbans, consisting of mang­ spbshin'~ over .boulderstrewn beds, and som~times roves and swamps where the high tide covers the in­ as br Jad rivers which wind their way across the numerable islands. As the tide recedes, the isJands plains i.nt)t Bangladesh. The southern pe>rlions of emerge covered with thick slime and mud. The salinity Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar, together with M.alda of the water is so great that only the most hardy of and West Din3jpur further to the s::>uth, appear at plants survive. Tutning westward one comes up 5

.against the giant m'!tro?Jlitan area or Calcutta. This the benefits of the crash programme for development, spreads over four districts -Howarh. Twenty four all of whom are land owner:), and the landless and Parganas, Hooghly and Nldia. Olle of the biggest thole with uneconomic holdings whose conditions urban centres of the world, it is certainly one of the have remained stagnant or become worse. The Wes­ most densely populakd, This is the centre for heavy tern area of the district holds the key, in a way, engineering industries, the jute industry, the main to the future of West Bengal. For here the develop­ market for tea and all of these have grown up around ing cities of Durgapur and have heJped to the port which still handles the bulk of the country's build an industrial region; a large number of indus­ exports. All these important functions have not, trial units have already moved in and more are however, brought prosperity to the metropolitan planning to do so. It is obvious that the area bet­ area; it consists mainly of endless miles of narrow ween Durgapur and Asansol will beeome heavily Janes and bylanes~ dank, broken-down houses, streets industrialised, which is as it should be, because the chocked with traffic and litter, roads broken and area is very poor from the agricultural point of view. pilted, dimly lit a night, and dismal, rundown shops. Apart from th is, the coal mines in the a.rea and the What is staggering about the area is its size and the power potential of the DVe would provide readily tentacles which it has flung far into the adjoining available energy for industry. The communication ,areas. One has to travel a considerable distance to network is also extensive. On either side of this the west before one can finally leave behind all industrial area Jie the unduJating red laterite downs traces of this giant metropolis. When one does, one of Birbhum, Bankura and Purulia. This again is~ finds the countryside green and lush, with an order- from the scenic point of view one of the most attrac­ 1iness and beauty which hides one of the biggest afflic­ tive regions in the state, with gentle roJling downs tions that the area suffers from, viz, the lack of often dotted with trees and little hamlets, streams drainage. Accumulated rain and flood water cannot and rivers and patches of forest. The area also in­ Hnd an outlet in large stretches and form immense cludes the western portion of Midnapore district swamps out of normally land, resulting in damage with its forests and the sub-division of . to (,~rop,:) and misery to the people living in the area. Economically the region is backward although the This area, which one can call the Damodar drainage Mauyrakshi project has helped Birbhum to a consi­ basin, stretches from the western reaches of Howrah derable extent. Great hope is placed in the Kang­ district and includes the eastern portion of Midna­ sabati project whi<.~h is expected to bring prosperity to pore district, almos' all the rural areas of Hooghly the poverty-striken peasants of Bankura and perhaps district and the south-eastern areas of Burdwan dis­ a few areas of Purulia. Purulia is the western-most trict. Burdwan is a district which combines typical district in the state. It is also thc poorest. Water is rural areas like the sub-division of Kalna and scarce and the soil does not permit the djgging of with the newly emerging industria] complexes in tubewells. Cultivation, therefore, is not as wide­ Durgapur and Asansol. The fertility and general spread as it could be and large areas are barren and productivity of the land has made Burdwan qualify treeless. Jt is nevertheless a centre of some of the to be included in the programme for intensive agri­ better known handicrafts of the state and its proxi­ cultural development. This has undoubtedly hclped mity to the -Ranchi industrial area on the a great many farmers. But equally clearly, it has west and Asansol in t h.e north could be of great increased disparities between those who have reaped benefit to the state. Cbapter II

" SIZE, DISTRIBUTION AND DENSITY OF POPULATION

On 1 April. 1971 the population of West Bengal the states and union territories in terms of size of was 44,312,011, consisting of 23,435,987 males and population and 'contributed 8.090/0 of the' country's 20,876,024 females. This was 26.87 per cent above population which was 548,159,652 as on 1 April, the 1961 figure of 34,926,279. Of the total popu­ ]971. lation counted 33,344,978 or 75.25 % lived in the Statement II. I shows the area and population of rural areas and 10,967,033 or 24.75%) resided in the the states and union territories and their proportions towns and cities. West Bengal ranked 4th among to the total area and popu'Jation of the country.

STATEMENT 11.1

Populaticn and area of s.ates and union territoritS, 1971

Parcentage of Area Rank Percentag of Rank in India's Unit (Km!) in area area of India Population population population

-,-, ... -.~.-.-... --...... ,-----~ .. -.-.--.----- 2 3 4 5 6 7

INDIA 3,287,782 100 548,159,652 100 States Andhra Pradesh 276,814 5 8.42 43,502,708 5 7.94

Assam 99,610 12 3.03 14,957,542 13 2.73

Bihar 173.876 9 5.29 56,353.369 2 10.28

Gujarat 195,984 7 5.96 26,697,475 9 4.87 Haryana 44 .• 222 17 1.35 10,036,808 15 1.83

Himachal Pradesh 55,673 15 1.69 3,460..434 J8 0.63

Jammu & Kashmir 222,236 6 6.76 4,616,632 16 0.84

Kerala 38,864 18 1.18 21,,347,375 12 3.89

Madhya Pradesh 442,841 1 13.47 41,654,119 6 7.60

Maharashtra 307,762 3 9.36 50,412,235 3 9.30

Manipur 22.356 20 0.68 1,072,753 20 0.20

Maghalaya 22,489 19 0.68 1,Oll,699 21 0.18

Mysore 19],773 8 S.83 29,299,0]4 8 5.34 Nagaland 16,527 21 0.50 516,449 23 0.09 Orissa 155,782 10 4.74 21,944,615 11 4.00 6 7

STATEMENT 11.1

1 2 3 s 6 7

Punjab 50,362 16 1.53 13,551,060 14 2.47

~ajasthan 342,,214 2 10.41 25,765,806 10 4.70 Sikkim 7,299 24 0.22 209,843 27 0.04

Tamil Nadu 130,069 11 3.96 41,199,168 7 7.52 Tripura 10,477 22 0.32 1,556,342 19 0.28 Uttar Pradesh 294,413 4 8.96 88,341,144 1 16.12 WEST BENGAL 87,853 13 2.67 44,312.011 4 8.03 Union Territories Andaman & Nicober Islands 8,293 23 0.25 115,133 28 0.02 Arunachal Pradesh 83,578 14 2.54 467,511 25 0.09 Chandigarh ] ]4 29 Negligible 257,251 26 0.05 Dadra & Nagar Heveli 491 27 0.02 74,170 29 0.01 Delhi 1,485 26 0.05 4.065,698 17 0.74 Goa, Daman & Diu 3,813 25 0.12 857,771 22 0.16 Laccadive, Minicoy & Amindive Islands 32 30 Negligible 31.810 30 0.01 Pondicherry 480 28 O.OJ 471.707 24 0.09

West Bengal ranked 13th among the states in STATEMENT 11.2 area but 4th 10 terms of population in 1971. In Reference Area in Population 1961 the state ranked 5th in population and 14th in Country Year 1000 krn' (in million)

area. The first three places in terms of population 2 3 4 are retained In 1971 by Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and ------,INDIA 1971 3,288 Maharashtra, in this order, as in 1961. West Bengal 548.0 WEST BENGAL 1971 88 44.3 has moved up to the 4th place replacing Andhra Shri Lanka 1963 . 65 10.6 Pradesh which has come down to the 5th position. Napal J961 141 9.4 West Bengal's contribution to the total population Iran 1966 1,648 25.8 of the country has also gone up during the last Japan 1965 370 98.2 decade from 7.95% in 1961 to 8.09% in 1971. It is Republic of Korea 1966 98 29.2 significant that West Bengal occupies only 2.67% of Turkey 1965 780 31.3 the Indian territory but accommodates 8.09~/o of the PhiJJippjnc! 1960 300 27.0 population of the country. Madhya Pradesh, the lar­ Ghana 1960 238 6.7 Kenya gest state In the country, bears about the same 1969 582 10.8 Nigeria population (about a million less, in fact) as West 1963 923 55.7 Uganda 1969 236 Bengal in an area which is five times as big as West 9.5 United Arab Republic 1966 1,001 30.0 Bengal's. Sikkim, the latest addition to the states, Mexico 1970 1,972 48.3 has the smallest population of 209,843 in an area of U.S.A. 1969 9,363 179.3 7,299 kmlll. Brazil 1960 8,511 70.1 F.R.G. 1961 248 54.0 France ]968 547 Population In some selected countries-a comparjsoli 49.8 O.D.R. 1964 107 15.9 Spain 1960 S04 30.4 A comparison of West Bengal with a few selected U.K. 1961 244 $2.7 countries of the world' may not be out of place U.S.S.R. 1970 22,402 241.7 here. Australia 1966 7,686 11.S The population of West Bengal is close to and quarter of the popUlation of West Bengal. It has" of comparable with those of Mexico (4.8m), France course, to be noted that such comparison are hardly (4.9m) and U.K. (S.2m) in size. But a look at the area meaningful, for topography, conditions and character figures wm immediately point to the far greater bur­ of the soil, characteristics of the population and the den of population density which is tome by the state. economy differ widely from place to place. One The population of Mexico is almost equal to West significant point which emerg(S from the al:ove state­ Bengal's but the area of the former is more than 20 ment is that the population density in West Bengal times that of West Bengal. The decadal addition to is very high indeed and is higher than that of Japan the population of the state alone in 1961-71 was and Korea which are amongst the most densely popu­ close to the total population of countries like Nepal, lated countries of the world. Ghana and Uganda. The population of Australia (ll.5m) WR~ just about 2 mil1ion more than what Distribution of popUlation among districts, 1971 West Bengal added to its popUlation during the last decade 1961-71. Many of the underdeveloped and We may now turn our attention to the distribu­ developing countries of Asia and Africa also have to tion of the population, how the population is spread, bear lesser burdens of population than West Bengal. over the a\'ailable area in the state and how it has Tl1e Republic of Korea which is almost equal to West settled in the different administrative units. Bengal in area has to support a population which is smaller than that of the latter by 15 million. Sri Statement II.3 gives the distril::ution of the popu­ Lanka is about three-fourths of the state in area but lation among the districts of West Bengal. has a population of 10.6m only which is less than a

I STATEMENT 111.3 Distribution of pcpulation in districts, 1971

• Population Population of district as percentage of Area Percentage of "\ population of Units Krn 2 arca of state Persons Males Females State

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 '"--- WEST BENGAL 87853.0. 100.00 44,312,011 13,435,987 10,876,024 100.00 Darjeeling 3075.0 3.50 781,777 415,442 366,335 1.76 Jalpaiguri 6245.0 7.tt 1,750,159 927,707 822,452 3.95 Cooch Behar 3386.0 3.85 1,4J4,183 737,931 676,252 3.19 West Dinajpur 5206.0 5.93 ] ,859,887 967,937 891,050 4.20 Maida 3713.0 4.23 1,6.12,657 827,706 784,951 3.64 Murshidabad 5341.0 6.08 2,940,204 1,503,427 1,436,777 6.64 Nadia 3926.0 4.47 2,230.270 1,144,977 1,085,293 5.03 Twentyfour Parganas 13796.0 15.70 8,449,482 4,488,441 3,961,041 19.07 Howrah 1474.0 1.68 2,417,286 1,318,715 1,098,571 5.45 Calcutta 104.0 0.12 3.148,746 1,924,505 1,224,241 7.11 Hooghly 3145.0 3.58 2,872,116 1,514,874 1.357,242 6.48 Burdwan 7028.0 8.00 3,916,174 2.076,210 1,839,964 8.84 Birbhum 4550.0 5.18 1,775,909 902,441 873,468 4.01 Bankura 6881.0 7.83 2.031,039 1,037,267 993,772 4.58 Midnapore 13724.0 15.62 5,509,247 2,831,863 2,677,384 12.43 Purulia 6259.0 7.12 1,602,875 816,544 786,331 3.62 9

Twentyfour Parganas ranks first among the dis­ West Dillajpur and MaIda are all entirely agricultural tricts with a huge population of 8.45 million followed areas with only a few urban centres and comprise by Midnapur which has also a big population of over within them 11.03 % of the population of tbt state. 5 million. Twentyfour Parganas has the distinction of The five North Bengal districts together account for being the most populous district in the country. 1t ] 6.74 % of the population though they cover about has more people than the states of Himachal Pradesh 24.61 % of the area of West Bengal. and Jammu & Kashmir taken together. Darjeeling, the hill district in the northern extrem ity of the state, The central Gangetic plains stretching from Mur­ remains the least populated among the districts in shidabad to the sunderbans in the south and from 1971 as in 1961. It is the only district with Jess than Twentyfour Parganas to Burdwan in the west and a million people. comprising the districts of Murshidabad, Nadia, Twe­ ntyfour Parganas, Howrah, Calcutta, Hooghly and Nine of the districts, namely, Twentyfour Parganas, Rllrdwan are the most densely populated tract in the Midnapur, Burdwan, Calcutta, Murshidabad, Hooghly, state. The size of population in al1 the districts is far Howrah. Nadia and Bankura have retained their 1961 above t.he state average. The central tract contains ranking in terms of population and occupy the first as much as 58.62 % of the population of the statc. nine positions in this order in 1971 too. West Barring Murshidabad and Nadia which are almost Dinajpur which was 13th in 1961 has moved up to wholly dependent on agriculture, the rcgion is advan­ the 10th place replacing Purulia which has slided ced industrialy, almost the entire industrial investment down to the 14th position. in the state being concentrated in Calcutta and the surrounding districts as also in Burdwan. Hooghly The average population of a district in West and Burdwan again are two districts where agriculture Bengal was 2,769,500 in 1971. AJI the five districts is also quite advanced and thriv,ing because of the in the northern region of the state comprised in the irrigational facilities and the fertile soil. It is only JaJpaiguri division are below the average district in natural that the region should be one of the most size of population. The districts in the Presidency populous tracts of land not only in the state but in division which are all in the centraJ Gangetic plains the country as well. arc above the average except for Nadia and Howrah. Both Nadia and Howrah are small districts, the latter The western most districts of Birbhum, Bankura, being, in fad, the smal1est in the state in area besides PuruJia. and Midnapur constitute a region of relatively Calcutta, the city district. But they are, as will be sparse population. The districts ure elltjreJy agri­ seen presently, very densely populated areas. The cultural But vast areas of the region have laterite districts in the Burdwan division are relatively spar­ soil of low fertility and rains are relatively scarce sely populated except for Burdwan. Three of the making large tracts of the region (in Bankura, Purulia four districts in the western extremity, namely, Ban­ and part of M idnapur) prone to repeated draughts. kura, Birbhum and Pundia are below the average Irrigation faci]ities have also been marginal in the district in population. But Midnapore (5.509,247) area until recently. Agriculture has not, therefore, and Burdwan (3,916,174) are both far above the been so prosperous except in some areas in Birbhum average and happen to be the second and third most and M idnapur. The in-migrants from erstwhile East populous district in the state. Pakistan, too, seem to have avoided the region for settlement though they settled in sizeable numbers The distribution of population is naturaJly uneven in alJ olher districts of the state. Urbanisation has in the different geogra phical divisions of the state. also been too slow. The regioTl has, therefore, !n the Himalayan and sub-Himalayan region com­ remained as thinly populated as in the beginning of prising tl'e districts of Darjeeling and JaJpaiguri, the century except for the natural growth of popu­ population is sparse. As already stated, Darjeeling lation. In 1971 it accounted for about 35.76% of is the only district with less than a million peopJe. the area but only 24.f.4 of the popUlation of the Jalpaiguri has also a small population of 1. 75 million 'Yo state. only. The two districts together account for a rnl!l'e 5.71

STATEMENT II. 4 million per district followed by Tamil Nadu (2.9 milJion). Sikkim is at the bottom of the list with A.,era.e size of a district in the states, 1971 only 52,461 persons on an average for a district. In Average all the other major states except Kerala the average population population of a district does not exceed 2 million. size of a Even in Kerala where density of population exceeds Number of district (in Stat. Population districts thousand) that of West Bengal the average district .{las only 2.1 million people. This will point surely to a need for 2 3 4 ...... _ reorganisation of some of the districts like Twentyfour Parganas Andhra Pradesh 43,394,851. 21 2,065 or Midnapur or Burdwan which are obviously too big in terms of area as well as population to be Assam 14,857,314 10 1,486 administered efficiently and there is a strong case for Bihar 56,387,296 17 3,3J7 splitting each of them into 2 or more districts. Gujarat 26,660,929 19 1,400 Apart from the vastness of these territories there Haryana 9,97J ,165 7 1,424 has also been an appreciable redistribution of human Himachal Pradesh 3,424,332 10 342 settlements over the decades in these districts, new Jammu & Kashmir 4,615,176 10 462 areas of concentrations of popUlation have come up and different regions have reached different levels of KeraJa 21,280,397 10 2,128 development. All these will cnll for a realignment of Madhya Pradesh 41,449,729 43 964 the administrative boundaries. The state govern­ Maharashtra 50,295,081 26 1,934 ment is seized with the problem. Mysore 29,224,046 .19 .1,538 Nagaland 515,561 3 172 The size of the population as also the area of a Orissa 21,934,827 13 1,687 district arc of equal importance from the point of Punjab 13,472,972 1l 1,225 view of administration. State policy being more and more development-oriented and the emphasis of Rajasthan 25,724,142 26 989 the administration having shifted to welfare and Sikkim 209,843 4 52 developmental activity, there is need for reorgan isa­ Tamil Nadu 41,103,125 14 2,936 tion of the existing administrative divisions as viable Uttar Pradesh 38,229,453 54 1,635 units or areas of development. Revenue or police West Bengal 44,312,01 J 16 2,770 administration was the prime consideration when the present police stations or districts were deJineated first. Changes in the jurisdictions of the units have The average population for a district is hardly an no doubt been taking place now and then. But index of the demographic situation in a state, for the there was hardly any way which may be said to be average is dependent on various factors like the total a major deviation from the original pattern. In the area of the territory, the number of districts in \vhich fifties and sixties the development blocks were carved the state has heen divided, the total popUlation and out as workable units of development with a more so on. A district i'i after all an administrative divi­ or less uniform population of around one lakh each. sion which is primarily a matter of administrative Instances are many in West Benga] where a police convenience. Political and other considerations also station was constituted into two or more develop­ play an important role in deciding about the redistri­ ment blocks. The reverse is also true jn a few bution of district boundaries or splitting a district into cases. The old police stations as such have however two or more units. The average population size been left intact by and large except for cre~tion of wilI also be of some help in the matter. But there some new police stations here and there. With the is hardly anything ] ike an optimum siz.e of popula­ gradual shift of emphasis in State policy and in the tion for a district from the administrative or any background of the tremendous addition to the popu;:­ other point of view. lation in al1 parts of the state there is a strong case for redemercation of police stations also making them The average district in West Bengal is apparently coterminous with development blocks. This may too big and unwieldy and is the third largest in the further the total interests of administration, for many country. Bihar tops the list with a population of 3.3 of the police stations are over·sized, in terms of area as well as population, and can hardly be admini· . Distribution of population among police stations steTed efficiently even from the purely law and order lf tbe sjze of population varies considerably from point of view. district to district the distribution of population' among police stations is still more erratic. There Apart from developmental ne<:essity socio~politj­ is wide variation in the population of police stations cal considerations also caIJ for a fresh look at the within the same district in aU regions of the state. administrative units. There is a point of view that the A definite pattern does, however, emerge-:police administrative units need be redefined in some areas, stations with a high degree of urbanisation and with considerable concentration of industrial activity, have e.g .• along the western boundaries or in the northern by and large heavy concentration of population. extremity of the state in such a manner that the spe­ Population is large also in the police stations which cial economic. social and cultural interests of some are in the heart of rich agricultural belts. It has, of the weaker sections of the community (e.g. the however, to be borne in mind that the area of the tribals in the western districts) may be served better. administrative unit is one of the most important determinants of the size of the popUlation. There is an opposite view, which is perhaps more reasonable and practical, that it wiJ) be an indiscrete Statement II.S shows the distribution of police retrograde step to redefine administrative bounda­ stations (except in Calcutta and Howrah city) by ries on the basis of ethnic or linguistic groups. The ranges population size. The police stations have interests of such sections of the people will be served been arranged in five popUlation ranges with ,the equally weU, and perhaps in a better way, within average size class in the middle. The average size of population of a police station excluding tbose in the present setup. In any case, reorganisation of Calcutta and Howrah cities was 139,397 which is by local administrative un its like police stations or itself quite big. The "average" size class which is community development blocks must not be such as kept in the ll_'liddle of the statement is within ± 15000 may encourage any fissiparous tenden(.~ies. of the average police stations.

STATEMENT II. 5

Distribution of police stations by population ske ranges, 1971 (excluding Calcutta and Howrab City) ------_._---:--._._-- _._------Lower than State average Average size Higher than State average. " -_.------'-- class ---_._- ...... ~------..... Less than 95,000 95,000-] 24,999 125,000-154,999 155,000-184.000 185,000 and above 1 2 3 4 s ._--- ._--"'''-----_."----_._-,,.,,_._------'------__;,.__ ..;...... -:--.:__ District-Darjeeling (781777) J. Sukhiapokri (29137) 1. 1. Siliguri (102236) (134392) 2. Pulbazar (41147) 3. Darjeeling (82002) 4. Rangli Rangiiot (51825) S. Mirik (28519) 6. Natalbari (50799) 7. (71885) 8. Kharibari (44723) 9. Jorebunglow (41096) 10. Garubathan (32302) 11. (71714) District Jalpaiguri (1750159) 12. Mitiali (61045) 2. 2. Rajganj 1. Mal 1. Jalpaiauri (97ZJl) (128744) (166142) (217410) ( 12 )

STATEMENT II. 5

--_,...... -~-~---- 1 2 3 4 -,------...- 5 13, Magrakata (66002) 3. Falakata 2. Maynaguri 2. Dhubguri (130529) (159764) (216330) 14. Birpara (57942) 3. Alipur Ouar 4. 15. (271766) Madarihat (42807) (1344,''7) District·-Cooch Behar (1414183) 4. 16. HaJdibari (56515) 3. (226797) (95128) 5. Cooch Behar n. Mekliganj (81067) (372487) 6. 18. (51755) (241633) 7. (288801) Ilistrict-West Dinajpur (18S9887) 5. lslampur 8. 19. (62000) 4. Chopra (133949) (208274) ( 101570) 6. 9. 10. (862J 7) 5. GoaJpokhar ( 142855) (189138) (J 16653) 21. Hilli (43565) 6. Chakalia (97210) 7. (122232) 8. (122407) 9. Kushmundi

IIiJ..j,l (95165) 10, Bangshihari (101221) 11. (1 t 5867) 12. Tapan (121564) District-Maida (1612657) 22. Bamangola (66773) 13. Habibrur 7. GajoJe 3. Barish Chandra- JO. Ratua (J 13170) (143426) pur (177333) (195161) 23. MaIda (7 (077) 8. 4. Kharba J J •. KaJia-..:hak (126715) (177905) (35810J) 5. EnglishlBazar District-Murshidabad (2940204) (182996)

24. Murshidabad (83335) J4. Fan-aHa 9. Sagardighi 6. Suli 12. Raghunath. (108793) (132178) (165640) ganj (202751) 25. Jiaganj (45706) 1S. Shamsherganj 10. Bhagwangola 7. Raninagar 13. (123519) (148661) (155458) (257042) 26. Jalangi (93867) 16. Lalgola J1. Khargram 8. Bharatpur 14. Berhampur (120346) (140561) (182300) (237474) 17. Nubaguam 12. Burwan (105661) (1377[9) 18, Hariharpara 13. Kandi OJ6180) (129770) 19. Nawada 14. Domkal (103825) (149412) 13

STATEMENT lJ. 5

._------,.,-,--,-.------.,,--,,------.. ---~------.---- 1 2 3 4 5

District--Nadia (2230270)

27. (68756) 20. Hanskhali t 5. Kaliganj 9. Tchatta 15. (114206) (148465) (177013) (187480) 28. Kalyani (67979) 21. 16. Chapra 10. Nakasipara .16. Krishnagar (95583) (135634) (J60232) (272958) 17. Santipur II. 17. (144311) (160570) (311039) J8. (186044) District- Twentyfour Parganss (8449482)

29. (821] 8) 22. Hagdah J8. 12. Bijpur 19. Bongaon ( 1(2590) (133916) ( 175287) (211155)

)0. Barrack pore (2503 J) 23. 19. J3. Belghoria 20. ( 119809) (133510) ( 169404) (276642)

31. Mctiabruz (59021) 24. Mandirbazar 20. 14. Maheshtola 21. Harasat ( 108123) (128478) (166244) (277992)

32. Sagore (91229) 25. 21. Naihali 22. (121795) (126413) (258J81) .,., Noapara J5. Palhar Pralima 33. (56678) 26. Haroa ~-. 23. (t01749) (132581) (160493) (204942)

Baranagar 34. (63367) 23. 16. 24. Khardah (136842) (J 57960) (249555)

24. Garden Reach SandcshkhaJi 25. BehaJa 35. (81419) 17. (154913) (161344) (300144)

25. Basanti 26. Jadavpur (136043) (189473)

26. Falta 27. Bhangar (142092) (201570)

27. 28. Sonarpur (146J44) (189281)

28. 29. Bishnupur (127701) (241258)

29. Hasnabad 30. Budge-Budge (142483) (235299) 30. 31. (140844) (191136) 32. Canning (l947SJ) 33. Joynagar (2J6761) 34. (268613) 35. Diamond- Harbour (196OJ6) 14

STATEMENT IT. 5

2 3 4 5 -.~-.... ~''"-~ ... ------~~-."., .. ,~ ...... -----,--- .~~.---¥-- .... ~- ...... ,. -.__...... ~.-".-~-,.-.~- ----_ "--,,,,~-.. 36. Mathurapur (208426)

37. (231317)

38. Dum Dum. (319133)

District ·Howrah (2417286) 18. Domjur 39. Amto. 36. Bally (38892) 27. Panchla 31. Sankrail (158508) (250744) (115404) (U96£1) 40. Bagnan

37. Liluah (32449) 28. Jagatballav- (195154) pur (124324) 41. UJubcri:.t

::18- Bawria (49376) 29. Udaynarayan- (252323) pur (1098 t 7) 42. Shampllr (212746) District-Hooghly (2872116)

39. Polba (75245) 30. Pursurah 32. ChinslImh J 9. Goghat 4J. KhanaJ..;ul (96812) (136756) ( 166~97) (234M II)

40. Dadpur (67981) 31. Balagarh 33. Haripal 20. Arambagh 44. Chandirala (119582) (141949) £(177323) (214526)

41. Chandcrnagorc (75238) 32. Mogra 34. Bhadreswar 21. Dhaniakhali 45. Serampore (t 156(4) (131652) ( 172793) (245906) 33. 35. 22. Panduah (112628) (144213) \158404,

34. Jangipara 23. Singur (120125) (16421 I) District-Burd\\an (3916174) 42. Chittaranjan (42965) 35. Hirapur 36. 24. Ketugram -46. Asansol (107207) (149533) (161945) (206762) 37. 43. Salanpur (48734) 36. Jamllria 25. Purbasl ha Ii 47. Durgapur (121044) (143419) (11:12306) (211000) 44. Baraboni (63912) 37. Khandaghosh 38. Onda] 4S. Raina (105093) (125358) (196005) 45. Faridpur (82690) 39. Ausgram 49. (152010) (217851) 46. Kaksa (77628) 40. Galsi 50. Burdwan (150543) (3002JS) 47. BlId .. Bud (58398) 41. Jamalpur 51. Katwa (139641) (2)5662) 42. Bharat 52. Kalna (153945) (213076) 43. Mongalkote (154887) <44. Monteswar (134345) 15

STATEMENT II. 5 .------.~-----.- 5 1 2 3 4 ...... "_...._ ...., .. ~ ... ------.~,,- .... -..,------_ _-- District-Birbhum (1775909) 26. Muraroi 53. 48. Muhammad Bazar (80109) 38. Dubrajpuf 45. Suri (116887) (131502) (174107) (217200) 46. 27. 49. Rajnagar (48683) 39. Labhpur (113740) (127727) ( 170937) Mayurcswar 50. Khoyrasole (89583) 40. Nanoor 47. Bolrmr 2R. (124176) (136552) ( 1(0063)

51. lIIambazar (84643) ()istrict-Bankura (2031039) )2. Sa1tora (84073) 41. BOJjora 48. Onda 29. Raipur 54. Dankura ( 114154) (131552) (163009) (220213)

53. Mt:jhia (50491) 42. Gangajalghati (107075)

54. Indpur (91374) 43. Chhatra ( 11(994)

55. Rani bandh (77094) 44. Khalra (116550)

5h. Simlaral (750()S) 45. Bi~hnLlpur (115224)

57. TaJdangra (76701) 4/i. Sonalllukhri (10581)0)

5X. JayplIr (86614) 47. Patrasair (9948(1) 48. Inda:; (96037) 49, Kotalpur (100424) District Midnapur (5509247) 59. Jamboni (68886) 50. Jhargram 49. Gopihallavpur 30. Dantan 55. Hinpur (I 19(57) (126437) ( 169211) (93000)

60. Sankrail (67610) 51. Ping!a 50. Narayangarh 31. Kharagpur 56. Garhbeta (95269) (154787) ( 170945) (257443)

(if. Nayagram (82215) 52. Sal bani 51. Sa bang 32. Kharagpur 57. Daspur (988nO) ( 132301) To wn (I (i 1257) (2]7944)

Debra 33. Midnaporc 5H. Panskum 62. Mohanpur (53301) 53. Moyna 52. (ItI8S4) (150544) (159232) 010741 )

34. Sutaha!a 59. 63. (76383) 53. KeshplIr n53594) ( 1654(2) (236387) 35. Patashpur 60. Mabisadal 64. Digha (15398) 54. (149358) (172857) (224050) 55. Ramnagar 36. 61. Nandigram (149955) (183670) (2614~) :;6. Khcjri 37. 62. BhagawanplIr (134717) (t 5(851) (217284) 63, (290053) 16

ST ATEMENT II. 5 2 3 4 5

District---Purulia (1602875) 65 .Jaipur (h3654) 54. Barabnzar 57. Raghunathpur 38. JhaIda (96308) ( 1.3(644) (162724) 66. Arsha (78894) 55. Para 58. Manbazar 39. Purulia Muffasil (100697) (143372) (157735 ) 67. Balarampur (7.3643) 56. Kashipur (124153) 68. Purulia town (57708) 69. Neturia (58941) 70. Santuri (45403) 71. Hunt (83848) 72. Puncha (92454) 73. Handuan (56947) 74. Baghmundi (69749) ... _'."'""------,_.,"-,.,--_.,,---"_., ...... --,_ .".".,---- ... , ... ,,------" .. _.... _._--_...... _-----_._._-"----_.__ ._--. Alllhe police stations in Darjeeiing except Kalim­ reached the high figure of 27J 76() of which 54.4.5 pong (in the hills) and Siliguri (in the plains) or 20 (% arc to he found in the urhan area c belong to the lowest range of below 95000. The ~lVe­ . rage size of a police stations in ttH~ sparsely pOpULI­ tion district was 60000 (Jnly. The highly urbtnised The pol icc ~tatj(_)l\s of ('(weh Behar are e\'(111 police station of Siliguri had a population of 134)92. distributed in the lowest population ranges 0f '"\cr smal]" (Haldihari, M('klig~~Il.i m-;d Sitai) '.I11d "small Due to ils ~j/eabJe urban population and aho hcca­ (Sitalkuchi) .mel in the nlngc of '\cry I... :rgc" (Malh, use of its location K.dimron~ "PS. ha~ abo a n:la­ tively big population. The other police sttltions of hhaIlf:.L, Coocll Behar, Tufanganj and Dinh:l[a the district quite naturally had v('ry small population Cooch Behar is one dish iet which is c;1tircly apriclI ranging between 28519 (in Mirik) and 82002 (in tural and where (lgric:ultural prosperity is sprea fairly even, 11 is not unnatural that the popubtio DaIjecling). Tht, population ~j/e of Darjceling PS, size in the poJin~ stations has varied in almost the too, has rea(hed the rcspecta hie figure of ~2(1(\2 due to the sizeable urhan population of U-,e district head­ same proportion as their an:as. The police :.-t'-lt ions i quarters (42873). the "very large" population rant~c are two ()f 1hre times as big ill teflm; of area as those in the "vcr In JaJpaiguri the police ~tations are aln10st evenly smalJ" range. P.S. Cooch Behar. for example. ha distributed among the five rangL'S. MitiaJi, Nap'a­ a vcry hig population of 372487--thc biggest for an kata, Birpara and Madarihat \\ h iell arc ent irely rural police statilJI1 in the state'--- of \'~hich a sizcab1c pIC polit'c stations in the sub-Himalayan terai region portion (J 6(: ;,) is due to the urban areus, The polic and have a number of tea estates constitute a belt station had a big area of 737.(, km~ ~hidl \Vd of low populatl(nl. Kllmargram is in the second about 4 times the area of HaJdibari. As will be see range and has a population of just a I i1t1c t,elow one presently, 1he density of population in the very ]arg lakh (972 J I). Rajganj and Kalchini have big areas police stations of the district ranges between 362 (i and the popUlation exceeds 125,OCO in both the police Matha! hangH) a11d 529 (in Dinhata). The density i stations, Falakata is prosperous in agricllltlirc in the ~ma]Jcr police stations varies between 273 (i apart from its tea gardens and come along with Mekljganj) and (643 (in Sitalkm:hi). But what is mor Rajganj and Kalchini, under range 3. MaJ, Mayna­ significant is that the smallest nrea for any of th gurj, Jalpaigllri, Dhupf.uri and Alipurduar are not police ~tations in the former' category ("very large only big in area but also rich in agriculture and population size) is 546.2 km2 (in Dinhata) again~ trading activity apart from the tea plantations. Each 158.0 km:! only (for Sitai) in ('use of the latte of these police stations has sizeable urban popula­ (.~ategory . tions and has come 1.0 be areas of concentration of It is an accidental coinddence that the polk population. In Alipurduar PS the population has stations of West Dinajpur do not very much in are 17

except for the border police station of Hili and a third of the total population of the police station) Hemtabad. Popula..tion is also distributed almost and Beldanga are the two most populous units in the equally among the police stations in proportion to district and have more than 2 lakhs people each. the areas and no marked variation in density is Raghunathganj situated in northern end of the observed among police stations. district also has a population of over 2 lakhs.

All the police stations of Is]ampur sub-division In Birbhum, one of the districts of the sparseJy except Islampur happen to be in the "small" popu­ populated western plateau, the average size of popu­ lation range. To the same range belong the police lation in a police station is about 1.27 lakhs and the stations of Kaliaganj, , Bangshihari, population is more or less evenly distributed among Gangarampur and Tapan which are all in the fertile the 14 police stations. Only four of the police agricultural region of the district. Balurghat and stations. namely, Muhammadbazar (80,109), Raj­ Rayganj. the two police stations with sizeabJe urban nagar (48,683), Khayrasole (89,583) and Ilambaz.ar population. come under the "very large" range of (84,643) have less than a lakh of people each. They of popUlation. In Raiganj the popUlation exceeded are all in the "very small" population range. This is two lakhs. due partly to the smallness of their area and partly because they are outside the rich irrigated zone of The average population sile of a police station in the district. Incidentally~ it is to be noted that Maida wus as big as 1.61 lakh. In only two out of density of population in the four police stations is ten pol ice stations of the district the population was fare below the district average of 390. below one lakh. These are MaIda and Bamangola both of which are relatively small in area. As in Bankura, which is entirely dependent on agricul­ We~t Dinajpur population is more or less evenly ture but happens to be a chronically drought affected distrihutcd among the police stations in MaIda. area has a small total population of 2 million only 2 Ratu(l, Kaliachak, Harishchandrapur and Kharba and a very low density of 295/Km • The average (all in the "large" and "very large" population population size of its police stations is just a little ranges) and GajoJe and M'anikchak (in the "average" above a lakh. Population is almost evenly distri­ sil.e c1ass) constitute one continuous rich agricultural buted among the police stations all but 3 of which helt with heavy concentration of population. English­ are in the "very small" and "small" ranges of below bU7ar which has a very big urban population is 125,000. Bankura Sadar police station which has a almost in the centre of the region. sizeable urban popUlation (concentrated in Bankura Town) and is located in the heart of the fairly pros­ The average population for a police station in perous agricultural belt of the district is in the "very Murshidahad was 140,000. All but three of the 21 large" range with a total population of 2.2 Jakhs. police stations of the district had a. population of Raipur (163,009) is the only police station which is above one lakh. liaganj (45706), Murshidabad on the wrong side of the "average". Onda (J 31,552), (83,335) and Jalungi (93J~67) are the only three a rich agricultural police station happens to be in the police stations wl1ich belong to the "very small'" average range. population range of below 95,000. The small size of their population is due more to their small areas As in Birbhum the density of population in the than to any other factor. police stations of Bankura, too, is at a uniformly low J level of below 400/Km . Only in Bankura and Murshidabad is one of the districts which is Katulpur density exceeds 400, the exact figures being dependent entirely on agricuHure. The entire sub­ 539 and 40 I respectively. division of Kandi (cal1ed the "'granary" of Murshida­ bad) as also a large part of Hcrhampore (Sadar) With it.s undulating terraine and rocky and sub-division extending through Beldanga and ;atcrite soil, Purulia is another drought prone alea police stations form a rich agricultural with a small lotal population of 16.0 lakhs only . belt with heavy concentration of population. The which is the third lowest for any district. The police stations in the region naturally come under district is purely agricultural and agriculture is any­ the population ranges of 125,OOO±. Berhampore thing but prosperous mainly because of the unkind with its 78909 urban population (which means ,\bout soil and scarcity of water. Population has conse- 18

quentJy been very low and economically the district The economy of the district is almost entirely is one of the poorcst in the statc. As in Bankura. dependent on agriculture. Organised industries are the population is fairly evenly distributed in Purulia rare and the degree of urbanisation is low. The also. 10 of the 17 police stations in the district arc large size of the population in Tamluk as also Contai in the "very small" population range of below sub-division (which happens to form the end of the 95,000. Three morc arc in the next range Lower Bengal Drainage Basin) is due almost entirely (95,000·124,999). and Purulia Mufassal are to the prosperity of agriculture in the region. An the only two police stations which have "large" interesting feature of the distribution of, population populations of above J55,000 each. The average in the Jistrict as a whole is that there is hardly any police station in the district has a smalJ population large settlement of the in-migrants from cr~twhile of less than a lakh (94,000 only). Density is as low East Pakistan anywhere. This may be ascribed at 256/Km2 for the district. partly to the already existing high pressure of popu­ lation on Jand in the central plains of the district. .In Midnapur one comes across two distinct This was also partly because the district had no regions of low population with low density and large common border with their erstwhile homeland of the population with relatively high density. All the displaced persons and the in-migrtlllts from southern poJice stations of Jhargram sub-division (Binpur, and ea~tern East Pakistan were by and large ()is­ Jamboni, Jhargram, Gopiballavpur. Sankrail and inclined to move far away from the Calcutta region. Nayagram) and three of the police statio11s (namely. As wiJ1 be seen in the next chapter, the second Garhheta, Salboni and Keshpur) of Midnapllr Sadar factor played an important role in determining the sub-division constitute the first region which i ..;, in pattern or growth of population in ditferent regions fact~ a continuation of the western plateau extending of the state. through Purulia and Bankura. The region also happens to be a part of the arid western zone along In the great riverine region of the slate extending with Bankura and Purulia. AH the police stations from Murshidabad to Twentyfour Parganas through of the region are in the "very small" and "small" Nadia, Hooghly and Howrah the pattern of distri­ population ranges except Binpur and Garhbeta. bution of population among the police stations is Binpur and Garhheta have very large populations of almost similar in all the districts except Murshidabad. 193,000 and 257,443 respectively. But this is mainly In Twentyfour Parganas, the largest and most popu­ due to the vastness of their areas; the density of lousdistrict in the state, all the police stations barring population is 204 and 243 respectively in the two police only 5, namely, (an all-urban police stations. Density is, of course, uniformly low in the station), Amdanga, Metiabruz (another all-urban region and varies between 163 (in Narayanpur) and police station), Sagore and Namkhana (both in the 264 (in Gopiballavpur). newly settled areas of the Subderbans), have a population of over a lakh each. Density is uniformly The remaining police stations of the district is high except. in some police stations in the southern part of the central plain;; and constitute the second extremit.y of the district. region. Al1 the police stations in the region except Digha and Midnapur, both in Contai sub-division, lJrhanisation and proximity to the Calcutta indus­ have populations of over a lakh each. many of them t.rial belt and consequent concentration of in-mig­ belonging to the "large" ancl "very large" ranges. rants from across the international borders have made Density is also quite high on an average, the highest for large populations in many of the police stations. being found in the poJice stations of Tamluk sub­ 19 out of the 51 police stations of the district belong division. Digha, which was formed into a police to the "very large" popUlation range of 185,OOO-t-. station only rt!cently, happens to be the smallest Density is very high in some of them (JagatdaJ, police station in terms of population U 5,3(8). There Titagarh, Khardah, Dum Dum, Behala, Jadavpur, are as many as R police stations in the district of ) ranging from 1,651 to 7,598. These which population exceeds 2 lakhs each. All but one are all in the highly industrialised and urbanised of them (i.e Garhbeta) belong to this second region. areas of the district. Density is far above the state average of 504 in "most of the areas of Tamluk sub-division, the highest In the neighbouring district of Howrah which being 971 in Tamluk police station. incidentally is the smal1est of the districts in the state, • 19 the police stations arc small in area but have large lakh each. In fact, five out of 7 police stations which populations. This is due to the large urban popu­ are in the "very large" range belong to the region of lations in most of them. The degree of urbanisation which the mainstay of the economy is agriculture. or the proportion of urban to total population Density is a]so moderately high in many of these exceeds 40o/~) in the district. Density of population agricultural police stations. is a~ big as 821 (in Sllampur) at its iowcst for any 01 Nadia is partly within the Calcutta metropolitan its poli(.~c stations. area. A large part of the district is within commut­ ing distance from the metropolitan core. The degree Except for Dadpur, Pursurah, Polba and of urbanisation js fairlY high, about 19%) of the Chandernagore all the police stations of Hooghly have population being found in the towns of the district. more than a lakh people each. Khanaku1. Chanditala The police stations arc unequal in area but none of and Seramporc arc in the "very large" range each with them is too big. Karimpur which borders on Bangla­ a population exceedillg 2 lakhs. But unlike in Howrah (ksh is the largest polke station with an area of density of population is not at a very high level uni­ 449.6 km:!, The average population of a pojice formly in all the police stations of Hooghly. The station in the district (approxy. 160,000) is however. police ~tations wit hin or .::Iose to the Calcutta metro­ quite hlrge. Only three of the police stations have politan di:-trict have I·'oth Llrge size and very high popUlation of leqs than a Jakh each. These are density of popUlation. Hooghly is one district in Krishnaganj (68,756), Kalyani (67.979) and Harin­ \vhich agriculture has thrived alongside industry. The ghata (95583) all of which happen to be quite small police stations where agriculture is fairly prosperous in area. Seven of the police stations arc in the are all avvay from the indu~trial belt, c.g., those "large" and "very large" population ranges. Four of in Arambagh sub-uivi:-,jon and some parts of Sadar these ~even, again, are f'iidy highly urbanised. The suh-division. The agriculatural police stations too, town of Nabadwip alone accounts approximately for have "large" to "very large" populations but the (10° 0 of the population of Nabadwip p.s. Density is density is not naturaJJy as high as in the industria~ also very high (1542) in the p. s. In Krishnagar p.s. li')cd and urbanised police stations. Density is, never­ the population is a little below 3 lakhs which in theless, far above (he state average in all these police Ranaghat it exceeds 3 lakhs. Both these police statIOns also except in Goghat and Polba. stations have quite high densities (667 and 705 res­ pectively). In Chakdah p.s. which has also a sizeable The average police station in Burdwan has a urban population the density is still higher (783), population of 145,OCO. The district is jn the heart population is .' large" or "very large" in N akashipara, the central plains but also protrudes towards the or (160232), TehaHa (177013) and Karimpur (187480). westren borders of the state into the western plateau These are entirely rural po1ice stations and the and is akin to the district of Hooghly in some res­ density is just moderate varying between 417 and 442 peds. As in Hooghly industry and agriculture have which is appreciably below the average density for the developed side by side in Burdwall too. Asansol and district. Durgapuf sub-divisions which form the well-known indUstrial-mining belt has a high degree of urbanisa­ The distribution of the 290 police stations of the tion. It is significant that the police stations in this state in the tive population size ranges is as under belt are mostly of the less than average population which indicates that there are more police stations range due. mainly, to their small areas. But density below the average size than above it. is very high in most of them. Asansol which is in Population Number of police the centre of the industrial mining belt, has a popu­ range stations tation exceeding 2 lakhs and has also a high density Very sma)) (below 95000) 75 of 2.562 to the square kilometre. The police stations Small (95000-124999) 56 of Kalna and Katwa sub-divisions and parts of Sadar Average ( 125000-154000) 60 sub-divisions constitute the other region where agri­ Large l15S000-184999) 37 culture has thrived. Prosperity of agrkulture in the Very large ( 185000&above) region ~ is due to the fertile soil, assured irrigation 62 from the DVC canals and modernisation of agri­ The distribution at the district level as discussed cultural methods. Jt is only natura] that the polic~ in the foregoing paragraphs is summarised in the stations should all have large popUlation exceeding a Statment 11.6 which follows from Statement I1.S. 20

STATEMENT n. 6

Number of police stations in the population size ranges in districts of West Bengal (except Calcutta) .. _._- ...,----_ .. __.__ ... _" Lower than Higher than state average state average

Average Very State/District Average Very Small size class Large large populatiOn small 95000 J25000 155000 185000 of a p. s. t>95,(00) -124999 --154999 ····184999 & above

--~ .... --_,.--.~.~------~."" ..... 2 3 4 5 6 7

WEST BENGAL J 39,397 74 56 58 39 r,3

Darjecling 60,137 11 1 Jalpaiguri 134,62R 4 3 2 3

Cooch Behar 176.773 3 4

West Dinajpur J 16,243 3 9 2 2

MaIda 161,266 2 1 3

M urshidabad 140,010 3 6 6 3 3

Birbhum ) 26,851 4 3 3

Nadia ) 59,305 2 2 3 4

Twentyfour Parganas 165,676 7 5 13 6

Howrah 134,294 J 3 4

.Hooghly 143,606· 3 5 4 5 .3

Hurdwan J45,043 6 3 9 2 7

Midnapore J 63, 121 6 4 8 9

Bankura 106,897 7 9

]>urulia 94,287 JO 3 2 2

,-.~-.~-~-- ---.-----~ . • Six police stations comprised in Howrah city have not been taken into account.

.. DENSITY OF POPULATION

Density of population: West Bengal countries. But the same for West Bengal is far With a population density of 504 persons per greater than in any of the countries which are consi­ km2 in 1971 West Bengal is the second most densely dered to be the most densely populated in the world. populated state in India. The average density for In the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands and the country as a whole was in ) 971. Kerala recorded BeJgium, the countries with the highest densities of the highest density of 549 among the states. population, the density figures just exceeded 300 per­ sons to the square kilometre. Japan which ranked Density in some selected countries- A compari~on fourth in terms of density had 280 persons to the Population density is quite high in India as square kilometre in 1970. The statement on following compared to many other developing and developed page will be more illustrative. 21

STATEMENT 11.7 2 3 4 Density in some selected countries Haryana 227 Himachal Pradesh 62 la Country Population (million) Density/Km Jammu & Not Kamataka 153 World 3627.0 27 Kashmir available India 548.0 J77 Kerala . 549 Madhya Pradesh 94 Burma 27.6 -41 Maharashtra 164 Manipur 48 .Srilanka 12.5 191 Meghalaya 45 Nagaland 31 Pakistan ] ]4.2 121 Orissa 141 Punjab Indonesia 121.2 8l 269 Japan 103.5 280 Rajasthan 75 Sikkim 29 Republic of Korea N.A. 323 Tamil Nadu 317 Tripura 149 France 9.7 317 Uttar Pradesh 300 West Bengal 504 U.K. 55.7 228 Union Territories 'Germany 59.6 140 Andaman & Nicobar U.A.R. 33.3 33 Islands 14 Delhi 2738 Uganda 9.8 41 A I'unacahl Pradesh 6 Ooa, Daman & Diu 225 Sudan 15.7 6 Chandigarh 2257 Laccadive, Minicoy & Australia J 2.6 2 Amindivi Islands 994 U.S.S.R. 242.8 11 'U.S.A. 205.4 22 Dadra & Nagar Haveli lSI Pondicherry 983 Omada 21.4 2 Brazil 95.3 11 The great Indo Gangetic plains extending east­ But, as in case of population size, such com pari· west from West Bengal to Haryana constitute a con­ son of density is hardly of any significance except as tjnuous and compact belt of high population density. .a crude indicator of the burden of population the Density decreases from state to state as one moves countries or areas have to bear. The burden is heavy westward from West Bengal. Bihar, the western for India as a whole in terms of the total size of the neigh hour of West Bengal has the third highest den­ population as well as the gross distribution over unit sity among states. 324 persons to the square kilo­ area. But the position in West Bengal is critical, both metre. In Uttar Pradesh, which has the 1argest popu­ in absolute terms as also in comparison with the lation among states the density (300) is the fifth sister states. highest in the country. Density in the States and Union territories Manipur, Meghalaya and Sikkim arc the three Density of population varies widely between the states with the thinnest population. the densities being states and union territories as shown in the following 48, 45 and 29 persons respectively to the square ·statement. kilometre. STATEMENT U.8 Higb density in West Bengal-Contributory factors Density of population in India, states & union It is well-known that there has been a great territories, 1971 concentration of population over the centuries in the Density Density alluvial lands of the Gangetic plains including West Unit (per km2) Unit (per km2) Bengal as also along the sea coast stretching from Orissa to Kerala through Tamil Nadu. Historical and 1 2 3 4 socio·c:conomic factors have determined the present INDIA 177 hiSh density of population in West Bengal as else­ State. where. Apart from the flow of in-migrants from the Andhra Pradesh 157 Assam 150 neighbouring states like Bihar, Orissa and U.P. to Bihar 324 Oujarat .136 the Calcutta metropolitan and other area.

STATEMENT 11.9 Density of popuJasicn jn distrkts. ] 971 STATLMENT 1£.9 (a)

Statc/ District Population Density of population/km.2 Density in Districts, 1971 Total Rural Urban Below:.ncragc WEST BENGAL 2 5 4 5 (504) ----_._------.... -----.. - .. -.. -~-.--- Murshidabad WEST BENGAL 44,312,01 J 504 Darjeeling 254 " 550 388 5,62~ JaJpaiguri 280 \ Nadia 56S Darjceling 781,777 Cooch North Bengal Central 254 4,523 Behar 418 Twcntyfour P,uganas 612 plains West Howrah 1640 Jalpaiguri 1.750.159 280 ::'57 2,113 Dinajpur ~57 Calcutta J0276 MaIda 434 Cooch Behar 1,414.183 4J8 392 4,184 Birbhum 390 Hoogh/y 913 Bankura 2t)5 Burdwan 557 West Dinajpur 1,859,887 357 327 3,174 Midnapore 401 Purulia 256 MaIda 1 .. 612,657 434 417 8,644

M urshidabad 2,940,204 550 512 2,868 Density is below the state average in all the Nadia 2,230,270 568 476 3,557 districts of northen1 West Benial as also in the dis­ Twentyfour tricts in the Western belt. In the central riverine plains comprising the districts of Murshidabad, Nadia }'arganas 8,449,482 6J2 412 6,130 Twentyfour Parganas, Howrah, Calcutta and Hooghly Howrah 2,417,286 1,640 1.060 6,750 and also Burdwan density js above the state average Calcutta 3,148,746 30,276 30,276 in all the units. The most thinly populated district in Hooghly the region in Nadia with 550 persons to the square 2,872,116 913 698 6,278 kilometre. Burdwan 3,916,174 557 450 2,851 Birbhum . Density in the rural areas .1.775,909 390 367 2,757 Bankura 2,031,039 295 276 2,274 The districts of the state are shown in the state­ ment on following page arranged on the basis of Midnapore 5,509,247 401 376 2,104 the rural densities being below or above the average ,PuruJia ' 1.602.875 256 237 2,406 rural density in West Bengal (388). 23

STATEM ~\l r 11. [) (a) for over a century and a half. To this has been Rural density in districts added the hundreds of thousands of the displaced persons from erstwhile East Pakistan since the parti­ •.. -"--.--~---- tion. With growth of industrial activity the degree of Below average Above average urbanisation had also been on the increase in the WEST BENGAL entire region especially in the neighbourhood of (388) Calcutta. The rural areas, too. have been adding Darjccling 198 Cooch Behar 392 millions to their number every decade and the pres­ Jalpaiguri 257 MaIda 417 sure on land is increasing and nearing the situ'ation point throughout the central tract. It isonly natural West Dinajpur 327 Murshidabad 512 that density is c'ontinuously on the increase in the 367 Nadia 476 Birbhum rural areas too. We shall consider variation in den­ Bankura 276 Twentyfour Parganas 412 sity over time presently. Midnapore 370 Howrah 1060 Purulia 237 Uooghly 698 Density of population ill urban areas Burdwan 450 Unlike in case of total and rural densities varia­ -----~.~,-~"' ..... -.. ,-.--~----- tions in urban districts do not reveal any deflnite pattern. But the statement that follows will show Rural density in the state (388) is quite heavy as that the variation in urban density in even sharper compared to most other states. Distridwise, the high­ than ;n case of rural density in the districts. est rural density is observed in Howrah (1060). As in case of total density, the districts of the central plains have all higher than average density in their STA TEMENT n.1O rural areas too. The districts of the western region Urban density ill districts also are all below the state average. In two of the five di~tricls of North Bengal, namely. Cooch Behar Below average.' Above avera., (392) and MaIda (417) rural density exceeds the WEST BENGAL state average of 388. The reasons for the pattern (5628) are obvious. The western as well as the northern DarjceJing 4523 MaIda 8644 ,districb are almost entirely rural and the degree of Jalpaiguri 21 J J Twentyfour Parganas (>130 urbanisation extremely is low in all of them except Cooch Behar 4184 Howrah 6750 Darjeeling. Moreover, settlement of popUlation in West Dinajpur 3174 CuI cutta 30276 the areas has been slow and halting for geo-histori­ Hooghly 6278 cal and socio-economic factor over the centuries, Murshidabad 2868 ·except for the recent settlement of in-migrants from Nadia 3557 across the Indo- Bangladesh border in the northern Burdwan 2851 tract frol11 Jalpaiguri to MaIda. This may be exami­ Birbhum 2757 ned in further detail in the chapter on growth of Bankura 2274 popUlation. But for the in-migrants the North Bengal MidnapoI'c 2104 districts would have remained as sparsely populated Purulia 2406 as they were until before independence.

Growth of population and density arc intimately L'!aving aside the all urban district of Calcutta, correlated. Concentration and growth of population urban density i .. higher than the state averdge in five .in the central plains is of geo·historical origin. The out of J j districts. Curiously enough. MaIda which fertile alluvial soil, regular and evenly spread rain­ has thz lowest degree of urbanisation or proportion fall, riverine irrigation and growth of commercial of urban to population among the districts has the and industrial activity during the pre-British and hjg~l urban dCIHity of g644 persons per km.!.!. Ali we British periods etc., have resulted in the region being shall see in Chapter IV, the twin towns of MaIda and the most populous tract in the state. Calcutta and English Bazar happen to be the only urban areas in its surrounding areas have attracted in-migrants from the districts. The tOWllS have retained their areas the districts as well as from the neighbOUring states over the decades but have added sub3tantially to their 24

population since independence due mainly to the 1 2 3 4 growth of commercial activity and expansion of trans­ port and administrative services. The Mahananda 11. Scrampore 5.88 102,023 17,351

has been a physical constraint working against the 12. Burdwan 22.66 143,318 6,325 expansion of the towns sideways. Urban develop­ 13. Asansol ment has remained confined to the rectangle formed 10.44 155,968 14,939 by the two towns. Density has, therefore, reached 14. Durgapur 154.20 206,638 1,340 the very high figure of 8644 in 1971 with the large 15. Kharagpur growth of population. 33.38 161,257 4,831 Non city urban areas 1433.50 4,945,068 3,450 The distri~IS surrounding Calcutta, namely Twenty four Parganas, Howrah and Hooghly also have very high N.B. Cities at sl. 1 to II are in the calcutta metropolitan area densities because of their very high degree of urbani­ and those at sl. 12 to 14 in the Asansol-Durgupur indus­ sation and also because of the high densities in the class trial belt. Kharagpllr is the only city beyond the t\\() I towns or cities which are located in the districts. industrial belts. We may defer a discussion regarding the nature and extent of the urban growth .in the districts until in the chapter on the "urban popUlation." But it may be It is significant that the non-city urhan areas relevant to mention that the four districts constitute a which account for about 45 per cent of the lotal urban c('mpact area of concentration of urban population. All population has a relatively low density of 3450 pcr'kmt but four of the class 1 tities of the state, that is, towns as compared to about 11700 to the square ki lometre with population of a lakh or more arc located in the in 1he cities. Among the cities only Durgapur, a region and their density is almost uniformly high as newly laid developing city with a very big area, has a will be evident from the foJ1owing statement. The high low density or 1340 only which is too low even ill urban densities in the region arc a natural corollary to comparison with the non-city urban areas. In Kharag­ the pattern of urban growth. pur also density is relatively low l~ecause the city is sprawling over a vast area especially due to the ne~' extensions and the railway settlements and estahlish­ ST A TEMENT II. J 1 ments.

Dt'lJsly of population ill cities and non-city Urban density in the western tract comprising urban areas of West Bengal, 1971 the districts of Birbhum, Bankura, Purulia Hnd Millna­ pore is uniformly low and follows the pattern of State/City-Non city Area in Population Density of total density and the distribution of population in the urban l km:! population region. The towns are mostly small except for the per km2

'.~ -~ --~-~--.-- • ~. __ ,.._ _4 ___ '_"" .. ~...... ---_._-- ... _-- '-"-'-'-~----'-'----'------_.. -._ -- district headquarters. Their pattern of grO\vth, as will 2 3 4 be seen in the chapter on urban population (Chapter IV), also ruled out heavy densities except in the heart WEST BENGAL 1949.10 )0,967,033 5,628 of the towns or the town/city centres. 1. South Suburban 30.38 272,600 8,973 The above observations are valid for the urban 2. Garden Reach 12.95 154,913 J 1,962 areas of North Bengal districts too except that the 3. Bhatpara 11.96 204,750 17,120 variation in urban densities in these districts is fairly sharp. In Darjeeling, for example, density in urban ... J5.19 174,342 ] 1,477 areas is more than double the density in Jalpaiguri. 5. Baranagar 7.12 136,342 19,219 The high urban density in the former (4523) is due 6. Kamarhati 10.96 ]69,404 15,457 to the concentration of the urban population in the few towns on the hills and in the newly emerging 7. Panihati 19.43 148,046 7,6J9 urban centre at Siliguri. There are .in fact only 8. Calcutta 104.00 3,148,746 30,276 3 towns in the district besides Siliguri and density in the hill stations is fairly high of necessity because of 9. Howrah 61.50 737,877 11.998 the terrain. SiJiguri has a higher density of 6000 10. Hooghly-.chinsura 15.54 105.241 6,772 per k.m 2 which has pushed up the total urban density 25 of the district. In Cooch Behar also density in the again, are new towns. Density is not uniform in the towns is fairly high (4184). Here, too, the towns are towns. Santipur, for example, has a low density of only a few and the pattern of their growth is also of around 2,500 only. Kalyani, the new township, has a a uniform nature-urban centres have come up only thinner population. Murshidabad which is an entirely around the administrative headquarters (at subdivi­ agricultural district with a very low proportion sional and district levels). Density is almost at the of urban popUlation has a still lower density in ita same level in a11 the towns in the district except in towns (2868). Mekliganj. Variations in density, 1951.. 71 In the central plains Nadia and Murshidabad are the only two districts in which urban densities are Density has varied from district to district and low, being 3557 and 2868 respectively. Nadia as from region to region. But the variations over time fairly urbanised as a district. Apart from their main have been quite marked in all the regions except the towns, namely, Krishnagar, Nabadwip, Santipur and western ploteau. Statement 11.12 indicates how the Ranaghat the urban population is spread over a num­ density of popUlation has been increasing steadilv in ber of towns of small to medium size many of which, almost all the districts.

STATEMENT II. 12

Density of population in districts, 1951·1971

----·--P~~lation a~~hs~y._ ._..; .~,/' ·"<.'::·Jw n~1> Name of State/District Area in 1971 1961 .:":::;':::--;;;_~>·1951 Sq.Km. (1971) Population Density per Population Density per Population Density per Sq.Km. Sq.Km. Sq.Km.

--" ,,,- "." ,~~ ~." ~','" ~.~- _ ,._." ... p" _ •• ,,". •• , • ...... ,._--_.+- "",--_. .. _ .. _-" - .. -----.,...... -----~"'."~~.------.- ~ 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

.. ,,~, .. ~~~----"~- .. "~" ...•. ~ .. - .. --- ... --~.~ .. ~--.,,~-... ,-.. ~.-, _" .. ,,,------WEST BENGAL 87,853.0 44,312,011 504 34,926,279 398 26,299,980 299 Darjeeling 3,075.0 781,777 254 624,640 203 459,617 149

JaJpaiguri 6,245.0 1,750,159 280 1,359,292 218 916,747 147

Cooch Behar 3,386.0 1,414,183 418 1,019,806 301 668.949 198 West Dinajpur 5,206.0 J,859,887 357 1,323,797 254 976,882 188 MaIda 3,713.0 1,612.657 434 1,221,923 329 937,580 253 Murshidabad 5,341.0 2,940,204 550 2,290,010 429 1,715,759 321

Nadia 3,926.0 2,230,270 568 1,713,693 436 1.144,156 292 Twentyfour Parganas 13,796.0 8,449,482 612 6,280,915 455 4,459,492 323 Howrah 1,474.0 2,417,286 1,640 2,038,477 ,1,383 1,6.11,373 1,093 Calcutta 104.0 3,148,746 30,276 2,927,289 28,147 2,698,494 25,947 Hooghly 3,145.0 2,872,116 913 2,231,288 709 J ,605,004 510 Burdwan 7,028.0 3,916,174 557 3,082,617 439 2,191,660 312 Birbhum 4,550.0 1,775,909 390 1,446,158 318 1,066,889 234 Bankura 6,881.0 2,031,039 295 1,664,513 242 1,319,259 192 Midnapore 13,724.0 S,S09,247 401 4,341,855 316 3,359,022 24S Purulia 6,259.0 1,602,875 2S6 1,360,016 217 1,169,097 187 I "' . f .. --; .. ----- ~\':ft "" t . . -_--_. -Density for 1951 and 1961 has been complet~~~i!?~~~ in 1971. r 16 ]

For West Bengal as a whole the density of popu­ from erstwhile East Pakistan have recorded a steady lation bas gone up steadily from 299 per km!! in 1951 and very sharp upward movement of their density to 398 per km 2 in 1961 and again to 504 in 1971. during the last two decades. In Hooghly the figures Density being a function of the population density have climbed to 913 in 1971 from 5 to in 1951. In has been going up in all the districts over the decades Howrah density exceeded the one thousand mark even with the growth of populatjon. The rise has been the in 1<>51. It has reached the dizzy figure of 1640 most marked in all the North Bengal districts except persons per km2 in J971. In terms of percentage DarjeeJing. Density has more than doubled in Cooch increase the district rank:; below its neighbours Behar during the Jast two decades, from 198 in 1951 Twelltyfour Parganas or Hooghly which is also indica­ to 418 in 1971. The increases in Jalpaiguri during tive of a near saturation point in the district. the same period (from 147 to 280) and in West In the districts of the western region density has Dinajpur (188 tv 357) are also of almost the same goneup relatively slowly except in Midnapore. Purulia, magnitude. MaIda, too, does not lag for behind its which ranks the second lowest in density, added Jess northern neighbours. These are all indicative of a than 50<>;) to its population during the last two tremendous growth of population in the region during decades. Increase in its density has consequently the period. been just above marginal during the period. Coming to the central plains almost a similar Density of population and growth rates are inter­ trend of phenomenal increase in density is observed related. Variations in the densities over time or in m03t di:-;tricts. Calcutta which has reached a point space are hetter appreciated when examined in rela­ of saturation is. of course, an exception. The city tion to or in l'onjurlction with the variations in the district i~ one of the most densily populated citie;-; in rates of growth and other characteristics of the popu­ the country and the world wIth a tremendous i1gure lation. It is nevertheless worthwhile to consider the 2 of 30276 persons per km • But the growth of popu­ variations in density that arc ohserved among the lation being only minimal during the Jast two decades smaller administrative units like police stations with­ and the area of the city having remained static den­ in districts or within regions. sity per km has gone up only murginaHy. But the .' Density of po,tulation in the police stations crude density as observed in a city like Calcutta, where commute] s from within as well as outside the Density of population varies from police station metropolitan priphery are an important clcment in io police station depending on t he nature of distri­ the urba.n life, is of little u-.;c except as an indicator bution of the population, the growth rates and the of the conjestion in the city. Besides Howrah, nature of t he economy of the region or area, State­ Murshidabad is the only district in the region in which ment II.13 presents the density figure for police the extent of increase in delbity has been almost of stations arranged as belonging to below or above the equal magitude both in 1951-61 and ] 961-71. But the average for the district to which the police stations districts of Nadia. Murshidabad and Hooghly which belong. The average densities for the districts have has received huge numbers of in· migrants mostly been kept in the middle of t he statement.

STATEMENT II. 13

Density of popUlation in police stations

Police stations below district averag'~ District average Police stations above district average 2 3

DARJEELING-·254 Sukhiapokri J22 Pulbazar 300 Rangli RangJiot J68 DurjceJing 784 Kulimpong 168 Jore Bunglow 281 Gorubathan 72 Mirik 293 Kurseong 219 SiJiguri 769 Naxalbari 246 Kharibari 312 Phansidewa 230 27

STATEMENT 1I. 13

1 2 3 --.4 JALPAIGURI-280 Rajganj 202 Jalpaiguri 432 Maynaguri 247 Mal 306 Nagrakata 239 Mitiali 296 Madarihat 226 Dhubguri 385 Kalchini 15t Birpara 304 Kumargram 193 Falakata 411 Alipur Dunr 392

COOCH BEH AR -418 HaldiiJari 282 Cooch Behar 50S Mekliganj 273 Dinhata 529 Mathabhanga 362 Sitalkuchi 364 Tufanganj 413 Sitai 323

WEST DINAJPUR-357

Chopra 268 Islampur 388 GoaJpokhar 313 ChakaJia 365 Karandighi 314 Raiganj 431 Hcmtabad 324 KaJiaganj 393 KlIshmundi 306 Balurghat 508 Hahar 334 HUIi 494 Bangshihari 291 Gangarampur 353 Kumarganj 30t Tapan 276

MALDA-434

Gajole 279 Harish chandrapur 457 Bamangola 324 Kharba 483 Habi.bpur 285 Ratua 490 Maida 314 English Bazar 718 Manikchak .oJ Kaliachak 668

MURSHIDABAD-550

Sagardighi 383 Farrakka 737 1122 Bhagwangola 492 Shamsherganj 625 Raninagar 486 Suli 767 Murshidabad 535 Raghunathsanj 556 Nabagram 345 LalsoJa 896 Khararam 443 Jiaaanj 28

STATEMENT n. 13

i 2 3

Burwan 494 Beldanga 693 Kandi 544 Berhampur 729 Bharatpur 533 Hariharpata 460 Nawada 451 Domka1 491 Jalangi 422

NADIA~ -568

Karimpur 417 Krishnagar 667 418 Nabadwip 1542 Kaliganj 462 Santipur 744 Nakasipara 442 Ranaghat 705 Chapra 437 Chakdah 783 Krishnaganj 455 Kalyani 746 Hanskhali 465 Haringhata 568

TWENTY FOUR PARGANAS- -612 Bagdah 441 Habra 983 Bongaon 600 Deganga 661 Gaighata 550 Rajarhat 1252 Amdanga 592 1031 Canning 400 Bijpur 4371 Basanti 332 3129 Jaynagar 595 Jagatdal 4413 Kultali 332 Noapara 8620 Kulpi 583 Barrackpore 3012 Mathurapur 341 Titagarh 7067 33,1 Khardah 4562 Kakdwip 268 Belghoria 15457 Sagore 157 Baranagar 15657 Namkhana 355 Dum Durn 7598 Swarupnagar 564 Garden Reach J1962 Haroa 500 Metiabruz 7499 Manakhan 576 3131 Ha;mabad 558 Behala 5761 Sandeshkhali 470 Jadavpur 3851 29

STATEMENT II. I3

2 3 1 --- HingaIganj 502 Bhangar 323 Gosaba 379 Sonarpur 1109 Bishnupur 1131 Budge Budge 1651 Baruipur 891 Magrahat 1053 Falta 1047 Diamand Harbour 999

Mandirbazar 922 Baduria 753

Basirhat 889

HOWRAH-1640

Domejur 1629 Bally 3330 panchla 1625 Liluah 1735 Jagat-baUavpur 970 Howrah-city 11998 1000 Sankrail 2235

Amta 981 Bowria 3405

Bagnan 1190 U]uberia 1281 Shampur 821

HOOGHLY-913 Goghat 442 Pursurah 963 Arambagh 583 Mogra 1851

Khanakul 799 Chinsurah 3647 Dhaniakhali 628 Tarakeswar 939 Panduah 553 Singur pIS Batagarh 576 Bhadreswar 3308 Polba 491 Chandernagore 7789 Dadpur 514 Chandita]a 1313 Haripal 770 Serampore 4240 Jangipara 732 Uttarpara 4973-

BURDWAN-557

Salanpur 431 Chittaranjan 1980 Barabani 412 Kulti 1,776

Faridpur 387 Hirapur ·1,680 30

STATEMENT H. 13

1 2 3

Kaksa 276 Asansol 2,562 Bud Bud 296 611 Ausgram 300 Raniganj 1,424 Galsi 403 Onda! 1,071 Khandaghosh 404 Durgapur .),271 Raima 4H) Burdwan 73& Jamalpur 531 Katwa 634 Memari 510 Kalna '13 Bhatar 371 Mongalkote 424 Ketugram 456 Monteswar 440 Purblsthali 529

BTRBHlfM-390

Muhammad Bazar 256 Muraroi "3~- Rajnagar 220 Nalhati (75

Khoyrasole 328 Rampurhat -460·

Dubrajpur 325 Mayureshwat 420 IIIambazar 326 Suri 450 Sainthia 411 BalplIr 409' Labhpur 419- Nanoor 402

Bt\NKURA-295

Mejhia Sa]tara 267 310 Bankura 539 Borjora 290 Ganghajalgati 288 Indpur 304

Chhatna 268 Bishnupur 304 Patrasair 309 Onda 262 331 Khatra 270 Joypur Indas 376 Ranibandh 180 Kotalpur 401 Raipur 277

SimJapal 243

Taldangra 219 279 31 ------_._------_.. _._ .. __ . _. __ ------2 3 -----_._.. _------'---~

MIDNAPORE-401

Binpur 204 Sa bang 424 Jamboni 211 Pingla 426 Jnargram 222 Kharagpur Town 4,831 Gopiballavpur 264 Debra 440 Sankrail 245 Midnaporc 472 163 Nayagram GhataJ 642 Mohanpur 379 Daspur 718 Datan 383 775 Kcshiari 258 Moyna 754 Narayangarh 307 Tamluk 97J Kharagpur 308 Mahisadal 693 Kcshpur 319 Sulahata 502 Salhani 179 Nandigram 528 Garhheta 243 Bhagwanpur 599 Chandrakona 401 Patashpur 483 Khcjri 316 Egra 456 Ramnagar 554

Digha 483 C()ntai 571

PU RULIA-256

Baghmundi 157 Jhalda 286 Barabazar 232 Jaipuf 276 Santuri 250 Arsha 299 Hum 2J3 BaJarampur 276 Punch a J59 Puruiia MutlasiJ 289 Manbazar 238 PlIrulia Town 4,143 Banduan 155 Para 327

Raghunathpur 349 Neturia 284 Kashipur 277

------~----.------_.-_ -0 • ______••• ___•••• _____•••• ______• ______•• _____

It is almost axiomatic that the poJice stations ties of population than in the purely agricultural which have sizeable urban populations or which are police stations. However, the pattern of urbanisation in industrialy advanced are likely to have higher densi- the state is such that there is hardly any police station 32 beyond the Calcutta and A~am,ol~ Durgapur industrial Variations of denSity among policc stations in belts which may he termed "industri3)". But. as \Vc:-t Dinajpur, 100. are not noticeably sharp. The already ~tat(',L density for a particular unit of area highest density in a police station is found in Balur­ will depend on the degree of concentration of pOpll~ ghat (:7,OX) which is just above 40(,~;J ahove the district lation in it. An entirely rural area which has fcrtik aVera!~e. Balurghat has a sizeahle urban population. soil police stations. 'This stations of the district. Density is high and rar above is evidently duc to the cxtcmivc forests and tea plan­ the distril.:t average in ali the police stations of Jan~i­ tations in many of them. Towns an~ only a fevv' pur sub-division except Sagardighi. Po] icc station in number in the district and in none of them popu­ Samserganj in this sub-division has the highest density lation is big enough to push up the total density for a police station in the district (1122). 'The den..,i­ ar>prcciably in any of thc police stations. tics in the other police stations of the area, namely, Farakka (737), Raghunathganj (767) and Suti (625) In ("oo(;h Behar avcrage density for the district c)l.ceed the district average hy about ] 5(~{) to 40{~<',. is 418. Six of the police stat ions arc below the The alluvial soil of the area proximity to the average and only two, namely, Cooch Behar (505) perennial river, a number of urban centres (one in and Dinhata (529) arc ahove tht~ average. As in the each police station) and a fairly prosperous industrial district of JaJpaiguri, thc highcst density for a police activity, though on a household scale are same of station i!'. not f:lr above the district average. The the factors that have made the police stations into a lowest density (273) which is observed in .Mekliganj compact thickly populated area. Sagardighi which is is not also far below thc average for the district. in the southern and of the sub-division has a Jow 33 density of 383 which is actually the s.econd lowest consequently in density per unit area. for any police station in the district. Moving Density variation between police stations is the sb ar... further south Jaiganj in Lalbagh subdIvision is pest in Twentyfour J>arganas. But it followli a definite found to have the second highest density of pattern in the district. In the newly settled areas of 896 which is due largely to the urban centre of the Sundarbaos and the deltas population is sparse in Jiaganj-Azimganj. Berhampore (729) and Beldanga all the police stations. Density is as l,ow as J57 in (693) are the two other police stations with Sagore and is below 400 per km2 in the other areas fairly high densities. Apart from being located in a like Kakdwip (268), Namkhana (355). Patharpatima rich agricultural zone, the two police stations have (j31), Mathurapur (341), Gosaba ,(379). Basanti sizeable urban population which has also pushed up (332) and Kultali (332). it rises gradually as the their densities. police stations are closer to the Calcutta Industrial Although endowed with a fertile soil aod a fairly Belt. In Police Stations like Bonpon. Giaghata and prosperous agricultural economy, the police stations Amdanga which are largely rural and are located of Kandi subdivision arc all below the district average just beyond the metropolitan area density is close to in density. But the entire subdivision is quite thickly the district average of 612. In Bongaon the density popUlated and density is not far below the district is 600 inspite of the fairly large urban population. average in the police stations. In police stations Out of 51 police stations of the district as many Kandi and Bharatpur the density is in fact almost 30 are above the average density. There is again a equal to the average being 544 and 533 re~pectively. very wide variation among these 30. Even in police Baring Nabagram On Lalbagh ~ubdivision) where stations like (999), Mandirbazar density is the lowest (345) among police stations ( 922), Baduria (753) and Basirhat (889) which and Sagardighi which has a slightly higher figure of are largely agricultural and where the urban compo· 38:' all lhe other police stations of the district have nent of the population is not quite large, density is fairly high density varying between 422 (in Jalangi) very high. In the heart of the industrial bell, and 535 (in Murshidabad). however, density is staggermg and ranges between Moving clostr towards the centre of the central 3,012 (Barrackpore) and 15,657 (Baranagar). In the Gangehi p1ains One finds the density of population all-urban police stations of Garden Reach, Belgoria and going up gradually. In Nadia it is 568 to the square Baranagar the density fjgures have crossed 10,000. kilometer for the district. Barring Haringhata P. S. In the last named p. s. censity is 15,657 which is the which has tht~ same density as the district as a whole highest for any police station in the state. BeJghoria the police stations of Nadia are equalJy divided in the ( 15,457) is almost at par with Baranagar. Garden two ranges of density, below or above average. As Reach (J 1,962) does not also lag far behind. Even statement JI.] 4 shows, the police stations which are in the largely rural police stalions of Sonarpur and below average density are those which have no urban Barasat density is above 1,000 mainly the new resi­ popUlation. There is little variation in density hetween dential settlements which have come up due to the these seven police stn tions the lowest is 417 per km2 proximity of the core city of Calcutta. The figures in Karimpur and the highest is 465 in Hanshkhali. speak of the increasingly heavy pressure on land in On the other hand, the police stations in the • 'above the areas average" range of density are all fairlY urbanised. Tn As already observed, density is the bighest and P. S. Nabadwip density is the highest (1,542). This pressure of population the heaviest in the district of is because of the large urban population of Howrah. Eight out of its 13 police stations are Nabadwip town - 94.204 which is about 60% of below the district average (1,640). Domejur (l ,629) the total population of the police station and a and Panchla (1,625) are very close to the average. very high urban density. The other police stations The former has a sizeable urban population which of the range are Krishnagar (667), Santi pur {744}, has pushed the density figure upward considerably. Ranaghat (705), Chakdah (783) and Kalyani (746). But ciensity in the latter is very high even though the As we shall see Jater in the chapter on the urban police station is almost entirely rural. Howrah city population, the degree of urbanisation is higher in which has also reached a near saturation point Hnke those police stations of the district which are close to Calc':.Jt~!i accommodates as many as 11 ,998 persons or on the periphery of the Calcutta metropolitan per square km. area. Apart from urbanisation large scale settlement Calcutta or Howrah city is fully saturated in of displaced persons from erstwhile East Pakistan in terms of population the entire district of Howrah has the rural areas of these police stations is also a factor likewise reached a point when it can hardly bear any contributing to a sharp rise in population and more population even in its rural areas. As much 34 as large culti vable land in the district has already district average of 3(.0 the highest density for a police come under the plough and there is little s~ope for station is 488 in Murarai. Rajnagar and Muham­ any further extension of agriculture. Nowhere else madbazar are the only police stations where denesity in the state is the pressure as high or tense as in is abnormalJy low and far below the district average, Howrah. With the ncar-stagnant cop-dition in the the fIgures being 220 and 256 respectively. The industrial st'ctor in the district as also in the state remaining police stations do not deviate much on at large the district was placed as in 1971 in an either side, from the average. Density is relatively unenviable situation. high in those police stations which have a thriving As in Howrah, there is a wide variation of den­ agriculture. Rampurhat( 460), Suri (450), Mayureswar sity conditions in the police stations of Hooghly also. (420), Labhpur (419), (409) and Sainthia The district as a whole is very thickly populated with (411) wh ieh are all on the wrong side of the average 913 persons to the square kilometer. But density are instances in point. in the non-industrial agricultural police stations like Almost the same pattern is ob<;erved in the district Goghat. Polba and Dadpur etc is very low and of Bankura. As in Rirbbum, the police stations varies between 442 in Goghat and 583 III Arambagh. in Bankura, too) are close to the district averagt of In six other police stations density is somewhat den~ity with a few exceptions. Population in tbe higher t'ut still at a retatively low level. the highest thinnest in the police stations of Ranihandh and being 7S>8 which is also appceciably below the district Jalangra, density being 180 and 219 respectively. average Undulating rocky soil, extensIve forest areas snd H00ghly is one district where agriculture has chronic scan tv of rainfall and water have prevenfed flourished along side industry. In the industrialised Jarge scale settlement of population in the area. police stations like Chandernagore. lJttarpara, Seram­ Police station Bankura, on the other hand, is the only pore etc. density is uniformly very high, the unit where density is very high (539) compared to highest being 7,789 per km2 in Chandernagore. In the district average· It is obviously due to the large the ,olice stations of Tarakeswar ()39), Singur (IJ 151, urban population in the district headquarters and the Pursurah (903) and Mogra (I ,8~1) there is thriving favourable agricultural conditions in the police agriculture and density is also quite high. station Kotalpur (401) which has a rrosrl'r()US Burdwan is akin to Hooghly in many respects. agriculture is the only other police station where Density is only moderate (557, in the district. But density exceeds 400. density variation at the police station level is as pro· In Midnapore again demity is found tu flucluate nounced as in Hooghly. Inspite of the recent advances sharply between police stations. As already ohser~ in agricultural method.;; and production over large ved, the \\e<;fern and s:)uth-we~tern parts of the areas of Burdwan density is still at a low level 1Il dIstrict constil ute a zone of low density. The police police stations like Kaksa (2i6). Ausgram (300). stalinns in the ~uh-region are mostly in the below and Bhatar (3 "'I). Sixteen out of 2 7 police station~ of average range, the lowest density being in Nayagram the district are below the average in density. On the (16.1). At its highest density shoots up to 971 in other hand the industrial police stations of A,ansol, police station Tamluk. It is remarkable that density Durgarur, Chittaranj:lO etc., which arc compri::;('d i, at a uniformly high level in most police ~tatjon of within the A<;ansol~DurgaPllr induI,triaI belr are .dl Tamluk and Contai subdivisions. TamJuk suhdivi­ in the above average range. D~nsit.Y goes up to sion is however Illore density populated than Contai. 2,5«: ill Asansol. II is ! 9:;0 in Chi:taranjan The Tn the latter densilY varies between 456 (in Egra P.S.) agricultural police stations of Katwa (634) and and 59\l (in Bhagawanpur) while the highest for a Kalna (613) also have relatively high density he­ police station in the former is 971 in Tamluk and C:lUse of [he rrcsence of some urhan population cacho the lowe<;t is 502 in Sutahata. In Kharagpur Town of police stations of the district are yet MI)sr the which is an all-urban police station and is a class by relatively thinly populated. There is still some scope itself density as high as 4,831. In Purulia, the for extension of agriculture especially as irrigation westernmost district of the state, variation in density facilities arc available over extell~ive areas. Con­ among pol icc stat ion is mini mal Density is uni­ sequently there is scope for redistribution of popu­ formly low throughout the district, for the conditions Jation in many areas. of soil, ciima!e, rainfall and the terrain are uniformly There is no significant variation in density among unfavourable in all the police stations. Nevertheless the police stations of Birbhum. As against the Baghmundi (157), Banduan (ISS), and Puncha (l59) 35 are the only three rolice station.; which deviate the (residences) or establishments such as shops, work­ most from the disl riet average. The terrdin js rocky shops, factories, etc., or as godowns, stores, cattle­ and hilly, scarcity (If water is chronic and conditions sheds etc. or in combination with any of these such of hUl11an settlerne:H are the most unfavourable in as, shop-cum-residence, or worshop-cum-residence, etc. these police stations. " ...... Sometimes as series of different buildings may Looking at the western plateau region as a whole he found along a street which are joined with one density variation betwec:n police station appears to a nother by com mon walls on either side Jooking like be or al ml)st the Sclme pattern as in the North Bengal a continuous structure. These different units are region. r he entire tract barring the eastern part of practically independent of one another and likely to Mijnapore is spar,ely populated and density does h ave been built at different times and owned by not deviate appreciably from the average in most different persons. .In such cases though the whole areas of the districts. There is. of course, a ditfe­ structure with all the adjoining units apparently renee in the condilions obtaining in the two regions arpears to be one building, each portion should be which had their influence relative density. Except tr~ated .ts separate building and given separate for Himalayan and sub-Himalayan regions in the number. north the terrain and soil in the North Bengal district have heen favourable to growth of human settle­ j' .•.••. If there are more than one structure within ments. But the same cannot be said of the western an enclosed or open compound (premises) belonging plateau \,,-,hich has consequently remained sparsely to the same person e.g., the main house, the servant', populated through (he decades. quarters, the ,arage etc. only one building number should be given for this group and \:ach of the con.. ('ensus houses and households stituent separate structures assigned a sub-number Having examined how the population is distri" like 1(1),1(2), 1(3),and so on provided th~e buted over the lanJ we m \y now turn over attention structures satisfy the definition of a 'Census House' to the houses where the people actuallv reside and given hereafter. how the individuals haVe formed into households. " •••... A '·Census House" IS building or part of a N umbering of hOllses is an essential preparatory building having a separate main entrance from the 'Step f.lr the ccnsu:-; of popUlation. for the individuals road or common court-yard or staircase etc, used or are to he identified and counted wIth reference to recognised as a separate unit. It may be inhabited theIr place of residence and the hou<;ehold to which or vacant. It may be used for a residential or non­ they belonged. An exception has. of course, to be residential purpose or both. made for a lwuseless ll1dividual who will of necessIty he identified by the households only. " .•.... If a building has a number of flats or blocks The defintion of a "house" has undergone changes Which are independent of one another having separate during the Ja'it 100 years of census in the country. entrances of their own from the road or a In 196 I and again in 1l)71 house-numbering has common stair-case or a common court-yard been more than a pr;~raratory operation for the leading to a main gate, they will be considered population count; it was a CI)m plcte census of all as sr.parate census houses. If within a large houses, vacant or occupied, irrespective of the use enclosed area there are separate buildings, then each tht!y arc put to. It may he worthwhile to quote the such building will be one or more separate census 197 J instructions on census houses and hous;cholds. houses. If all the structures within an enclosed com­ pound afe together treated as one building then each "' ...... The huilding is a readily distinguishable struc- structure with a separate entrance should be treated ture or group of structures which is taken as the unit as a separate census house. for housenumbering. The entire building III Jy be

deemed one census house or sometimes parts of it, H •. " ••• Each census house should be numbered. If a as will be explained. The ohjective is to ultimately building by itelf is a single census house, then t.he num~er ~l nd list out all physicaJ units of construc­ number of the census house is the same as the build­ tions which are used for different purpose, residen­ ing ~~umber. But if different parts or constituent tial or otherwise. lI:1its of a building qualify to be treated as separate " •••... A l'building" is generally a single structure CCilSUS houses, each censu~ house should be given a but sometimes made up of more than one component subnumber within brackets to the building number as unit, which are used or likely to be used as dwellings 10 0), 10 (2) etc., or 11 (1), 11 (2) I) (3), etc." 36

physical aspects of houses.. We will examine, in 't ••••••. A household is a group of persons who comm­ only live together and would take their meals from a short, compositions of households etc. in the following. common kitchen unless the exigencies of work paragraphs. prevented any of them fr(,ID doing so. There may be 'one member householdr two-member h0use" Houses. households and population by districts bold or multi-member hausehold'. For census West Bepgal had a total of 7,472.4.16 occupied purpose each one of these types is regarded as a~ rcsideIJtial houses in 197 L The number of house­ "Household". Again, there may be a household of holds, exclpding the houseless and institutiona), was persons related by blood of household of unrelated 8,035,175. This gives 1,075 households per 1,000 persons; the latter are Boarding Houses, HostelsJ Resi­ houses. dential Hotels, Orphanage, Rescue Homes, Ashrams A little less than a lakh persons \ 9 4,43 3, to be etc. These are called 'Institutional Households". exact were counted as houseless in 197 I in ~Vest Individuals who have no bouse to live in are Bengal. The institutional population was 341.3 I 6 .. "bouseless"; but H~ey c~)fistitute nev'ertheless into The number of persons who lives in the 'j 47 million households as by definition. They may live in pave­ residential houses. therefore, comeS to 43.88 million. ments or parks or in public buildings such as temples Thus the average household consisted of 5.46 persons or in improvised sheeks at construction sites or under for the state. The statement below shows the the"open sky.. Ihey are termed as "houseless house .. houses, households and population in the state and holds", A separate r.eport has been published on the itsd istricts. STATEMENT II.14 Number of Houses, Households and population in West Bengal and Districts

Households Population Households Average size .' of households Occupied (excluding (excluding house- per 1,000 houseIess and less and institu- houses State/Di~trict residential houses institutional) tional) 6 3 4 5 1 z 1,0'75 5.46 7,472,436 8.035,775 43,876,262 WEST BENGAL 1,109 5.61 125,213 138,830 778-.366 Darjleeing 1,041 5.1S 332 698 335,975 1,738.920 Jalpaist,:Jri ." t 1.410.569 1,039 5.58 Cooch Behar 243)399 252,909 1,034 5.52 324,976 336.062 1,855,346 5.95 West Dinajpur 270,154 1.608,398 1,042 MaIda 259.265 5.77 480.361 570,823 2,932,107 1,057 Murshidabad 1,033 5.76 373,586 385,797 2,221,024 Nadia 1,180 4.93 1,446,013 1,705.636 8,416,556 Twentyfour Parganas ],102 5.35 407,290 448.828 2,402,704 Howrah 1,048 5.61 485.688 508 956 2,855,871 Hooghly 5.37 679;116 722,2781 3,878,935 1,064 Burdwan 5.62 314,639 ,1,769.677 1,042 Birbhun:r 302,010 361,793 2,024,034 1.042 559 Bankura 347,364 1,063 6.18 Midnapore 837,076 890,150 5,496,708 1,005 5.62 purulia 281,903 283,330 1,593,648 1.029 5.05 Calcutta 556,478 572,615 2.893.4<'13 There are 1075 housejoholds for every 1000 houses contradicts the general observation that crowding i5i the greatest in, the metropolis. This may be explained in West Bengal which only confirms that a number of partly by the possible human error in application housebolds have to share houses not only in urban of the definition in the field. Tbjs may also be attri­ areas but in rural areas too. A look at the district­ buted tbe prevalent arrangement of d\\-elling units wise figures wi11 immediatelY reveal that the average tb number in Twentyfour Parganas (1180), Howrab (1102) in the "bustees" of the city whkh contained about a and Darjeeling (1109) is greater than the state average third of the total households and allowed scope for due obviously to more crowding in their urban areas. inflation of the number of census houses. The It is'interesting that there are 1029 households only district of Purulia seems to be the best pla~ in per 1000 houses in Calcutta city whic/h apparently respect with 1005. hOU1!;'0Ido; only p~r 1000 hOLl,\~S. It has to be household size in Jalpaiguri also. In Calcutta the aver­ noted however, that no definite pJ.ttern emerges age household comprises 5.05 persons only. Sex ratio as to the degree of crowding as measured by the in the city is low (618), famities arc nuclear among ratio of number of household to number of houses. a large section of the middle classes, institutional and But to the !liocial scientist or planners the more houseless population is quite sizeable. In this back­ important consideration is the number of rooms per ground it is only natural that the average size of household, the materials of which the housing unit is households should be small in the city district. made and the services and amenities that arc a vail­ Fertility which is an important determinant of the able to the household. The fir.;t two asrect:-; were household size is yet to affect appreciably the house­ ciealt with in som~ dpt::lil in th,~ H()lIsj,,!?' Hf'!'o,·t hold sile in Calcutta or in any othe-r di,trict. for An important index of the demographit: and social fertility has remainrd largely stable over the years. situation is, however, avajlable from the foregoing Movement of the population and its nature appear staternent. This is the average size or the house­ to be the main factor to be reckoned with. holds which is discussed in the next section Household size is the largest (6.18) in Midnapur which is a purely agrarian \.li~trict. It is larger than Size of households the state average abo in the other districts of the Western plateau namely, Birbhum (5.621, Jiankura A statement I l. 14 indicates, the average (5.59) and Purulia (5.62). In Murshidabad and hou~eh()]d in West Bengal consists of').46 persons. Nad ia, and all the districts of northLril Bengal Distridwise, the avcr(1,ge size of a household i" tl'C' except Jalpaiguri-which are known to be area.s of smallest in Twentyfour Pa.rganas (4.93) which is evi­ rural over population-the household size exceeds dently due to the concentration of big inoustrial units the state average. in the urban arcas of the district and the very large number of in-migrant labourers who have mostly Households and Institutional population left behind their families ill the vjjJa[e homes. A defil1itc trend towards nuclear families especially Out of a total population of 44.3 million 94,433 amongst the urban middle classes is an important were enumerated in 1971 as houseless in \Vest factor that has made for smaller size of hou~eholds, Bengal. This means 21 persons in every 10,000 had in the district where the degree of urbanisal ion is no house to live in. The statement below (No. II. 15) high. As in Twentyfour Parganas or Howrah immigrant gives districtwise break-up of the houseless people labour (in the plantation) has restricted the HVer?ge and also shows the position in the cities of the state.

STATl::.M.l:.N T IJ.l5

Houseless households in Districts and Cities of W~st Bengal.

Unit No. of House- No. of houseless No. of house- No. of houseless less house Population persons. per 1000 Cities less house Population persons. per 1(01) holds holds persons persons -_. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Cities West Bengal 46,309 94,433 2.1

Darjeeling 276 537 0.6 Bhatpra

Jalpaiguri 745 2.248 1.2 Panihati l3 6 N

Cooch Behar 571 1,438 1.0 KaIl1arhati 453 937 4.9

West Dinajpur 473 1,514 0.8 Bamnagar 153 319 2.3 MaIda 499 855 0.5 S~)uth Dum Dum 120 259 1.4 Murshidabad 911 1.94 L OJ; Garden Reach - - Nadia 829 1,939 0.8 South Subarban 40 83 0.3 38

STAT EME NT II. t 5 Contd _.... _-_ J 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 ---~-. -- '~----~--'-~-~-~ ... -~,--,~.~.--- .. -~~- ---- Twentyfour-parganas 3.427 7,(190 0.8 Calcutta 28202 48,802 15,04 Howrah 1,595 3.022 1.2 Howrah 570 1,074 1.4 Hooghl y 2,897 fI,232 2.1 H ooghl y-Chinsura 40 75 0.7 Durdwan 3.350 13,552 3.4 Serarnpore J 79 33 3.2 Birbhum 1\21 1,270 0.7 Burdwan 545 J ,037 11.4 Bankura , 79 1,305 0.6 Asansol 100 300 2.0 Midnapore 806 J ,754 0.3 Durgapur 112 336 1.6 purulia 428 934 0.5 Kharagpur 40 J04 0.9 Calcutta 28.202 48,802 15.4 ------.- N-Stands for neghible.

Every district has its share of houseless persons area has only 6. The cities of the state (including who are seen to be distributed all over the state. Calcutta) taken together account for a little over 54,000 of the houseless people. Darjeeling has the smlllest houseless population of 537 only. With a large houseless p::lpulation of As the statement indicates. the average houseless 48.802 Calcutta accounts for a little more than hou ehold in the state consists of 2,03 persons. The averagc fluctuatc".; in an irregular manner half of the st:ltc tot a l. The number of hou ,eless in the districts. In Burdwan the SIze is double p~ople in BurJwan (13,552) j, also quite large and the statc avcrage. In the North Bengal districts is, in f.lct, the s~cond lar:;;cst fx any district. Tw~nty­ of JalpaigurL West Dinajpur and Cooch Behar. four Parg:lllds, Hooghly and Howrah also certain too. the average household is relatively bigger than in other part of the state. In Jalpaiguri and West sizeable numbers of the houselesl people, their Dinajpur the average is 3.2 and 3.0 respectively while respective shares being 7,090, 6,232 and 3,022. in the third district it is 2.5. It is interesting to observe that besides Calcutta As in the districts the size of houseless household no other city in the st:.l.te is 10J.d~d with any heavy burden of houselcss per.lons. In the contex.t of the is irre;ular in the cities also. In Calcutta the socio-economic conditions of West Bengal and the average size is 1.7 only while in Burdwan city a neighbouring states it is only n:ltural that a metro­ housele:is household consists of 3 persons which politan city like Calcutta will be the" sheltel" of follow3 the pattern for the district as a whole. a large h'Jusele:is population w;lich consists not only It is an interesting coincidence that in the two other of beggar:i and vagrants but also of vendors, citie.; of the district. namely, Durgapur and Asansol, oaders, transport worker:; (mostly rickihaw and too the houseless households consist of 3 persons on hand cart pullers) and. other low-income workers an average. who provide the city dwellers with miscellaneous Institutional population services. Besides Calcutta, Burdwan is the only city in which a large proportion of its residents has The number of persons enumerated in the insti­ no roof over them, as many as 114 out of every tutions in West B~ngal totalled 341.316 residing in 10,000 persons in the small city being hou'ieless. 59,784 in'ititutional households. Institutional popu­ In Calcutta the proportion is still higher-154 in lation, therefore, accounts for 0.77 per cent of the 10,000. In Bhatpara and Garden Reach, two population of the state. Statement 11.16 below industrial cities located very close to the Calclltta shows the institutional population and households metropolitan core, there is no houseless person in the districts and the cities of the state. while Panihati, another city in the metropolitan 39

STATEMENT II.16

Institutional hous~holds in Districts and Cities of West Bengal

No. of persons in State/District! No. of lnsti· No. of persons State/Districtl No. of Insti­ tutional Institution per C't tutional Populatl'on in Institution City households Population I y households per ) 000 persons 1000 persons

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Cities West Bengal 59,184 341,316 7.7 Bhatpara 4 33 0.1 Districts 0.9 Darjeeling 423 2,874 3.6 Panihati 17 146 Jalpaiguri ) ,452 8.991 5.1 Kamarhati 8 71 0.4 Coach Behar 327 2,176 1.5 Baranagar 89 753 5.5 West Dinajpur 471 3,027 1.6 South Dum Dum 45 398 2.2 Maida 542 3,408 2.1 Garden Reach 3 24 0.1 Murshidabad 1,511 6,156 2.0 South Subarb an 60 527 1.9 Nadia ],318 7,307 3.2 Calcutta 34,440 206,541 65.5 Twentyfour-Parganas 3.499 25,836 3.0 Howraa 762 5,426 7.3 10.9 Howrah 1,798 11,5tiO 4.7 Hooghly· 172 t,152 Chinsura Hooghly 1,768 10,013 3.4 Serampur 78 523 5.1 3,991 27.8 Burdwan 5,967 23,687 6.0 Burdwan 994 6.4 Birbhum 1,173 4,962 2.7 Asansol 252 ],002 5.9 Bankura 1,420 5,700 2.8 Durgapur 304 1,220 1.8 Midilapore 2,195 10,785 ].9 Kharagpur 143 577 Purulia ],480 8,293 5.1 Calcutta 34.440 206,541 65.5

The city district of Calcutta alone has as mlny The total institutional population in the fifteen as 206,541 persons Jiving in institutions. That is. as cities of the state including Calcutta is 222,] 01 which much as 6.55 per cent of the city's p.Jpulation belonged works out to about 65 Yo of the state total. Leav­ to its institutions. C_t.lcutta, therefore accounts for ing aside Calcutta the institutional population about 60 of the in.;titutbnl1 pO;lulation of the state. appears to be dispersed through-out the state. The The districts around Calcutta, namely Twentyfour average institutional households consist of 5.7 persons. Parganas, Howrah and Hooghly as also Burdwan The size of institutional households is considerably big have large institutional population each. Twenty four in the North Bengal districts and also in the Parganas heads the list with 25,836 persons, districts surrounding Calcutta. In Twentyfout followed by Burdwan with 23,687. Parganas, for example, an average house­ hold consists of 7 persons. In Cooch Behar also Looking at the cities Howrah is found to have it is of the same size. The average size is approxi­ the largest institutional population (5,426) besides mately 6 in Jalpaiguri, West Dinajpur and Halda Calcutta. The institutional population is sizeable in and also in Hooghly and Howrah. In the districts the cities of Burdwan (3,991), Durgapur (1,220) of the western belt, namely, Birbhum, Bankura and and Asansol (1,002), all in district Burdwan and also M:dnapore there are about 4 persons only per institu­ in Hooghly-Chinsura (1, 152). It is significant that tional household. Purulia is the only district in this in the industrial cities of Twentyfour Parganas region where the average institutional household such as Bhatpura, Panihati, Karnarhati etc. the exceeds S persons. number of institutional population is insignificant. Chapter III

GROWTH OF POPULATION

West Bengal had a population of 34,926,279 111 2 3 1961. In 1971 the population reached 44,312,011 which means a decadal percentage variation of +2.867 10 26.87%. During the same period the growth rate* Madhya Pradesh for the country as a whole was 24.80%. The rates Maharastra +27.45 12 of growth for the states and union territories are Manipur +37.53 ...') shown in the statement below. Meghalaya + 31.50 6 Mysore +24.22 ]6 Nagaiand +39.88 STATEMENT I1I.1 Orissa +25.05 15 Decennial Growth Rate of Population-India and the Punjab +21.70 19 states and union territories (1961-71) Rajasthan +27.83 1 1 Sikkim +29.38 9 India/State/ Decennial growth rate Tamil Nandu + 22.30 13 Union Territory (1961-1971) Ranking Tripura +36.28 3 U Har Pradesh + 19.78 22 1 2 3 ---,_._------West Bengal +26.87 ]3 India +24.80 Union Territories Slates Andaman & Nicobar Islands +81.17

Andhra Pradesh +20.90 21 Arunachal Pradesh +38.91 Assam +34.71 Chandigarh + 114.59 +27.96 Bihar +21.33 20 Dadra & Nagar Havcli Gujarat +52.93 +29.39 8 Delhi +36.88 Haryana +32.23 5 Goa, Daman & Diu Himachal Pradesh -+ 23.04 17 Laccadive, Minicoy & Jammu and Kashmir +29.65 7 Amindivi Islands +31.95 IC.eraJa +26.29 ., Pondicherry -+ 27.81 ~~_;...------. --".-•... -.~... __ ... , '---

-For the sake of convenience of presentation "Growth rate" has been treated to be the same as decadal percentage variation.

The rate of growth can more appropriately te measured by the formula P 1971=P 1961 (1 +roo ) t where P is the population.

r is the annual rate of change rCJccnt ad t .is tJ-.e oret m IT,hr of yesrs tetwccn tl:e t"o years of census. The annual percentago growth of West Bengal, computed in this manner comes to 24.109. 41

The grovrth rates in the umon territories cannot STATEMENT IlI.1 (a) reasonably he compared with rates of growth in the States with gro'l"th rlltes higher tban in 1961 states, for some of the former arc almost completely Country/Stale Growth rare e:.) urban areas and some others are very small territories ------19-()1 ~ ..ii-- ··--.----19~~ 1-(;1 wit h small populations and have been given the status India 24.XO 21.52 of independent administrative units on considerations Andhra Pradesh 20.90 15.65 of political and administrative expediency only. 29.39 2(iJ!!{ For example, Chandigarh, which is :-.ecl1 to have Gujarat 17.87 registered the phenomenal growth of about 400<: () Himachal Pradesh 2H14 9.44 during the decade, is just a small city. The capital Jammu & Kashmi r 29.65 24.22 21.57 dty of New Delhi with some rural areas in its Karnataka 2ti.29 24.76 fringes makes the union territory of Delhi and Kefala 24.17 Clnnot be strictly comparable to the bigger states. Madhya Pradesh 2S.67 The union territoric ..;; have not. thererore, been Maharashtr3 27.45 23.60 g,1\cn any ranking in terms of growth rates in the 27.03 Meghalaya 31.50 above statement. Nagaland 39.88 14.07 J9.82 Orissa 25.05

We:-.t Bengal ranked ninth in terms of growth Tamil Nadu 22.30 11.85 ratc for the last decade. Nagaland had the highest Uttar Pradesh 19.78 16.6() l ' . "I I growtll ot 39.88 io followed by Assam (34.71 (>~J). -- Haryana (32.2YX,) and Jammu Kashmir (29.65 (/~). It is evident that most of the major states appear Sikkim which was given the status of a state only in the above list. The question may naturally be asked why the decadal growth in West Bengal which recently had the ]owest growth rate of 29.38%,. had registered very high figures in two successive Among the bigger states lJttar Pradesh (19. 78~1{,) decades 1941-51 and 1951-6 J should come down was the only one where the decadal growth was in 1971 especiallY since one of the neighbouring less than 20 per cent. states, namely, Bihar recorded a low growth late of 21.3 3 f:,~) whereas another neighbour. Assam .showed a considerablY higher growth, viz .• 34.71 ~/o. Two It will be seen that the growth rate of popula­ factors wen~ evidently at work. Firstly, both West Bcnc;al and As!-.am have borders with tion in West Bengal is now more or less on the Bangladesl; and Bihar has not. And it is well same Jine as that of other states. The growth rate known that in-migratiom from across the inter­ of the state continues, nevertheless, to be higher than national borders into West Bengal as weU as Assam the all-India average although it is considerably has been an almost concinuous process. I_Secondly. the industrial complexes in and arou119 Calcutta as lower than in 1961 (32.80.(/~,). Assam and Haryana also in Asansol-Durgapur have been a perennial are two states in which the high growth rates of attraction for in-migrants from the states of Bihar, the earlier decade (] 951-6 J) have been maintained Orissa and eastern parts (If Uttar Pradesh. It is in ] 961-71 too. The rates in 1951-61 were 34.99%, true that in the late sixties the economy of the state and 3 3. 79~, respectively for the two states. slumped to a frighteningly low level and the recession ancl political instability continued well into the early The decadal growth In 1961-71 III a number l!ever.ties. This had inevitably affected the inflow of of other states also was considerably higher than migrants from the neighbouring states. The rela­ what was recorded in the earlier decade as will tivelv low decennial growth rate in the urban areas be evident from the foJIowing statement. of the state, especial1y in the Calcutta metropolitan 42 di&trict, is also injicJ.tiv~ of l~l.! fd;:l that la-migration almost stationary during the first three decades of from out'iidc the stlte h ld b::cn a1 a r~lativcly low the century having increased by 1. 95 million only level. A-; the fol!rJwi!1'~ stlt':!11~nt SllOW:i, the gap since 1931. During the first decade 1901-11 it went hetween rates of gr.)wth in the udxlIl and rural areas up by 1.05 million sbowing the deeadal growth of of I he state ha" closed. down cO!l',idi'rahly in 1(.) 61-71. 6.25~~·~ only. The next decade saw the dreaded The cont rast with the preceding decades I') epidemic of inOucl11.u which d...:cimated the population remarkable. almo .... t throughout the lellgth and breadth of the country. In west Bengal the popUlation came down STATEMENT 11l.1 (b) hy oVcr 0.5 million and the growth rate fell to

ll('cennial growth rat{' in rural and urban areas of 2. 91 ~,~. During the next decade 1921-3 1 popula­ tion went up by 8.14 (16 and stood at J 8.9 million W(.'st Bengal (per n'nt) which wa,> 1.95 million more than in 190 l. With 19(,1-71 1951-61 1941-51 1931-41 the gradual control or dis'.:ascs and epidemics as

__.~ .....,_ ~'_M' ~, __ ._. ~ .. ~ -.... •.~'.'M •. _~ .• ._-- --"~-~------'--" also improvement in infallt and maternal mortality Tolal 26.H7 32.80 13.22 22.93 population grew faster since 1931. Then came the Rural 2h.JX 31.81 8.27 15.55 World War n and with it an unprecedented spurt in indllstriilJ activity and growth l,j' urban areas which Urhan 28.4J 35.97 :'1.52 63.69 ._-,_...... resulted in larger inflow or migrants from outside --- the state. The net cHert was a hig dc-eadal increase Growth of population since 19tH of 22.93~{, in the popllJ~lti()n cf the state during I In J -4 J. In one single decade tIle population was If we look at the gr~)\\'th of populatil)ll or the II p hy 4 ] III i II ion \\ hid) was 1l1f)f-C t han dOll hIe the state since 190 I \\it iind that the glOW! h rate h~ld !ltJl11bcrs added to the POPU 1:ltj()Jl during the three been of an extremely irregular pattern and thcr~ prl'ccciiug decades (1901 to 19 ..; I). \Vere repeated and sharp lluctoations from decade to decarie. The dcccl1l1i:t1 growth of population in West Thc decadal grO\vtlJ rate slumped ap:ain to 1.322 B(11gal is slwwll ill the fo!lowill~" slatem:nt. per cent only in the 11C'\t decade 1<)')l-l,1 which may be ascribed in part to the elfects of partition of the province of Bengal following independenl'c in August STATEMENT IlL2 ] t)4 7 and partly also to the infamous BeHgal famine

Dl'cennial growth rate of Wl.'st Bi?ngal (1901-71) of 1943. The decade I 951- 1961 \vitncs:;.ed, as has been noted earl ier, a vcry sharp flse of the growth Decennial Per­ ratc (32. SO ~~). During the last interccnsal decade CenslIs Poplll:ltion Decennial centage growth the growth rate has dropped again quite appreciably Year variation rate although it ,s still of a fairly high order (26.87~~).

A question will na.turally he a,;kcd why the gl'()\vth rate fell sO sharply during J 9 () 1- 7 I. West )901 J 6,Y40,OHH Bengal has [{ien, for decades, one of the few states ll)( I 17,9l)f.;,7()9 -+ 1,058,681 + 6.25 wh ieh have reccived migrants in sizeable numbers. J 11)21 17,474,348 524,421 - 2.91 n the pre-independence days the stream of migrants used to be from across the state borders only. After JlBI I X,X97.036 + 1,422,688 + 8.14 independence a sCl'ond and a more forceful stream 1941 23,229,552 + 4)32,516 +22.93 was added. 1t was from across the international borders. In-migrants from erstwhile East Pakistan 1951 2().2<)9,980 3,070,428 + + 13,22 poured into the state, sometimes in trickles, some­ 1961 34.926,279 + 8,626,299 +32.80 times in waves. The innow was certainly of a much 1971 44,312,011 + 9,385,732 +26.87 lesser magnitude during 1961-71 than in 1951-61, although in the Jast year of the decade again yet another wave of migrants arrived during the BangIa· UntiJ 1931, which may be said to mark the desh turmoil. This was reflected partly in the high watershed, the population of the state had remained rates of growth in the districts like Cooch Behar, 43

West Ditnjpur. Twentyfvnr Parganas and MaldJ which The statement indicates a definite downward have borders with Bangladesh. Reduction in the vo­ trend in the crude birth rate as well death rate for the lume of immigrants from beyond the international bord­ country as a whole since 190 I. The birth rate has ers was accompanied by a reduction in the numbers of in-migrants from beyondt he state borders also. coming been down ever since the turn of the century The agony of West Bengal during the late sixt ies is to but t he rate of decrease was rather small. It was I..mly well known and needs hardly he elabMated. The in 1941-51 that there was a noticeable fall in the long period of general economic recession, political in"tahility alld pr,Jh'ngcd di~turhanccs had telling of 45.2 in the preceding decade. In 1951-61 the effects 011 the state. The traditional volumc of inter­ state in-migrants consequently came down sharply. rate showed a slight upward movement. But it fell again to a fairly steady level of around 36 8 in If one of the two components of growth, namely, 1970. Death rate has also moved downward since migration. was thus on a low kcy during the decade, 1921-3l. But the fall i~ steeper and more rapid as the other component, namely, natural increase of th"e difference hetween births and deaths, remained fairly the death rale has since corne down by about l5 points ~tablc and did not counterac't the effect of the reduc­ in the~e decades since 194 J as against a falJ of 8 tion in the vclumc of migrants The first impact of points only in birth rate during the same period. the massive ciTorts, madc b_i die slUlc dild the Thi", is obviou\ly due to the Impact of th~ efforts country at large since mdependence to combat diseases epidemics, infant and maternal mortality was obser­ made to control and eradicate diseases, and epidemics ved in the steep risc in the growth rate during the and infant and maternal mortality and other public decade 1951-6 I . 'rhe effects of the programme of health meaSlJres which were initiated even before family planning which Was launched in the fifties and independence in many parts of the country and were early sixties arc yet to be seen. The natural increase, intensified later. To control and bring down the thercf<'lrc, CUlllillued tu be a l a iligh level and contri­ buted substantially to the high net growth of popula­ birth rate, on the other hand, is a more difficult task tion in the state during the last decade. and is essentially a long-term programme. Family planning measures are yet to bear fruit and their It may be worthwhile to have a look at the impact may be felt in some measure only in the birth and death rates in the country since 190 I. late seventies or the eighties. The natural growth STA TEMENT IlL3 or the difference of births and deaths has consequently Birth rate and Death rate, India been larger in the recent decades since 1941 in the country as a whole. The observations are more or less equally valid for the state of West Bengal Year Birth Rate Death Rate too.

1901-1911 49.2 42.6 Growth of population in districts 1911-1921 48.1 47.2 The growth rate of population has varied con" 1921-1931 46.4 36.3 siderably from decade to decade in the state. The 1931-1941 45.2 31.2 vanations have been more pronounced and irregular 1941-1951 39.9 27.4 if' the districts. The ratea of growth in the districts from 1951-1961 4] ,7 22.8 1901 to 1971 are presented in the following state­ 1968 39.0 16.8 menc. 1969 37.6 17.6 1970 36.8 15.7 44

STATEMENT IlIA

Decennial growth rate of districts of West Bengal (1901-1971)

District 1901 J91 J 1921 1931 1941 1951 1961 J971

- _-,------_,,----_ .. _------

Darjeeling -+ 5.31 +5.12 f 12.85 + 17.72 + 17.58 +35.90 +25.16

Jalpaiguri -+ 21.30 -f 4.93 + 6.47 + 14.42 + 8.13 t 48.27 +28.76 Cooch Behar + 4.58 -·-0.07 --- ().26 + 8.43 + 4.74 + 52.45 .~ 38.67 West Dinajpur + 6.78 ---12.13 + 7.23 + 11.92 +17.03 +35.51 -;--40.50

Maida + 15.72 ---1.77 + 4.99 +17.19 +11.05 +30.33 +31.98

_I Murshidabad + 1.71 .- 8.99 t 11.97 + )9.h9 I 4.59 -+ 33.47 +28.39

Nadia + 0.36 ·---8.26 ) .48 -j 16.42 -+ 36.15 14978 +30.14 Twentyfour Parganas + 14.78 ·/-(1.31 -+ 9.53 f 26.07 +23.50 -1-40.84 +34.53

Calcutta t· 8.86 +3.63 T 10.63 +86.00 +24.50 + 8.48 + 7.57 , Howarh + 10.93 -1·5.71 10.17 \- 35.(12 -J- ):).12 -r- 26.51 f 18.58 f 24.{)4 i Hoo~hJy +- 3.67 ----0.90 + 3.22 +13.35 39.02 +28.72

Burdwan t 0.37 ---6.46 -T 9.82 f 19.99 t 15.92 +40.65 +27.04 Birbhum + 3.(17 ---9.41 1-11.25 !- 10.63 + 1.77 +- 35.55 t,22.80 Bankura t- 1.99 ·-10.43 I- 9.00 .j 16.00 -I- 2.30 \-26.17 +22.02 Midnapore + 1.15 ··,5.48 + 4.97 +13.99 -1 5.28 +29.26 +26.89 PUTulia +13.70 --5.98 f-16.91 + 11.95 + 7.43 +-16.33 -+ 17.86 ------

Following the trend fur the state, the growth rate districts 1ike Nadia (3e>.14~~») Twcntyfour Parganas during the 1a<;t interccnsal decade was below tbe 04.53 %,) and Cooch Behar (38.67'jU. On the other level of the preceding decade in al1 the districts of hand, in the di-tricts which are away from the border, West Bengal except three. namely. West Dinajpuf, viz .• Hooghly, Burdwan, Birbhum, Bankura, Midnapore Maida and Purulm. The growth rate during lhe Purulia the growth rates are substantially lower. In period was the highest in West Dinajpur (40.50<;,:,) and Purulia the upward movement of the growth rate which was 5 per cent point s higher than in ] 951-61. may be due to a better coverage achieved in 1971 Malda is the second district in which the growth census as compared to 1961. The 1961 report does, was higher in 1961·71 than in the preceding decade. in fact, indicate that the coverage was not as satis­ But the rise there was only marginal, being 1.6 per factory as it could have been. cent points only. In Purulia also the growth rate was up only slightly from 16.33% in 1951-6] to 17.86(1<) A third set of districts can be isolated in the in 1961-71. . MaIda and West Dinajpur are two state. These are Howrah and Calcutta. Both had contiguous districts and both have borders with very low growth rates. (rhe city district of Calcutta Bangladesh. The high decadal increase in the in particular shows a dismal growth of 7.57 % region is obviously due tv movement of population w~ich is lower than in the preceding dt-cade. Howrah, into the region froIll beyond the international which happens to be the most urbanised district in borders during the last two yean of the decade which the ,tate, regi~tered a growth of 18.58 % ollly. A. witnessed the Bangladesh turmoil. This will be the bulk of tbe illdultrial activity of., the state is boxne out by the arowth patternl of the other border concentrated in tile•• two districts. the low ,to"tll 45

rates of1961-71 were only natural in the bac1c­ and in population is observed in the metropolis is grouad of the g:!neral severe recession of the late therefore occurring beyond the city limits. A sixties. Moreover, Calcutta nas long reached a process of suburbanisation has already started and point where it can hardly accommodate any more redistribution of population by dispersal from p0i>ulation .. Apart from tbe near stagnant condition the city core is to follow as a policy. of the economy the deterioration of municipal ser­ vices and various other factors make it physically If the districts are arranged in different ranges impossible to absorb any further growth in the of current growth rates as in the statement below a city proper. Whatever growth in economic activity distinct regional pattern will immediately emerge.

STATEMENT 111.5

Distribution of districts in different range,; of decennial growth (1961-71)

Below Average Above Average Very Low Low Average High Very High ------[Less the+ 17.001 l + 17.00 to +22.99] 1.+23.00 to +28.99J r +29.00 to +34.99] 1.+35.00 and above]

1. Calcutta [ + 7.57] 1. Howrah (+18.58) 1. Darjeeling (+25.16) t. Maida (+31.98) J. West Dinajpur (+40.50)

2. Bankura (+22.02) 2. JaJpaiguri (+28.76) 2. Nadia (+30.14) 2. Cooch Behar (+38.67)

3. Birbhum (-1-22.80) 3. Murshidabad (+28.39) J. Twentyfour Parganas (+34.53)

4. Purulia (+17.86) 4. Hooghly(+28.72) 5. Burdwan (+ 27.04) 6. Midnapore (+ 26.89)

The average growth rate is taken to be within of 28.76 %. Jalpaiguri is on the high side of the ± 1O(j~ (approximately) on either side of the over­ average. But for its forest!; and hilly areas, where all growth of the state during 1961~7I. The "less high growth is diflicult to visualise in the near than average" and "above average" ranges have future because of the physical and other constraints, again been split into two 5ub -ranges each, namely, the district of Darjeelin& would have also been in low and very low, and high and very high. the high or "high avera.ge" range. The entirei North Bengal region may therefore be caUed a region of Six of the districts, namely, Darjeeling (25.16 (/'0) high growth. The reasons are obvious as aready Jalpaiguri (28.760/0)' Murshidabad (18.39(>:», set out in the first paragraphs of the chapter : in· Hooghly, (2R.72(~<), Burdwan (27.04%) and Midna­ migration from beyond the international borders. pore (26.89%), come under the average growth rate WIth the commissioning of the Farakka barrage a range· The remaining 10 districts are divided direct link between lhe northero" districts and" equalJy between the below and above average southern Bengal has been established which has ranges. opened up the hitherto neaJected and backward areas of the north. Emergence' ot· SiJiguri ( in Three of the districts of North Bengal, namely. Darjeeling) as an important urban centre has started % MaIda (31.980/0)' West Dinajpur (40.50 ), and a new area of concentration of population. Regional Cooch Behar (38.67 0/0) are found to have registered red~stribution of population towards the northern "hilh" and "yery higb" rates of growth. The two parts of the state ii, dr course, far cry. But it is other districts of the relion. namely, lalpaipri and not impoSlible and the process seems to have Darjeelin, recorded average ,ro"tb. With a rate be,u.a. 46

In sharp contrast with the northern region are chapter, settlement of population in most parts the districts of tIc v.('~t(fn phitrHu, r,arnel},. of the region has been halting and retarded over Birbhum, Bankura, PUTuJia and Midmlpur. The the decades. districts constitute a compact region of low growth not only during the Jast decade but also over the The higheH gr<.:\\th rate for a distrkt in the' last few decades. As in North Bengal tbe (('one my region was 26.8S% fcund in Midrapur. It was. in tbis region, H10, is rure}y agrarian and l~ackward. ju~t equal to the average gro\\th of West Bengal. But unlike tIle former, the western region suffers The three other dj~tricts are in the "Iow" ran!!C', the from a numher of comtraints ~hjch irhibit ceo­ rates of gro\\ th being 17.8(l~~ in Purulla, 22.02~{) in n()mic development: tbe soil is nN uniforreJy Banlura ard 22.8(,% in Birbhum ]t is evidert fertile and is niggardly 0"(,,1' extens"vc areas, rain­ tnat the growth rates are bovering round the rate fall and water arc scarce, the terrain and c1irnate of natural increase in the region. are unfavourable. As indicated in the preceding

STATEMENT 111.6

Decennial growth rate of districts of Wut Bengal (1901-.1971)

District 1901 J9lJ 1921 1931 J 941 1951 1961 J 971

.~--... -----..... , Dtlrjccling +, 531 + 5.12 +12.85 -t 17.72 + 17 .5S + 35.90 +25.16

Julpaiguri +21.30 + 4.93 -I 6.47 -+ 14.42 + 8.13 '1 48.27 +28.76

Cooch Behar -I 4.58 ---- 0.07 - 0.26 + 8.43 + 4.74 +52.45 +38.67 West Dintijpur + 6.78 --12.13 +- 7.23 + 11.92 +-17.03 +35.51 +40.50

Maida -+ 15.72 - 1.77 + 4.99 + 17.19 +.11.05 -+ 30.33 +31.')8 Murshidabud + 1.7J -- 8.99 +11.97 + 19.69 + 4 ..59 +33.47 +28.39 Nadia + 0.36 --- 8.26 + 1.48 + 16.42 +36.15 +49.78 +30.14 Twcntyfoul' Pargnnas +14.78 + 6.31 + 9.53 +26.07 +23.50 +40.84 +34.53

Calcutta + 8.86 + 3.63 +10.63 +86.00 +24.50 + 8.48 + 7.57 Howruh +10'93 + 5.71 +10.17 +35.62 + 8.12 -1- 26.51 + 18.58 Hooghly + 3.67 - 0.90 + 3.22 +24.04 +13.35 +39.02 +28.72

Burdwnn .-t. 0.37 - 6.46 + 9.82 + 19.99 + 15.92 +40.65 +27.04

Birbhum -I 3.67 - 9.41 + 11.25 + 10.63 + 1.77 +35.55 +22.80 Hankum + 1.. 99 -10.43 + 9.00 of J6.00 + 2.30 +26.17 +22.02 MidnapClfc + l.15 - .5.48 + 4.97 +13.99 + 5.28 +29.26 +26.89 Purlilia +13.70 - 5.98 +16.91 +11.95 + 7.43 + 16.33 +17.86

The rates of growth in the central gangetic pJains reached average growth only during the last decade. have been of an irregular pattern with wide variations In two otbers, namely, Nadia (30.14%) and between districts. Four cf the districts of tbe region, Twentyfour Parganas (34.53'Yo) the population grew munely, Murlhidabad (28.39(~i(.l)t Howtah 08.58%), quite f85t, a1though the growth cannot be said to Hooghly (~8.72~·~) and Burdwan (27.04tyol be anytbins spectacular. Calcutta (7.57~~) the 47 seventh district i:t the region, r~corjed fM the Na Ija (0.36%', 8urdwall (0.37?lol and Midnapore second suc:=essive decaje a very smlll gr Jwth of (l.15%~ th' po?ulation practically remained sta­ below 10%. As already pointed out, the high tio.1ery during the decade. Tne city of Calcutta also growth rate:; in Twentyfour Pd.rgalla~ and Nadia C1D had a fairly high growth of (8 86~:'~). Ex.cept for tho be linked directly with the international b)rders which t 'NO norther(\ mOil di.lltrict~ of Darjceling and Jalpai­ hoth of tlern hav.;: .v,t 1 B Lngladeih. fa cne of guri art:i th !three c!ntral districts of Calcutta. Twenty .. Twentyfl)ur Parganas, which is one of tf}e irn.;>Jrtant four Pli·galla~ an:i H.)wran all of West B~ngal. recorr­ (;onslituents of the Calcntta indlJ~tria' "elt, i Il-migra­ d~d nelativ.! growth during the naxt decade 19L 1"21. tion from acros~ the states borders, though on a sub· The ste!;l!st drop in P lpulation wall of the dused scale, has aha played an implrtant part in order (:)f --12. I3~%; in West Dioajpur Which was bringing about the higlt growth of P)P llcltion .. It is f"lloNed by Blnkura (-lO.43~~~'. Th!fe was a well known that Weit B!ngal witnl!)sed a spe::tacu­ d'finite an'j mukei recovery during toe next decade Jar up,urge in iniu,trial activity in the early 1921- 31 and the po;:mlation went up in all districts sixties. Bulk of the development wal), h) "lever, ex~ept one. Co:)~h Behar wa~ the only district where ·concentrated within th! Cllcutta. a'll AUlnqol-Dur­ the population continued to fall and the growth ratc % gapur industrial b!lts. The gr"wth of 0 >p'Jlation W.iS "till negative (---0.26 ) during] 921 .. 31. The of the cady si~ties "'frl the ar~.l c )n,eq~:n~ . in the tI !)ward trend w.{') vig,nously maintained in the a:c:lerated i ldu itrial growzh \IVa') offiet to a c)IHi" de.;;d: 1931-41 w:lich witne'ised, all already pointed d!r ll:>le e.(tent by [h~ negltive effl!cts of the re;:::s" OJt, a trem!ndou~ rise in industrial activity and, sion that cfl'iu!d in th! late sixri!s. Th! n~t r!sult clnsequentJy, an accelerated pace of urbanisation. wa~ the moierate gr:>Nth or pJpulatiJn in the Pl)pulation went up considerably in all districts except di,tricts c:>mpri5ed in th~ r~gi')l1. In Cllcuttl in two (Purulil and B,rbhum). In Calcutta, the rate p:ifticuJar the gru Nth of p )pulatiol1 ha.. ,)Illy been of growth reached the highest ever recorded (86ting gro Nlh b!ing trict). In all the district') of the western plateau on a low key, the rate or gro~th wa~ l(HV. For population slumped to very low levels of between the same reasons th: district of Howrah, too, had 1. 77~(~ (in Birbhum) and 7.43 % (in J)urulia) during retarded gr\>wth of 18.58~/~ only. It has to be the decade. In Murshidabad the growth Tatc came added that the gl!neral economic slu mp of the Jate down from the high level of 19.69%) in 1941 to sixties hit this district the hardest. The bulk of 4.59~~ only io ]951. In Cooch Behar, too. the rate the engineering industries and jut'! textiles which of growth was exactly halved during the decade. The are the main industrial em;>loyers in the state, are growth rate fell stceply in Calcutta, Howrah and concentrated in H;)wrah and they sulfered in the Haoghty also. For Calcutta the decade marked the worst manner due to the recession. beginnin(! of the decay, the growth rate having plun" ged from the an time high of 86 % in 193 I -41 to Growth rates fn districts since 1901 24.50~~ in 1941-51. In Howrah also the growth rate came down sharply from 35.62% to 8. ) 2% It may be more useful to havo a IO:Jk at the during the period. Hooghly also followed suit with growth rates of the districts since 190 I (a, in state­ a faU of 10.69 per cent points. The fall in growth ment 111.4) to appreciate the trends in the districts rate ill the di<;tricts m ly be appreciated better in the and to identify areas of higb growth. persp:ctive of two important episodes of the decade. The first was the great Denial 'amine of 1943 which Most of the districts began with low growth rates took & terrible toll in m ')st districts of the province during the first declde of the c!otury. Jalpaiguri of undivided Bengal. The second and equally im­ (21.30(%), MaIda (I5.72~'~)t Twentyfour Pargana. portant event of the decade was the partition of (14. 78~~ ), Howrah (10.93(~/~) and Purulia (I S. 70%) Be'jg~J which led to displa.cement of huge numbers registered considerable high rates for 1901-11. In or the people from their homes on either .. ido of tbe 48 bC>1'ders and exodus out of as well as into the trun­ with long international borders, recorded the highest­ cated state of West Bengal. Murshidabad, MaIda ever growth of 40.65%. It has to be mentioned here and a number of other di~tricts saw sizeable numbers that tbe district received two streams of in-migration. of people moving out to tbe other side of the borders. In-migrants poured into the district from the neigh­ Of course, many of these people did subse­ bouring states in the wake of the upsurse in indus· queutly return to their home districts. But the trial activity consequent on the launching of the five immediate effect of the outward movement bad been year plans. Hordes of in-migrants also came fJ om to bring down the growth rate to the very low levels across the international borders. For almost similar of below S% in Murshidabad and Cooch Behar reasons Hooghly, too, registered a very h'gh gr\Jwth during the decade. On the other band, the stream of 39.02% which is the highest ever recorded for of in-migrants which still continues from beyond the district till 1971. In Howrah also the growt h the Bangladesh borders was also making its presence rate in 1951-61 was considerably higher (26.51%} felt. In Nadia there was a tremendous growth of than in the preceding decade. 36.l5 per cent during the decade which was largely due to in .. miJration. As in calc of Murshidabad As already mentioned, the growth rates came and MaIda a certain volume of emigration from this down appreciably during 1961r.71 in the state as ~istrict also occurred. But in-migrants far exceeded also in all but three of its districts. West Dinaj­ tbe out-migrants and the population of the district pur (40.50%> recorded the highest growth rate went up tremendously. West Dinajpur is the only among the districts for the decade. In Cooch Behar other district in which the rate of growth in 1941-51 also the growth rate was quite high (38.67~{) exceeded the growth of the preceding decade. It is though it fell far below the preceding decade's. An one of the relatively sparsely populated districts of important point which has to be borne in mind is that the state even today. The upsurge in its population the high growth rates in the two North Bengal districts was also due mainly to the net in-migration. For in the two successive decades were due to the the same reason the upward trend continued in the same factor-considerable in-migration from beyond next decade also in the two districts. In fact, West their borders. Besides West Dinajpur, the two other Bengal recorded the highest ever rate of growth districts which recorded higher growth rates than in (32.80%> in tbe decade 19S1 M 6I. Moreover, all 1951-61 are MaIda (31.98%> and PuruJia (17.86 ~~). the districts except Calcutta showed a steep rise in In Both these districts the rates of growth \\ efe the rate of arowth during the decade. In the dis" only marginally higher than in the preceding tricts of North Bengal the growth fate was parti­ decade. cularly high. Cooch Behar added as much as 52.45% to its population. The rise was almost of the same Growth rates in police StatioDs-·1961-71 order in Jalpaiguri (48.27%>. In West Dinajpur the upward trend was maintained. So it was in As can be anticipated, the rates of growth oflen Nadia (49.78%). Even in the western plateau ""here fluctuated sharply among police stations within the rate of growtb had been consistently low all the same districts. It is worthwhile to see how the along all the districts added &ubstantially to their growth rates varitd from police statkn to police population. The rate of increase was particularly station during the decade. The growth rates have high in Birbhum (35.55/{,). The central districts been grouped into different ranges as in the following around Calcutta as also Burdwan witnessed pheno­ statement. menal increases, Twentyfour Paraanas, the district STATEMENT III.7 Distribution of police stations according to growth of population (In percent), 1961-71 ------.------Very Low Low Average High ------Very High ------Less than 20.00 20.00 25.99 26.00 31.99 32.00------. 37.99 38.00 &. above 1 2 3 4 5 District : Darjeeling (1S.16~·~) 1. DarjeeIing 10.13 1. Kurseong 21.35 L SUkhiapokri 27.88 1. Rangli Rangliot 34.56 1. Siliguri «.31 2. lore Bungaiore 16.55 2. Naxalbari 20.40 2. Pulbazar 26.59 2. Kharibal'i 72.30 3. Kalimpong 6.44 3. Phansidewa 22.73 3. Garubathan 31.96 4. Mirik 31.75 49

STATEMENT HI.7-Contd.

1 2 3 4 5

District: Jalpaiguri (28.76%) 4. Mitiali 5.80 ... Ma.l 22.96 5. JaJpaiguri 26.53 2. Alipur Duars 36.29 3. Rajganj 59. .ro 5. Nagrakata 12.56 5. Birpara 24.12 6. Maynaguri 29.60 4. Falakata 42.00 6. Ka1chini 14.75 6. Madarihat 23.49 7. 28.53 8. Kumargram 31.70 District: Cooch Behar (38.67%) 7. Baldi bari 18.97 3. Mekliganj 34.98 5. Mathabhanga 50.75 4. Cooch Behar 36.47 6. Sitalkuchi 40.47 7. Tufanganj 39.70 8. Dinhata 39.16 9. Sitai 41.16 District: West Dinajpur (40.50%) 8. Hllli 16.97 7. Kumarganj 24.96 9. Goalpokhar 27.18 5. Hemtabad 32.57 10. Chopra 47.49 10. Kaliaganj 30.54 6. Itahar 36.43 1 t. Islampur 52.32 11. Ku~hmundi 29.57 7. Gangarampur 33.94 12. Chakalia 75.77 8. Zapan 35.30 13. Karandighi 62.56 14. Raiganj 38.78- 15. Bangshihari 39.78 16. Balurghat 56.51 District: MaIda (31.98%) 12. Hadschandrapur 29.74 9. MaIda 35.45 17. Gajol 5].77 13. Kharba 29.44 18. Baroangola 39.68 14. Rastua 28.48 19. English Bazar 39.29 15. Habibpur 29.35 16. Manikchak 28.50 17. Kaliachak 26.25 Murshidabad 9. Jalangi 18.35 8. Raninagar 20.96 18. Khargram 26.17 10. Domkal 32.26 20. Farrakka 53.30 10. Jiaganj 19.46 9. Bharatpuf 23.74 19. Barwan 26.25 11. Kandi 32.47 10. Raghunath­ ganj 24.28 20. Nawda 28.36 12. Hariharpara 32.92 11. La]gola 24.84 21. Murshidabad 28.38 13. Shamsherganj 34.14 12. Bhagawan gola 25.63 22. Nabagram 28.48 14. Suti 34.75 13. Sagardighi 25.68 23. Beldanga 29.74 24. Berhampur 30.07 Nadia 11. Chakdah 14. Chapra 22.46 25. Nabadwip 28.31 15. Krishnaganj 32.14 21. Haringhata 4179 15. Ranagbat 23.60 26. Santi pur 28.35 16. Kaliganj 32.17 16. Krishnagar 24.42 17. Tehatta 32.29 18. 34.45 19. Karirnpur 34.69 20. HanskhaIi 35.85 District: T\'I'entyfour Parganas 12. Garden Reach 18.46 15. Bijpur 23.72 27. Bongaon 26.97 23. Bagdah 37.31 23. Rajarhat 55.38. 13. Basirhat 17.38 16.1aynagar 23.70 28. Gaighata 30.45 24. Habra 36.19 24. Barasat 44.99- 14. Hingalganj 19.15 17. Falta 22.65 29. Baranagar 26.90 25. Deganga 32.30 25. Naihati 41.98 18. Diamond Harbour 24.00 30. Bhangar 31.19 26. Amdanga 34.40 26. Jagatdal 39.56 19. Kulpi 21.93 3J. Bishnupur 28.21 27. Noapara 35.14 27. Barrackpore 48.01 20. Sagore 23.90 32. Budge Budge 29.0t 28. Titagarh 33.07 28. Khardah 49.13 21. Haroa 21.37 33. Magrahat 29.56 29. Belghoria 35.03 29. DumDum 61.28 22. Hasnabad 21.46 34. Mandirbazar 26.50 30. Baruipur 34.02 30. Metia bruz 134.85 35. Mathurapur 28.96 31. Canning 33.85 31. Maheshtola 41.00 36. Kakdwip 31.07 32. Namkhana 36.22 32. Behala 50.61 37. Sarupnagar 26.71" 33. Gosaba 36.16 33. Jadavpur 81.78 50

STA TEM ENTIII.7·-Conld

1 2 3 4 s

38, Baduria' 26.32 34. Sonarpur 41.97

,~9. MinakhM'!:1. . "J,~,,~5 35. Basanti 41.17

40. SandeshkhaJi 29.90 36. Kultali 41.46 37. Patharpralima 41.92

District: Calcutta

District: Howrah

16. Howrah City 9. (0 23. Domejur 24.61 41. Bally 30.79 38. Liluah 38.12 17. Sankrail 16.94 24. Panchla 24.06 42. UJaynara y:.motH 29.38

~~ l,gatbal1a~p~Jr ,17.94 .. 25; Amta 20.88

,...,. .~ .. 19. llawria: ... :.. ··1 }S.75 26. Bagnan 25.00 ,.. 27. 24.61 , 28~ Shampur 24.18

Distrkt : Hooghly

20. ]2.12 29. Dhaniakhali 25.66 4~. Purslirah JI.01 34. Goghal 33.56 39. ~ogra II ,t-6 Chan<.iernagar I I., " 30. Balagarh 24.20.!_ 44. Panduah risA:! 35. Arambagh 33.:B 31. Polba 24.M 45. Chinsurah 26.98 36. Khanakul 32.77

32. Jangipara 23.91 46. Dadpu{ 26.19 37.Tarakcswar 32.85

33. Scram pore . I . 24.61, ,4.7. Haripal 26.94 38. Bhadreswar 37.47 _ . .., t • • " . , 48. Singur 27.72 .

!. " , : ~S). Chandita~~' 28.55 .

50. Uttarpara 18.60

, District. ~ .Burdwan ;..

21. Salanpur 15.93 34. Hir~PQr ~2.61 51. Asansol 28.56 39. Khandaghosh 32.37 40. Chittaranjan 39.25

~ " r >' , .. ( . ';1. 22. Kulti 0.36'. 35. Kaksa ; 21.21 52. R:miganj 31.53 40. Raina 32.63 41. Durgapur 130.56 23. Barabani 1.67 36. Mernari 2S.94 53.0ndal 26.68 24. Jamuria 0.57 37. Bhataf 23.78 54. Faridpur 28.02

~,. ;", ~ II , 25. Bud Bud 12.~4 . 38. Ketugrarn 23.51 55. Ausgram 3"0.66 , 1', '; . 39. Katwa 24.61 56. Galsi 28.56

40. MonMSwar( 1 25.71\" 57 . .Tarnalpu .... .26.73.·

58. Burdwan 31.23

59. MongaUcote .26.61

, 60. PurbasthaU 27.16

,61. RaIna 28.36 51

'STATEMENT lIL1-0mtld

------_------.------..... ----.... -... - "'f . ..."/' SI I .. :'l -r-?--'~! f. I ",< I,.:

26. Rajnagar 15,99 . 41 ; MurtrFoi' 25.02 ·621 NIrln90r 26.10,· 27. Khoyrasole 16.00 42. Nalhati 2L.05 28. 19.64 4~, ~am,pjJrl¥lt _ t~·6,~" 44. Mayureshwar 24.78 45. Muhammad 20.n Bazar 46. Suri 24.73 47. lIlambazar 22.88 48. Sainthia 22.00 49. Bolpur 21.98 50. La bhpur 24.16 I • " 29.21 2Q. SaItOf'3 18.85 51. Mcjhia 20.73 63. Raipur , 28':16' 30. Gangajalghati 19.8~ 52. Borjore 24.33 64. Sonamukhi 3 J. ('hhatra 17.08 53. Bankura 24.59 65. lndas 3d.~6 32.0nda 19.69 54. Jridl'lur-' 21.36 66. Kotalpur ' ZS:8'1 33. Khatra 14.79 55. Simlapal 23.11 34. Ranibandah ] 5.75 56. Taldangra 24.68 35, Bishnupur 13.!H 57. Joypur 22.03 36. Patrasair 19.29

District: Midnapore

37. Jamboni 1<).06 58. Binpur 23.39 67. Mohanpur, 30.5l JS.I ~ 4~" ~a:ran~~b . 38.35 38. Naya'gHim":" 18.66 59. Jhargram 22.07 68. Kharagpur, ,rt?:3~.; 4~':,S:aA~Bg, ,J;'I~ ;!4~.,pC;bf~ ,.~p.32 60. Gopiballavpur 22.01 69. M idnapur 27.12 43. Pingla 33.04 . 39, Kharagpur 9.51 ,.' I 40 Khejri J9.45 6.1. SilnkraU, 21.82 70. Ghalal 30.48 44. Keshpur 33.10 62. Kcshiari 22.02 71. Panskura 31.37 45. Garhbeta 32.71 J 63. Salboni 22.01 72. Tamluk 29.20 46. Chandrakona 35.17· 64. Daspur 24.24 73. Satahata 2934 65. Moyna 24.28 74. Nandigram 29.03 66. Mahisadal 24.75 75. Patashpur 28.77 (,7. Bhagwanpur 23.52 76. Egra 26.94 68. Ramnagar 22.45 77. Digha ·~d.13 69. Contai 20.93 ~ .' 1 , District: Purulia

41. Jhalda 19.41 70. Jaipur 20.40 47. Arsha 35.12 42. Baghmundi 14.1 0 71. Banduan 22.25 43. Balarampur ] 8.96 44. Barabazar 15.11 45. Purulia ] 2.40 - MutfassaHl ,~.. , ;46. PJ,JfUlia.lp~n., 19.8~: 47. P~ra 19.85 48."JtttghnnttthJ'1,ir'· 19.02: -49. -.Neturi I ...~ ... 73 50. Sa~turi 16.73 . 5 f:'ltas1'l1 pur },9':28 52. Hura 17.47 53. Puncha 19.24 54"Mllnbazar. .,l3.U•. 52

The "average" growth rate for the State has As the statment indicates, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, been taken to be 26% to 31.99(%. Growth rates West Dinajpur, MaIda, Midnapore and Darjeeling are below the average have been split into two groups, districts where density is low but the growth rate "Jow" l20

Low Density High Density Six of the cities show low densities and high High Growth Rate 1. Jalpaiguri 1. Murshidabad growth rates. Four of these viz., Calcutta, Howrah, 2. Cooch Behar 2. Nadia Garden Reach and Serampore have high densities and 3. West Dinajpur 3.24-Parganas low growth rates. Four more combine high densi­ 4. MaIda 4. Hooghly ties with high growth rates: these are Bhatpara, 5. Midnaporc 5. Burdwan Kamarhati, Baranagar and Asansol. One city shows 6. Darjeeling low density and low growth rate viz. Kharagpur.

Low Growth Rate 1 Birbhum 1. Howrah 2. Bankura 2. Calcutta Statement III. 10. pre.enta the police stations in 3. Purulia different combinations of density and growth rates. ·.53

STATEMENT III.1 0

Distributioa of police st.tioa ia four ran...

Low Density High Densit,

Law Growth Rate -- (1) Sukhiapokri (2) Pulbazar (3) Jore Bun&low (1) Darjeeling (2) Hilli (3) Ratua (4) Kalimpong (5) Kurseong (6) Naxalbari (4) Kaliachak (5) Raghunathganj (6) Lalgola (7) Phansidewa (8) Jalpaiguri (9) Mal (7) Bhagwangola (8) Raninagar (9) M urshidabad (10) Mitiali (11) Nagrakata (12) Dhub&uri (l 0) J iaganj (11) Burwan (12) Bharatpur (13) Birgoara (14) Madarihat (1 S) Kalchi.H (13) Krishna&ar (14) Nabadwjp (15) Santipur (16) Haldibari (17) Goalpokhar (18) Kumar,uj (16) Ranaehat (17) Chakdah (18) Bongaon (19) Manikchak (20) Sagardighi (21) Nabagrll1l (19) Bijpur (20) Baranagar (21) Garden Reach (22) Khargram (23) Nawada (24) Jalangi (22) Bishnupur (23) Jayanagar (24) Falla (25) Mathurap,u' (26) Sagar (27) Rampurthat (25) Diamond Harbour (26) Kulpi (28) Mayureshwar (29) Muhammad Bazar (27) Mandiar Bazar (28) Sarupnagar (29) Baduria (30) Rajnagar (31) KhoyasoJe (32) Dubrajpur (30) Basirhat (31) Haroa (32) Minakhan (33) Suri (34) IIlambazar (35) Sainthia. (33) Hasnabad (34) Hingalganj (35) Domjur (36) Bolpur (37) Labhpur (38) Nano(}r (36) Sankrail (37) Panchla (38) Jagatballavp\lr (39) Saltora (40) Mejbia (41) Barjora (39) Amta (40) BagDan (41) Uluberia (42) Jangajalghati (43) Chhatna (44) Onda (042) Bauria (43) Shampur (44) Dhaniak.haJi (45) Indpur (46) Khatra (47) Ranibandh (45) Panduah (0(6) Balagarh (47) Chinsurah (48) SimlapaJ (49) Taldangra (50) Bishnupur (48) Polba (49) Dadpur (50) Haripal (51) Sonamukhi (52) Patrasair (53) Joypur (51) Singur (52) Chandernagore (54) KotaJpur (55) SaJanpur (56) Barabani (53) Janaipara (54) Chanditala (55) Serampore (57) Faridpur (58) Kaksa (59) Bud Bud (56) Uttarpilra (57) Muraroi (58) Nalhati (60) Galsi (61) Bhatar (62) Mongalkota (59) Bankura (60) Kulti (61) Hirapur (63) Ketugram (64) Monteswar (65) Binpur (62) Asan!lol (63) Jamuria (64) Ondal (66) Tamboni (67) Jhargram (68) Gopiballabpur (65) Jamalpur (66) Memari (67) Katwa

(69) Sankrail (70) Nayagram (71) Keshiari (68) Purbasthali (69) Kalna (70) Kharagpur TOWD (72) Kharagpur (73) Sal bani (74) Egra (71) Midnaporl (72) Daspur 1(73) Moyna (75) Khejri (76) Jhalda (77) Jaypur (74) Mahisadal (75) Bhagwanpur (76) Patashpur (78) Baghmundi (79) Balarampur (80) Barabazar (77) Ramnalar (78) Contai (79) Purulia Town (81) Purulia MutTassil (82) Para (83) Raghunathpur (84) Naturia (85) Santuri (86) Kashipur (87) Hura (88) Puncha (89) Manbazar (90) Bundun

HiP GrcwCII Rate

(1) Rangli Rangliot (2) Garubathan (3) Mirik. (1) Siliguri (2) Coach Behar (3) Dinhata

(4) Kharibari (5) Rajganj (6) Mayna,uri (0() Balur,hat (5) Harba (6) English Bazar (7) Falakata (8) Alipur Duars (9) Kumargram (7) Farakka (8) Shamshirganj (9) Sud

(10) Mekliganj (11) Mathabhanga (12) Sitalkuchi (10) ~andi (11) Beldanga (12) Berhampur (13) Tufanganj (14) Sitai (15) Chopra (13) Domka! (14) KalipDj (15) HaDlth.Ii 54

Low Density Hllh Density High Growth Rate (16) Islampur (17) Chakalia (18) Karandi,hi (16) K.alyani (17) Harinlhata (18) Gaiahat a (19) Rai,anj (20)' lfen'ltabad (21) Kaliaganj (19) Habra ,,(20) Deganla (21) Rajarhat (22) 'Kushmundi' ',(23) 'Itahar ,. , {24)~B8ftgshihari (12.) Barasat (23~ Amdanaa (24) Naihati

(25) Oangarampur (26) Tapan (27). Harishchandrapuf (25) J~gatdal :26) N

, (.52) ,MQhonpl;lr , (~3) Qatan ,', ,,('1) Narayangath '(.5'1) ~hittaTanjan )1(52) Raniganj ;1. . (5j)'D'u'rgapur (55) Sabang (5~) Pingla (57) Debra (54) B~~dwa~" r . (55)' Ohatal ' (Sb)' Panskura .. \' , ... ' " .. (58) Keshpur (5?) Garhbeta (60) Chandrakona (57) Tamluk " (58) Su'tahata 'I' (~9) 'Nllndigram , ' , , , . "u ~ \ ' I ~ , , (61) ~rsha (60) Digha

.• j 1 ~ ! r

•• ,~, I ( , It is seen that 90 of the police stations have that w'hil~ some kiria 0(' inferen~es' along :these lines registered low densities with low growih rates; 61 have cotil(f' be \' drawn on1y' \rtty vaguely . and' 'as only an low densities' and high' growth rates, 79 'bave' registered e~trem~JY' general"cx'planation of the,., characteristics high densities but "low growth rates and 60 high of some .areas; the,s.ituation dO~~':l~ot wholly corres­ densities and high growth rates. The largest number of poJl4 :"ith. ,\he h),p9.~,~1e~i~.,: For instanc.e., there has police stations (90) is in, the low density-low growth be~~IPo. ~pe.ctacular ~~v~~o,pment in"tooth Behar or rate rang~. The high. d,en~ity.low gro\\t~h !"ate range Jal~aiguri or West Dinajpuf durift~"'tbe' last decade. accounts for 79, whereas high gTowth rate-low density ne 'oistiicts'remain"tO ihis' day as ba-ckward as they and high growth rate-high' density have almost equal were' t~tl 'years agO"bot the correlation-w0uld have us num bers of police stations. believe tl:tat they have potentialiti~s, f9F df;velopment. A study of the intrastructure of th~, distrjcts will show I '~, •• ,. I Can any inferences be drawn from these tables that the po~e~tial fqr, development of the districts is

showing different combinations of growth a density ver~.. ~~r., Potential doe'~'l I no"" nl~~n ~ me.rely the conditions? One may say that an area which has avaIlabIlIty of crude manpower. These· dIstrIcts have registered low density and a high growth rate has exireJ!nely inadeqtHtt~c oiflrhunicatit'Jnr;;;\'ery little power potential for development, since the low density would and the 'investment in the entire carea.-h,as so far been make it easier for that area to absorb more people next to nothing. .T~ ,,high grQ.wt1\ ~afe~,recorded by and the high growth rate indicates that such absorp­ them are due more to fortuitous circumstances (like tion through increased economic activity was, in fact, Bangladesh turmoil and consequent influx of in­ going on. To counter-balance this, high density migrants) than to any upsurge in economic activity. with a low rate of growth will tend to show that the area has reached a point of saturation or that econo­ The proposition may get more support from the mic activity was faJling off resulting in a lower rate range high growth rates-high densities. Some of of gtowtIi: tfLow.. 'l!ettsifY and low tT!~) of growth the diStricts, faUing,''WIifthin this catelQt:y. I have already ,would, ,similarly, inc1jc~,¢ ffaggiDgn,~$;quomic activity. "~~,,jn~~. f1 weasur~:JPt dfv,elopme~t:loJ ~ ~e high den-

High densi ty ~it!t ,bjgh ,growth ra\t;~ "'QuId indicate , pMy.",?.f, pppulation i~ I ~!,l?J~~tive of 't1iI~; 'qbe can hope contin ued economic growth. for fUJther development m these dfsttlcts· as a matter of course rather than anywhere else. One of the An application of these hypotheses to the districts, namely, Murshidabad, however may be said territorial units of the state will immediately show to be an exception. The district is in a low state of ss

RURAL AND URBAN POPULATION

latroduetioD countries is the administrative or official recognition of a place as in urban area. Areal which are classi­ Data on population are being presented classi­ fied for local government purposes as towns are fied by rural and urban sectors for quite some time treated as towns for census also e.g. a municipality, past in India as well as in other countries of the county or borough, cantonment, notified area etc. world. 'Io define urban and rural areas has been one This is so irrespective of whether or not these areas of the first tasks of those who are entrusted with satisfy all or any of the other criteria like the size. taking the census. The practice has been to define, density and economic characteristics of tbe popula­ fint, what the urban areas are and to treat the tion and so on which are set by census authorities. remaining areas as rural. The unit of settlement in In India the definition of urban and rural areas the former is a "town" which bas been defined in remained almost the same since the first censuses various Ways since the first censuses were taken in were taken in 1862, there being little variation from India. In the latter the unit is a village \\'bich is census to census. The criteria which have been identified as the revenue survey mouza in West common to all the censuses since 1872 in defining a Bengal. A mOU2a is a settled area with weJI-defined town are : (i) the area is recognised as a munici­ bcundaries fixed by the revenue surveys of the late pality or some such administrative unit for local nineteenth century or the subsequent cadastral surveys government purposes; and (ii) a population of 5000 and is assigned a jurisdiction list number and name. or more for areas which are beyond the limits of the While from 1872 to 1911 the residential villages municipalities etc. In all the censuses. however, the were taken to be the census units in the countryside, State Superintendents were allowed the discretion to in 1921 and onward a village came to be identified declare as towns some areas which did not satisfy with a mouza as we understand it today. For the any or all the tests but which had some distinct 1971 census too the mauzas have been the units of Dr ban characteristics. It is not that administrative the rural areas throughout the state. There are a few expediency had the over-riding consideration for exceptions, however, as in case of tea estates or other declaring some areas as towns. Urban characteristics settlements which extend ever more than one mouza cannot always be quantifiable and statistical formulas and in which the mouza boundaries are not identifi­ only cannot single out or separate the urban from able. Again, when a part of a mouza is included in . the rural areas. It is the recognition of this realism an urban area and the other part is rural, the rural that necessitated allowing the discretion to tbe State ('art has been taken to be a village. In the forest Superintendents to take decision in specific cases where areas of the in Twent~four Parganas the the statistical formulations were not satisfied but forest beats had to be taken as the census units. there were other considerations to decide otherwise.

DetlDidoD of aD urban area Tests for a tOWD

The basic meaning of the terms "urban" and For the first time in the history of Indian census ·'rural" is that the former refers to the towns and the a set of cMteria was formulated in 1961 for defining latter to the countryside or tbe areas outside or beyond an urban area and in the process a measure of uni­ the towns. Difficulty arises a8 one COlX es to define formity was achieved throughout the country. Firstly, a town. for there· is no definition which is universally areas within the jurisdiction of a municipal corpora.. accepted. Definition of a town has varied froin tion, or municipality or town committee or notified .country to country, varying criteria being appJied in area committee or a cantonment board were desig­ different countries for classifying an area as urban or nated as towns. In respect of other areas tbe follow .. rural. One common criterion which is accepted in many ing were the prescribed tests: (1) A population of 5000; STATEMENTS 'IV.I

(ii) A density of not Jess than 1000 persons per Llat of ~W.. 8eDp1...... 97. sq. mile; Police Name of Civic atatUi popu- (iii) Three' fourths of adult males are engaged in District Station town of town ' '&atibD .. pursuits other than agriculture. 1 2 3 4 5 In the t 97l census also the same tests held good for , "

... ~', . '. ' qualifying as an urban area. It is worthwhile to "'J' quote the ~ircular of the Registrar Genenral on this DARJEELlNG Darjeclint" . P.rjeelin, . M 42,873 very important subject. Kalimpons Kalimpona ' M. 23.430 Kursoong' Kursoool "til ! M 16,.25·" Although a uniform set of 'tests were prescribed Siliguri M 97.484 for the entire country for the first time in 1961 Silisuri West Bengal applied the same three tests in deter­ mining the urban areas in advance of the other states JALPAIGURI JaJpaiguri Jalpaiguri M 55,U~ in the preceding census, that is. in 1951. In 1961. Mal Mal NM 10,951 however, the third test concerning the participation of '":' Domohani NM 7,706 the adult males in non-agricultural pursuits was found Maynaguri to be difficult of application for difficulties about NM 15.&03 definition of the word "adult' and the low partici­ Dhupgurif, Dhupjuri" NM 16,808 pation rate of the total male population itself. Fallilkata Falakata NM ',194 Because of the difficulties of interpretation of the Alipur Duar AJipur Duar, M 36,667 word 'adult' and the operational difficulties due to AUpur Duar low 'participation rate' total population among male Rly. In. NM 17,787 the third test had to be modified to mean, in West Bengal, that at least three-fourths of the male workers, and not adult males, were engage

STATEMENT IV.I Contd , , ...., I 1 2 '3 .. 2 4

MVllSHIDA. Farrakka Farr~k. 'ryY.ENTYFOUR Barasat M 42,642 BAD Barr. PARGANAS Barasat Nabadhai- ToWnship NM 8,096 Dauapuleur NM 8,226 ShamshcI',anj Dh uli an M 22.068 BijJIur ICl!JChri,.ra M 78,768 Suti Auranaabad }4M 1(;,392 Hallsahar M 68,9& Raj}Jun.t~anj Jafl,irpur M 29,872 Naihati Naihati M 82,080 La',ohl Lal.ola NM J3,419 Deulpara NM 26,445 MUrShidaba" Murahidabld M 17,110 Jiaaanj Jiaaanj .. A.zim- lo,atdal Bhit~ar' M 204,750 aanj M 26,535 MadnU'· Kandi KaDdi M 26,22S Fingipar. NM 6,2j6 Beldan,. BeJdaDsa NM 9,799 NarayanpLir NM 2,841 Bethampur Berhamitur M 72,605 Pan pur NM 5,126 :K.simbatar NM 6,304 Gurdaha NM 6,518 Noapara Oarolia NADIA Nakasip.ra Jasadananda- M 44,271 p&r NM 7,915 Icbapur Krishnaaar Krlshnanagar M 85,923 Defence Estate M 11,975 Nabadwlp Nlbadwip M 94,204 North Santipur Santipur •M 61.166 Barrackpur M 76,335 Phulil NM 4,627 Barrackpore Barrick Pore Cant. Hanskhali NM 6,799 CalitoniDent 25,031 Ranashat NM 13,104 Tita,arh Batrac1cpore M 96,889 Bimaaar M lO,.sm Titaaarh M 88.~18 , Ra..,hat M 47,815 Khardah M 32,302 Chakdah dakdal. M 46,345 Patulia NM 8,338 Kerulia 4,377 Kalyani Kalyani NM 18,3JO NM Panihati M 148,046 1CatlP;tU and Goi:ulptir New Barrack- Government pur M 32,512 Colony NM 8,2.09 BelahGna J{amarhati M 169~404 01"."" Baranapr Baran.. ar M 136,842 Oov.~t Colony NM 13,082 OumDum North DumDum: M 63,87.5 TWfiNTYFOtJR . Bonaaon Bonlloll M 50.'38 BiSarplra NM 5,4~8 PARGANAS Habra Oobardanaa M 20.184 BUldn NM 4,1Ot ' Milml NM '1.435 SuI.,.., NM 21.8S2 Asbokb"'r- DumDum KaJyanprh M 41,916 Aerodrome Rajarhat Jtrishaapur NM 14,905 ANa NM. 4.234 JYIDIN NM jO,b09 DumDua M 'l,H3 .. Arjijn,W' NM 8,446 NM ~S26 Baratat Ma4byam.. olnu' ,,: • • H ~ ·aram NM 31.629 South Nt.paD, NM ,2J.4" . D_O_ M l'HtSCJ " ., STATE~EMT JY.l~~p~.4. , '

" .,." ...... , ,""""~.: . 1 2 3 4 I :2 3 4

TWENTYf'OUR Garden Reuh Garden Reach M 154,913 HOWRAH Domejur Kalal. NM U.7 PARGANAS Metiabruz Patlchur NM 59,021 Mahiari NM 7,76' Maheihtola Krishnasar NM 6,445 Nibra NM 9.164 Baokra NM 10,781 JaganD~~haarh NM 1) ,922 Batanaear NM 9,108 Saakaril Podara NM 4,0.51 47,555 Nangi NM Dhuilya NM 6.819' Bchala South Subltr- Aadul NM 3,60.2 ban M 272,600 MasHa NM 5,767 J adav pur Purbaputiari NM 5.584 Jhorhat NM 6,37~ Chakdaha NM 6,217 Banupur NM 9,301 Bansdroni NM 16,411 Sankrail NM 11,300 Kamdahari NM 9,722 Manikpur NM 9,301 Badcmasar NM 12,288 Sarenaa NM 11,5J6 Panchl. Rajpur NM )4,660 Panchla NM 7,317 Amta Santoshpur NM 16,004 Amta NM 9.777 UJuberia BanitabJa NM 6,496 Jadavpur NM 12,685 Gada NM 22,819 Ulubcria NM 20,095 Kasba NM 23,728 Chenaail NM 19,845 Sonarpur Rajpur M 34,393 Bowria DarikhaH NM '.517 Biahnupur Kanyana,ar NM 5,629 Bouria NM 10,610- Budgc Budac Bud,e Budae M 5J ,039 Fort Gloster NM 18,241 Uttar Rlypur NM 11,113 HOOGHLY Aramb.. b Aramb.,h M. 25.'92 NM 16,046 Panduah Panda. NM 12,381 Baruipur BaruiPUf M 20,501 MOira Bansheri.. M CanniDa Canning NM J8,706 61."" CIIinsurah Hooehly· M 105,24J / Jaynapr JaynAlar~ M 15,218 MaziJpuf Cbinlurah Diamoad Diamond NM 13,012 Trak.. ",ar Tara~IW'" NM 1~~~9- ~:bour :Harbour HarJ$)aJ Haripel NM 8.445 Bad~~ Baduria M 27,647 Sinaur Sio,ur NM JO,9'7 Ba~itb.t Basirhat M 63,816 Bhadres "''"' Bhadrelw~ M 45,586 H_~Jlb~d M 20,931 Cbampdaui M S8,59' Chander- ChandaJSJ2apr Me 7'.238. HOWRAH BaUy Bally NM 31,892 nllar

Liluah ChakaJ)af8 NM 8,126 SerAOlPOP Baid~~ti ¥ 54110'. i' " ., M 102,023 J aaadisbpur NM 5,800 Ser-." I M 63,486 Malipanc)1,· R~~ bara Gotabari Uttarpara Nabaaram NM J 1.439- Howtah Howrah Me 737,877 BaDtra ~~y Sibpur 1•• achha KOIlUPr M 34,424 Domejur DabbiJl.. NM 6,581 M*M. NM lIt 4» Jbapaniaha ~t.~ M 67.5. 1~":".· . Domjur NM 10.896 ..... ,!'!8 ,~

STATEMENT IV.I-CODCld.

1 2 3 4 S 1 2 3 4 S'

BURDWAN Chittaranjan Chittaranjan !'1M 40,736 BANKURA Sonamukhi Sona.mukhi M J8,974 Sa)anpur Hindusthan NM 6,605 Patrasaer Patrasaer NM 6,978 Cables Town , MIDNAPORE Jhargarm Jhargram ]9,237 KuJti Barakar NM 14,624 NM Kharaij)ur Kharalpur City 161,257 Kulti NM 29,665 Town Disheraarh NM 10,084 (i) Kharaspur M 61,783 Niamatpur NM 12,680 (ii) Indian NM 7,321 Institute of Hirapur Buropur NM 28,92" Technology Outer Burnpur N M 56,900 Area Asanso) AsansoJ M J55,968 (Hi) Kharagpur NM 73,435 Rly. Settle- Sarakdi- NM 5,786 ment Nadjha (Sen (iv) Kharagpur NM 18,718 Raleigh Township) Debra Bali-Chak NM 7,376 Jamur!a Jamuria NM . 9,632 Midnapore Midnapur M 71,326 Raniganj Raniganj M 40,104 Garheta AmJagora NM 8,312 Jemari (J .K. NM 6,433 Garhbeta NM 7,542 Nagar Chandrakona M 10,364 Township) Chandrakona M 9,811 Ondal Onda) NM 2J,81O Kshirpai M 7,075 Ukhra NM JO,659 Ghata) Kharar M 7,262 Ourppur Dursapur NA 206,638 Ghatal M 27,570 AUSarBm Gulkara NM 10,046 Paoskura Kolaghat 13,371 Mcmari Memari NM 11,046 NM Tamluk Tamluk M 22.478 BurdwaD BurdwaD M 143,318 Mahisadal Mabisadal NM 9,852 Katw~ K.atwa M 28,832 DaiDhBt M 12,906 Sutahata NM 9.968 Kalna K.aIDB M 28,594 Contai Contai M 27.355

BIR.BHUM Nalhati Nalhati NM 9,530 PURULIA JhaJda JbaJda M 11,747 Rampurhat Rampurhat M 23,770 Balarampur Balarampur UC 12,957 Dubrajpur Dubrajpur NM 15,797 Purulia Town PuruUa M 57,708 Suri Suri M 30,110 Para Chapari NM 5.754 Sainthia Sainthia NM ]5,929 Raahunath- Raahunathpur M 12,721 pur BolpW' 29,636 Bolpur M Ana NM 12,642 BANKURA Bankura BaDkura M 79,129 Kashipur Adra SC 18,838 Khatra Khatra NM 8,519 Calcutta Calcutta Me 3,148,746 Bishnupur Bishnupur M 38,135

·Civic statU! abbreviations : M-MunicipaJity NM-Noo-rDunicipat town TC-Town committee MC-Municlp&1 cnrporation UC-Vnion commiu. NA-NotiW ..... New tons'.r 1;71 " , STATEMBNT IV~~r1Cld • . ! ' .• l 1 2 , , , Out of 43 places rccogQised as towns for the first time in 1971 as many as 30 arein the districts of ------JALPAIGURJ -- Twentyfour Parganas, Howrah and Hooghly, comp­ rised mostly in the Calcutta metropolitan area. The Alipur Duar Rly. Jo. 17181 remaining 13 are distributed throughQut the state in MIDNAPUR 8 other districts. The new enqants in the list, barrin, KoJaghat· 13371 a few in Twentyfour Patganas and one or two elsewhere, are all small towns belonging to class V H.lelia 9968 the emergence of which will reveal, as we shall see PURULtA later on, a 1)niform but interesting pattern. Arra 12642 Chapri STATEMENT IV.2 "54 NADIA New towns-I". JagadaDandapur 1915

District Town Population BURDWAN

1 2 3 Sarakdib-Nadiha S786 ------HiDdusthan Cables Town 6605 TWENTYFOUll- lemari 6433 PARGANAS Sultanpur 21852 HOWRAH Bademasar J2288 BaDkra 10781 Jaaannatbgarh 11922 Cbakrapara 8126 Patulia 8338 DhuJjya Kamdahari 9722 6819 Garui 6526 Masna 5767 Chakdaba 6217 Podara 40$1 Gurdaha 6518 Dakabin-Jbapardaha 6.581 Krishnagar 6445 Japdi.hpur 5800 Madrail.Fingapara 6236 Bisarpara 5438 WEST DINAJPUR DaJkhola Panpur 5126 '622 Bandra 4704- HOOGHLY Kerulia 4377 Makhla 11450 Haripal Naray~npur 2841 8445 Uttar Raypur 11713 Kriahnapur 14905 JYBngra 10009 Urbe. AllloDlerado.-A DeW eolleept ArjuDpur 8446 Nabadbai-Dattapukur 8226 , Apart from the towu as definecf bi t&o fore­ Kaoyanqar 5629 IOUlg parapaph$ a new, concePt of "Urban' AJIIo­ meration'· was introd~ in 1971 ceuut. Thit '''AI MURSHIDABAD to replace tbe concept of toWn' arOtiPl ol19(; I which KasbimbaUt 6304 ihad beeD deviaed', to 'take copizace' of the urbaa Famkka 'Barrap Townlhip 8096 spreads around the existbaa urban 'utJit. b.ut wu , .' somewhat ditrerent ftom the latter .. The town '"ouPI' OOOCH 'BeHAR of 1961 were oot. in many cases, contipoua: the 'Ouriabati iDdivictual units in the u ltPDPI" were ofton separated !TAT!MJ!NT IV. 3· .!:::~~~ ~~':::~'~ ~ ",Omeration of 1971' tanftotes 41contlpotl. urban areas and their outsrowths whioh have a C()f;)r:~ted SI. N~ p(" 81. Number"and Dames of Tota. pattera or developmem,." H represents an area No. urbaft "'10- No ' CODstitUcmt units population coDsi.tjn, of II contiguous urban areas and such rural -*QlI area. as are so near to being urban .. m.t_ no 1 2 3 differc.ne~.·' The entire arta of an urban aglomera­ ", tion i. thus already developed. 1. Aljpur Duar 1. Alipur DUlt (M) 'U.A. 2. Alipur Duar Rly. Jpc. (N.M.) 54,454

Individual towns and cities s~J1d demarcated on 2. Cooch Behar 1. Cooch Behar (M) the basis of municipal or other jurisdictional boun­ 2. Guriahati (N.M.) 62,664 daries for local Jovernment or civic purposes, or they have been newly constituted with the oxi.tina. 3. Bqli.h Bazar 1. EIlIlish Bazar (M) or Ilishtly modified bo~t:I of the constituent U.A. 2,' Old MaIda (M) 68,026 ttlauza or mauzas. The fringts or outskirts of many of the town. and cities are Bettina urbanised aDd 4. Jlah_rampur 1. Baharampur (M) sheddiDg their rural look ud .ra.cteriatics continous­ U.A. 2. Kashimbajar (N.M.) 78.909 Iy, beiq under ~ i~ive intlJICllce of the main city or town. It often takes long for these develop­ 5. Habra 1. Habra (N.M.) ing outskirts to be integrated with the mother towns. U.A. 2. Ashoknasar-Kalyangarh (M) 93,351 To ipore these fringes or outgrowth. and keep tbem out qf reckoning while st~dying urbanisation is 6. K.ri,hnapur J. Krilhnapur (N.M.) fallacious and wiU give only an incomplete picture. U.A. 2. JyaD~a (N.M.) An urban aillomeration, therefore, i. designed to 3. Arjunpur (N.M.) 33,360 include th. luburban fringes or outarowths as part of the total urban area in order to appreciate the 7. Barasat UA 1. Barasat (M) tnle state of urbanisation. 2. Madhyamgrarn (N.M.) 3. Nabapally (N.M.) 95,726

13 urban a"lomerations were constituted in West S. Budp Bud,e 1. BudJe Bu~ (M) Ben,.l in J 971 a. are indicated in Statement IV.3. U.A. 2. Uttar Roypur (N.M.) 62,752 It will be seen, that the principle of contiguity of the 9. Calcutta 1. Calcutta (M.e.) 7,031.382 constituent ur&n units and mclusiGn of the fringes or outskirts already in the process of urbanisation U.A. 2. Garden Reach (M) could '.OJ be followed in de~~ating the agglomera­ 3. Panchur (N. M.) tions ,~ the state. Only tb,* places which were 4. Krishnagar (N.M.) already recognised as urban (from before and! or in S. Jagannathaarh (N.M.) 1971) and were contiguous or close to the nucleus or core town! city were considered for inclulion in 6. South ~uburban (M) tbe agglomera~t .~ AAte [\lr,l arca~ ~s l\&d ,iQ~er· 7. Purba Putiari (N.,N.) vened in between the urban units were left out. Theae 8. Cbakdaha(N.M.) r""l .,.pts ,,~, at) ~f)ubt, in ~~y c•• ~4er the ~V,~ab)~. ~iu~ of,~ ~f;~ '. C9,f~ 'Qr ~~ nc:~y 9. Bansdroai (N .M~) ~~ Ulut;,ibpt, • to dJ»l~W's, Q,t ~tl0n 10. K.amdlhari (N.M.) .l"~'. these ~Cl' ~4f'd. .1.ll4 left, to ;~ t,.,~e.~ "care 11. Badernasar (N.M.) of l:>y ~he ' ~~4 llr~ ...-: ~thcr ~''Y ~p- 12. !~t Patro,Q~~d in ~ 197, ~~~~. . R.ajap~, ,~.;h1.,) J.3. '~~ QII.M.) 14. Jadabpur.(N.M.) 15. Garta ~.M.) 6J

STATEMENT 1:Y.J-C6Dcld.

---~2------:"'~-' _'_.r··'_··_"",')!""il.... ,.:;,:,:.. '\oII~ •.;~"r'iIOiI·)'~ __'''';,iiii·'";~"~i"";~),tf'-' ;;.;.'; o.i.,'i~~;~~i'~...·,,~!,t.:.'..,ItJJ.')'( ~1" /ir'~.·'lJl ~... s a 2.· J • 5 ~. Calcutta 16. Kasba (N.M.) S6. k.d\ll tN.M.) U .A. 17. Soutb Dwn Dum (M' 57. MuiJ. (N.M.) 18. Gartll (N.M.) ,,' .! • S8. Jhotbtt fN.M.) 19. Dum O\llri (M) 20. Dum Dum Aeroarome Area (N.M.) 59. Baau"ur (N.M.,'I 60. SaalcraiJ (N.M.) 21. Sultanpur (N.M.) 22. Bandra (N.M.) 6J. MmikpUi (N.M.) Q. (N.M.) 23. Bisarpara (NM) Stnllqa 24. (M) 63. tJtta.,para-Xot!iuia eM) 25. Baranagar (M) 64. MakbJa (N.M.) 26. Kamarhati (M) 6$. Konn ...r (M) 27. Panihati (M) 66. Nabtlntm CtJony (N.M.) 28. Kerulia (N.M.) 67. Itfshri eM) 29. Patulia (N. M.) 68. Serampore (M) 30. Khardahi (M) 69. Baldyabati (M) 31. Titaaarh(M) 70. Chanaattnqar (M.e.) 32. Barrackpur (M) 71. CIlamPdani (M) 33. Bartackpur CantoDtMnt (Cantt) 72. Bhadroawar (M) 34. North Bartackpur (M) 73. HoolhJy-ClUMIml (M) 35. tchhapur Defence Esttte (N.M.) 74. Bans"beria (M) 36. (M) 10. Uluberia 1. UJuberia (N.M.) 37. OurCkhi (N.M.) U.~ 2. Banitabla (N.M.) 38. Panpur (N',M;) 39. Narayanpur (N.M.) 11. Bauria L Bauria (N.M.) 40. Madrail-FiD,apara (N. M.) U.A. 2. ButithaJi (N.M.) 41. Bhatpara (M) 3. Fort O]OI"t (N.M.) 42. Deulpara (N. M.) 43. Naltiati (M) 12. Asantol 1. Alatisol (M) . 44. Halilahu (M) U.A. 2. lumpur (N.M.) 3. 6utcfBUMInu' (N.... ) 4S. (M) .~. kal~ttii (N.M.) 1. KUld (N.M;) 47. Batly (N.M.) 13. Kulti U.A. 2... .tar (N.M.) ••• Cha~ (N.M.) 49. Howrah (M.e.) Toea! PogulatiQll . !b. 1t61ita (N.M.). . 51. ~. (r.f~M.) " sa. Nibra (N.M.) 53. Bank. (N.M.) $4. POdad (N·.M.) " . '5. DbuJiya·(N.MJ .' 64 many or the constiuent units are not contiguous to STATEMENT IV. 4 each other physically but the entire agglomeration is Proportion of wban to total ~Iatioa a continuous urban spread and forms an integral part of Greater Calcutta or the Calcutta metropolitan district wih the city of Calcutta as . the nucleus. Six Proportion Total Urban of urban or the smaller U.A's, namely, Habra. Krishnapur, population population to total Reference Barasat, Budge Budge, Uluberia and Bauria are also Country (in million) (in million) population year close tOt and very much within the continuous influence of the metropolis and within the orbit of the 1 2 3 4 5 metropolitan economy. The other U.A's, are scattered all over the state. Asansol (District Burdwan) is the Canada 20.00 14.73 73.6 J966 second biggest U.A., in the $tate with a population France 49.76 34.81 70.0 1968 of 244,289 and is comprised of three urban units. Japan 98.27 66.92 68.1 1965 U.K. 48.59 38.32 78.9 J968 Out of the total population of ·44,312,011 of the state 33,344,,978 persons or 75.250/0 live in the rural U.S.A. 179.32 125.28 69.9 1960 areas and 10,967,033 or 24.75 % reside in the Sri Lanka 10.59 1.98 18.9 1963 urban areas. The population of the state was up INDIA 548.16 109.11 19.9 1971 by a little over 9.38 persons during the last decade ---- which works out to a growth of 26.87%. The As already stated, definitions of urban areas vary urban and rural populations registered an increase of widely from country to country and there is no inter­ 28.41 % and 26.38% respectively during the same nationally accepted norm or criteria for designating period. It is relevant to note that the popu1ation of an area or territory as urban. The degree of of India grew at a slower rate of 24.80 % during an u I banisation in different countries, therefore, is not the dacade 1961 .. 71 from 439,234,771 in 1961 to strictly comparable. It would, however, be apparent 548,159,652, in 1971. lhe growth rate of the rural that while the advanced countries have all attained a population of the country as a 'Whole was lower than very high degree of urbanisation. India is still largely the rate of growth of the rural people of West Bengal. rural with only 19.91 percent of the population in The rural population of India was up by 78,747,507 the towns and cities. But the absolute number of during the decade 1961-71 which gives a decadal the urban population alone in India is staggering ex­ increase of 21.86%. The urban population of the ceeding the total population of many of the advanced country, however, grew more rapidly than that of West countries like U.K., France, Japan etc. Bengal. It increased from 78,936,603 to 109,113,977 for ··a11 of India during the decade which shows Rura(and urban population in the states a growth rate of 38.23 % apinst 28.41 % growth of tbe urban population of.West Bengal. The proportion The statement below presents the proportion of of the population living in the urban areas of India in the rural and urban populations in the country and 1971 was 19.91%; that is, one in' every five Indians the states in 1971. resided in the' towns. The proportion of the urban to total population in West Bengal, as already stated, STATEMENT IV.S is 24.75%or every fourth person in West Bengal is 'to tie found in her cities and toWlts. Distribution of rural aud urban population In the states in 1971 Urbanisation in advaDced aoct· developing _ntrles-A eomparisou Total . ·Percentale of rural and urban Unit population .. ~puJation to the total Population It may b; w,orthw~il~ .,t ,th}$ s~~g~ to .lulve .. look Rural Urban a~ tb~ proportiop of urban .to ,to.tal population in 3 4 .101:;e of, the .advanced and developing; countri~s of 1 2 tho world.. INDIA S48,t79,652· . 19.91 STATEMENT) . IV.S-Contd..

1 2 4 1 2 States 3. Chandigarh 257,251 1. And:hra 90.55 Pradesh 43,502,708 19.31 4. Dadra and Nagar Haveli 74,t70 . 100.00 2. Assam 14,951,64~ 91.13 8.87 5. Delhi 4,065,698 10.30 89.70 .3. Bihar 56,353,369 90.00 10.00 6. Goa, Daman 4. Gujarat 26,697.475 71.92 ~.08 and Diu 857,771 73.56 26.44 S. Haryana 82.34 17.66 7. Laccadi.e, 6. Himachal Minicoyand Amindive Islands 31,8tO 100.00 Pradesh 3,460.434 93.01 6.99 Pondicherry 7. Jammu &. 8. 471.707 57.96 42.04 Kashmir 4,616,632 81.4J 18.59

8. Kerala 21.347,375 83.76 16.24 Of all the states Maharashtra has the highest pro ... 9. Madhya portion of the population in the urban areas, .. he Pradesh 41,654,119 83.7l 16.29 ratio of urban to rural population in the atate being 31.1 7 : 68JU. Himachal Pradesh is at the other end 10. Maharashtra 50,412,235 68.83 31.17 of the scale; with only 6 ~9~~ of its population in IJ. Manipur 1,072,753 86.81 t 3.19 the towns it is the least urbanised among the states Besides Maharastra, Tamil Nadu (30.26%), Oujuat 12. Meghalaya 1,011,699 85.45 14.55 (28.08%), West Bengal (24.75 %), Mysore (24.31 %) and Punjab (23.7 3 ~~) are the only .tates in the 13. Mysore 29,299,014 75.69 24.31 country of which the proportions of the urban to, tho 14. NagaJand st6,449 90.05 9.95 total population are above the all-India average % (19.91 (Yo). Orissa (8.41 (Yo), Assam (8.87. ), 'Sikkim 15. Orissa 21,944,615 91.59 8.41 (9.37 %) and Nagaland (9.9 S %) arc states with less than 10% of their population living in the urb&n. 16. Punjab 13,551,060 76.27 23.73 areas. Among the union territories, on the other 17. Rajasthan 25.765.806 82.37 17.63 hand, the urban population is quite sizeable every­ where except in Arunachal Pradesb, Laccadive, 18. Sikkim 209,843 90.63 9.37 Minicoy and Amindive Islands and Dadra" Nagar Raveli. In Arunachal Pra~~sh the proportion or 19. Tamil Nadu 41,199,168 69.74 30.26 urban to total populatiop is only 3.70%. In Lacea­ 20. Tripura i ,SS6,342 89.57 JO.43 dive. Minicoy & Amindive Islands and in Dadra &. Nagar Haveli as well there is no urban area at aU. 21. Uttar Delhi and Chaudigarh are two territories where a.bout: Pradesh 88,341.144 85.98 14.02 90%of the population ate urban; tb~se are in faet almost all-urban territories .. 22. West Boneal 44,312.011 75.25 24.75 :om... T,rrlt.lea Bllr.l-urban ...trIbotlo. : dlst1'let, ad· Pollee

1.. Aad.arr).aJ1 • . stlldo. Nicobar . I$laads 11$,133 17.1.3 22.17 Wtst Bengal·' is one of the few states in the­ COtatltry with 200/0 or more of their population in :-f;~~' .... · .. · 'rildeSh.· . . the urban. areu. . A look at the followiq statement ....,.~.'~" . ____~_·~~7,S •. 1~~ __.... ~~~,., ,;~·J;,,··; .. v~_.", ~ . wbich presents . the r ...l ..urban distribution of tho 66

population in the 'tate and the districts will show tbat With only 4.22 Yo of its popul~tion in the urban thtre is a wide variation in the proportions of the area,. Maida is the. least urbanised or all thc. district~ urban population from district to district. On the in the state. As already .tatod. the diltricts around· otber hand, there is also a marked concentration of Calcutta which comprise the Calcutta industrial belt the urban population in three district14 around the city have relatively high proportions of their population district of Calcutta. Together with Calcutta the in the urban areas. The proportions in these districts three districts of Twentyfour Parganas. Howrah and are 35.15% in Twentyfour Parganas, 41.93(10 in Hooghly account for as much as 71.97~) of the total Howrah and 26.47% in Hooghly. Darjeeling in the urban population of the state. northern extremity or the state is the only other district beyond the neighbourhood of Calcutta where % the lU'ban proportion(23.0S ) is pretty fti,h and close to the state average of 24.750/0' In a popu­ STATEMENT IV. 6 lation of 781, 777 in the district as much as 180,212 were counted in the urban areas. As we shall see later, Extent of urbanisathm, 1971 more than 50%» of the urban population of the district is, however, concentrated in the newly emerg· Unit Total Total Percentage Percentage ing urban centre Qf Siliguri. population urban of urban of urban popu- population population la.tion to total to total The statement also reveals that the entire northern population urban pop- of the ulation of tract of the state which is commonly referred to as unit the state North Bengal, barring Darjeeling. is largely rural. the proportion of the urban population nowhere 2 3 4 5 exceeding 10 %J for any district. 1n all the North Bengal districts taken together including Darjeeling, '- the rural-urban ratio comes to 10: 1 only and the WEST 44,312,01 I 10,967.033 24.75 100 towns of the region account for a meagre 6.25 % of BENGAL the total urban population of West Bengal. Districts: The western-most districts of the state comprhed ParjeeJing 781,777 180,212 23.05 1.64 mostly in what is called the Rarh, together with Jalpaiauri J. 750,1 S9 168,080 9.60 1.53 Murshidabad of the gangetic plains. make a compact area of low urbanisation where the propor'ion of 1,414.183 96,652 6.83 0.88 Cooch Behar rural population exceeds 90<%. The highest population West Dioajpuf J,859,887 t 73,690 9.34 1.59 of the urban population in this tract for any diltrict is MaIda 1,612.657 68,026 4.22 0.62 to by found in Murshidabad, the percentage being a .. % meagre 8.45 • The five districts of the region, Murshidabad 2,940,204 248.425 8.45 2.27 namely, Murshidabad, Birbhum. Bankura, Purulia Nadia 2,210.270 418,059 18.74 3.81 and Midnapore taken together contain amongst them 9.83% of the urban population of the state. Twentyfour 8,449,482 2,970,320 35.15 27.09 Parlanas We are then left with the six districts of the central ) .OJ3,533 4J.93 Howrah 2,417.286 9.24 gangetic plains where the rural-urban ratio is 60 : 40 Calcutta 3,148,746 3,148,746 100.00 2B.71 which is indicative of a relatively higher cksrce of Hooghly 2,872,116 760,270 26.47 6.93 urbanisation. Besides the Calcutta industrial arca, tho district of Burdwan to the west with its DurPPQr­ Bllrdwan 3,916,174 891,990 22.78 8.13 Asansol industrial mining belt, and the district or Birbhum 1,775.909 124,772 7.03 1.14 Nadia in the north are comprised in this zone. The six Bankura 2,03J.039 151,735 7.47 1.38, districts, namely, Burdwao, Nadi•• Twcntyfour P.t'I~ nas, Howrah, Hooghly and Calcutta hav, betweea 420,J56 Midnaporo 5.509.247 7.63 3.83 tbem 84.91 ptr cent or th. u.rban populaljQn. qf the Purulia 1,602,87S 132,367 8.26 1.21 state. Districtwise. Nadia (18.740/0) has the lowest.. _ ..... _ ...... ,_--t"'"_.___ '... _ .. _.__ ...... _~-:-,.,_ .. ~ and,Howrah (41.93%) the biahost propOrtiO:il Of tho --- urban population ill the relion. ... , , ' I,,·'

, • ',',' ", I I, "

· 11 the tatio of urban to f otaI population varles STATEMENT tv.7 ..... COntd. 'from' district to district .or rrom region to region it is also to be no'od that the variation is anything but 1 2 3 marked in most of West Bengal. Beyond the central tract of. the gangetic plains comprising the caloutta 2. Jalpaiguri 2J7.410 7".63 2'.37 and Burdwad jn4ustrial belts and the district of Nadia 3. Mal 166,142 93.41 6.59 on the the Calcutta periphety of metropolitan district 4. Mitiali 61,045 100 the proportions (If the urban population h_ve remain" 5. Mayoagur;. 1'9,164 85.2. 14.72- ed at a low level of between 6 °10 and ~% in all the 6. Naarakata 66,002 tOO other districts of the state. Darjeeling (23.05CJ~) is, as already mentioned, the isolated exception with a 7. Dhubguri 2] 6,330 92.23 fairly high degree of urbanisation. 8. Birpara 57,942 100 - 9. Palakata 130,529 94.49 S.51 Urbanisation , .. police ItatloDS 10. Madarihat 42,807 100 - 11. Alipur Duars 271,766 79.96 20.04 The proportions of the rural and urban popula­ 12. Kalchini 134.467 t()() tion in the police stations which are shown tn 1J. Kumargram 97.211 100 statement IV. 7 will also reveal interesting pattern&. - Coocb Bebar Dist. 1,414,183 93.17 6.83

STATEMENT IV.7 1. Haldibari 56,515 90.98 9.02 2. Mekliganj 81,067 95.34 4.66 Percentage of rural and utban populadon to total population 3. Mathabhanla 226,797 95.96 4.04 (Police Station-wise) 4. Sitalkuchi 95.128 100 State/Di.t./P.S. Total Perccntaae ot rural and 5. Cooch Bobar 372.487 83.18 16.82 population urban population to 241.633 98.26 1.74 total population 6. Tufanaanj ...... ---.--..... _ - 7. Dinhata 288,801 95.94 4.06 Rural Urban 8. Sitai 5J.755 100 1 2 3 4 Welt DiUJpur Dilt. 1,859,887 90.66 '.3. 101.570 100 WEST BENGAL 44.312,011 75.25 24.75 1. Chopra - 2. Islam pur 1.33,949 88.27 11.'S OarjeellQI Dist. 781,777 76.95 23.05 3. Goalpokhar 116,653 100 - 1. Sukhiapokri 29,137 100 4. Chakalia 97.210 100 - 95.40 •.60 2. Pulbazar 41.147 100 S. KarandiJhi 122,232 79.26 20.74 3. DarjeeJin. 82,002 47.72 52.28 6. RaiJao.i 208,274 62,000 100 ,4. Ranali RanaUot 51,825 100 7. Hemtabad 122,407 82'71 11.29- 5. Jore BUDI.low 41,096 100 8. Kaliaaanj , 95.165 100 6. KalimpoDi 102,236 77.08 22.92 9. Kushmundi - 142,855 100 7. Garubathan 32,302 100 10. Itabar J01,221 JOO .8. I(ursoona 7J ,714- 77.10 22.90 11. Banashihari 115,867 87.22 12.71 t. Mirik 28.519 100 12. Oanprampur 100 10. Naxalbari 50,799 tOO 13. Kum&raan.i 86.217 121,564 100 11 f 'Silliauri 134,392 27.46 72.54 14. TapaD 189,138 64.53 3$.41 12. PbaDaidowa 71,885 100 IS. Balurahta - 43 •.565 86.01 U.PJ 13. l'Charibari 44,723 100 - 16 .. HUH 1,612,657 95.'8 4.• 2 JlIpaiptI Dlat. t ,750. 1'59 90.40 9.60 MaId. DIIt. 111.333 100 .1 •. ,bJaaaV 128,744, - i. 100 (:,' , ,\, " ~'. STATEMENT lV.7 -,,('ontd • . , 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 ~ --.....,:.,:_....~ .. Maida Dist 2. Khara 177,905 100 10. Han,khaU 114,206 94.0S . '.95 3. ,Ratule 19S~161 100 1 t. Rana.hat 311,039 77.02 ' 22.98 4. Gajole 143,,426 100 12. Chakdah 186,044 75.09 24.91 S. Bamanaola 66,773 100 13. Kalyani '" 67,979 41.75 58.2$· 6. Habibpur 113,170 100 14. Harinahata 95,583 100 7. Maida 71,077 90.59 9.41 Twentyfour Pargaaas 8. Enalish Bazar 182,996 66.48 33.52 8,449,482 64.85 35.15 DJat. 9. Manikchak 126,715 100 10. Kaliachak 358,JOI 100 1. Baghda 102,590 ]00 2. Bongaon 211.155 76.07 23.93 Marshldabad Dist. 2,940,204 91.55 8.45 3. Gaighata 133,916 100 1. Farrakka 108,193 92.56 7.44 4. Habra 276.642 58.96 41.04 2. Shamsheraanj 123.519 82.1 3 J7,87 S. Deaansa 133,510 100 3. Suti 165,640 90.10 9.90 6. Rajarbat 128,478 74.03 25.97 4. Raghunathaaoj 202,751 85.27 14.73 7. Barasat 277,992 62.61, 37.39 S. Sagardighi 132,178 100 8. Amdanga 82.118 100 6. Lal,ota 120,346 ., 88.85 1 LIS 9. Bijpur 175,287 J5.75 84.25 7. Bhagwangola 148,661 ]00 10. Naihati ]26,413 J4.15 85.85 8. Raninagar 155,458 100 1 J. Jagatdal 258,18J 12.67 87.33 9. Mursbldabad 83,335 79.47 20.53 12. Noapara 132,581 100 10. Jiagaoj 45,706 41.94 58.06 13. Barrackpore 25,031 ]00 11. Nabagram 105,661 )00 14. Titagarh 204,942 9.68 90.32 12. Kbargram 1040,561 1.00 15. Xbardah 249,555 9.61 90.39 13. Burwan 137,719 100 16. BeJahoria 169.404 100 1-4. Kandi 129,770 79.79 20.21 17. Baranaaar 136,842 100 13. Bharatjour 182,306 100 18. Dum Dum 319,133 2.13 97.87 t 6. Belclanga 257,042 96.19 3.81 19. Garden Reach 154,913 100 17. Berbampur 237,474 66.77 33.23 20. Metiabruz 59,021 100 18. Hariharpara 116,180 100 - 21. MaheshtoJa 166,244 54.87 45.13 19. Newacia 103,825 100 22. Debala 300.144 9.18 90.82 2Q. Domkal 149,412 100 _. 23. Jadavpur 189,413 26.05 73.95 21. Jalanai 93,867 100 24. Bhanaar 201,570 100 25. Sooarpur 189,281 81.83 . 18.17 Nadia Dilt. 2,230,270 81.26 18.74 26. Bishoupur 241,258 97.67 2.33 1. Karimpur 187.480 100 27. Budge Budae 23',299 66.51 33.49 I - 2. Tehatta 177,013 100 28. Baruipur 191,136 89.27 10.73 3. IC.aliguj 148,465 100 29. CanoiSW 194,751 90.39 'S).61 4. Nabaipara 160,232 95.06 4.94 30. Basuti 136,043 100 ), S! Chapra 135,634 100 31. Joynaaar 216,761 92.98' 7.02 - _/ 6. Krishoqanj 68,756 100 32. KuttaJi 119~809 . '00:'

7; Krisbnapr > ••• 272,958 68.52 31 .•' )3. Mqrahat 268,613 100. ,_, 8. Nabadwip, .160,570 41.33 $8.67 '34. Fait.• 142.092 lOG 9~ Saa'ipur .' .J44.3J1 54.4.1 , 45.9 93.11 ..... ~~~'J)~~ ij~I)c),~rl', .' '1'6016.. ,.. ',<. :... ~ .'" ,( .",

"1>1, ", .,' f' 'f1

',',: ":,,, ' o·, .

STATeMeNT 1¥~7-('olltc1.

4. ' ~~ J 1 :4 I, 4 I 2 3 '. -..,.. T•• trlGIJI' Par..... ' DIJt. 4. Pursurab 96,812 100 ..- 36. Kulpi 146,144 JOO S. Dhaaiakhali 172,793 100 37. Mandirbuar 108,123 100 6. Panduah 158,404 92.18 1.12, 38. Matburapur 208,426 100 7•. Ba1aaarh U9,582 100 - 39. Patharpratima 160,493 100 8. Moara 115,664 46.61 53.39 40. Kakdwip 127,701 100 ,9. Chinsurah 136,756 23.04- 76.96

',.J( - 41. Sagore 91,229 100 10. Potb. 75.145 100 ,r/ 42. Namkbana 56,678 100 11. Dadpur 67,981 100 43. Swarupnaaar 121,,795 100 - 12. Tarakeswar 112,628 89.38 10.62 44. Baduria 157,960 82.50 17.50 13. Haripal 141,949 94.05 5.9S 45. Basithat 231,317 72.41 27.59 14. Singur 164,211 93.33 6.(11 46. Haora 101,749 ]00 15. Bhadroswar 131,652 20.87 79.13 47. Minakhan 63,367 100 16. Chandemaaore 75,238 100 48. Hasnabad 142,483 85.31 14.69 17. Jangipara 120,12S 100 49. Sandeshkhali 161,344 100 18. Chanditala 214,,526 100

SO. Hingalganj 81,419 j 100 19. Serampore 245,906 10.68 89.32 51. Gosaba 140,844 100 - 20. Uttarpara 144,213 13.41 86.59 Howrah Dllt. 2,417,286 58.07 41.93 Bard... Dilt. 3,916,174 77.21 22.18

1. BaUy 38,892 100 1. CbittaranjaD 42,965 5.19 94.81 2. Liluah 32,449 57.08 42.92 2. Salaapur 48,734 86.45 13.55 3. to 8 P.S. 737,877 100 3. Kulti 149,S33 5S.16 44.84 9. Domjur 158,508 64.11 35.89 4. Hirapur 10',2D7 19.95 80.OS 10. Sankrail 139,672 51.29 48.71 S. Asansol 206,762 21.77 78.23 11. PaDcbla 115,404 93.66 6.34 6. Barabani 63,912 100 1 12. JaaatbalJavpur 124,324 100 7. J-muria 143,419 93.28 6.72 13. Udayoarayanpur 109,817 100 8. R.ani&an.i 121,044 61.55 38.4' 14. Amta 250,744 96.10 3.90 9. Ondal 125,358 14.10 25.90 15. BllIDao 195,154 tOO 10. Faridpur 82,690 100 16~ Ulubetia - 252,323 81.60 ·18.~ 11. Durppur 211,000 2.07 97.93 17. Bauda 49,376 30.38 69.62 17,628 100 U. ShlUnpur 212,746 100 ,12. Kaku .~ 1)' 13. Bud Bud 58,398 100 Calcutta Ditt. 3.148,746 100 - 14. AUSltam 1'2,010 93.39 6.6) Hoo....,· Dtst. .2,87l,U6 73.53 26.47 .~i ~ !S. Oalsi l'Ot~: 100 '. -\ 1, Goabat 166,29-7 100 - ,', . ,16. K,haadaghOib 10S~09l 100 2. Atatrlbaah 177.323 85.57 Raina 1'96.005 100 . /' 1:4.43 · 17. - , 3. Kbafta1cul 234.8)1 , 100 • 1S. Jamalpur ., 139,6141 100 """I ,~ ~ , -- :~ , " ' \ ," ',"".'" :'....: ' .. ,', . ':"i' 10 ST ATEMEPT tv.1-cotltcL _, 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 .... Baniwaa Dist. 19. Mcmari 217,851 94.93 S.D7 11. Raipur 163,009 100 20. Burdawn 300,215 52.26 41.74 12. SimlapaJ 75,068 100 21. Bhatar 153,945 100 13. TaJdangra 76,709 100

22. MoogaIkot. 154,887 100 14. Bishnupur 115,224 66.90 33.10

23. Ketugram 161,945 ]00 15. Sonamukhi 105,890 82.08 17.92 16. Patrasair 99,486 92.99 7.01 24. Katwa 215,662 80.65 19.3~ 25. Monteswar 134.345 100 17. Joupur 86,614 100

1 26. Purbasthali 182,306 100 18. Indas 96,037 100 100,424 100 27. Kalaa 213,076 86.58 13.42 19. Kotulpur Mldnapore Dist. 5,509,247 92.37 7.63 Birbbum Dist. 1,75,909 92.97 7.03 1. Bfnpur 193,000 100 1. Muraroi 174,107 100 2. Jamboni 68,886 100 2. Nalhati 170,937 94.42 5.58 3. Jhargram 119,957 83.96 16.04 3. Rampurhat 217.200 89.06 10.94 4. Oopiballavpu, J 26,437 100 4. Mayureshwar 160,063 100 5, Sankrail 67,610 100 S. Muhammad Bazar 80,109 100 6. Nayagram 82,215 100 6. Rajnagar 48,683 100 7. Mohanpur 53,301 100 7. Khoyrasole 89,583 100 8. Dubrajpur 116,887 86.49 13.51 8. Dantan 169,211 100 9. Sud 131,502 71.10 22.90 9. Keshiari 76,383 100 JO. Illambazar 84,643 100 10. Narayangarh 154,787 JOO

ll. Sainthia 127,727 87.53 12.47 11, Sabaag 132,301 100

12. Bo)pur 136,552 78.30 21.70 12. Piogla 95,269 100 13·1Labhpur 113,740 100 13. Kbaragpur 170,945 100 14. Nanoor 124,176 100 14. Kharagput Town 161,257 100 95.10 4.90' Bantura nlllJt. 2,031,039 92.53 7.47 15. Debra 150,544 .,. Midnapore 159,232 55.21 44.79 1. Saltara 84,073 100 17. Keshpur 153,594 100 2. Mejhia 50,499 100 - II. Salbani 98,860 100 3. Borjora 114,154 100 - - 19. Oarhbcta 257,443 93.84 6.16 4. Oangajalghati 101.075 100 - 20. Chandrakona lS6~8S1 82.63 11.~1 5. Chhatna 119,994 100 21. Ghatal 149,358 '76.68 23.32 l). Baakura 220,213 64.01 3'.93 22. Daspur 237,944 100 1.0ada 131,552 100 - 23. Pan skura 310,741 95.70 4.30 S. lndpur 91,374 100 - 24. Mayna 111,884 100 - 9., Kbatra 116,550 92.69 1.31 236,l87 90.4' 9.$1 ",·25,. TQJt~ 10.. l.anibaodh 77,094 100 ~6. MJhi.adal 224,()SO 95.(10 4~40 ,.

STATSMBNT IV.7-Concld· ·' towns and have tJourisbed as ccntrel of trade and 1 2 :4 4 commerce and also of higher oducation catering to the ar.eas and, ------~------Dceds of large within sometimes. Mi.... rDist. beyond the district. Industries have hoen added as ,an 27. Sutahata 16',462 93.98 6.02 urban function to some of these lltban centres only 28, Nandigralll 261,404 100 at a later stage and in a not too significant or. important scale in most cases. Instances of urban 29. Bhaswanpur 217,284 100 centres of any considerable size c0 .. ning up beyond 30. Patashpur 172,857 100 the seats of district or subdivisional administration due to any other causal factor like industrial activity 183.670 31. Egra 100 - etc. are rare indeed. Except in the Calcutta and 32. Ramna"ar 149,955 100 Asansol-Ourgapur regions, again, the district towns 33. Digha 15,398 100 are invariably very big, sometimes the bigest, urban settlements in each of the districts. Starting from 34. Contai ~90.053 90.57 9.43 Darjeelina in the northern extremity, where tho 35. Khejri 134,717 100 district town (Darjeeling) alone with a population 01 42,873 acoounts for (52.28%) of the population of Purulis Dist. 1,602,875 91.74 8,26 the police station, the same pattern is found in 'tho districts of Cooch Behar, West Dinajpur, MUda. 162,724 92.78 7.22 1. JbaJda Murshidabad, Birbhum, Bankura, PuruUa aad 2. Jaipur 63,654 100 Midnapur. In Siliguri, the district of Darjeeling has, however, a newly emergina urban centre which is 78,894 ]00 3. Stsha growing into a sprawling and throbbing city with 4. Baghmundi 69,749 ]00 extensive commercial and industrial activity, transport and communication network and educational facili­ .5. BaJararnpur 73,643 82.41 17.59 ties. But Siliguri, too, started as the seat of adminis­ 6. Barabazar 96.308 100 tration a. a sub-di \'isional town. The other urban 7. Purulia Muffasil 157,735 100 cQDtres in the district &rc localised, as could be anti... cipateq in a hilly area, in the seats of the sub .. divi­ 8. Purulia Town 57,708 100 sional administration. All the other districts of North 9. Para 100,697 94.29 5.71 Bengal, namely, Coach Behar, Jalpaiguri. West Dinajpur and MaIda display the same pattern of 10. Raghunathpur 136,644 81.44 18.56 urban growth and distribution. There are sizeable It. Naturia 58.942 100 urban population in all the district and sub-divisional headquarters; but the smaller urban settlementa are 12. Santuri 4S,403 100 Icattered throughout the districts and are located 13. Kasbipur 124,153 84.83 15.17 mostly in the thana headquarters. Maida is one 14. Hura 83,848 100 district in which only two of the ten police statio.. namely, MaIda and English Bazar hive any urban 15. Puncha 92,454 100 population. The twin towns of Maida-English Bazar 16. Manbazar 143,372 100 (the district headquarters) are in fact the only utbao 4reas of the district which incidentally ie the . Ie •• 17. Banduao 56,947 100 urbanised of all the districts in the state. The state­ ment that follows (IV, 8) may live an idea of the predomidnce of the district and sub-divisional tOWJlI . Beyond the Calcutta and Asansol-Durgapur in the urban scene in most of the districts of the lndustrlal belts the 'urban settlements in all the state and in the North Bengal districts in particular. districts are mostly concentrated in the centres of ad ministration like district' and IU bdivisional head­ In. the northern districts of Darjeeling, Cooch quarters. The sc.ats or ,the district administration: 'char, JaJpailuri and Malda the urban population is uuderstandably, have' aU ·.,l'OWll .jnto urban settle­ ahnQst entirely concontrated in the centres of district lllcnt.. ,.,r considerable fize over. 'htslldred years or and sab"divisional administration. West .Dinajpur is tD9U; :'Th"Y arc' $ostly reaidelltu..l .. cum .. commercial all clCcption in the 01ltUe northor.n tract. Besides I 72 .. the district and sub-diVisional towns a number of As many as 8 out of ] 4 police stations of Birbhum other urban centres ,have come up in the district are entirely rural. However, besides the two main mainly as centres of trade and commerce e,g. Kalia­ seats of administration, namely, Suri the district town ganj, Gangarampur, Hilli, Dalkhola etc. It has to and Rampurhat, the sub-divisional town. there are 4 be noted, however, that these places are mostly thana . other important urban centres which have sprung up headquarters. The location of the community develop­ in the district in 4 other police stations. In Bankura. ment administration in these pJaces has also played a which has only 7.47 % of its population in the urban part in their urban development. areas, only 5 of 19 police stations hive any urban settlements. The major urban centres in the district are again located in the two seats of administration, STATEMENTS IV. 8 namely, Bankura and Bishnupur. In the districts of Midnapur and Purulia also being predominantly Importance of administrative Centres in urbanisation agricultural districts, the urban centres are mainly in and around the administrative headquarters which have % of urban Total Population over the decades, attained prominence as commercial Name of population urban of district (4) as per- centre~ as well. district to total population and sub- percen- populatian divisional tage of Out of the 35 police stations of Midnapore as Hqrs. towns (3) many as 23 are entirely rural whereas only 6 out of 1 2 3 4 5 17 police stations of Purulia have any urban popu­ lation. In Midnapore which happens to be the 1. Darjeeling 23.05 180.2]2 180,212 100.00 second biggest district in the state only 8 police stations besides the district and subMdivisional head­ 2. lalpaigari 9.60 168,080 92,026 54.75 quarters have some urban settlements of any size. 3. Cooch Behar 6.83 96,652 82,574 85.43 The districts in the Calcutta industrial belt, namely, 4. West Dinajpul," 9.34 173,690 125,994 72.54 Twentyfour Parganas, Howrah and Hooghly, on the 5. MaIda 4.22 68,026 61,335 90.16 other hand, present a different picture in which the 6. Murshidabad 8.45 248,425 145)812 58.69 urban centres are fairly evenly dispersed among the police stations and the degree of urbanisation does not 7. Nadia 18.74 418,059 133,738 31.99 \'ary widely from police station to police station Except 8. 24 Parganas 35.15 2,970,320 266,957 8.99" in the Diamond Harbour sub-division at the southern extreme of Twentofour Parganas most of the police 9. Howrah 41.93 1,013,533 757,972 74.79 stations in the djstrict have small or big urban popu­ 10. Calcutta 100.00 3,148,746 3.148.746 100.00 lation. 28 of the 51 police stations are without any 11. Hooghly 26.47 760,270 308,094 40.52 urban settlement. Of these 28 police stations agajn 13 belong to Diamond Harbour sub~division alone. A 12. Burdwan 22.78 891,990 563,350 63.16 simi1ar situation may be found also in Howrah which 13. Birbhum 7.03 124,772 53,880 43.18 is within the nucleus of the Calcutta metropolitan district and is the most urbanised of all districts in 14. Bankura 7.47 1.1'1,735 117,264 77.28 the state. There are only 4 police stations out of a 15. Midnapore 7.63 420,156 167,966 39.98 total of 18, which are entirely rural. In the district of Booghly, which is also mostly in the Calcutta 16. PuruHa 8.26 132,367 57,708 43.60 - metropolitan district except for the far~fiung rural -Excluding Hqrs. Town of Sadar S U b-d'IVISlOn . \ ~hich is sub-division of Arambagh, 9 out of 20 police stations located in Calcutta. do not have any urban population at all. The district of Nadia which is close and contiguous to the Cal­ cutta metropolitan district is in a somewhat unique lf in an the North Bengal distric1s the centres of position. The district is predominantly rural with ad~injstration have almost the exclusive c1aim to only ~18. 74 % of the ,population residing in the urban bfmg th~ ~ajor urban centres the western agricul­ areas. Nevertheless, I the urban population appears tu~al . dJstncfs of Birbbum, Purulia. Bankura and to be dispersed in all the police stations which are Mldnapur also have a similar pattern of urbanisation. adjacent or close to the Ca1cutta metropolitan 13 district. Big urban centrC'3 have also de "eloped in the STATEMENT IV.9-Contd. district in places like Nabadwip, Santipur. Chalri.uah. 1 2 3 4 Kalyani etc. which are neither seats of administration (exctpt as P.S. headquarters) nor any big centres of industrial activity. However, as one moves north­ Maynaguri (14.72) ward in the district the poliLc stations ure found Dhubguri (7.77) devoid of any urban look, al1 but one of them b,,)ond the district headquarters being entirely rural. Falakata (5.51) Alipur (lO.04) The position in the district of Burdwan is almost Duar tl'e same as in T "ventyfour Parganas. All the police (9.02) statioTls comprised in the Asansol-Durgar ur industrial Cooch Behar Haldibari belt barring on1y a few, have Ja-ge urban settlements Mekliganj (4.66) \\ hiJe \herc are 9 pol ice stations in the areas be)ond Matha- the industrial belt ll~elonging to Burdwan, Kalna and bhanga (4.04) Kat\\a sub-divi~ioilS) which :H,:! t.'ntireJy rural. Cooch Behar (16.82)

To have an over all view it may be pointed out Tufanga"j 0.74) that out of 29 (, poli<.:e stations in the state as many Dinhata (4.06) as 152 are entirely rural, 16 are elltirely urban and the rest (128) part 1y rural and partly urban. It Wcc;t Dinajpur Balurghnt Islampur 01.73) may also be of interest to have a look at the degree Dist. (35.47) Karandighi (4.60) of urbanisation in the polke ~tations which have any urban settlements of G ny size. Statements IV. 9 Raiganj (20.74) ~hov. s such police stations by t.hree ranges of urbani­ (17.29) sation--(i) average (proportion of urban populd:tion Kaliganj coming within:-!: I O(~/o of state average), (ii) low Gangaranl- (100/0 or more below average) and (iii) high (l (I % pur (12.78) cr more above average). Hilli (13.99)

STATEMENT IV. 9 MaIda Dist. English MaIda (9.41) Bazar (33.52) Distribution of P.S.'s by proportion of urban p\'pulation M urshidabad Jiaganj (58.06) Farrakka (7.44)

District/P .S. P.S.'s with P.S.'s with P.S.'s with Dist. Berhampore Shamsher.. proportion of proportion of proportion (33.23) ganj (17.S7) urban popu)a- urban popula- of urban tion exceeding tion within population Suti (9.90) the state ave- 1O~~ plus or lower than J!aghu· rage by 10% minus of the 10% below nathganj (14.73) (Le. larger state average the state 27.22~~) (j.e. between average Lalgola (U.1 5) 22.28% & (j.e. below) 27.22%) 22.28%) Murshida- bad (20.S3) 1 2 3 4 Kandi (20.21)

DUrjeeling Darjeeling KaliInpong Betdanga (3.81) Dist. (S2.28) (22.92) SUigun Kurseong Naida Dist. Krishnagar Ranaghat Nakasipara (4.94) , . ('12.54) (22.90) (31.48) (22.98) Nabadwip Chakdah Hansk.hali (5.95) Jalpaigurl . .,._ JaJDaiguri Ditt. ' (25.37) Mal (6.59) (58.67) (24.91) --~--~~~~--~------~~--~--~------73 district. Big urban ('entre.) have also dc~clop~d in the STATEMENT IV.9-Contd. district in pLiccs like Nabadwip. Stt.lllipur. (]lakJail. 3 4 Kalyani etc. whkh are neither seat~ of administration (except as P.S. headquarters) nor any big centres of industria I activity. However, as one moves north­ Maynaguri (14.72) ward in the district the polile sL'.tions ~re found Dhuhguri (7.77) devoid of any urban look, all but (me of them Falakata (5.51 ) b~')OIIJ the district headquarters being entirely rur.)!. Alipur (20.04) The position il1 the distr:ct of Uurtl\van is almost Duar tIe same as in T ~'el1tyfollr Part!anas. All the r!olicc Cooch lkhar (9.02) stalior;s comprised in the Asansol-Durgar ur industrial Haldihari belt btlrring ('Inly a few, have la"gc urban settlement" Mekliganj (4.66) \\ hile l.here arc () pol icc stations in the arcas be: or:d Matha­ the industri:d hell ~ h:Jonging to Burdwan. Kalna and bhanga (4.04) Kat\\(t sub-div;:-.il);1:-) which ar.? {."ntirely rural. Cooch Behar (I (,.82)

To havc ~lll over all vic\'. it may be pointcd nul TufiHlg:lnj (1.74) tliat Ollt of 21} , pdicc stations in the ~tatc ,lS ma:1Y Dinhata (4.06) as 152 ~ire entirely rural. 16 .Ire elltirely urhtn and tIle rc~t (128) partly rural and partly urban. Il w(·q Dinajpur Balurghat bll.lmpuJ' (11.73) may abn be of interest to have a look at the (~('~!ret: Dis!. (35.47) . ~ or urbanisation in the polil.'e ~ tations which ha\c any Karandighi H.W) l~rban set!.JeITCl1ts of <:ny slle. Statements 1\'.9 Raiganj (20.74) ~ho\\ s such pol rct' statioIls t·.y three ranges of urhll1i· Kaliganj (17.29) ~ation~-(i) aVCnl!!t (proportion of urban popul,'ltion coming within! 10'\.1 of stite aver:1gc), (ii> luw Gangaram- (1 0 (>~) or more below average) and (iii) high (1I1/c; pur (12.78) cr more above average). HilJi (13.99)

STATEMI;Nf IV. 9 Maida Di:-1. English MaIda (9.41 ) B,llar (33.52) Distribution of P.S.'s by proportion of urban p 'puhl1ion Murshidabad Jiaganj (58.06) Farrakka (7.44)

District/P.S. P.S.'s with P.S.'s with P.S.'s \vith Dist. Berhamporc Shamshcr- proportion of proportion of proport ion (33.23) ganj ( 17.87) urban p(lpula- urban popula- of urban tion exceeding tion within popuiatil>D Suti (9.90) the state ave­ 1O~~~ plus or lower than Raghu- rage by 1O~·;, minus of the 10~'~ below nathganj (14.73) (Le. larger state average the sta te 27.22~'~ ) (i .e. between average Lalgola (I 1.15) 22.28~(;' & (i.e. below) Murshida- 27.22°;') 22.28~:, ) bad (20.53) 2 3 4 ----.--,.. ,~--- ..------.------Kandi (20.21)

Darjceling Darjecling Kalimpong Beldanga (3.81) Dist. (52.28) (22.92) Siliguri Kurseong Naida Dist. Krishnagar Ranaghat Nakasipara (4.94) (72.54) (22.90) (31.48) (22.98) Nabadwip Chakdah Hanskhali (5.95) Jalpaiguri Jalpaiguri Dist. (25.37) Mal (6.59) (58.67) (24.91) 74

------STATEMENT IV.9 ··Conrd. J 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

Santipur Howrah Dist. Bally Panchla (6.34) (45.59) (1\)0 ) Kalyani Liluah Amla (3.90) (58.25) (42.92)

3 to 8 P.S. Twentyfour Habra Bongaon Sonarpur 08.17) Uluberia (18.40) Parganas Dist. (41.04) (23.93) (loot Domjur Barasat Rajarhat Bishnupnr (2.33) (35.89) (37.39) (25.97) Sankrail Baruipur (10.73) Bijpur (48.71) (84.25) Bawria Najhati Canning (9.61 ) (69.82) (85.85)

Jagatda) Joynagar (7.02) Calcutta Dist. Calcutta (87.33) (tOO )

(6.67) Noapara Diamond HooghJy Dist. Mogra Arambagh (14.4.1) (100 ) Harbour (53.39) Chinsurah Pandua (7.S!) Barrackporc Baduria (t 7.50) (76.96) (100 ) Bhadreswar T

Dehala Raniganj Katwa (19.35) (90.82) (38'45)

]adavpur Durgapur Kalna (13,.2) (73.95) (97.93)

Budge Budge Burdwan (33.49) (47.74) Basirhat Birbhum Dilt. Suri Nalbati (S.58) (27.59) (22.90) ·lncluded in Howrah city. STATEMENT IV.9-Concld, or more. i c.. larger Mlan 27.2tYo. This is due to the existence of large urban centres of the same names in 1 2 3 4 the~e police stations. On the other hand, all the police stations of the two industrial belts are within BoJpur Rampurhat (10.94) this high range. (21.70) Dubrajpur (13.S1) Only ten police stations belong to the middle or Sainthia (12.47) aver~8e range, that is. close to the state average. All these police stations exrept Chakdah (Nadia), Rajarhat Bankura Dist. Bankura Khatra (7.3] ) (Twentyfour-Parganas) and Ondal (Burdwan), (35.93) comprise within them t.he towns with administrative Bishnupur Sonamukhi (17.92) headquarters. The other police stations (inc)uding (33.10) one which comprises a district town, namely, Cooch Patrasayer (7.01) Behar) are in the third range of low proportion of urban population. Midnaporc Kharagpur Ghatal Jhargram (16.04) town (10m (23.32) It is apparent that the degree of urbanisation has Midnapon: Debra (4.90) indeed been very low in most areas of the state and (44.79) that even in the areas where sizeable urban population Garhbeta (6.16) RTe found the rural population still overwhelmingly outnumbers the urban. As we shall sec presently, Chandrakona ~1 7.37) the pace of urbanisation has been too slow and halt­ Panskura (4.30) ing in most areas of the state and places \\ hich derived their importance primarily as seats of Tamluk (9.51) administration have played a vital role in the process Mahisadal (4.40) of urbanisation. Sutahata (6.02) Pattern of urbanisltion'in districts Contai (9.43)

Purulia Dist. Purulia lhalda (7.22) Statement IV. 10 gives the distribution of the urban population of the s.tate in the districts and the­ Town(100 Balarampur (] 7.59) I contribution of individual urban units to the total Para (5.71 urban population in each district. Raghunath- pur (18.56) STATEMENT IV.lO Kashiour (15.17) Toltns and their contribution to total urban population of dlltricts, 1971 Out of a total of 296 police stations there are 54 police stations in which the urban population consti­ Name of district Name of town Population % ofpopu- tutes 27% or more of the total population and may (urban population) of town lation of be said to beloDg to the hi,h urbanisation range. In each town keeping with the trend as emphasized in the foregoing to total paragraphs all but 15 of these S4 police stations with urban popu- high proportioaa of urban pop.ulation are comprised lation of within the CaJc~tta and Asansol-Ourgapur jndu~trial the district belts. Jiaganj (Dist. Murshidabad), Nabadwip, 1 2 3 4 Santipur, Kalyanjl '(:Dist. Nadia) and Kharagpur town - (Midnapur) are the only poJic~ stations beyond the Darjeeling 1. Darjeeling 42,873 23.79 town industrial belts and besides the main adminis­ (180,.212) 2. Kalimpong 23,430 13.00 tr~tjve headqyar~ers in wich thc Proportions of the 3. KUfSCong 16,42S 9.11 .urban. PDl1U1atl0Jl ar~ 3b.9v~ ~~~ S.1~1~ ~v~~g~ by J 0% 4. Siliaurl 97,484 S4.10 76

STATEMENT IV.IO Contd.

2 3 4 1 2 3 4

JaJpaiguri 1. Jalpaiguri 55,159 32.82 Nadia 1. Jagadananda- 7,915 1.89 (168,080) (4IS,059) pur 2. Mal 10,951 6.52 2. Krishnanagar 85,923 20,55 3. Domohani 7,706 4.58 3. Nabdwip 94,204 22.53 4. Mainaguri 15,808 9.41 4. Santipur 61,166 14.63 5. DhupltUI i J6,808 10.00 S. 4,627 LJI 6. Falakata 7,194 4,28 6. Bagula 6,799 1.63 7. Alipur Duar 36.667 21.81 7. Taherpur 13,104 3.13 8. Alipur Duar 17.i87 10.58 Rly. Junct. 8. 10,560 2.53 Cooch Behar I. Haldi bari 5,098 5.28 9. Ranaghat 47,815 11.44 (96,652) 2. Mekhliaanj 3,777 3.91 10. Chukdaha 46,345 11.09

3. Mathabhanga 9,167 9.49 II. Kalyani 18,310 4.38

4. ('_.ooch Behar 53,684 55.54 12. Kataganj & 8,209 1.96 Gokulpur 5. Guriahati 8,980 9.29 Gov •. Colony

6. Tufanganj 4,209 4,35 ] 3. 13,0IS2 ~.13 Govt. Colony 7. Dinhata 11,737 12.14 Twentyfour 1. Bongaon 50,538 1.70 West Dinajpur 1. IsJampur 15,715 9.05 Parganas (173. (90) (2,970,320) 2. 20,184 0.68 2. Dalkhola 5.622 3.24 3. Habra 51,435 1.73 3. Rayganj 43,191 24.86 4. Ashok Nagar 41,916 lA() 4. KaJiaganj 21,169 12.19 Kalyangarh 5. Gangarampur 14,809 8.53 5. Krishnapur 14,905 0.50 6. Balurghat 67,088 38.62 6. Jyanagar 10,009 0.34 7. Hili 6,096 3.51 7. Arjunpur 8,446 0.28 MaJda 1. Old Maida 6,69J 9.84 (68,026) 8. Barasat 42,642 1.44 2. English Bazar 61,335 90.16 9. 31,629 1.06 Murshidabad 1. Farakka Barr- 8,096 3.26 (248,425) age Township 10. Nabapally 21,455 0.72

2. Dhulian 22,068 8.88 11. Nebadhai 8,226 0.28 Dattapukur 3. Aurangabad 16,392 6.60 J 2. Kancharapara 78.768 2.65 4. Jangipur 29,872 12.02 5. Lalgo)a 13,419 S.40 13. 68,906 2.32 6. Murshidabad 17,110 6.89 14. Naihati 82.080 2.76 7. Jiaganj 26,535 10.68 Azimganj 15. Oeulpara 26,445 0.89 8. Kandi 26,225 10.56 16. Bhatpara 204,750 (;.~9 9. Beldanga 9,799 3.94 J7. Madraj) 6,236 0.21 fo. Baharampur 72,605 29.23 Fin&apara 1 J. Kashimbazar 6,304 2.54 18. Narayanpur 2.841 0.10 77

srATEM~NT IV.IQ-COntd.

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

19. Panpur 5,126 0.17 49. Purbaputiari 5,584 0.19

20. Gurdaha 6,518 0.22 SO. Chalcdaha 6,211 0.21 21. Garulia 44,211 1.49 51. Bansdrani 16,411 0.55 22. Ichhapur Defence Estate 11,975 0.40 52. Kamdahari 9,122 0.33

23. North Barrack- 76,335 2.S7 53. Bademasar J~288 0.41 pur 54. Rajapur 14,660 0.49 24. Barrackpur Cantanmcnt 55. Santoshpnr 16.004 0.54 (Cantt) 25,031 0.84 56. Jadabpur 12,685 0.43 25. Barrackpur 96,889 3.26 57. Garfa 22.819 0.11 26. Titagarh 88,218 2.97 58. Kasba 23.728 0.80 27. Khardaha 32,302 1.09 59. Rajpur 34,393 1.16 28. Patulia 8,338 0.28 60. 5,629 0.19 29. Kerulia 4,377 0.15 61. Budge Bildle 51,039 1.72 30. Panihati 148,046 4.99 62. Uttar Raypur 11,113 0.40 31. New Barrack- pur 32,512 1.09 63. Birlapur 16,046 0.54

32. Kamarhati 169,404 5.70 64. Baruipur 20,501 0.69

33. Buranagar 136,842 4.61 65. Canning 18,706 0.63 34. North 66. Joynagar DumDum 63,873 2.15 Mazilpur 15,218 0.51

35. Bisarpara 5,438 0.18 67. Diamond Harbour 13,072 0.44 36. Bandra 4,704 0.16 68. Baduria 27,647 0.93 37. Sultanpur 21,852 0.74 69. Basirhat 63,816 2.15 38. Dum Dum Aerodroma 70. Taki 20,931 0.70 Area 4,234 0.14 Howrah 1. Howrah City 737,877 72.80 (1,013,533) 39. Dum Dum 31,363 1.06 2. Bally 38,892 3.84 40. Garui 6,526 0.22 3. Chakapara 8,126 0.80 41. South 4. Jagadishpur 5,800 0.57 DumDum 174,342 5.87 5. Dakshin 42. Garden Jhapardaha 6,581 0.65 Reach 154,913 5.22 6. Domjur 10,896 1.08 43. Panchur 59,021 1.99 7. Kalara 11,007 1.09 44. Krishnagar 6,445 0.22 8. Mahiari 1.765 0.71 4S. Jagannathgarh 11,922 0.40 9. Nibra 9,864 0.97 46. 9,108 0.31 10. Bankra 10,781 1.06 47. Nangi 47,555 1.60 48. South Subur- II. Podara 4,051 0.40 ban 272,600 9.18 12. DhuiJya 6,819 0.67 78

STATEMEMT IV.lO-Contd. 1 2 .3 4 1 2 3 4

Burdwan 1. Chittaranjan 40,736 4.57 13. Andul 3,602 0.35 (89J,99O) 2. Hindusthan 14. Masila 5,767 0.51 Cable's Town 6,605 0.74

15. Jhorhat 6,379 0.63 3. Kulti 29,665 3.32

16. ~nupur 9,301 0.92 4. Barakar 14,624 1.64

11. Sankrail 11,300 1.11 5. Dishargarh 10,084 1.13

18. Manikpur 9,301 0.92 6, Niamatpur 12,680 1.42

19. Sarenga 11,516 1.14 7. Burunpur 28,924 3.24

20. Panchla 7,317 0.12 8. Outer Burnpur S6.900 6.3)l

21. Amta 9,777 0.96 9. Asansol 15~,968 17.4X

22. Uluberia 20,095 1.98 10. Sarakdi Nadi- hea Sen Rale~ 23. BanitabJa 6,496 0.64 igh Township 5,786 0.65

24. Chengail 19,843 1.96 11. Jamuria' 9,631 1.08

25. Bauria 10,610 1.05 J2. Raniganj 40,104 4.50

26. Burikhali 5,527 0.55 13. Jemari (J.k. nagar Town- ship 6,433 0.72 27. Fort Gloster 18,241 1.80 14. Ondal 21,810 2.44 Calcutta. 1. Calcutta 3,148,746 100% 15. Ukhra 10,659 1.19 HooJhly 1. 25.,592 3.36 (760,210) 16. Durgapur 206,638 23.17 2. Pandua 12,388 1.63 17. 10,046 1.13 3. 61,748 8.12 18. Memari 11,046 1.24 4. Hooghly- Chinsura 105,241 13.84 J9. Burdwan 143,318 16.07

S. Tarakeswar 11,959 1.57 20. Kalwa 28,832 3.23

6' Haripal 8,445 1.11 21. 12.906 1.45

7. Singur 10,957 1.44 22. Kalna 28,594 3.21

8. Bhadreswar 45,586 6.00 Birbhum I. Nalhati 9,530 7.64 (124,772) 19.05 9. ' 58,596 7.71 2. Rampurhat 23,770 15,797 12.66 10. Chand~~r 75,238 9.90 3. Dubrajpur 4. Suri 30,110 24.13 11. Baidyab"ti 54t 130 7.12 12.77 12. Serampon~ 1..02,023 13.42 S. Sainthia 15,929

13. 63,486 8.35 6. Bolpur 29,636 23.75

14. Nabagram Bankura 1. Bankura 79,129 52.lS Colony 11,439 1.50 (151 ,735) 2. Khatra 8,519 5.61 IS. 34,424 4.53 3. Bishnupur \8,135 25.13 16. Makhla 1 J ,450 1.51 4. Sonamukhi 18,974 12.51 J 7. Utterpara 4.60 Kotrung 67,568 8.89 S. Patrasaer 6,978 - 79 .

STATEMENT IV.IO-Conc!d. The thrt.e towns together comprise about half the urban population of the district, the other half bet.., . 1 2 3 4 concentrated in the up and coming urban centre or Siliguri. Siligbri and the sutroundlbl an!aS whiCh is Midnapore I. Jhargram 19,237 4.58 (420,156) already underaoing a rapid process of urbanisation is 2. Kharagpur 161,257 38.38 one 0·( the few recognised gr~wth centre. of the sutt&!. City The municipal town with a po~ulatioJt or over 91,000 3. Balichak 7,376 1.75 has emerged as tbe major urban centre of North Benpl and the gateway to Assam, Sikkiin, Bhutait 4. Midnapore 71,326 16.98 and Northern Bihar with itmtlerrse potential fOt 5. Amlagora 8,312 1.98 development.

6. Garhbeta 7,542 1.80 Jalpaiaurl 7. Ramjibanpur 10,364 2.47

8. Chandrakona 9,811 2.34 The district of Jalpaiguti in the foothills of the liimalayas has an urban pOputatio~ of 168,080 which 9. Kshirpai 7,075 1.68 is almost as big as that of Darjeeling. Here. toro, 10. Kharar 7,262 1.73 the urban populatioil is largely concentrated itt the two seats of administration, namelYt Jalpaiguti and 11. Ghatal 27.570 6.56 Alipurduar including the railway juuction (poputarflGD 12. Kolaghat 13,371 5.35 55,159 and 54554 tespectively). The two tOWDi together contribute about two-thitds of the urban 13. Tamluk 22.478 5.35 population. The other third of the urbanites is 14. Mahisadal 9,852 2.34 scattered over the smaUe'r towns of MayllagUri, Domobafti. Dhupgurj, Mal and Palale_ta, all of 'WhiCh 15. Haldia 9,968 2.37 have developed as centres or trade an.d cO-n*rce an" 16. Contai 27,355 651 transport serving the tea gardens in the Doolrs an' Purulia 1. Ihalda 11,747 8.87 (132,367) attracting in-migrants. 2. BalarampuJ 12,957 9.79 Coach Behar 3. PuruJia 57,708 43.60 4. Chapari 5,754 4.35 Cooch Behar, like the other districts of North Bengal, is entirely agricultural and almost "holly 5. Raghunatpur 12,721 9.61 rural. The district and sub·divisional headquarters 6. Arra 12,642 9.55 are the focal points of urbanisation in the district. 7. Adra 18,838 14.23 Except for Cooch Behar town which is the seat or district administration and the erstwhile capital of th" princely state, the other centres of u'rban settlellie1l't Statements IV. 10 and IV. 8 indicate cleady are very small town~. belonging to Class V or \,,1 that by and large urbanisation in most of the districts and have all sprung· up around the sub-divisional has been limited to or remain concentrated in a few headquarters. Cooch Behar municipality (population places of old urban settlements. A districtwise analysis 53,634), together with the adjacent non-municipal is given below. town of Ouriahati (population 8.980) accounts for about 65 010 of the total ut'ban po~ulKtion of tlte . Guriahati is actually an extension <1(' tho l)1ain town of Cooch Behar and, as we ·shall see later, There are only 4 urban areas in the district all of even tho growth of the Cooeh Behar-Guriahati u ibm which are centres of administrative importance. ,agglomeration has been caused mote' by forftrit()Us DarjeleinBt Kalimpong and Kurseong are tnrce hill circu mstances like influl or displated J)etisons from stations which have derived their importance firstly 'beyond the borders t11an by factors like itKfustriai from their being the seats of administration and also fnvestment etc. that make for or induce urb_.. from the fact that they are sizeable trading centres. sation. 80

~est DlDajpur neglect "'f the northern region of the state by the private entrepreneurs as well as the public sector and The total urban population in the district of the entire region has remained in a state of back­ West Dinajpur (173,690) is almos t equal to that of wardness. As already indicated, \\hatever Jittle urban­ its northern neighbour. The proportion of urban to satioo has occurred in the region has been due to total population in the district (9.34%) is also close fortuitous, )et compelling, circumstances like flow of t9 that of Jalpaiguri (9.60%). Here, too, the bulk in-migrants and the need fur expansion of trade and of the urban population is concentrated in the three commerce which is the concommitant of a growing seats of district and sub-divisional administration. ,Population. There is as yet hardly any corscious Balurghat, the district town, Rayganj and Islampur, effort except for the Siliguri region to sustain or the sub-divisional towns together account for about further the urban growth in the region by planning three-fourths of the total urban population of the industrial and other development activity. district. While the growth of BaJurghat (population 67,088) bas teen almost entirely due to settlement of Murshidabad 4hplaced persons in and artund the district town that of Rayganj is also JargeJy due to settlement of Crossing over to the south of the Ganga one in·mj8rants from across the international boundary. finds the picture not very different in the district of Rayganj had the additional advantage of its central Murshidabad or in Birbhum to its west. l()('ation. AI distinctive feature of the district, how­ e.ver. is seen in the growth of a few other urban A big district with a popUlation of 2 94 million, a!J)tres like Gangarampur (popu]ation ) 4,809), Murshidabad is also entirely agrkultural and has Kalaganj (21,169) and Dalkhola (5,622). The first only 8.45% of the population in the few urban areas ',,"0 have come up as centres of trade and commerce, which are Scattered throughout the district. Ihe althQugh initial1y the inducement (arne from the main towns, again, ~re those whil:h are the sea~s of location of the, community development and thana administration, viz., Berhampore-Kasimbal.ar (popu­

administration., The, ' last one, Dalkhola has got the lation 78,909), Murshidabad (population 17,llO)~ urban status for the first time in 1971 because of the Kandi (population 26,225) and J"ngipur (population expansion of its commercial activity in an otherwise 29.872). Amongst them these four towns account backw(lrd and entirely agricultural area. for a little over 60% of the urban population of the district. The other urban centres are Beldanga Maid. (9,799). Jiaganj-Azimganj (26,535), Lalgola (13,419), Aurangabad (16,392), DhuJian (22,068) and Farrakka " MaIda. the southren most district of North Bengal, Barrage township (8,096) of which the three last is as already stated, the Jeast urbanised of the districts named deserve some special mention. Aurangabad is 'in the state with barely 4.22% of the population one unique example, beyond the Calcutta and Asansol .residing in the urban areas. The twin towns of regions, of an urban settlement developing around an Old MaIda and English Ba7,ar are the only urban organised industrial activity, though in the house­ >areas in the district and amongst them they account hold and small sector, namely, birirnaking. Dhulian for the entire urban population. . is an important commercial centre which has gained ,in importance with the commissioning of the Farrakka While examining the low degree of urbani~ation .barrage providing the road link between the un­ in the whole of North Bengal one remarkable fact ,developed north Bengal districts in southern Bengal. will come to notice immediately. It is' that there Farrakka Barrage township is in its nascent stage. It ,is hardly any in,dustria.l activity on any' considerable bas been recognised as a new growth centre of the 6cale in any of the five districts of the region except state the impact of which is yet to be felt. " for some ne\\'ly established industrial unite; in and , around Siliguri and the tea factories in the gardens Birbhurn of Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling. The colonial nature of : the industrial set-up in the state and concentration of Birbhum which is adjacent to M urshidabad is ,.all industrial activity .in and around Calcutta and alSo almost entirely agricultural but for a ,number of various other factors like difficulties of transport and . rice mills scattered throughout the district. One of communications and lack or inadequE.cy of other 'the few districts which are fairly extensively served wrastructural facilities have If ade for continued by a system of cannal irrigation. Birbhum is rightly 81 regarded as the rice bowl of the state. It is only and hai good potential for industrial development. natural that rice milling has developed as an indus­ The city of Kharagpur alone contributes about 40 % try of considera 'Jle impJrta:1ce in the district and of the total urban population of the district. The large urban settlements have come up around rice other urban areas like BaJichak, Garbeta, Mahishadal mills and trading in agricultural commodities as in and Chandrakona etc. are isolated and widely dis­ Bolpur. Nalhati, Dubrajpur, Sainthia, Rampurhat etc. persed pockets which have gained in importance as Nevertheless the two princip.lI towns of the district. marketing centres or mandis. Haldia, currently a namely, Suri (30. t 10) and Rampurhat (23,770), are small non-municipal town of 9,968 persons, is deve­ also seats of administration. Amongst them the two loping as an urban centre of tremendous possibility to" ns acrount ror 40~~ nf the total urban popula­ with the suhfiliciiary port anci projecterl industrial tion of the district. In the case of the third major complex. As it develops HaJdia may open up a new town, namely, Bo]pur (29.630), the urban growth rea in the urbanisation of vast this district. has heen unconnected with administrative impor­ tance. ,Purulia

Bankura Purulia, the westernmost district, is one of the most backward areas of West Bengal. Agriculture, Turning to the westernmost districts of the state the mainstay of the economy of the district is in an which again, are all t!lltireiy agricuHural and incident­ almost primitive state and industrial activity is cons· ally happen to be another neglected region onc picuous by its absence except in some isolated pockets. noti"es a compact area of low urbanisation. With a It is therefore no wonder that the process of urbani­ small urban population (151 ,735) thed islrict of sation has been extremely slow and lopsided, only a Bankura contributes only 1.38% to the urban popu­ twelfth of the population being found in a few lation of the state The district and sub-divisional scattered urban centres. Purulia town (57,708), the towns Bankura (79,129) and Bishnupur (38,135) administrative headquarters and the nerve centre of together contribute about 770/0 of the total urban the district, occounts for about 44 % of the urban population. The other urban centres, namely, population. The other towns~ namely, Balarampur Patrasayer (6,978), Sonamukhi (18,974) and (12,957), Chapari (5,754), Ihalda (l1,747),Raghu­ Khatra (8,319) are but small urban settlements nathpur (12,72l), Arra (12,642) and Adra (18,838) which have developed around marketing places and are small urban settlements dispersed in the four are more in the nature of overgrown villages perform­ corners of the extensive district. The last two, Adra ing some urban functions out of necessity. One of and Arra, have acquired urban characteristics mainly the three towns, namely, Sonamukhi, commanded because of the railway' settlements. The others are some importance as a trading centre from before. mainly trading centres and have in addition a few small industrial units such as lac and cutlery in Midnapur Balarampur and Ihalda. These are, in fact, more in a nature of oversize villages rather than organised Midnapur, the second largest district in the state, and well developed urban centres. is almost similar to Bankura economically and from the point of view of urbanisation. It has, however, As in case of the North Bengal districts one quite a sizeable urban population of as much as 420, distinctive feature of the western tract is that urbani­ 156. The number of urban centres is also fairly big. sation is yet to make any headway and has been But here, too, all the major urban centres except localised in a few centres of moderate size which are Kharagpur are either the district or subdivisional towns mostly the district and subdivisional towns. There which derive their importance almost entirely from is~ however, a marked difference between the two being the seat of administration. These five centres, regions inasmuch as a number of small and scattered namely, Midnapur (71,326), Ihargram (19,237), urban centres other than the district and subdivisional Ohatal(27,570), Tamluk (22,478) and Contai (27,355) towns have also come up to extend the urban look toaether account for about 40 % of the total urban "and life to different corners of the districts in the population of the district. The city of Kharagpui.· western region. The principal urban centres in the (161,257), with the sprawling railway settlement as region, again, are not big or varied enough to radi.. the centre has grown into a new urban focus in this ate any appreciable urban influence to the periphery western tract as a major centre of trade and transport and their life and economy. 82

Burdwan the distrkt of Nadia \o\Ihich is fairly urbanised in some pa rts and is almost entirely rural in others. With We may now tucn to the two regions in whi.;h an urban population of 418,059 which cons· ucbanisation has made an af'pri!ciable impact. BurJ­ tilUte 18 74% of the total populdtion Nadia is wan is one district in the state, the (lnly one besides one of the most urbanised of the districts outside Hooghly, which has a fairly balanced economy, both the Calcutta metropolitan district As in case of the agriculture alld indui rj h:lVing flourished side by northern districts of Cooch Behar and Wl:bt DinaJPur side. Industrial and mining actlvitie) have been the in-migration from b~yond the international borders prime mover of the high degree of urblnisation in has played a significant part in the growth and spread the Asan~ol and Durg tpur sub ji vision) of the district. of urbanisation in the district. There wa~, however. All the eight police station~ of Asansol subJivision an aditional factor which inlluenced the urban growth except Barabani have extl:!nsi ve urban areas built in NadiJ. and Which was conspicuous by its absencl! around the large industrial undertaking~ ChittJranjJ.11 in C.1S~ of most of the northern and western districts. (40,736) with the locomolive work'i, Hindustan Cables There was soml! industrial activity, though on a town (6,605) with its ca'J es factory, Kulti llrban small or households scale (e g. cotton textiles, brass agglomeration co'nprising Kulti and Buakar with and metal wares etc. in Nabadwip, Santipur Ranaghat iron and steel and mining, Oi herg uh (10,084) and etc. I and aLiO som~ plann~d effort to set up nl!w Neamatpur (12,680) with coal mining a~J cnde and townships ~ g. in Kalyani, Taherpur. Gayespur, Fulia Cl)mmerce, Burnpur and Outer Burnpur (~5,X24) with etc which bave contributed not a little to the growlh iron and steel and engineering, Asansol and Sarakdih of the urban centres. The proximity of the district Nadia, Raniganj, Jemari with metal working. paper, to the Calcutta metr0politan area has obviously been chemicals, engineering etc. are the el{amf'le~ of typical of some inlluence and importance. industrial towns. The entire area is throbbing with extensive and varied industrial acthity which has now Krishnagal (85,923) and Nabadwip (94,214), extended to the newly clitabJished city of Ourgapur the industrial-cum· residenti al-cum-trading towns, 10- (2,06,638), with its steel factory, chemi~als, enginee­ gether comprise within them a lillie over two~fiflh~ ring and po·~er generating units etc. and the towns of the urban population of the district Unlike' in of Ondal Ukhra with their mJdern railway yards the districts in the northern or western regions Nadia and commercial activity. has a number of other urban centres of some consi­ derable size and importance e g • Santil'ur (61, 166)~ The two subdivisions of Asansol and Durgapur Ranaghat (47,815), Chakdah (46,345) and Kalyani together have a total urban popUlation of 657,248 (18,310 J. In-migrants, as already stated, have played which constitute over 70 % of the urban population a significant role in the growth of these towns except of the district. Except for the district headquarters the last named i.e. Kalyani. Kalyani, was planned as town of Burdwan which is a class ( city of 143,318 a satelite town in the northern extremity of the persons the remaining, areas of the districts compris­ Calcutta metropolitan district, but it is yet to grow ing the three sub-divisions of Sadar. Katwa and into a major urban centre in spite of its industrial Kalna have remained predominantly agricultural with estate and univer,dty etc. The role of the in­ just a few small centres of urban growth like Gusk':lfa migrants has been the most decisive in the growth of (10,046), Memari (11,046) Dainhat (12,906), Katwa the smaller urban settlements like Pulia (4,627), (28,832) and Kalna (28,594) scattered all over the Taherpur (l3, (04), Kataganj-Gokulpur (8,209) and area. Katwa and Kaloa ar~ t'1e seats of admtni§tration Gayeshpur (13.082) which were. in fact, set up as being the sub-divisional headquarters. The other three resettlement colonies mostly on government initiative. are small towns thriving on trade and commerce. [t is It may not be out of place to mention here that there apparent, therefore, that even this highly i adustrialised has hardly been any follow up measures in the indus­ district shows the same p.lttern of sporadic urban trial sphere or any other economic activity that might points in its agricultural areas as are found in the sustain the urban growth in most of these small predominantly agricultural districts in other parts of .. settlements. It is also remarkable that there is a9 the state. yet no urban centre in the far flung areas of the district beyond Krishnagar which comprise the four Nadia police stations of Karimpur, Tehatta, K,aliganj and Chapra and have remain!d entir~ly rural. On the fringes of the Calcutta industrial belt is 83

Calcutta TwentJrour-Parganas

Calcutta industrial belt or the Calcutta metro­ Although the three districts around Calcutta are poli!an district is one sprawling urban complex with all highly urbanised yet urbanif;ation has not been

Calcutta, the premier city of India as the nuc1eus s and uniform or evenly spread. Th~ snh-divi~ions of Dia­ cncomr asses large tracts of the dIstricts of Twentyfour mond Harbour, Bongaon, Basirhat and part of Barasat Parganas, Ho\Vrah and Hooghly 1 be importance of Twentyfour-Pargana-i are outside the Calcutta of Calcutta as the nerve centre of all etonom ic metwpolitan district and away from the industrial activity of West Bengal and the whole of eastern zone. Following the familiar pattern in the rest of India \'. ith its i~du~tri';!s, 1 r:tO p ~nd C'(Hll mprI'p, fin'lT'l_ th ... d~tp thp llrhan centres in these tracts are found cia). educational and cultural institutit'fis needs hardly to have developed in and around the administrative be emphasized. As a major port Calcutta still headquarters (subdivisional towns> only and as centres h~t1li les a fifth of the exports and imports of the or trade and com merce. The towns are also of country In spite of its decadence Calcutta remains fairly good size. Basirhat with a popUlation of the only metropolitan city of eastern Jndia and the (,3,816 and Bongaon with 50,538 persons are class Calcutta metropolitan district is by far the most 11 towns of the residential category. Other smaller populolls of the Indian metropolises. Industrial centres of trading and residential settlements have activity in the metropolis ranges from manufactur~ of also sprung up in the rural setting of these areas e.g. automobiles and sea going ves~els to sp;llnillg or UUlui tlllr (20,501), Canning (18,706), Jaynagar­ cotton )tarn, from paper to melal casting alld frotH Malilpur (15,218), Baduria (27,647) and Taki. wagon building to electronic equipment. Jute (20,931). manufactures and engineering are, of course, the main employers in the Calcutta metropolitan area. Hoogbly

As already indicated, the urban centres in the tlifcC Likc Burdwan the district of Hooghly is also a districts around Calcutta, namely, Twent) four Par!; a­ <:oIllbillalion of some highly urbanised areas on the nas, Hooghly and Hov.rah, account for about 43.260/0 one hand and an extensive and exclusive rural tract the urban popUlation of the state. Calcutta urban of on the other. Those parts of the district \V hich are agglomeration alone (population 7.03m) accounts close to Calcutta-Howrah region are fully urbanised for 64.11 % of the tlrban popUlation of West Bengal. VI'ith jute, chemkals, automobiles, engineering and All but three of the class I cities of the state are all miscellaneous other industries is the main economic concentrated in these districts as enumerated below. activity and form a part of the Calcutta metropolitan dstrict. The far away ~ubdivision of Arambagh STATEMENT IV.1l and parts of sadar subdivision are still largely rural with a thriving agricultural sector. Arambagh muni­ Cities in Calcutta Urban Agglomeration cipality with a pvpul~tioJi of 25,592 is the only urban area in the whole of the subdivision of about District Name of city Popu]at ion 675,000 persons. Excepting Chinsura and Mogra (which are the closest to the Calcutta metropolis) all the other police stations of sadar subdivision also Calcutta Calcutta 3,148,748 have remained beyond the urbanising influence of the metropolitan city. Chandemagore and Serampore Bhatpara 204,750 . . Twentyfour-Parganas subdivisions have, of course, become integral parts Titagarh 88,218 . of the metropolitan economy and have reached a Kamarhati 169,4J4 high level of urbanisation. Besides the two cities Baranagar 136,84::' South Dum Dum 174,342 al;eady mentioned (Serampore and Hooghly-Chin­ Garden Reach 154,913 .urah) the following hig and small towns are comp­ South Suburban 272,600 ri&ed within these two sub-divisions. Howrah Howrah 737,877 Hooghly Serampore 102,023 Hooghly-Chjnsura 105,241 84

Subdivision Town Population quarters (20,095) and Banitabla (6,496) and Bauria U.A. with a population of 34,378 and comprising Chandernagore Bhadreswar 45,586 three urban units Bauria (10,610), Fort Gloster Champdani 58,596 (18,241) and Burikhali (5,527). Chandernagore 75,238 Distribution of towns by size of population Serampore Rishra 63,486 54.130 It is customary for the Indian censuses to classify Konnagar 34.424 Uttarpara- the urban areas or towns into size categories by size Kotrung 67,568 of population. The towns in the highest size class Nabagram Colony 11,439 i.e. with population of a lakh or more are commonly MakhJa J 1,450 called cities. The six size classes are :

C1ass I . Population of 100 000 and over Howrab Class If " 50,000 to 99,999 Class III 20,000 to 49,999 " CJass IV lO,ono to 19,999 Howrah is the smallest but the most urbanised " Class V " 5,000 to 9,999 district in the state and has contributed in a big way Class V( " Less than 5,000 to the urbanisation of West Bengal. It has a little over 1 million persons in its cities and towns which There are IS cities or towns of class I. 31 towns constitute 9.240/0 of the urban population of the of class II, 49 of class Ill, 60 of class IV, 59 of state. M0re than 70% of the urban population of class Vand 9 of class VI in the state. The urban the district is, however, concentrated in the city of agglomerations have not been considered as Howrah alone. Bally (38,892), Chakpara (8,126), indiviJual urban units in the counting; the consti­ Jagadishl'ur (5,800), Donjur (10,896), Kalara tuent units have instead been taken to be separate (11,007), Mahiari (7,765), Nibra (9,864), Bankra towns or cities. for they have retained, and most of (10,781) Sankrail (l1,300) and Sarenga (11,516) them are likely to retain, their separate identity for are some of the numerous smaller towns of the quite Some time to come. The distribution of 223 district. Of some bigger size are the U luberia cities and towns of the state by size class is shown in U.A. comprising Uluberia, the subdivisional head... statement given on the next Page. 85

STATEMENT IV.12

Distribution of urban population by size class, 1971 : West Bengal and districts ------Statel Num­ Popula- CLASS OF TOWNS District ber of tion Class I Class II Class III Class IV Class V Class VI town') 1------1 1-----1 1----1 1-----1 1----1 1----1 Number Popula- Number Po pula- NumbOl' Popule- Number Popula~ Number Popu).- Number Popula- of tion of tion of tion of tion of tion of tion towns towns towns towns towns towns

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 to 11 12 J3 14 IS

West Bcngal 223 10,967,033 15 6.021.965 31 2.125,395 49 1,517674 60 824,642 '9 440,935 9 36,422 DarjeeJinl 4 180,212 1 97,484 2 66,033 1 16,425 Jalpaiguri 8 168,080 1 55,159 1 36,667 4 61,354 2 14,900 Cooch Behar 7 96,652 1 53,684 1 1 11.737 3 23,245 2 7,986

West 7 173,690 1 67,088 2 64,360 2 30,524 2 11,718 Dinajpur

MaIda 2 68,026 1 61,335 1 6.691 Murshidabad II 248,425 1 72,605 4 104,700 3 46,921 3 24,199 Nadia 13 418,059 3 241,293 2 94,160 4 S5,056 3 22,923 1 4,627 Twcntyfour 70 2,970,320 7 1,260,897 12 830,918 19 569,176 14 195.614 14 97,559 4 16,lS6 Parganas

Howrah 27 1,013,533 1 737.877 2 58.987 8 104.196 14 104,820 2 7.653

Calcutta 1 3.148,746 1 3,148,746

Hooghly 17 760,270 2 270,264 6 380,766 3 105,602 5 58,193 1 8.445

Burdwan 22 891,990 3 505,924 1 56,900 7 218,665 7 82,045 4 28,456 Birbhum 6 124.772 3 83,516 2 31.726 1 9,530

Bankura 5 151,735 1 79,129 1 38,135 1 18,974 2 15.497 Midnapur 16 420.156 1 161,257 1 71.326 3 77,403 3 42,972 8 67,198 - Purulia 7 132,367 1 57,708 S 68,905 1 5,754

As alrtady pointed out, 11 out of the 15 class I Nadia is the only district beyond the Calcutta region cities are located in the Calcutta industrial belt and whi~h has three such towns, namely, Krishnagar, 3 in the district of Burdwan. Only one city is Nabadwip and Santipur. Towns of the next three situated beyond the two industrial belts. This is categories are more or less evenly distributed through­ Kharagpur in the district of Midnapur. Similarly there out the state. The districts in the Calcutta reaion, or is a concentration of class II towns also in the Caleutta course, have their usual big share of these towns also industrial belt, as may as 18 of the 31 towns of this . as if to reassert their predominant position in the class having come up in Twentyfour Parganas and uJ,"ban picture of the state. The towns of the smallest Hooghly enly. All the other districts barring Howrah . size, that is, those with population of less than 5,000 and Birbhum have at least one town each of clau 11. each, numberina only 9 and are distributed as under : 86

Cooch Behar -2 STATEMENT IV.13 Nadia -1 Proportion of urban populafJc:n III cla£su of towns, 1971 Twentyfour.. Parganas -4 Class of town No. of towns Population Proportion of Howrah -2 population to total urban population To bave a true insight into the process of urbani­ (in percentage) sation it is necessary to examine the nature and srowth of the t owns of the different size classes. As 1 2 3 4 in many other countries, the big cities of class I occupy in West Bengal as well as in other states, a very important position in the urbanisation process. All classes 223 10,967,033 100 Cities or big towns have not sprung up overnight. Class I 15 6,021,965 54.91 They have attained their present status over a period Class II 31 2,125,395 19.38 of time through a process of development, sometimes Class 111 49 1,517,674 13.84 rapid, sometimes slow depending on tlit.: lI~\ure of 60 824,642 7.52 the various factors conrtblling tbeir growth. Tbe big Class IV towns again radiate their influence continual1y towMds Class V 59 440,935 4.02 the periphery and be·yond and also becon:e birger and Class VI 9 36,422 0.35 bi~ger by tlrbanising and assimilating the outskirts. They also induce the growth of other towns in the nejghbourbood. In We~t Bengal, and in many of the The statement highlights the overwhelming impor­ other states of the country, the big citi(s have not tance of the class I towns in the state. A small only become i1Lportant in the ]jfe and ecol1orny of the nUD'.bcrof 15 big towns account for 54.91~~ of the ,tate and the country lhey are gaining more and total urban population of West Bengal. The share of more in importance every day. 1he following the smaller classes of towns the decreases as we go 5t8tt rnents '\\i1J indicate relative im_rortance of the down the scale though the number of units increases different c]asses of towns in the state as in 1971. from 31 class II to 49 in class Ill. 60 in class IV and S9 in cJass V. Contribution of the lowest class, that is, classVI is a negligible 0.33% only.

The commanding position of the big cities in the urban field wi11 be evident from Statement IV.14 that fol1o\\s. This statement sho\\-s the variations of the proportion of the urban population in the different size classes of towns from decade to decade since 1901 and also indicates the overall decadal growth rates of their population. 87

."",- ~ + -I.t:)

It") co. ~ "C'P\ - .... - + -~..... +

~ .0 S ..... + ~ + + -+ ..... N .....It") ....o co - -..0 0\ -N t;-- - \0 -~ - ~ -.:t - -~ + + >= .... o ...... o - ....~ - ..... ~

N co loCi + ..... j 00 ~ u - 00.... .0 ....~ ..... + + + ~ ..... o coo

.....r- 0\ \.0 ~ .0 -.....o ...... + I + I 0\..... co co ..,;......

.0 ..... ~, ..... , (U ..... ~ 00 .... - > 88

It is significant that the class I towns have been often called as smaH towns, have shown a reverse trend. ()ccup)'iJ1g the dcrninant position in the state since Their decadal growth rates have been much slower tbe turn of the century, their share in the total urban and their share in the total urban population has pcpu]ation remaining more or less stable from decade also been on the decline continously from 1911 in an to decade with only small fluctuations. It is only irregular manner. The towns of the lowest class (class since 1951 that a slow and mild downward movement VI) have fared the worst, perhaps due to strict appli­ may be noticed. The number of citi~s has, of course, cation of the minimum population criterion in defining gone up a little. On the other hand, the class II towns since 1951. But the decline in the relative towns have been gaining, relatively, in importance importance of the classes IV and V is sure and marked since 1931. The number of towns of the class stood indeed. 1t wi!! require a cetai!ed study and special at 31 in 1971. But m ore important has been the rate investigation to see whether, and how far, the decline ()f growth of these towns taken together; the growth of the smaller towns has been due to the natural rate was a phenomenal 264.59 % in the decade pull of the bigger towns and cities and whether the 1931-41. Even if the decade is considered exceptional development of the bigger towns bas been at the because of the intervention of the world war II the expense of the smaller ones. It win naturally raise a rate of growth remained at quite a high level after 1941 number of questions about the nature of the urbani­ also. In 1951-(.1 the rate was 49.50 and during the sation process in the state and the country which we last decade it reached the high figure of 68.42%. In will refer to subsequently, fact, among all classes of towns it is the towns of class II that have recorded the fastest growth, both in It is only natural that the bigger towns tended their numbers and in terms of percentage, increase grow stjll bigger at the expense of the sma)Jer ones. It over the last few decades. The share of this class could not be otherwise. Due to natural growth, sustain­ in the total urban population has been on tIle increase ed investment by private as well as public sector in continuously since 1931. From 4.90/0 in 1931 it industrial and other enterpribes in the bigger towns rose to 11.010/0 and bas since reached 19.380/0 in l;ecause of tbe aheady existing facilities and advantages 1971. and the wOlking of the pull factor, the big towns are continuously getting bigger until a point of saturation Towns of dass III are more numerous than those is reached when they cannot grow in size or popula­ of dass JI and their Dum bers are also on the increase. tion any further. For the same reasons towns of all But their share in the total urban population has ()ther c1a~ses are changing their size classes. It may reeorded a downward trend since 1921. lhe rate of be worthwhile to have a look at the way towns in growth of the towns of the size dass has also fluctuated West Benfal have passed on from one size cJass to widely from decade to decade. another during the last decade. The following statement will be illuminating. The towns of the three lowest classes, which are 89

STATEMENT IV.IS

Change of size class of towns 1961-71 : West Bengal ------Name of towns District -----_-Population Class of towns Decadal Growth 1961 1971 1961 1971 1961-1971

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

1. Panihati Twentyfour 93,749 148,046 II I +57.92 Parganas

2. Hooghly-Chinsurah Hooghly ~D,104 105,241 II I +26.64 3. Sen-unpore Hooghly 91,521 102,023 11 I -H1.47 4. Durgapur Burdwan 41,696 206,638 J11 1 +395.58 5. North Dum Dum Twentyfour 38,140 63,873 J11 II + 67.47 Parganas

6. Rishra Hooghly 3~,535 63,486 111 II +64.75 7. Bansberia Hooghly 45,463 61,748 III II +35.82 8. Panchur Twentyfour 25,131 59,021 III JI +134.85 Parganaf! 9. Champdani Hooghly 42,129 58,596 HI II +39.09 10. Baidyabati Hooghty 44,312 54,130 III II +22.16 11. Outer Burnpur Burdwan 44,260 56,900 III II +28.56 12. Habra Twentyfour 26,466 51,435 III II +94.34 Parganas 13. English~Bazar MaIda 45,900 61,335 III II +33.63 14. Balurghat West Dinajpur 26,999 67,088 III II +148.48 15. Budge Budge Twentyfour 39,824 51.039 III II +28.16 Parganas 16. Cooch Behar Cooch Behar 41,922 53,684 III II +28.06 17. Purulia Purulia 48.139 57,708 III II +19.89 18. Jalpaiguri Jalpaiguri 48,738 55)159 III II +13.17 19. Bongaon Twentyfour 41,082 50,538 III 11 +23.02 Paraganas 20. DeuJpara TwentYfour 17,797 26,445 IV III +48.59 Parganas 21. Barrackpore Cantt. Twenty(our 16,912 25,031 IV III +48.01 Parganas

22. Kasba Twentyfour 16,080 23,728 IV fll +47.56 Pargana'l 23. Madhyamgram Twentyfour Parganas 18.483 31,629 IV III +71.12 24. Nabapally Twentyfour 13,857 21.455 IV III +54.83 Parganas 25. Uluberia Howrah 18,509 20.095 IV III +8.57

26. Kandi Murshidabad 19,730 26.225 IV III +32.58 27. Arambagh Hooghly 16,551 25,592 IV fil +52.63 28. Rampurhat Birbhum 19.897 23,770 IV fit +19.47 29. Tamluk Midnapur 17,986 22,478 IV In +24.97 90

STATEMENT IV.15-Contd.

• ______-~_ ...... ,~ ______._~ •. __.... _____- __• ___ •. _. ___.H_. __ ._.__ ... _ ....._. ______~".,. --- --.. ,,_ ... ---' _. -----_ ....

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 -- 30. Dhulian Murshidabad 17 220 22.068 IV III +28 15 31. Ondal Burdwan 18,645 21,810 IV III + 16.98 32. Kaliaganj West Dinajpur 14,478 21,169 IV HI +46.21 33. Taki Twentyfour 17,560 20,931 IV III +19.20 Paraganas 34. Baruipur ,. 13,608 20,501 IV III +50.65 35. Gobardanga ,. 13,476 20,184 JV ITI +49.78 36. Garfa 8.892 22,819 V III + 156.62 " 37. Bansdroni 9,139 16,411 V IV + 79.57 38. Santoshpur 9428 16,004 V IV +69.75 " 39. Rajapur ,. Q,405 14,()60 V IV +55.87 40 Jadavpur ,. 5,928 12,685 V IV + 113.98 41. Nabagram Colony Hooghly 8,866 11,439 V IV +29.03 4:!. Kolara Howrah 8,495 11,007 V IV -129.57

4~. Baruia Hawrah 8,492 10,610 V IV +24.94 44. Is)ampur West Dinajpur 9,499 15,715 V IV +65.44

45. Gangarampur West Dinajpur 9,671 14 J 809 V IV +53.13 46. Pandua Hooghly 8,159 12,388 V IV +51.83 47. Tarakeswar Hooghly 8,528 J 1.959 V IV +40.23 48. Jhalda Purulia 9,692 11,147 V IV +21.20 49. Memari Burdwan 8,386 1 J ,046 V IV +31.72 50. Singur Hooghly 7,915 10.957 V IV +38.43 51. Mal JaJpaiguri 9,085 10,951 V IV +20.54 52. Domjur Howrah 8,670 10,896 V IV +25.61 53. Ukhra Burdwan 7.871 10,659 V IV +35.42 54. Bimagar Nadia 7.623 10,560 V IV +38.53

55. Ramjibanpur Midnapore 7.621 10,364 V IV +35.99 56, Dishergarh Burdwan 9,437 10.084 V IV +6.86

57. Guskara Burdwan 1,017 10.046 V IV +43.17 58. Kalyani Nadia 4,616 18,310 VI IV +296.66 59. BaguJa Nadia 4.530 6,799 VI V + 5.09 60. Haldibari Coach Behar 4,378 5.098 VI V +16.63

61. Purba Putiari Twentyfour 4.063 5,584 VI V +37.44 Parganas 62. Banitabla Howrah 4,979 6,496 VI V +30,47 63. Old MaIda MaIda 4,885 6,691 VI V +36.97 91

A~ many as 63 to"'ns in the state changed their VI to class V. One tOWD, namely, Old Maida (DisH. size classes during the uecfldc, all passing on flom MaIda), which belonged to class VI in 1961 went the lower to the higher categories. Four of the over to the dass V in 1971. Garfa (Distt. T wentyfour towns, tllrce belonging in 1961 to class II and one Parganas) is the only in~tance of a town, besides to class III grew in size to become citit-s (C}riSS 1) in Durgapur, whi~h has skipped one higher class and ]971 raising the number of cities to 15. They Hrc (i) entered the class next above; from class V in 1961 the Panihati, an industrial town in Twentyfou I Parganas; town has gone to class III in }971. The rate of growth (ii) H('oghly-Chinsurah, an industrial-cum-trading-cum oft he place has been as much as 56% during the service town in Hooghly, (iii) Serampore, an old decade. It m~y be mentioned again that this town, iT"(h,<:tr;~! tow!"! a1s0 j,., H0nr,Hy and (iv) I't!rg~;'l!r, t00 is vrry ('1('1<:(", tn ('nl('l1tt~ (';t~, fI"',-t h!=l~ ~"nwn ,,0 the new industrial town in Burdwan. The fiTst three fast mainly as a residential adjunct of the city. belonged to class II in 1961 and the la~t onc to class I lJ. It is noteworthy t hat the first three towns Growth of urban population - its extent and nature are comprised within the Calcutta metropolitan di~tril't ~I nd the fourth one also belongs to another 1t is true that the urban population is growing higl,)_y jndus1riaJi~ed zone, Asansol-1)urgapur. The from year to year and from decade to decade along­ g' owth nf Durgarur has indeed been phen0menal, the \\ ith the growth in the total population in the state decadal increase being as big as 395 %J. and the country. If urbanisation is measured as the proportion of the urban to the total population it Transfer from dass III to class 11 involved IS will be seen that urbanisation has been anything but towns of which (> belonged to the Calcutta i ndustt i<.d spectacular in West Bengal or in the country as a beH and 3 more were in its vicinity within the district whole. The rate of urbanisation has definitely of Twent)foUJ Parganas. The other six are s('attered slowed down during the last two decades in spite of in otl1er districts and happen to be places of adminis­ the fact the decades or the better part of them saw trative importance, namely, El1t;Jish Bazar (DisH. massive investments in illdu::.tl i~lis;ltion in the five MaIda), Halurghat (Distt. West Dinajpur), Jalpaiguri year plans. The high positive correlationship (Dtstt. Jalpaiguri), Cooch Behar (Dist. Cooch Eehar), that is supposed to exist between industrialisation Purulia (Distt. Purulia) and Bonfaon (Di~tt. Twenty­ and urbanisation has not apparently had full play four Praganas) It is not a mere coincidence that the during the decades. The proportion of the urban headquarters towns of 4 of the five districts of north population to total population has increased at a Bengal have cros~ed tbe 50,000 mark and entered the snail's pace to only 19.91 % in India and 24.75 % in class II category during the last decade. As al ready West Bengal in ) 971. indicated earlier, the growth of these towns, and for The statement below shows the proportion of that matter the process of urbanisation in the entire urban to total population in West Bengal and India northern region, have been due more to the accident since 1901. of the socio-political circumstances than to any upsurge in economic activity. It is hardly necessary STATEMENT IV.16 to re-emphasize that there was no planned or even unplanned investment 01' developmental effort during Proportion of Urban' population to total population of West Bengal and India 1901-1971 the de('ade to induce the growth which has taken place in these urban centres. The growth of the towns Balurghat-] English Bazar-3 Urban population Population of urban 48%, 3 .63 (/>~, .Year of west Bengal populat ion to total Cooch Behar-28.06%. PuruJia-19.89%, Jalpaiguri- population 13.14% and Bongaon-23.02% has hardly exceeded the natural growth rate except in case of Bal urghat, West Bengal India the district town of West Dinajpur whkh grew by 190) 2.066,550 12.20 10.84 14 8 ~~ during the decade. 1911 2.349,608 13.05 10.29 1921 2,517,874 14.41 11.18 Chanre of size class bas been more numerOlJS and 1931 2,895,867 15.32 11.99 widely dispersed in space in the case of the towns of 1941 4.740,222 20.41 13.86 the lower categories. 17 towns of class IV as in ] 96 1 1951 6,281,642 23.88 17.29 passed on to the next higher class in 1971, 21 towns J 961 8,540,842 24.45 17.97 changed from class V to IV and 4 towns from Class 1971 10.967,033 24.75 19.91 92

lation crawled from 24.45% in 1961 to 24 75% in Th~ proportion of the urban to total population 1971 in the state while that for the coun'ry went up has gone up in the state from 12.20% to 24.75 % by 2 per cent points to 19.91 ()I~. Again, the absolute between 1901 and 1971. For the country as a increase in the urban population has been as much as whole it has climbed fj om 10. 84 ~/~ LO 19.9 J % dur­ 24.3 Jakhs which is a I.ule more than the nu rnber ing the same period The absolute numbers of the gained during the earli'.!r decade in the state. A urban population of West Bengal or India are however lock at the gn)wth f;ltes of p,'rUlalion in the state. a~ really formidable, urban popuJ.itio', alone of the in the following ~t3tement. may be of help to study country exceeding the total population of any III .ljor country in Europe e:(cluding U.S,S R. It will be the situation seen, however, that the proportion of urban to total STATEMf.N r IV.17 population moved up a bit fast only from the decade 1931-4 I both for the country as a whole and for Urban popula:ion and their grc\\th rate dnce 1901 West Bengal World War [( (1939·45) natlirally W .... st Heng'tt played a part in pushing up the pace of urhanisatil)11 ---,---~-.-.------' dudng the d~cade Then came lndependen'e and in Percentage Pen;cntage Year N,). of Total Pcrccn- its wake the waves of in-migrants from beyond the of decadal dccad:.ll towns f'Opu- tag.: of borders who preferred to settle in and arou nd the growth of urban lation urban to growth of cities and towns for various reasons. Th·! decade total groups of tile total urhan population ) 1.)41-5 I, therefore, saw the proportion of urban to towns population population

total population moving up rapidly in Wc~t Bengal to .-.. ,.-- --- ._.,,--- p---_._.----_._..... 6 23,8~";' The proportion went up for the country 2 3 4 5 al"o, tile increase being of almost the same order as III this s ate. But tne pace of urbanisation hali been 77 2.066,550 J 2.':0 extremely slow both for We~t Bengal and India. The 1901 +6.25 proportion of urban population increased marginally J 911 80 2.349,608 13.05 +13.70 0/ III. 0 f 7.16 -2.91 to 24. 4 '/0 case West Bengal lind to 17 97% 10 21 88 2,517,874 J4.41 -I for the country as a whole. The decade was marked + 1 5.01 +8.14 by rapid and fervent industrialisation in the country 1931 93 2,895.867 15.32 +22.93 when the first two five year plans were launched and 1941 102 4.740.222 20.41 +63.69 completed. But, surprisingly. rapid industria] isation 6,281.642 23.88 +32.52 +13.22 had but little impact on tht rate of urban growth. 1951 115 +32.80 The pace of urban sation was below ali expectations. 1961 184 8.540,842 24.45 +35,97 Urban growth hardly exceeded the growth of the +26.87 1971 223 10,967.033 24.75 +28.41 total population in 1951-61 as well as in 1961-71. But perhaps the results in terms of percentages alone are confusing, if not misleading One should The statement presents, inter alia, the decadal not lose sight of the very big absolute accretions to growth of urban as well as total population during the urban population which occurred in the country the last seventy years from decade to decade. At as well as in West Bengal. In West Bengal there was the turn of the century West Bengal, then a part of an .additio? ot 22 6 lakh persons to the urban popu­ the leading industrial province of Bengal, had a total latIOn dUrIng the fiftees-a not too unimpressive figure urban population of a little over 2 million which compared to the all-India growth of 165 Jakh during constituted 12.20% of the total population. Since the ~ame period. But, perhaps, the decadal growth then the urban population in the state has been rates of the total and urban population will, as we continuously on the increase, though at varying rates, shall see persently, explain the position better. from decade to decade. Further, the percentage decadal growth of the urban population has been Decadal urban growth since 1901 higher than that of the total population all through. If urbanisation were slow in 1951-61 it became The growth was the fastest in the decade 1931-41 even slower in the following decade 1961-71 in West when the population of towns was up by a pheno­ Bengal. The performance for the country as a whole menal 63.69% as against a moderate rise of 22.93% was, however, definitely better, though not very in the total population. As already mentioned, this impressive. lhe porportion of urban to total popu- was the decade when the World War II gave the big '3

;impetus to industrial expansion after the great depres­ - 1 2 3 sion of the late twenties and early thirties. The .absolute incre.lSe in the urban population in the Assam 34.71 66.80 single decade was as m!.lch as 1. 9 million against a small net addition of 0 8 million only in the three Bihar 21.31 43.95 ·~arller decades taken together i e. from 1901-31. The Gujarat 29.39 41.00 rate of de;adal growth WdS. how:ver, halved in tho decade following as it came do Nn to 32.52 Yo only Haryana 32.23 35.58 in 1951. Even then the urJan growth W.lS fdr above Himachal Pradesh 23.04 35.68 the growth of the total p)puiation which recorded a moderate rise of 13.22/,0 only. Apart from the waf Jammu & Kashmir 29.65 44.65 the decade was also mark ~d by momentous event!!! Kerala 26.29 35.72 like the infam )u') Bengal f.lmine, independence of India, p:trtition of Beng 11 and la3tly. the exodus of Madhya Pradesh 28.67 46.63 hundreds of thousands from either part of tne pro­ Maharashtra 27.45 40.75 vince The next decade (1951-61), again, wa9 one Manipul 37.53 108.95 of unprecendented growth of the total population which was due mostly to continued in-migration­ Meghalaya 31.50 25.27 a one way traffic-- from across the international Mysore 24.22 35.23 b0rders. The urban growth was, however, still larger Nagaland 39.88 168.28 being 35.97/,0 against a general population growth ·of 3 2.80/~ and there was a net addition of 2 3 Orissa 25.05 66.30 million to the urban population. But because of Punjab 21.70 25.27 the very big increase in total population during the decade the proportion of urban to total population Rajasthan 27.83 38.47 i!lcreased only marginally from 23.88 in 1951 to Tamil Nadu 22.30 38.64 24.45 in 1961. Then the last decade 1961-71 witnessed a comideruble fall in the growth of both Tripura 36.28 57.64 the total and urban p.Jpulation. the latter having Uttar Pradesh J9.79 30.68 only a slight edge over the former. While the total WEST BENGAL 26.87 28.41 population grew by 26.87;~ the urbJn p.:>pulation recorded an increase of 2&.41 % The proportion of Andman & Nicobar Islands 81.17 86.27 the urban to the total population, however, went up Arunachal Pradesh 38.91 by an insignificant 0.30 per cent points only. Chandigarh 114.59 134.67 The slow rate of urbanisation as also the small Dadra & Nagar Haveli 27.96 decadal growth of towns in the state during 1961-71 52.93 are in sharp contrast to the overall position ia the Delhi 54.57 country and in most of other states. The following Goa, Daman & Diu 36.88 125.28 statement will give the comparative picture of urban Laccadive. Minicoy & and total growth in the states and fndia. Amindivi Islands 31.95

STATEMENT IV.18 POfldicherry 27.81 122.80

Growth of p'lpu'ation -total and urban: 1961·71- India and S ta tel Arunachal Pradesh was entirely rural in 1961. Some areas . were declared as Urban in 1971. Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Laccadive, Minicoy & Amindivi Islands arc entirely rural. Percentage of growth---- (1961-71) Unit Total population Urban population It is remarkable that West Bengal which is one ·of :the "most urbanised states in the country and was 1 2 3 amongst the earliest to have attained a fairly high INDIA 24.80 38.23 degree of urbanisation ranked only second from the Andhra Praesh 20.90 33.92 bottom in the country in 1961-71 in terms of rate ot 94 urban growth, Punjab, with a growth rate of 25.27% towns. To this VIas added an unfcrtunate charter is the cn)y s1ate which is behind West Bengal. It is in the socio~J:olitical life of the state \\hich was Irarl.. ed true that despite tte low rate of urban growth West by a ruinous poltical ullcertainty affecting 11~e Eer gaJ adced 2.4 minion peop1e 10 the total url-an economy of tbe state disastrously. 1"he recession of porulation ",bich now stands at 10.9 mi11ion consti­ the late t-ixties did, of course, affect other states a~so. tuting 10.05 % of tl::e total urban pOfuJation of the But) for varicus reasons, it started in this state the country. It is aho true that percentagf s do TIot often earliest, persisted here the longest and hit it the hardest mean much by tbemse]YfS a~d may also be misleading of all sta1es. Tl- e imbalances in the economy of the espedall) in tbe case of the srr.aller states or terri­ ~tate, and especially the regional and f,tructural tories wl:ere the abfc1ute m.:ml:ers c f the urban pcpu­ jmt::!lancc ir. t1:c i::::dus.tr;~! fcdcr ~~d~d to its 1I!iscries. laticD "bere teo ~mall in He ceginnjrg of the decade. TJ1e ureasy politic21 situation, marked by a long Eut it is impcrtant to note that the urban groVvth rate period of unrest and uncertainty, also played its role in the state 1,28,4 1 'Yo} is appreciably below the rates by dj~(ouragitlg fre1-h inve~t)1'lf'l1t in the' st9te TJ1Pre in the states like Maharashtra (40.75 %), Gujarat "as, in fact, a fljght of capital (tbe extent of whhh is (41 'Yo)' Tamil Nadu (38.640;0), M)sore (35.23%) Jet unknown) rnakiDg recovery of the economy the and Bihar (43.950;0). The question will natural1y be reore dHEcult. The grounds gained. because of the asked why the urban growth of West Etngal lagged general bccm of the late fifties and early sixties in behind many other during the decade. indu~trialjsation were almost "'ho1Jy lost. In fine it IT'ay ce said that the overall state of industrialisation The rate cf urbanisation measured as 1he pro­ at 1he end of .. the Cf( ade or the net rate of industrial portion of the urban to the total {,opulaticn hpS DO eJ(pan~ion \\-as not fast enough to keep pace", ith the doubt been slow in the (OuntlY as ccmrared to the rise in population. experiences of the western countries during the last two decades. But it beccmes more signj:Ecant in view It has to be brone in mind that most of the large of the fact that induslTjaljs~tion "as ~OiDg on \ ery and medium iLC:u~trit.s of the state are concentrated fast during the fifties Vvhich conicided with the first in and around the Cal<. utta industrial belt which is two five-year plans and, but fer the slump or recession also the rr.ost urtanised region in the state. The of the late sixties, it ",as quite fast in the last decade Calcutta (U A.) metropolitan district in fact contri­ also. But the demographic and socio-pohtico-eccno­ butes tbe bulk (64.11 %) of the urban population of roic conditions in the country (and in most other tbe state. But the rate of gr0wth of population in the developing nations as well) are compJetely different region bas been tco low and has, consequently, from the developed countries of the west in their pre­ depre~sed the total urban growth rate of tt e state. The industrial phases. If one keeps in mind the very vo]un:e of rural to urban migration, both intra-state important fact 1hat the country already had a "ast and inter-state, dwind1ed during the decade due, again, population and also had a rapid annual growth rate mainly to the uufavourable conditions of emplo)ment of between 2 and 3 per cent it may 1:e easier to in tte major urban centres in tbe Calcutta and explain the apparently slow rate of urbanisa1ion~ The Burdwan belts. There are also indications that a situation was the same in West Bengal as in India as return flow or urban to rural migration had actually a whole and had something more. set in in the late sixtie') which affected the metropoli­ tan district most intensely. If the tempo of url:anisation has been slow in India since 1951, it has been slower still in West Bengal As is well-known. the developmental activities in in spite of the fact that both the decades, barring a the rural areas creatjng employment opportunities and few years in the late sixties, were marked by quite conditions of relative prosperity may act as a deterrent fast industrialisation even in West Bergal. It is well to migration from rural to urban areas. Conditions known that West Bengal witressed the most rapid in rural West Bengal have not, by any means, changed economic development in t~ six or seven years since in such a manner as to lessen the volurr.e of rural­ 1959 and the peak of industrial activity and employ­ urban migration. But a new force from the opposite ment was reached in 1965. But then ensued a direction came into play to block tbe potential streams recession "hich lasted till the end of the decade and of migration from the rural t04the urban areas. Along­ beyond to the peril of the state. A large number of side the eXj:an8ion of fmplo~rr.ent in the late fifties industrial units closed down in and around Calcutta and early sixties tbere was an apparently contradictory rendering scores of thousands jobless in the cities and developrr:ent- there" as a larpe jncrease in the number of the urban unemployed and a tremendous increase the only instance of a city coming up as a direct result in the urban labour force which was being swelled by of industrial investment of a massive order. The the natives of the cities and towns Whatever volume town which had a population of 41,696 only in 1961 ,of employment opportunities might have been created grew into a class I city of over two lakh people, the v.here claimed by the local unemployed first and it net addition being 164,942 during the ten years. But is common knowledge that the employment created Durgapur is no doubt an exception. Statement IV.19 was hopelessly inadequate to absorb even the local which enumerates the towns with a population urban unemployed youngmen. It was only the of 20,000 or more and with a growth rateof 30% + demand for unskilled labour, mostly in construction during the decade 1961-71 will indicate that the sites, and the enternal undefinable lure of a big city, towns which grew at a fast pace were mostly those that offered any attraction for the jn-migrants from which had some already existing industrial base. the villages to come to the cities and towns. But, this pull was also on a low key. For a hundred years and more, Calcutta industrial zone has attracted STATEMENT IV.19 the rural in-migrants from the neighbouring states of Bihar, Orissa and Uttar Pradesh New urban centres Towns witb pnpulatioD of lO,OOO+and decennial growth of 30% and above have come up irt these tradition4illy out-migrating states themselves in places like Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Rourkella, Bhillai, Bokaro etc. with massive invest­ Name of town PopUlation Growth rate ments in the public and private sectors during the last (1971) (1961-71) two decades. These have surely acted as counter- magnets to Calcutta, though the actuaJ extent of ·counter attraction of these centres cannot be determind 1 2 3 immediately. On the other hand, new investments in industrial expan~jon in the Calcutta region have not been on any considerable scale during the same South Suburban 272,600 46.71 peJ iod. Industrial employment had gone up only Bhatpara 204,750 38.69 slowly in the region. The net result was that the South Dum Dum 174,342 56.66 growth of population in the Calcutta urban agglo­ meration during the last two decades taken together Kamarhati 169,404 35.03 was a none too impressive (53 %). In the fifties Panihati 148,046 57.92 (, 95 1-61) the growth was 25.01 %, during the last decade (196 1- 71) again it was still at a lower level of Barrack pur 96,889 51.92 22.57% only. And as the Calcutta region failed to Naihati 82,080 40.41 grow fast the total urban growth in the state was 76,335 34.67 depressed automatically even though some of the North Barrackpur other urban areas grew fairly rapidly. Halisahar 68,906 34.00 Areas of urban growth North Dum Dum 63,873 67.47 Rishra 63,486 64.7S It may be worthwhile to examine how and in 61,748 35.82 which areas the urban growth took place during tbe Bansberja last decade. Out of a net addition of 24 lakb to the Panchur 59,021 134.85 urban population of West Bengal during 1961-71 Champdani 58,596 39.09 about 4 lakh or one sixth was contrtbuted by the new urban centres which were declared as towns for Oarulia 44,271 52.44 the first time in 1971. It is also to be noted that Bally 38,892 30.79 these new towns were mostly small in size and were hardly the result of any expansion of industrial invest­ DumDum 31,363 56.49

ment. Many of them are in fact over size villages D~ulpara 26,445 48.59 and have acquired their present size and status as 25,031 48.01 centres of trade and commerce and may be treated as Batrackpur Cantonment au outcome of the growth of population. Durgapur is Kasba 23.728 47.56 96

STA'l'EMENT IV.19-Concld The Jist, of course, includes towns which greW' 1 2 3 considerably fast due to other reasons. It will be observed that many of these towns which grew somewhat fast are within or just beyond the Calcutta Oarfa 22,819 156.62 metropo1itan area. While o1d industrial towns like 155,968 50.83 Asansol Bhatpara, Panihati, Kamarhati, Barrackpore, Rishra Bumpur 28,924 37.58 etc. added substantially to their populations there Durgapur 206,638 395.58 were many others like Garfa, Kasba, Barasat, Burdwan 143,318 32.43 Madhyamgram, Nabapalli etc. grew more as residen­ Siliguri 97,484 48.90 tial adjuncts of the metropolitan district being located within commutational distance from the Barasat 42,642 45.63 metropolitan core than as a result of industrial or Madhyamgram 31,629 71.12 commercial investments. In fact, investments Nabapally 21,455 54.83 in such places in the industrial section were Habra 51,435 94.34 of no significance at all. The growth of the exist­ English Bazar 61,335 33.63 ing towns in the district of Burdwan (namely, AsansoJ, Durgapur, Cl1ittaranjan, Raniganj etc.) was Rajpur 34,393 38.61 however. the direct result of a spurt in industrial Gobandanga 20.184 49.78 activity. Balurghat, Kaliaganj, Rayganj (West New Barrackpur 32,5]2 55.78 Dinajpur) and English Bazar (MaIda) are typical Suri 30,110 31.82 examples of growth of towns without any activity in Katwa 28,832 39.82 the industrial sector. These towns in North Bengal GhataI 27,570 30.90 have grown due to expansion of commercial activity and a fortuitous factor, namely, the preference of in­ Kandi 26,225 32.58 migrants from beyond the international borders for Arambagh 25,592 52.63 settlement in and around already existing urban K.aliaganj 21,169 46.21 centres of some importance. Baruipur 20,501 SO. 65 Balurghat 67,088 148.48 Rate of Ilrban growth Ranaghat 47,815 35.58 Urban growth rates in the state have varied from Nangi 47,555 53.44 decade to decade. The variations have been quite Chakdaha 46,345 3208 marked and have also fluctuated conSiderably from Rayganj 43,191 33.76 region to region and from district to district within the regions. The urban growth rates for the districts Chittaranjan 40,736 40.68 are shown in Statement IV. 20. Raniganj 40,104 33.18 97

STATEMENT VI.20

Growth of urban popufation-Wut Bengal and districts (1901-71) --_._-- Sta te/Districts Urban Percentage population of urban Growth % to total population ---- 1971 1971 1901-11 1911-21 1921-31 1931-41 1941-51 1951·61 1961-71 --'¥_---,.-

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 ., 10 ---"--" WEST BENGAL 10,967,033 24.75 +13.70 -1 7.16 +15.01 ·t-63.69 +32.52 +·35.97 +28.41

Darjecling 180,212 23.05 .\ 14.89 +16.78 +51.48 -J 33.77 +62.44 +53.09 +24.60

Julpaiguri 168,080 9.60 -I 14.34 --25.91 +28.01 +46.43 + 138.22 +87.19 +35.75 Cooch Behar 96,652 6.83 .\ 12.33 +9.29 -4.46 +48.76 +87.09 +42.38 +35.28

West Dinujpur 173,690 9.34 ·+503.28 + 135.98 +75.50

MaIda 68,026 4.22 +3.80 +4.81 -14.44 -+38.06 +29.37 +44.44 +33.95

Murshioabad 248,425 8.45 -j 9.98 +5.27 +4.46 +31.20 + 12.02 +44.87 +27.10

Nadia 418,059 18.74 +0.52 -{).29 +7.51 +35.44 +78.96 +51.53 +32.57

Twentyfour Parganas 2,970.320 35.15 +37.15 + 13.14 +17.67 +42.71 +49.50 +64.29 +48.67

Howrah 1,013,533 41.93 -+ 14.27 +8.50 + 16.80 +·68.36 -\ 21.56 +57.97 +22.84

Calcutta 3,148,746 100.00 +8.86 +3.63 +10.63 +86.00 -1 24.50 +8.48 +7.57

Hooghly 760,270 26.47 +9.99 +15.83 +12.74 +39.13 +22.93 +46.71 +31.24

Burdwan 891,990 22.78 +8.60 +1.65 +35.66 +71.81 +45.16 +73.20 +58.98

Birbhum 124,772 7.03 +5.05 + 154.64 -10.21 + 189.05 +14.33 +46.06 +23.82 Bankura 151,735 7.47 -\-7.38 +6.44 + 10.43 +36.78 +2.87 +29.11 +24.21 Midnapur 420,156 7.63 +13.33 - 4.90 +43.06 +35.69 +34,48 +32.19 +25.69 Purulia 132.367 8.26 + 16.51 + 12.07 +16.42 +53.00 +28.10 +17.85 +43.13

Until 1931 the urban areas in the state were of the first two five-year plans and the continued in­ growing only at a crawling pace. The decade flow of displaced persons from erstwhile East Pakistan. 1931-41 which saw World War II and an unpreceden­ The growth rate has come down again in J 961-71 to ted industrial expansion also witnessed tile fastest a low level of 28.41 % which is just above the rate of urban growth in West Bengal. Against a small growth of the total population. growth of 15.01°1<) only during the preceding decade the urban areas recorded and impressive growth of There is hardly any fixed pattern of the growth 63.69C;~ during the thirties. The growth rate during rates in the districts except in case of Calcutta. The the decade was as much as 31 % even in a district rate of growth of the city district has never been like Murshidabad which, to this day, remZlins to be very impressive since the turn of the century except one of the least urbanised of all districts. The in 1Q 31-41 when it reached tbe very high figure of decadal growth rate for the state was halved in 86.00~~). It is continuously on the decline since then 1941-51; but even then the rate was pretty high at and in 1961·71 it was a mere 7.57%. Burdwan, 32.520/0' The rates were somewhat higher (35.97%) on the other hand is one district in which urbani­ during 1951-61 which coincided with the launching sation has been making fast progress since 1921 and 98 the rate of urban growth has been quite high during very low urbanisation. The rate of urban growth all these five decades Even in 196 I· 71 the district ha~, however, been equally low in 1961·71 for the recorded an impressive u. ban growth of 58. 98 ~,~. region as a whole Only in Purulia it rearhed the lhe district of W~st Dinajpur in the northern regioll respecta:)le figure of 43 13 (Yo. Among the three has registered the fastest urban growth (75.5 0 ~~ r other dhlricts the highest 'lrban growth recorded by among all districts during 1961-71 But the any was 2). 69~.{, in Midnapur. Becau~e of the difference between West Dinajrur and Bur lwan is predominance of agrieullure in their economy and that while in the former the degree of urbanis1tion due to their geographical location the districts hardly is still at a very low level of 9 340/0 only and urbani­ held out any attraction for the intending settlers. sation started in the di~trjct only in the: late forties, Whatevt>r urban growth occured in the area was due in Burdwan there is already a fairly high degree of expansion of traJe and commt'rce which was a con­ urbanisation :Moreover, the Iligh rate of urban comit:wt of a high level of natural growth of p.:>pu­ gro\\th in BurdlA'an is connected directly with large lation. scale industrial investment whereas in the agricuhur.!l district of West Dinajpur the growth of ur')an areas Urbanisation is the re'\ult of interaction of many is attributable largdy to the growth of the tertiary a diverse factor the mo.,t potent of Which, un­ sector and also to an accident of r istory - -the influx doubtedly, is industrialisation. Although urbani­ of in-migrants from across the international b0rders. sation i., generally considered. following the It is noteworthy that in the preceding decadi! ( 19.) 1-61 ) western model, as characterised by a shift away from also West Dinajpur recorded the fastest growth rate primary activity-in fact. the high proportion of non­ t' • (0 ' lor Its urban areas 135.<)8/0 ), agricultur"l! pur~uit is considc:r~d to be the main test of an urban area -agricultural prosperity it~elf in the While the rates of urban growth have varied chang!d context of the break through in agricultural from dhtrict to district a rattern can nevertheless be rraclic~s and pTJductivity achieved ill some parts of observed in the variation By and large, the districts the country, is m'lking for urb:lnls:1lilm not only by with a low degree of urbanisation hav\! a higher indudng agro·based industries but also by diversi­ urban growth rate than in the highly urbanised. fyill~ economic activity by way ('if stura.ge, trading, districts The four North Bl!ngal djstri~ts of Jalpai­ transport, repairs and servicing, and institutional gud, Cooch Behar, West Dinajpu( and Maida which changes in finance etc. In fact, many of the tradition­ are amongst the least urbanised areas of the state ally recognised urban functions are being performed had relatively high growth rates for their towns in by medium to big size villages which may not, of 1961-71 and in 1951 61 as well. In the central course, ful fil the criteria fixed for treating an area as gangetic region, the most urbanised region in the state, urban. We have to go, however, by the accepted the urban growth has been quite low except in Twenty­ standards and the discussions above indicating areas four Parganas. Although thedistrict is highly urbanised of rapid growth of urbanisation have been to high­ 0 with 35 / 0 of the population living in the towns the light the existing pattern only. growth of towns in TWentyfour Parganas has been at a uniformly high level for the last four decades. The Growth rates of towos by slz eclus peculiar position of Twentyfour Parganas is due to the fact that apart from being the industrial hubbub of the It has also been suggested that the smaller towns Calcutta metropolitan area it has also attracted have almost stagnated or grown only very slowly displaced in-migrants and others to settle in and during the last two or three decades. It is generally around its numerous existing urban areas because observed that the bigger towns and cities have of their proximity to the metropolitan core. dominated the urban scene in the country as a \\hole. It may be worthwhile to look at the decennial growth The western districts of Purulia, Bankura. Mi~na­ rates of towns of different size classes during the last pur and Birbhum, however, occupy a unique posi­ seventy years as in the following statement. tion in the urban scene. The entire area is one of 99

STATEMENT IV.21 Decadal growth-_._-- rates of to\'tDS by size class, West Bengal ------_._-CJass of towns Decade All classes I II III IV V VI

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

1901-71 +430.69 +442.51 +288.43 +110.87 +202.06 + 26.54

1901-11 + 13.70 + 9.71 + 42.27 -10.61 + 3.11 - 11.84 19\1-21 + 7.16 + 4.43 +134.18 + 12.07 -15.57 + 26.02 - 20.62 1921 -31 + 15.01 + 16.09 + 21.22 + 6.82 +31.55 4.20 +102.86 1931-41 + 63.69 + 83.84 +264.59 + 43.16 -10.98 + 2.26 - 50.80 J 941-51 + 32.52 + 35.33 + 61.78 + 6.45 +65.43 26.34 +107.63 1951-61 + 35.97 + 28.74 + 49.50 + 48.08 +11.26 + 166.42 + 13.87 1961-71 + 28.41 + 27.35 .+ 68.42 + 1.06 +29.63 + 20.92 - 23.36

The c1ass I towns recorded the biggest increase class to which it might have crossed over at the in population (430.69%) during the last seven decades current census. (190 I -71) both in absolute numbers and in terms of percentage of growth. Towns of class III also have There were, for example, 19 towns of class II in grown quite fast (288.43%> during the period. The 1961 of which 3 passed on the higher category of smaller towns with populations of below 20,000 each class I in 1971. The growth rates of the 19 towns i.e. towns belonging to classes IV, V and VI have, on of class II (including the 3 which changed their size the other hand, recorded only small increases; their class in 1971) were 27.97%) during the decade combined growth rate came to 130.11 % only during 1961-71 which may be taken to be the effective or 1901 to 1971. There is no doubt that the 'big' true growth rate of the towns of class II. The towns or cities occupy a very important and domi­ foregoing statement has shown the growth rate of nant position accounting for 53.72% of the total this size class as 68.42%. The "true" growth rate urban population of the state in 1971 and mono­ of the class I towns during the decade would like­ polising the attention of the planners and adminis· wise come down to 15.46% only instead of 27.35% trators. But their growth rates have not been as as in the statement. Viewed in this manner the impressive as they appear to be. But even the sma11er towns are also found to have grown not as growth rates shown above are misleading in a way, slowly as they are made out to have done. But we for they are obtained by taking into account the shall revert to the smaller towns later. status or size class of towns as on the reference date only and do not consider the fact that the towns Towns which did Dot II'OW might have belonged to a different size class at the preceding census. The growth of a town of a It is significant that there were 13 towns which particular size class may be more meaningful jf the suffered some reduction in population size during the town is considered as belonging to the class to which last decade. These are shown in the statement. IV.22 it belonged at the last census and not to the higher 100

STATEMENT IV.22 which suffered a reduction in population and als 0 in To"ns whh .. h recorded negatiYe growlh in 1961-71 rank or size class sliding down from class IV to cia,s V will also owe a worJ of explanation. It is -- "------~--,.----.. " ------.~---- ..... --"---.. -.--"-- essentialJy a colliery town. The fall in population by Population Decade - .. _--- over 7500 per~Jons during the decade is due to closing District Name of 1961 1971 varia- S ito Class down of some units of mining in the area dudng the town lion 1961 1971 sixties. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

J. Twentyfour Ichhapur De- Grol\·tb of towns of class I Parganas fence Estate 12,382 J 1,975 - 407 IV IV As already rnent ioned the towns of class I record­ 2. Howrah Sankrail 11,844 11,300 -544 IV IV ed the largest growth. both in absolute numbers and 3. Howrah Jhorhat 6,438 6,379 - 59 V V in terms of percentage. during the Ja'it seven decades. 4. Howrah Andul 4,690 3,602 -1088 V[ VI Statement 1V. 23 traces the growth of class 1 towns in West Oengal since 1971 . .5 Howrah Burikhal i 5.703 5.527 - 176 V V

6. Twentyfour Dum Dum STATEMENT IV.23 Parganas Aerodrome area 4.712 4,234 - 478 VI VI Growth cf cities of West Bengal (1901·71) .'. Midnapore Kharagpur (NM) 61.838 61,783 - 55 II II

8 Burdwan Kulti (NM) 34,280 29,665 -4615 III III Year Number P(lpulation Decade Growth Proportion of of class I variation rate class 9. Darjeeling Kalimpong 25,105 23.430 -1675 III IIJ of class I towns I towns towns to total urban population 10. Burdv.an lamuria 17,216 9,632 -7584 IV V (percentage) 11. Howrah Panchla 9,102 7.317 -1785 V V 4 5 6 12. Jalpaiguri Domohani 9,064 7,706 -1358 V V 2 3 13. Twentyfour Parganas Batanagar 9,664 9,108 - 556 V V 1901 2 1.110,010 53.72

2 1,217,845 107,835 9.71 51.83 In spite of the neg ltive growth ot population all 1911 53,999 4.43 50.51 but one of these towns have retained their size classes. 1921 2 1,271.844 That is. the decrease in population has not been of 204,586 16.09 50.99 su~h a magnitude as to push them down to any lower 1931 2 1.476,430 size class. Jamuria, a non-municipal town in 3 22~4"218 1,237,788 33.84 5'7.26 Burdwan is the only exception. 1941 958,811 35.33 5847 1951 6 3,673,029 It is also significant that all but three of these 1,055,782 28.74 55.37 towns belonged to Class IV or V. Three towns of 1961 11 4,728,811 higher classes in the Jist are Kharagpur municipality 1,293,154 27.3S 54.91 (class II) and Kulti and Kalimpong both of class III. 1971 IS 6.021,965 The first town is part of Kharagpur city and the sHght fall in its population may be due to redistribu­ tion of population between different sectors of the The contribution of class I cities to the total same city; the city as a whole has recorded a small urbanisation of the state has been overwhelming aU net increase in population during the decade. The through the last seven decades. The number of such fall in the population of Kulti, however. is somewhat towns as also their total population have increased bigger and of some significance. This may be due from year to year. In 1971 the number has gone to reduction in employment in the steel and allied up to 15 and their population exceeded 6 million. mills which has been the mainstay of the economy oC The proportion of population of class I cities to total the town. Jamuria, the only town in West Bengal urban population was at the highest in 19 Slat 101

· 58.4 7%. It has since come down to 54.91 % in 1971. STATEMENTS IV. 24 The decad.al grQwtt,. of the cities has not, however, heen much above the total urbJ.n growth rate in any decade except during 193 1-41. . The growt!} of the Name Popu.. Decadal Percentage District of city Year lation variation variation c~tie') was, in fact. ap .?r~,;iably below that of total urban areas in the first two decades of the century. It exceeded the total growth during each of the three 1 2 3 4 s 6 .suc~eeding decades tm 195 J and then feU below the latter in 195L-61. In 196\-71 too it remained below the total urban growth. In 1931-41 the cities grew Calcutta Calcutta 1901 933,754 at the all time high rate of 83.84 °h)' During the same period the total urban growth (63.99-0/0) was 1911 1.016,445 + 82,691 + 8.86 .also the highest ever in the state The rate of growth 1921 1,053,334 + 36,88~ + 3.63 of cities is coming down gradually thereafter. In the fifties it fell abruptly to the level of 28.7410 which 1931 1,221,210 + 167,876 +15.94 was, much lower than the growth of all towns taken 1941 2,167.485 + 946,275 +77.49 together (35.97~/(). In 1961-71 the rate was still 1951 2,698,494 531,009 +24.50 lower (27.35 ~~) though close to the total urban + growth (28 410/0)' 1961 2,927,289 + 228,795 + 8.48 1971 3,148,746 + 221,457 + 7.57 If the cities of class I enjoyed a position of im­ portance among all towns and cities Calcutta, the premIer metropolitan city of the country, naturally Howrah Howrah 1901 176,256 heJd the commanding position amongst the cities in 1911 201,400 + 25,144 + ]4.27 the state, accounting for more than 50%) of the total population of all cities. The next biggest city, namely. 1921 218,510 + 17,1l0 + 8.50 Howrah is just about a fifth of Calcutta in size of 1931 255,220 + 36,710 + 16.80 the popu'ation. Both the big cities had a retarded growth since 1941. As already stated, the decadal 1941 429,689 + 174,469 +68.36 growth rate of the towns of class I has not been 1951 496,768 + 67.079 +15.61 impressive at all in 1951-61 or in 1961-7 J. being :2 8.74 (% and 27.35 (10 respt:ctively. Even these rate 1961 633.851 + 137,083 +27.59 somewhat illusory in as much as they were due partly 1971 733,877 + 104,026 +16.41 to transfer of a number of towns of classes II and III during these de(..ades to this size class for the first Twenty South 1901 26,374 time. In 1971 alone four towns, three belonging to four Subur- 1911 31,533 + 5,159 +19.56 ~lass II and one to c1?ss III, were added to the list of Parganas ban 1921 33,345 + 1,812 + S.7S cities which consequently inflated the growth of the 1931 39,499 + 6,154 +18.46 'Size class Leaving aside these four towns the class I citie$ of 1961 recorded a net growth of about 1 5% 1941 . 63,479 + 23,980 +60,71 ()nly during the decade. 1951 104,055 + 40,576 +63.92 Statement IV.24 which presents the individual 1961 185,811 + 81,756 +78.57 cities (of class 1) and the variation in their population 1971 272.600 + 86,789 +46.71 since 1901 will bear out the fact. Bhatpara 1901 21,540 1901 50,414 + 28,874 +134.05 1921 65,609 + 15,195 +30.14 1931 84.975 + 19,365 +29.52 102

ST ATEMEN,. IV .24-Contd. ------.------1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 s 6

Bhatpra 1941 117,044 + 32,069 + 37.74 Garden Reach 1931 1951 134,916 +17,872 + 15.21 1941 85,188 1961 147,630 +12,714 + 9.42 1951 109,160 +23,972 + 28.14 1971 204,750 +57,120 + 38.69 1961 130,770 +21,610 + 19.80 1901 10,904 1971 154,913 +24,143 + 18.46

Baranagar 1901 25.432 South 1911 25,895 + 463 1.82 Dum Dum 1911 12,874 + 1,970 + 18.07 1921 32,084 + 6:89 - 23.90' 1921 14,030 + 1,156 + 8.98 1931 37,050 + 4,966 - 15.48 1931 18.471 + 4,441 + 31.65 - 46.97 1941 25,838 + 7,367 + 39.88 1941 54,451 + 17,401 1951 61,391 + 35,353 +137.60 1951 77,126 +22,675 - 41.64

1961 111,284 +49,893 + 81.27 1961 107,837 +30,711 - 39.82 1971 174,342 +63,058 + 56.66 1971 136,842 +29,005 - 26.9(}

Hooghly Hooghly­ Kamarhati 1901 13,216 Chinsurah J 901 29,383

1911 18.015 + 5,799 + 36.31 1911 28.916 467 1.59- 1921 23,018 + 5,003 + 27.71 1921 29,938 + 1,022 + 3.53 1931 30,334 + 7.316 + 31,78 1931 32.634 + 2.696 + 9.01 1941 42,545 +12,211 + 40.26 1941 49.081 + 16,447 + 50.49- 1951 77.251 +34,706 + 81.57 195L 56,805 + 7,724 + 15.74 1961 125,457 +48.206 + 62.40 1961 83,104 +26,299 + 46.30 1971 169,404 +43,947 + 35.03 1971 105,241 +22,137 + 26.64

Panihati 1901 11,178 Serampore 1901 44,451

1911 11,118 60 0.54 1911 49.594 + 5,143 + 11.51

1921 10,161 957 8.61 1921 33,197 -16,397 -I- 33.06

1931 11,699 + 1.538 - 15.14 ] 931 39,056 + 5,859 + 11.65 1941 27,410 +15.711 -134.29 1941 55,339 + 16,283 + 41.69

1951 49,514 +22,104 - 80.64 1951 14,324 +18,985 + 34.3l 1961 91,521 +17,197 + 23.14 1961 93,749 -I- 44,235 - 89.34 1971 102,023 +10.502 + 11.47 1971 148,046 +54,297 - 57.92 Burdwan Burdwan 1901 35.022 Garden Reach 1901 28.211 1911 35,921 + 899 + 2.S1 1911 45,295 +17,084 - 60.56 1921 34,616 + 1,30S + 3.63 1921 45,567 272 + - 0.62 1931 39,6]6 + 5,002 + 14.45 103

STATEMENT IV.24 Concld Growth of small er town.

1 2 3 4 5 6 We may have a look at the towns of the three lowest size classes now. It is generally held that the smaller towns with population of below 20,000 each, Burdwan 1941 62.910 +23,292 + 58.79 i.e., belonging to classes IV, Vand VI are growing 1951 75,376 +12,466 + 19.82 very slowly as compared to the towns of the three 1961 108,224 +32,848 + 43.58 higher size classes. The growth rates of the small towns during the last seventy years have been as )971 143,318 +35,094 + 32.43 under: Asansol 1901 14,906

1911 2J ,919 + 7,013 + 47.05 Ctass of town Growth rate (per cent) ---~----___.--- 1921 26,499 + 4,580 + 20.90 1901-71 1961-71 1931 31,286 + 4.787 + 18.06 IV +110.87 +29.63 1941 55,797 +24,511 + 78.34 V +202.06 +20.92 1951 76,277 +20.480 + 36.70 VI + 26.54 -23.36 1961 103.405 +27.128 +35.57 VI to IV (combined) +130.11 +24.20 1971 155,968 +52,563 + 50.83

Durgapur 1961 41,696 The growth of classes IV and V was anything 1971 206,636 - ] 84,942 +395.58 but fast as the towns added only 110.87 and 202·06 per cent respectively to the 1901 population through the decades. In the last decade it was unimpressive Midnapore Kharagpur 1911 18,957 being 29.63(10 and 20.92% respectively. But the class 1921 25,280 + 6,323 + 33.25 VI towns returned only an in significant increase or 1931 58.134 + 32,854 +129.96 26.54 % in their total population during the seventy years since 1901. In the last intercensal decade tho 1941 87.185 + 29,051 + 49.97 towns had. in fact, registered a negative growth of as 1951 129,636 + 42,451 + 48.69 much as 23.36 0/0' But the bare figures will hardly mean much for this particul'if class of towns. The fact is that 1961 147,253 + 17.617 + 13.59 all but a few of such towns are passing on to the 1971 16.257 + 14,004 + 9.51 higher size classes continuously and the growth rate in any intercensal decade cannot but below unless a Calcutta recorded a nominal growth of 7.570/0 large number of new towns are "born" into the class only in the last decade. In the preceding decade too, at any census as occurred in 1951. the city grew only marginally by 8.48 per cent. It has apparently reached a point of saturation when it can The towns of the three size classes IV, V and VI not take any more population. The city of Howrah is taken together are found to have grown 130.11 % in an almost similar situation. Some of the other cities during the seven decades 1901·71. During the laSt and towns in the metropolitan area have, however, ten years (1961-71) they added 24.20% to their grown quite fast, e g., South Suburban (growth ra.te . co:nbined population. The combined growth rate or % in 1961-71-46.71ty'0') Bhatpara (38.69 ), South the towns in 1971 came close to and did not fall % Dum Dum (5666 ), Kamarhati (35.03%) and' much below the decadal growth of the class I towns Panihati (57.92%). So have the cities of Asansol but it was definitely much below that of class II or and Durgapur with impressive growth of 50.83% and Ill. 395.580/0 respectively in 1961-71. At the same time cities like Serampore, Kharagpur and Garden The sluggish growth of the "small" towns becomo Reach have stagnated with small growth rates of apparent if we consider their "true" growth rate as 11.47, 9.51 and 18.46 per cent respectively. mentioned earlier. It may be seen from statement. 104

IV.25 that 17 towns of the "small" category of 1961 *21.68% which is lower than the rate arrived at passed on to class HI in 1971 involving a total popu­ with reference to the position on the reference date lation of about 4 lakhs. as shown in statement. That is, from whatever angle one looks at it the growth rate is found to be STATEMENT IV. 25 Jow indeed.

To'n~ of classes IV, Vand VI which passed on to class III and aJ:!ove The question will naturally arise why this should be so. The first consideration may be whether the small towns are losing their population by out­ Population ------migration to tht! bigger towns. Dala on uruall to Name;: oi towns 1961 1971 urban migration especially between towns of different size c1asses are hardly availabJe. But in the existing conditions of concentraticn of industri~l and ether 1. Deutpara 17,797 26,445 employment opportunities in the cities and bigger towns and also because of the advantageous position 2. Barrackpore Cantonment 16,912 25,031 enjoyed by such towns in respect of infrastructural 3. Kasba 16,080 23,728 facilities it may be presumed that there is a flow of urban to urban migration in search of employment 4. Garfa 8,892 22,819 and that the flow is almost entirely a one way traffic S. Madhyamgram 18,483 31,629 from the smaller to the bigger towns. The exact nature of volume of the stream is, of course, yet to be Peter­ 6. NabapaUy 13,857 21,455 mined. But it would undoubtedly be too unrealistic 7. Uluberia 18.509 20,095 to ascribe the slow glowth of !)uch towns entirely. or even largely, or to a~y considerable extent, to out­ 8. Kandi 19,780 26,225 migration. Out-migration may at least be considered 9. Arambagh 16,551 25,592 as one of the factors in the process. 10. Rampurhat 19,897 23,770 Another explanation-a plausible one-may be 11. Tamluk 17,986 22,478 that these smaller towns, deficient as they are in 12. Dhulian 17,220 22,068 economic or social overheads requried by modern industries, are unable to sustain themselves from the 13. Ondal 18,645 21,810 economic point of view. HaVing failed to attract 14. Kaliaganj 14,478 21,169 new investments and entrepreneurs these towns have been in a state of near stagnation with growth IS. Taki 17,560 20,931 rates hardly exceeding the natural growth of popula· 16. Baruipur 13,608 20,501 tion. Whatever growth is noticed in the economy of the towns is mostly in the non-industrial sector, even 17. Gobardanga 13,476 20,184 the traditional household and small scale industries baving faced near ruination. Tbe revival and healthy If the net addition of about 1.3 1akh persons of growth of the "small" towns may be brought about these 17 towns during the decade were taken to be only by transforming the rural economy through part of the growth of '~mall' towns and if the revita]isation of the rural ;ndustries and ensuring a population {)f the new towns which \'\-as added to prosperous agriculture so that the urban economy this combined size c1ass in J 971 Vt'ere excluded we becomes integrated with the rural hinterland. may have the true growth of the small towns. The net or true growth of the towns then comes to (d) Population of class III towns which were class IV in 1961 373,111 • (a) Population of towns IV· VI, 1961 • 1,048.331 (e) Net true population of IV to VI towns (b) Population of towns IV-VI, 1971 1,301,999 (b-c+d) 1,275,657

(c) Population of new towns added, 1971 399.453 (f) True growth (1961-71) 21.68% 10$ ;

D.".,I.., tow ...... fy' ..e tests .f •• ' utlan ..... ? As' regards' the three tests it it JeaeraUSladmitted ," " ", " that the application of those" triteria bas certainly , ,The" ,discu ssj~ns ,OD the, urban areas made so far ," I': :" " ' , imparted uniformity and to the clasSification hay~, ~ on ,.the assumption that the towns .s declali- rilour ,; or places al,.rural and urban although' there are shott· ed' by' the census .utho;itie~ are act\lally to\\ ns in every comings and perhaps some scope f()r improvcm:nt. sense ,ot th'e world~ 1£ civic status alone has conferted, .~ " 011 some ar~as the appellation of a town for census The firs~ of the three at~jbutes"~4-, density pet. purpos~s' it is also true that whichever areas are treated sq. km. is, in fact, a function o( popLlla'tioll. Density as urb,Lln for census purposes are also accepted as of a place depends a great deal, on aeQ.raphical town,; by the administrative authorities for various conditions.' ]n a sparsely populated tract density per administrative purposes. But as we have mentioned sq. km. even for an area which is truly urban other· at the outset, the arbitrariness, that prevailed over wise may fa~l short of the minimum fixed. Again, the definition of an urban area has since been removed in a country like 'India with an already existing vast and the towns are demarcated on the basis of a fixed population which is expanding at a rapid rate, high set of criteria applicable uniform1y throughtout the density becomes almost .axiomatic in places. There country. Nevertheless, there is still some scope for are numeroUs tracts in We~t Bengal (and also.in exercise of discretion by the census authorities on Kerala and some other states like Uttar Pradesh and administr:1tive and other compelling grounds. It is Bihar) where rural density clceeds 336 per km~. worthwhile to examine how far our urban ureas are Density ,may not, therefore, be called a true index of ". strictly or truly urban by the standards fIxed by our· urban areas in many pla~es. selves. But before doing this we-may see jf tl,e definition adopted by census is a real index of urbah The second attribute of a minimum population of ch acactcristics. 5,000 is e\len mere unreal as an urban index. In the shen demographic situation of a vast population with A town is by definition an area \\hic'h is re('og­ an ever-increasing rate of growth the number of p~aces nized as such because of its civic ~tatus (as a mllnid~ witb a p('t'u1ation of 5,000 and above is always on the paJity of municipal corporation or t}:e like) or an area increase. In fact, there are numerous places in the whic'h sati~f;cd all the three criteria, nnmely, (ij a Hlral Bte~s ('f West P'enfal which have each a popu­ density of 386 per!'ons per km~. (jj) a ropuJation of lutie n of 5,000 or even 10,OCO and more, the present 5,00(1 or more Dnd (ijj) 75 % of the nulle \\(lJk(J~ aTe size of the population teing, in many cases, the engaged in non-[lgricultunl) pursuits. accident of !.istory. TI:e jurisdictions of these villases Tt e fint rnn of the definition ie., treating &11, "ere 11>,( d in itial1y in such a manner that the presellt nalllicipalities etc" as urh::1l1 irrespntive of whcth(r size waS inevitable. As already pointed out, this is One test \\hich was applied by "ensus authorities for or not t hey satisfy the three tests is considered as one rutpNC in the Although of the ~ ea~ncss(-s of the definition "dopted by census. this all earlier oensuses· Delimitation of municipalities e(c .• may oflen t'e theJe is r.otl:ir.g 5acrosam:t abotlt the figure 5,000 it arl'itr'ny I ecause of"atlmil1itllatiH", rol,ticnl ::md otl1cr is wise irc.1ecd tbat this figure has been retlined as a fixed criluicn, for it has certainly made for unifor .. (omic'er;, tim"s Mal ma~diS! a result, gi\ e an unreuJistic ndty, COl1tiru;ty and better comparability. riql.U'c; of lJe L(m(~H~phic situa1i(,1l in tern-s of (!fnsity of ropulqion t';lc It is nrt uJ)often that an Tt,e third criterion is accepted almost univer:jally entireJy ruraJi8r~~ \vl:i~h, cannot daim to possess any as the most scientific and sensitive and is a true index \lrtan (.+aractcrisl-ks or nmr.ot be sa:d to r~ a scmi­ of ,urbaJlisation. It gives a functiollal classification trban area f.\'en is incorrorat(;(l into 8 ~'unicipaJity rot {, of the"prnces and is an indicator of the state of their txtranc()us c()n~iden1\ions or on f rcunds of adminis"" econom,;( There are, of couree, reservations in some trative ('xp~dil'ncy. Again there nay ::f7e areas \\ hich . quarterl,about the "over,,.emphasis" on non-agricultural Ite truly urban rosse~~jng all urban characteristics sector and it is argued that the Itinimum of 75 % but ha\e not teen given any (. hic status for some" , of non-agl icultural employment is also arbitrary. But renon or other. 1 he census orgalisation does, or this is Dot perhaps the proper place for dilating on (ourse, remedy tl'is sit\lation by dedarir,g such pJacts s\1ch technical niceties. IS census towns or towns for census purpose~, and sub­ sequent!)· adreir;istnthc authoritj~ s also accept them We may now consider how rar the three test, a. 8' towns for an purposes. laid do't'n by oUl'lclves were applied in West Ben,_l 106 it) 1971. We may no~, of COJrsc, los: sight of the fact OJt of ll3 tawil' ill Welt Bonla.l 99 enjoyed th lot it is di:fi';\l't ta clauify p:a~.!, 0.1 pJfcly statiiti· s:)'ne civk status-3 ali municipal corporations, 86 as c,lI con§ideratioru only for Stltiiti.;; is not the only nlJ li-:i ;Htiti~i. 2 lS notified area, S as town comm,ttee thing involved in the pr,,;e~~. Ad ninistr LtlV': a,J one e.l::h a, station committee, union committee eJei'!diellcY, the nltur~ and f.!iative im ).)rt!lrl.;e of tit: aId ":.1 It;).l·n !nt Tile rem tining 124 Were non IUJnici­ p)ace~ fro'll the hiltoricll, s!);jll, a 1d cultur... ' t'"le p 11 [O.\I.B or t) .V.H d'!cl.lred a~ su;h for cenliUfC points of view a,d v.triou~ otl-)er co"id:r"ti) l' aliO P Jrpo,eli. The following statem:nt el1umeratC:i the come into play which are not stati;ticllly qJ81titilble. to .v:H of W ,!,t 8~ng d which do not satisfy O:1e or But we m ly perhaps revert to thi~ a~pect later 011. m)r;! or th.! three criteria fl)r being treated al) towns.

STATEMENT IV.26

List of towns that d;) n ')t satisfy one or more of the criterill

Density below Less thln 75% of male non· Population below S,OOO 386 rer Kmll agricultural workers ...___ "._------,,---_ .. --- --...... - ---_..•.•. - ...... --_-----. _._------_._-_-- NJme of District Name D;~n')ity N.lme of town Population of Name of town Actual of in non'agricult ur.1I population lown 1971 male workers in 1971

2 3 4 5 6 7

Jalpaiguri Domohani (N.M.) 50~'~1 Dhupguri (N.M.) 64~~ Cooch Behar MekliganJ (T.e.) 3,777 Tufanganj (T.e) 4,209 West Dinajpur hlmnpur (N.M.) Murshidabad LaJgola pol. M.) 64(;~ M urshidabad (M) S9% Kandi (M) 65~~

Bendalga (~.M.) 71% Nadia (N.\L) Bagula (N.M.) PhuJia (N.M.) 4,627 Birnagar (M) 65%

Twentyro~lr P.trg:\na~- Gobardanga (M) 73% Krishnaplii (N.M.) 72% Narayanpur (N.M.) 2,841 Korulia (N.M.) 4,377 Bandra (N.M.) 4,704 Dum Dum Aero· dromc Acra (N.M.) 4,234

Cannina (NM) - Baduria ( M) Balirhat ( M) 1'f;

STATEMF.NT IV.26-Concld.

J 2 3 4 S 6 7

Howrah Dakshin Jhapardaha (N.M.) 72~~ - - Oomjur (N.M.) 73~~ Podara (N.M.) 60~~ Podara (N.M) 4,051

Ardul (N.M.) 3.(,02

Masila (N.M.) 7<4~~

Panchl .. (N.M.) 6.s~~

Beniwbla (N.M.) 59%

Ho()&!1>ly Arambag (M) 57~i~

Palldua (N.M.) 65~~

Haripal (N.M.) 61·'~

-= Singur (N.M.) M~;

Burdw~tn Guskara (N.M.) 69y'

Memari (N.M.) 7J%

Dainhat (M) Sl~~

.Birbhu:n Nalhati (l'.'.M.) 57~;

Rampurhat (M) 74~'~

Bolpur (M) 71 ~.;

B.nkura Kltatra (N.\A.) 6~;' Patraser (N.M.) SO·/I. Midn

Amtagora (N.M.) "4~'~

Garhbeta (N.M.) SO·/Ie

Ramjibanpur (M) 27~~ Chandrakona (M) "IY.

J: shirpai (M) 26~~

Khafar (M) "l·;':, e

Ghatal (M) Sly'

Mahishadal (N.M.) ~7r.

Contai (M) toy' Purulia - Balarampur (U.C.) "r. - la,huHthpur (M} 7.. r. 108

As many as 52 or about a quarter of the tOWI1<; Development Administration but lJas failed to grow of the state do not satisfy one or more of the thr~e fa·it enough, although here. too, the employment criteria fixed for treating an area as urban 1 7 of criteria llas been fultilled. them are, of cours~,' m·.laiciplHtics two are towa comm!.lnities and one is a union committee which The ~DlploymeDI test are towns by definition. The remaining 33 are all 43 of the 52 loW.ui do .oot !>ati;fy the e rnploy­ non-municipal towns. ment test whidl is generally recognized as the true urban index. 17 of these 43, again, are municipali­ The te~ts of minim:.rm size and density of population ties and one is a U ilion Committee. In five of the In none of these towns is the den~ity of popu­ municipalities the proportions of the m'.lle workers in lation bdow the minimum limit of 386 per km:~.1t is the non-agricultural sector arc marginally below the only naturai that it should be as in a density popu­ prc,cribed minimum of 75 %and actually vary between lated state like We'\t Bengal There are ninc town..; ---4 70 % and 74%. These are (i) Gobardanga I 7 3 ~,:,) and in Twentyfour P.lrg lnas, 2 each in Howrdh and Cooch (ii) Basirhat (7d~~) in Twenty four PJrganas, (iii) RalU­ Behar and 1 in Nadia - \\ hich have a popuJation of purh:!t (74::'~J)' and Uv) Bolpur (71 (l~) .in llirbhum less than 5000 each. This is apparently incongra.:ou! and (v) Raghunathpur (74':~) in Purulia. It would in the conte)(t or the ov::rflowing P Jpulation of the be unrealistic to say (hat such imp.)rta!lt places are state. It will be seen, however, that six of these small not towns only because, they do not quality' to be towns belong to Twemyf.mr Par,!lnaS and H.)wrah so called due to the satistical formulation. Except and are comprised within the Calcutta urban agglo­ in the four small municif)alities in Midna!}ur, namely, meration. They have become an integral pJ.rt of the Ramjibanpur (27%,), Ch~indrakona (41 ~~), m !tropolitan di'itrict and also s.ttisfy the implJrtallt (26(:'~) and Kharar (41%), and in Baduria (2('~> criterion of preJominance of n'm agri<.:ultur.d emj"'loy­ in Twcntyfour Parglnas the proportions l)f non­ ment Four of these towns, nJmcly Baudra, Kerulia agri.:ultural e,n~)loym~nt are mort! than 50 each in and Narayanpur in Tw~ntyfour P.lrganas and Podara the remaining mJni..:ip:1l town". It may, therefore, in HJwrah were treated as urb~t11 for the first tim: ill be s.lid tInt in most of the muni::ip~lities llon-agri 1971. Perhaps it would have b":C£l lllt)re arpro­ cultural occupation) cll1pl~)y more than half of t;1e priate in the four small towns cl)uld be formed into male w.}fkcrs, tho:Jgh thdr s har! ill tile total nule one single urban unit bringing the interve"ing rur,ll c'nployment dDes not cX:l.:tly reach 75~~. Ap.lrt areas also in its folJ. BJt administrative a1d ot!ler from the relet tll.lt these p]aces are towns by defini­ consider.tlions did n l)1 allow such a step at the time. ti'Jil b.!:':lU'ie of their civic sLltus they can ju)tlibbly Census classification hali given im mediately and pro­ hy eLl.im to urban status becau ~e O! the dl..):l1inanc:e b:lbly prem !hIre, rt.:cognition to the status of the of the non a~ricultur.ll s.:~tor as the major employer. places. Leaving aside the 1 7 townq which have the The UfO smlll t!)W;1, in Gx).;h Behar, namely, status of murlicipalities ani one town committee we !vlekliganj (p )pu'a!ion 3,777) anl Tufang:tnj (popu­ are left with 2) non-municipal t)W as whk!l fail by lation 4,209), are rec\_)gniscd a~ urban b.!causc of the emr>loym~ilt test and the decisioll of the census their dvic status as town co:t1mittees which, again., authoriti~s to treat the n as towns is appa;ently ~.elf· has ObViOusly been due to their imJorta.nce as centres co,)tradictory. Obviously, the census a;Jthorities of admini~tr ,ltion It i<;, however, to be noted that c)(er.;ised their discr~ti()n to include or continue more than 7 S % of the mate workers in the two sLl~h places in the 1ist of urban areas and the deci­ town;; are engrlged in non-agricultural pursuits, mJstJy sion was not without valid grounds. in the servke sect0r. The tlYO are ~ml!l urban foci, 8 out of 25 non-municipal towns fail only no dOLlI'll, but i:l the absence of infrastrudural fa;iti.!s narrowly to satisfy the employment criterion, !he allJ the stagnant rural e..:onomy of the neighb;)urhJJd pr\)portions of non-agricultural m.lle workers bemg the tOW.1S h lYe not attr.lcted mlny s!ttlers and have 01 to 74°/ in each. The places are Beldanga 70 /0 , 0 (0/ d geo vn only slowly during the last decaQ". (7l ~~) in Murihidab:ld, Jagada~andapur 74/~) a~ The other such small town is .Lulia in Nadia. Bagula (71 %) in Nadia, K:nshnapur (72%,>, tn 72 .. ·Uistriet wh··ch . had & ... population of .4'121 in 1971. .Twentyfour Pargaq.a~! _. P.l1~,~E~~/ ~~apallrd~ (h y?), lt started as a new township around the Community Domjur (73%) and Maslta (74 /0) m owra and 109

Memari (71 ':10) if} Surd wan. These t\)wns have The "town groups" tried to define well-formed ,come up as iiU"Jrta'lt urblcl Ct!1tr.!s with 11.>:1rishillg clu ,ters to identify the ("nctionally linked 'urbara trale alld CJm n:r.;! anl pr~vjjing the aln!nities anj areliS, urbln spills beyond tie ad;nLlistrative b)u:ld. I services which are traditiJllally aHo.;iated with uroln aries and metrop )litan \lrblO CO!l lro ltions. B~t, in -areas In aH bi.lt Oi1~ of the r~,nliaing 17 to Ii IS practice, va.rying d~fillitil)n~ anJ dHferent procedures also the shares of th,~ n')ll'agri~ultural sector in totJ.1 and criteria for d~Jimitltion wl!r" ad.:>pteJ. AllY male em_;:>loyment ar! )0% at the mini:n\lm. But town fal1in~ within a raJiu) of' 2 to 4, som\!thn~1 5. mort! iln h)rtant i'i the f;1:t tl1at m.)~t of th~~e pla::es miles of tIle prin,;i..l.d central t )Wl\ or t~le lDOit arc truly urb];} in chua.;ter beirlg big Cl)ll,;entr ltio.u p)pulous city wer~ il1Clud~d in tile grout) anj tl1~ of populatio:}. perfoJrming s),ne or mllly of the intervening rur,l.{ ar;!l) w;!re all ol1ittel. Thus ttO urb.in fU1ctionQ, pr\)viding the' traditio lal urban towil-gr~lUp did not bring out::l. sp.1tillly contiguC)ui amenities anJ h .1vi;lJ preponderance of nJl1-agrlcul­ tra;t of uro.t(l·rurll settleU:!.1ts. Pu,·tller, the tONn tural Occup.ltions. It is the r!coglliticln or this group concept did not e1f~lo!lively ta~kle the prl)bl"m realism that influenced the decision t.) treat these illvolv~d in urbln stati~tical rei}Jrting viz, the pr.>blem places as urban. of municipal jurisdi~tion. spill·ov.:r growth anj tac accletion of population by anne:lC.atioll. These short­ Standard Urban Area comings were fouad to reduce consid~rably the utility Having discussed the state of ui"banisJ.tion in of the concept of town-group as a statistical reporting 'Vest Bengal we may n'lW turn our attention to thl! unit. The census organization, tlerdore, felt the concept of Stanuard Urban Area. need for modifying tbe concept of tOWQ groups for the purpo'ie of 1971 cens!.!) tJ ensure comp.uability The "Standard Ueban Arca" is a new con:;ept over space and tilD~. The new coacept of "Standard ,develop\!d at the 1971 Censu~ which comutes terri­ Urb.ln Arels" evolved a, a result of disCUSiio:l b.!t· tories contiguous to an urblll CJre thJt ar.; Llk!/y tJ wl!en the Registrar G':il!ral, the Town and' C/luntry be urb:tnised in the next tw.!nty years or so. It m:1Y Planlling Organilation of th.! G.)vernm ..mt of JnJia be said to be the projected growth area of a city or and other intereste1 orglniiatio,lS to replace til:: old t:.)\Vll, the urban co.-e. a~ ill I'}') l. It c-llD,lriie'i the cOllcept of town gr,,)utls. towns and villages whidl art! alr~ajy or likely to b~ Definition under the i tlten ,j ve i n1LJen..:c of tha core tOW.1 or -city and also the intervening arelS whi..;h a.re PJten­ As already painted outt the SUA has b.!ea tially urban, The standard urban area or SUA thus d~finej a' tlte prvjected growtn area of a city or tow4.1 a, it w.)Jtl b! ia 19J l. It co n~rises not o,lly contains all the urJal1i~able areas aro:.lnd the pr~ient the tOWL1S atld cities which will g-!t iilto it city or town [t is visllalilied al the stati~tical m.:rged but also the illterveni:lg areas whi.:h. are potentitlly -I'eporting unit during three suc..;essive Ce.1S~HeS starting with 1971 w;lidl will in;rease the compara- urban. "Such a tract will include all ex.tra-lnLl"i­ cipal urban growth su.;h as su',)Urbs (iudu:itrial aCId bility of the data obtained at the di tru~nt Censu iCS. residential), railway colollies, civil lines anel canton­ Concept of town group: Need for cbange ments and also such of the villages and rural areas which are likely to be urbanisej by 1991. The The con~ept of 't:>wn group' as distinct Fr0m towns SUA will th~s be an area which will ex.tend beyond was one of the tna.tly ne N features of ttD census of 1951. Census dlita Were presented on uroall areJS the mlin city or tONn atld would contain all likely for iSDJated and individual t\)was and cities alld also developm.!nts over the next 20 years upto 1991. Thus for "town groups". This was done with. a view to it will remain as a statistical reporting unit dllcing successive irrespecti'le chlnges identify "a group of town.. which adjoined Oil~ . three censuses of the another so closely as to form a single inhabited tnat mly o~cur in tlte boundaries of tbb la.;a.l administrative units within the tn;t. The SUA is urban locallty.t, The 196.1 census also c~utinued to present the data on town grl)ups. Bllt wllile identifiej by tne .administrativo u,\its thlJi it encQtn­ passes, nlm~ly, city, town, thana, or village; tne the 1951 census limited it~lf to town group' each with an agSlegate population of 100.000 and m )re boundarieg of the SU A are the admjnistrativ~ boon­ duies of the peripheral units.''' the 1961 census went a step {"rther alld. the c~c~pt . . wa~ oxtended to aU urban cla~ses aqd not to the DelimitatioD of SUA's cities of class I only. As in case ot all otber· states, the dclimitatioa I JO

Qf SUA', was an important pre-CCn&U8 ta&k which tion of the pb)sical constraints Hke topography,. Wti taktn up jointly by ttle een6US OflJUlisation, water bodies, marshes etc. to such urban expansioft ;, the Town ard C( untr), Planning Oraanisation of " the Of. v(rrJrellt (f Ir dia and its c.ounteJpart In the (iii) The gro\\'th of the village and towns on, $tate, tl'at is the To\\n and Country Planning the periphery of the present municiral limits and the Department of the Government of West Bengal. For I'rosre~ts of Hair (oalt~(t'nce in future with the­ West Ben.al the SU A's \\ ere delimittd only for the mail1 city; cities and towns whose popltlation were likely to be SO,GCO or more by 1971. The following objective (i\l) Srt'dal consi(1na1iors such as intensity or considerations were appJied in drmarcating these jnter-action streng cconomic (Jr sodal linkages ctc· areas: wt j( h roifht justif), inclusion of any other \'illages­ (i) Pot'ulation growth trtnds of the main or town in the vicinty of the main city or to\\n : central city or town: Short term migration trends as weU as any important loeational decisions that were T" enty standard urban are?s were demarcated in in the offing and " hich ,,'etc like1y to effect the "'est Btnpd as listed below in statement. The areas. ErOVt th of tt,e town in the foreseeable flltUJe "'as also which have bt'(n ir,cluded in the SUA's have been to be taken note of ; shown in Tables A-Vat Pages 182-237 of Part Jl·A, Ocr,ual Papulati(ln 1 abIes SCI it's 22 : West Bengal. (H) Trcl1ds in the uri-an srread or the principal to\\n or city: Tl'iis involved appreciation of the The statement below gives the silient features of extent and direction of urban growth and the recogni- the Standard Urban Areas of the state.

STATEMENT IV.27

Stall':.r" tn nil IUU ill ""tit Btq~a', 1971

Percenfaae di!;tribution ~"Ic I Neme of No. of components PoplIladon 1971 of population Diltrict SUA ------Urbln Rural Total Urban Rural Urban Rural

I 2 3 4 S 6 7 8 9

'Wl!ST BENGAL J29 811 10,889,864 9,39),249 J ,498.615 86.24 13.76

!)arjeellnc Siliauri 1 15 161,805 97.484 64,321 60.25 39.75 J.lpai,uri J.lpailuri I J 89,421 55,159 34,262 61.68 38.32 COKh lIchar Cooch Behar 2 S 10,87-4 62.664 18,210 17.S4 22.16

~.t niDajpur Riyetoj I S 5S,028 43,19l 11,837 18.49 21.51

Mal. MaIda Eo,liab 2 12 8O.OIH 68.026 n,oss 84.95 IS.OS Bazar Munlllaah. a.hartanput I 16 11).611 78,909 34.702 69.46 'f). 54

Nadia ~rilhD.,.r [2 2% 144.494 J80.117 64,361 73.61 26.38 "aba4wip Ran..... t • 13., N .... · 47.81S 46.234 ~j84 .f9.t6 San"'''' 1 1o.4M '1,166 9.8 . 16:84 lSi" II.)

STATEMENT IV.17-CoDCkt. , 1 1 3 A 6 7 8 •

Twenlyfour Pars··mas AlIlOkllagar 2 7 107.018 93.351 J3.667 87.23 12~77 Habra Blsirhat 10 79.034 63,816 15,218 80.74 19.26 1 9 76,609 50,538 26,07' 65.9' 34.03 Calcutta Calcutta 96 481 8,265,930 7,408.459 857,471 89.63 JO.37 Metropolitan Burdwan Asansol .0 123 593.215 361.168 232,047 60.88 39.12 Burdwan 14 152.631 143.318 9.334 9J.8J 6.11 Durgapur 8 218.353 296.638 11,715 94.63 5.37

Bankura Ballkura 12 90.'40 79,129 11,011 87.78 12.22. Midnapore Kharagpur 1 22 173,220 161,257 11,963 93.09 9.91 Midnapur 1 11 81.201 71.326 9876 87.84 12.16 Purulia Purulia 1 5 62,695 57,708 4.987 92.05 7.95

The SUA's were demarcated on the ba~is of a likely po;>ulati.>n or 500)) f Jr th~ cor~ to vni. The Sta~J.r' urb.au area .ilt urblD ajllomerationl statement rc:veals that in tw.) C~~:i, nlll~ly, Rlyglllj It is not \\Iortby that the concept of town ,roup! in West Dinajpur and Ranaghat in ~ajia the pJ;lulation has not b~en ablndonej altogether in as much as the did n:>t reach the 50,000 muk i \ 1971 for th.! C()r~ cl!nsu~ of,,19 71 hu preiented dsta for f'urban agglo­ towns. The growth rate of the hV J to N.B f~ll b;,lo N mer~tl()ns algo. The basic difference b.etwccn the two expectations fo(, r.!a .. l1S w:lich will b! e~,lai'l!d in cOt):!.:pts is that urban agglomerations present tnc the short notes on cl:h SU" th It follow. Th:re arc picture ar.:a4J w:lich aro alreldy urbln an4 the stao· two other towns nlmely, B.1lurghat and Budg~ dud I1rbiQ areas depict not only the tracts and Ir~IS Budg~ which are r"ulld t~ have cro~sed tlt~ ':>,0)) which are already urbanised but, in addition, take mark when tabul.ltioll of t~e c: l'W; cO;.nt W LS over care of the "Urblftisa'llc" areas also. Apill8t 13 urban but DO SUA were delineated for them. a Jglomerati ()nt. tnerefor", we have 20 SUA'. in the The population of tlte individual SUA's ran,,,. state. [t ha4J to b, noted, however. that the urblll frQm 55.028 (RlygIUj) t> 8,155,930 (Calcutta agglomeratiolts atld SU A', are, in m()st ca.es, metropolitar)}. As cxpect~d. thc pJpulation of tho coterminou. except for the rural tracts whicla have urbAn compOll~nh the SUA's rar c~c"cds tbe or been included in the latter. population of tho rut_d componcnts in all cases. Bcsidei Calcutta metropJtitan SUA wllich standj Qut The .~mellt on tbe next pile .ho.,. the as a spocial class by it. elf, A,ansol SUA hat tile core towns Cor tbe SU \'s and ttao urbaq .net rural lal1est ~opulatioD of 593,215 and ha, also til: area. induded in tbeqt and compares them with tfa" larae!t area (301.92 teml). corrcspoD4iDl urban &1I1o_tatio .. ,. III

STATBMENT IV.28

Naane of Core townl Other town Total area Urban area Rural area Name of Number of Area SUA city included in (knl') (km') (kml) corres- units inclu· (l'Jl12)" suA ponding·OA ded in VA of UA

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

1. Siliguri Siliguri (M) 103.52 IS.54 87.98

2. Jalpaiguri Jalpaiguri (M) 70.32 10.08 60.2~

3. Cooch Behar Coach Behar (M) Gurahati (N.M.) 31.16 13.39 17.77 Cooch 2 (as under 13.39 Behar (U.A.) col. 2&3)

4. Rayganj Rayganj (M) 21.S7 10.64 10.93

S. MaIda English English Balar (M) Old maIda (M) 23.94 7.87 16.07 Ba7ar

6. Baharampur Baharampur (M) Kasim 61.02 1.8.97 42.05 Bnhrampur 2 (as under 1~ Bazar (N.M.) (U.A.) col. 1&3)

'7. Krishnanagar Krishnana~ar (M) Nabadwip 119.25 27.46 91.79 Nabadwip

8. Ranaghat Ranaghat (M) 32.71 7.72 24.99

9. Santipur Santipur (M) 39.85 24.60 15.25

10. Ashoknagllr Habra (N. M.) Ashoknagar 34.88 20.14 14.74 Hahra 2 (as in col. 20.14 Habra Kalyanpur (U.A.) 2&3)

11. Basirhat Basirhat (M) 50.67 22.01 28.66

12. Bangaon Bangaon (M) 52.84 15.57 37.27

13. Cal~lltta Calcutta city (M.e.) 96 units 1399.73 677.53 722.20 Calcutta (U.A.) 74 563,79 Metropolitan

Some demograpbic and other cbaracteristics of the this has been largely due to settlement of t he immi­ SUA's are given in statemel1t IV.2~. Tte data ,are grants mostly from beyond the borders. Deve­ t!ardJy comparable as the chaJacteristi( s of t~e rore lopmertal activities induding setting up of industrial towns themselves ditTer v.idt 1y. It \\ ill, however, units }:lave contributed little (lr nothing to the gruwth be seen that as many as 10 of tbe SUA's hale the ot th( se towns. Only as these urban centres grew fldD'il istratl've heacquarters of tbe dist .. icts as their in'si7e that consckus thinking about developmentftl ceTltres or corcs. 1 he core !(',,,)s derive their impor­ activitich infral-tructure etc., star:ed for sustaining tar ce priu'ari1y frem t1~e location of the ad.ministra­ the urtan growth. , , tive" headquarters ~hicb is an histcricaJ fact. Nrne cf tJlne to\\t1S hrs feen fcrtti:nate eJictlgh t"~ diver5ify The statement on the next page, shows the .,growth its occurational strvctu~e and all' 'J aYe" a1mo!t' been of population of the SUA's f(lr 'total as well as the" 'ta~Tlating during the decades. A few ('f them lile urban and rural components separatf"ly. It also £Ctdl Bebar, Krishnar.agar ard lalpajguri have no presents the brcak-up of th~ working population as in 'oubt added substantially to their population but 197) and compares it vdth tbe position in ) 961. 00 $ 00 - 00 ~ 00 ....:- -C'l 'i .... f- ao "?- ~ IoC ~ - - r- 00 -00 ~. t"·l M or, -~ N-e - CCl M M- f""'. -

.... ,.... M 1"1

r­ f'1o or.

00 \0 r<"l ~. 00 ,.r, 00

o

.,.,f"l 0- ~. \0 00 Vi S o c o e00 N f'1 - - ,.., t-, 0'1 or. oc -,.... ('I .,.,\0 VI- I~ f"i ,C\ r<"\ 00 00 oc oe 1 _. ,.... 00 ..,t .,', C\ "'1"- ..... f""'. f"1 I~ II"> or. "T,.... 00 .... C ,..1 1oC. CY.I~ oc -Of: o ..:;. I 00 v{ "? o M I,.... Qe VI o IC\ ~ Of: - I~ - - c .9 I &:;1 I "'3- 1\0 0. o 10- to. I O".l VI M ~ ;;t t;: 00r- 00 C',; vi' ,...: - - C""I eo. f"1 ,.._ f- .,.,"" ~ or. -f". ~ .,.. S; r··'­ M r­ -11", "'I.,.. -o oo .... ~ g ('-I- -.. f-~ 114

..... :f_. lI"'I C""l- -..... o . -or,. ·co-

~ 8 ....,-~ 00 ;3 - M-

00 ...... <:) 00'

00 o co 00 ~ .....; N N

00 00 r­ o N ...... trI 00 ~ 00 ...... o

o 00 o \C <:) ~­ oq, V'I N & N QO ...... M .. 0\ - - 00 o t-...... o o 00 <""l a\ 00 - ~ .... 00...... 00 o ...... ci 0\ 00 ~ oi 0\ o:t ...... o 00 - o II') 00 ..... VI N M 00 00 ...... 00 00 - ..... II') ~ -" '" N N -o -....,~ 00...... 06 Q o -M ...... ,...... '" '4- 00 i M \IS -(",f o..... co -o ~ , =" \,;J .-I 8.o ...... b ..( Q) ~CI ~ -« . ..; ., d...... z ~ - - 115

o C"I

I.C 0'1 0'1 ..... OC ..... 11') --r- g. ~ 00 00...... 00 00 ~ ("1 00,

r- 00 ...... ~ 00.....

00 -\0"10

N 00 N 00 o a 00 00 00 c- ci r...: H ...... 00 ..- V'l ..t- M .....

0'1...... o o o r- vi oo t<"l N c 00 N ,.L.o \0 0) --' N 00 00 ..... o \0 10 .qo C'l .. 11'"1 '0...... - M '-t< ...; c: .... o (.) M ..... 00 00 e ...... r- V) 1'"'"' r-.i .....> ~

o N ...... M 00-- M,...., 0:,...., 00 \0 \0 00..... M \0 \C......

00 M 00- -.:t"

r- r- -V) r­ II'") V) 00 I C'). o- r­ o oo r- \C C'i F' \0-- 0:: r.: ..... -00 10

N '~ 00 r­ 0\ \C) r- \0

-::t 00 10 oc. 1,0 r-t 00 0) 0\r- M 1.0 \0 V

1,0 $ --, - 00 d o::::r 00 M 00 M -...... M E-o ::> ., -

00 oi ci ..... N 116

RetWeDtial houses etc.

The" number of occupied residential houses, the number of houseless person4\, the i nsti t uti ,):"1:.1 1 ~'opul~- tion and number of households in the SU A's are shown the following statement.

STATEMENT IV.30 SUAI of West Bengal, 1911

Total No. of occu- Institutional Sl. Name of SUA Rural Population of pied ResidedtiaJ No. of House Jess population No. Urban 1971 Houses households Population

1 2 3 4 S 6 7 8

I. SiJi8uri T 161.805 25.084 30,197 371 1 005

R 64,321 10,648 12,235 U 97;484 14,400 17,962 371 1,005

2. .1alrai811ri T 89,42! 14,436 15,825 992 1,667 R 34.262 5,709 ~,851 52 31 U 55,159 8,129 9,974 940 1,636 3. Cooch Behar T 80,874 12,740 14.340 50S 995 R 18,210 3.082 3.082 U 62,664 9.658 I J ,258 505 995 4. Rayganj T 55,028 9,OJ6 9,511 229 422 R 11,837 2,J81 2,108

U 43.191 6,835 7,303 229 422 108 1,385 ~. Malda.. Engli.,h Ba/ar T 80,081 13,411 14,039 U 12,o5S 2,266 2,572 380 U 68.026 11,146 11,467 J08 1.005 ,. Baharampur T 113,611 18.690 20.252 131 1.487 R 34.702 5,679 5.998 7 U.s U 78,909 13.011 14,254 124 1.372 7. Krishnagar T 244,494 38,821 43,523 723 3,441 NabadwiD R 64,367 11,3S1 11,693 ~ 23 U 180,127 27,470 31,830 718 3,418 I. RanaJhat T 94,049 16,011 17,398 177 196 R 46.234 8,241 9.490 19 127 U 47.815 7,770 7,908 158 69

9. Santipur T 70,434 11,484 12.J36 23 97 R 9,268 1,555 ],601 23 U 6t.166 9,929 10,535 97 382 10. Aahoknapr Hab,. T 101.0JI 18,I6J 18,38J 37 R 13,667 2,32.6 2.349 l5 26 U 93,3,51 1S,83' 16.032 12 3.56 117

.1., " STA'I1!MENT IV. 3O-Contd •

I 2 3 .. 5 6 '/ ~

: 11. Basir~at T 79,034 13,7m 14,190 34 347 R U,21B 2,390 2,477 U 63.816 11,312 12,313 34 347 ]2. Banaaon T 76,609 12,322 J 2,655 40 4.7 Il 26,071 3,943 4,048 6 7 U ' !,(j,538 8,379 8,601 34 440

J3. Caleutta T 8,265,930 J,470.518 1,632,663 55.973 ~l" Metropolitan R 851.471 141,366 15S,717 1.172 4•• V 7,408,4'9 J ,329, U2 '.476,946 J4,801 2»,'3$ 14. Asansol T 593,215 107,447 116,07J 3,280 3,180 R 232,047 42,075 46,856 2.798 2.166 U 361,168 65,372 69,215 482 1,614

GS. Burdwan T J~2,652 27.648 34,849 1,938 4,024 R 9,334 1,717 1,824 301 33 U 143,318 25,931 33,025 1,637 3,991 (6. Durgapur T 218,353 48,005 50,862 338 1,220 R 11,715 2,071 ~f.2,182 2 U 206,638 45,934 48,680 336 1,220 n' Bankura T 90,140 15.173 15,828 297 1,167 R 11,011 1,8504 1,969 40 158 U 79,129 13.319 1l,860 251 J,009 IS. Kharagpur T 173,220 33,162 34.213 109 601 R 11.963 2,044 2.102 S 24 U 161,257 31.118 32,011 104 577 19. Mldnapure T 81,201 12,408 14,536 79 2,344 R 9,8'$ 1,989 2,053 U 71,326 10,419 12,483 79 2,344 le. Purulia T 62,695 8,7$8 11,383 162 S.~35 R 4,987 808 322 84 U 57,708 7,950 10,561 . 162 5,1" (WEST BENGAL) t 10.889.864 1,926,963 2.133,452 65,547 264,684 R 1,491,615 253,294 217,228 4,455 7,781 U 9.391,249 1.673,669 1,856.224 61,092 256,903 118

SVA'. -Present and future •• 0( .Siligud.town which did not have a municipality till 19~ 1 has more than trebled its population sinQe: lhe prtscnt rositirn ar.d future prospects (,f 195}, the population of 1971 being 97,484. The development of the SUA's and some 'basic dfinogra':' .". srowth of popula'tion has been- 48.90~/o during 1961-" phic characteristics of the individual SUA '8 are 71, which is far above the state a,'rrage of urban discussed in the foHow ing paragraphs. growth. The foJlowing table will indicate the extent of growth in tbe size of the urban population of the Sili&uri ~t.lMlard Urtan Area SUA since 1931. Gro\\ th of Sf.iguri 1931-71 Si1ig~ri is the mest imrortant t(.wn in the nor:­ Year RopuJation Percentage decade variation thern region of the state commonly referred to as 1931 6,067 North 'Bel1~al. As a centre of trade aDd commerce 1941 10,487 + .. 12.85 it serves .North 'fengal and -parts ('f north Bihar and 1951 32,480 + 209.72 AHam, the hi11 state of SiHdm alld the Himalayan _. J961 65,471 + 101.57 kingo( m of Bhutzn. It is a spn. wHng tc wn extending 1971 97,484 + 48.90 in a11 directions oYer 4 police stations in two Much of the extension of the town has been dir-tricts, t'brjeeliJ1g &rd Jalpaj~uri. It has become be)ord the' municipal limits Mau7a Dabgram of an in- portant centre of hiE her (ducation inc1uding Rajg~nj P S. (of Jalr aiguri district) with a population te (hr,ichl u:!ucaticn (aterin~ to 1 ~.e nec:ds of n.e Ncrlh of 3 8,R~9 is or.e such area of extension, the popu· Pengal districts. Ncnh Bengal University, North lation in the rural maul'a having gone up from 7,027 Bugal Mtdical Co)lcfe nc srme of the ir,stitu1iolls in ]~51 to 12.96Q in ]O()J and to 38,859 in 1971. located in and arour.d t1:e core town. lhe rural component of the SUA which c( mprise 35mauzas spread oyer 41 police stations in 2 districts One. of the fov gr<. wlh lentrls of the state, (DarjeeJiT.g and Jalpaigtll i) had a population of Silis;uri is errergirg as the' mw centre of development 64,321 in 1971 against 36,794 in 1961. Jtisnoteworthy for the undtveJopcd r.orthern districts" of the state. that out of the absolute increase of about 28,000 Because of its proxirnit), ~o the tea-producing areas of during the decade as much 8S 26,000 are accounted ""est Benga] and the ad'8ntageclls location Sj]jguri for by Maula Dabgram alore. 1 his is a measure of is f)curishing in trading of tea, timber and motor the imp(lrtance of the mauza in this new urban acuswrh.s. It has t.('l(rne U Hly imroJtal,t point of cerltre. transit of all goods retween Calcutta on the one hand Dif'tritution of ttc male WOI k( rs of the town in and As~am, North Bihar, Sikkim, Nlfal tiIld Bhutan 197) \\ hirh is sho"n telow reveals a situation which (in the other. The latest additions to its imprrssive is typical 'of a fast-gro\\ ing r,ew urban centre in list {If 2('hievements are a tea-auctionine, centre and Indilln coujitions. As in the urban part. the large unit for coJJe(.'tien and processing of milk (at . occupational distribution' ha~ already undergone a Matigara). radical change in the rural component als(l. Siliguri 1971 Distribution of male workers Tota! No. of MaJe No" of workers in indus- population males workers . trial categories

,~--,------J:_------I II 111 IV VIa V/b VI ViI" vur' IX 97,484 56,139 28,951 138 346 319' 46' 1,049 3,487 934 8.413 7133 7089 ('\ '( ~ l r ", : '/ ~ \ : . ....t wm'brob'rerved t"·pt_··lrardly -t!>'o/ll ef the·-fl'~ ·Tecordrd·-1!· .. ·-e~~HIte--ef -ftb~· .6 .. p.e.r. CU'l.t... ..p.cintS. durmg., _., wor kcrs are enEa! ed in industrial activities agaim t the ~ame period. lhis will indicate that the town abol.lt 30% in trade and commerce. T,ansport ar.d has (orne up mere as a training and commercial ccmrnllnications r.ccount for as mu(h as 25 'X, of the centre and the secondary sector is yet to make any male working f(lHe. A comparison with the 1S61 si[nificant contribution to its growth. The same trend situation sho\\s tha1 tle ~hare of 11e tertiary sector is e\ ident in the rural component also with the as a ",hole has gone up by 4.21 per cent points to exception t}1at the secondary sector too has grown in 78.5(, % in the town during the last decade. This size to some extent. ,"as at the cxpense of the secondary sector which 119

The following is the percentage distribution of Jalpaiauri : Growth of Popalatleft 1931.7. workers in the thr"" economic sectors of tile rllral ,com~nent in 1961 and l C)71. Daf)gram which hu Year Population Percontage d.:cadc variation ·a special p)sition vis-a-vi!! Siliguri SUA is shown 1931 18,962 + 30.59 separately also. 1941 27,766 + 46.43 1951 41.259 + 48.60 Percentage dlstrib.lti03 of workers 1961 48,738 + 18.13 J971 55.159 13.11 Name of unit Primary Secondary Tertiary + Sector Sector Sector The growth rate in the thirties was 46.43 %. It Rural j961 61.72 30.06 35.22 was at the same level from 1941-51 when there wal Compoment 1971 31.13 J2,49 56.38 an inffux of people from the other side or ,the Dabgram 1961 60.08 7.78 32.14 international borders. The growth dropped to tho 0 Rajganj (P.S.) 1971 21.13 16.97 61.90 low figure of 18.13 10 only in 1961 and slided down further to 13. 170/0 only in 1971 which is hardly equal As already in:Jicated, Darygram in Rajglnj P.S. to the natural growth of population. recorded a growth of 200 % in population during the The rural component of the SUA which consist. last decade. Not only hlS it registered a phenomenal of oaly one village. namely, Kharia is. however, seen growth of population th~re h is also been a cllm.}iete to h'lve regi~tered a mUiivc gr\lwth since 195 I transformlfion of the rural ma'Jza into all urbani ,ed having m3r~ than trebled ih p.)pulation during UIC area during tlte decade. The distribution of the last two decade,. The p':>;)Lllation or th.e m:l.uza hal working force into ditfc!rc=nt inju.~trial categories, the gone up from 9,879 in 1951 to 21,182 in 1951 and density and absolute number of the p )pulation and to 34,262 in 197', tt\e decadal v uiation beinl the lanJ use pattern had all cha1g.!d to s;ltisfy all the 134.66% and 47.80(10 in 1951-61 a'ld accepted criteria for an urban area. The grea.ter rl!~pe;;tively 196 l-71. The gNwth is entir~ly du: to settlem,nt part of the mauza ha.s acquired an urban look and of immigrants fr'lm acros~ the borders. become an integral part of the core town. A~ in the case of the core town, again, transport alld com,nuni .. This o'J.tgrllwth of th:: tOW.l i~ C:llfd. ;;teriscd by cations ani other services hlve accounte:i fo·r the th! Si on ~ typ~ of di~tri JL1tio 1 of th ~ w.Jrker.) as ar~ bulk of the worker:; in this fa~t chlllgillg village f\)uild in m lny otller ar~a~ of settleinent of displaced (which in alJ fairness and by aU sta'ldJrJl, sho!,lIJ b: persons. Toero ii prepJ.lderanc~ of agriclllturists treated as a town) but unlike in Siliguri tOWIl trade among the workers and a SiUlblc pJpulation is also and commerce do not have a'lY major rille in the employment of workers in the area. engaged in the low-income tertiary sector. The lecodary and tertiary sectors together account­ Jalpaigari Staadard Urban Area ed for 92% of tn~ m tIe wJrkinl for.;c in the town in 197 L The rural component of the SUA also Ja.lpaiguri is the aiminhtrative head~ua.rters of the bad a sizeable t~rtiary sector comprising abJut 40 or district. It is in the fo:>t-hills of the Himllaya~ and % connected by railways with Siliguri a'ld Calcutta. A tlte male workers. The s~coniary sector, cornpri'illJ state highway also connects it with Siliguri. m )stly repairiQJ servicing wlrkih)ps, elll?loyed about IS % only of the w.>rkets b~th in th! tow.! and ttl:. rural unit. Jalpaiguri thrived 1ill recently as the seat of administration, b~ng tbe hea,'jl}uarters of the district Tne tow il it 10 ;ing iu illl,)rta 'l~e t() ttl, n,wly and the division. Its pr'lJperity centred rOllaj th~ c:n !.rging city of SiligJri bJtn a, a celtro for tel tea gardens about 180 of which are stlr_d OVO! til; iodJitry a ld as a tr~ iinj C~rltr4 or sUPi>ly bue for entire district. Tile.. .t()WQ is stagllant foc :ttto l.ut the t~u·8'rJ':;H. The to\\''\ s!Cmi t·) b, do)m~ to two decades ad the population b il\~casing ollly at staglatio3 eltcept fot til: fll:t th;:Lt tb~re is som) sCO;J~ a cra~lin8 pace ;slilce .1 951 a i will be soon from tluI for actUAl up iaclu,trial units bue! timb=r ani fibres following statemellt. in the town or. its vicinity. 120

Ceoda ... 8ta..... Vr. Area has over 86

Guriahati, the other urban unit of the SUA, was Rayganj is the sub-divisional headquarters and declared a non-municipal town in ] 971 only. It is an important centre of trade and commerce in the­ an o\.ltarowth of Cooch Behar municipal town. district of Wt1It Dinajpur. It is connected with SiljEuri to the North by a meter gauge railway line· 1 he rural (crr,rrterit of the SUA has also recor­ via K atihar. National Highway 31 runs through the' d(d a tnrner-deus fH.. \\th durirg the Jast two dtcadts. to" n connrcting it with SiJiguri to the north and 1 he total rcruJClticn of 8,(j43 in 1931 [,hot lip to Calcutta to the south. 'Vest Dinajpur is a predo­ 15,4('9 in 19(; 1 :In !~crease of :ltn!t 8(,~~ :!rd again win (1 ntly 8 gricuHura I dis1 rict which is seJf·suitkif'nt, to 18210 in 1971. 'ihe overa)) rTowth during the if not surrllls, in production of paddy and is also a two detades (,}'C(CelS J 000/0' Al1 this has f01lowed majcr producer of jute and mcsta, Rayganj has the· the genera] trend in the district as a "ho)e, caused lccaHonal r.dvantage of being centrally situated and almcst entirely by the settl(D1(J~t of irrmigrPDts. It i1avir g goed facilities f0r transport and communi­ is sirr.pJy the prc};imity of the S{;A hr.d the dis',ict) cations. Processing cf paddy and jute holds out to tl.e irlternatio aJ l:crdos, Ta1l fr tton any otht r se rr.e prospect for development in and around the c(cnon·ic ar.d reJatt d faeter, that has brc.\)~bt a1:'out town. There is also good 5cope for development of tl:.e growth of pcruJalion of the ~ rA. Tl'ere bas sen icing and repairing of road transport units been litt1e clarFe in the C{CUla1iol'al structure of also. tl:c \\ orking roputation ar.d there is not much scope Tl~e to"n !las grown tremendollsly during tbe f( r wch (t,hJ1!e in the nrar future. It is w('Itth Jast two decadu. The population tas aJnl( st tr~bIed n,(ntiofiing 1hat t}:e rural (('mpoJ1ent of the SUA durirg J<.,51 to 1971 as jt increased from 15473 to cc"n,rriS(S fClIt maUlas of "hith three aJrrady }lave 43 J 91. 11 e £fO\\ th rate bas not been very spectacular tig f,oplJlations e.f atout 4,(CO ard al:c,\"e cad.-a fact in 1961-71. Jt was 33.76 only during lhe decade "bi(.h itself is likely to induce fl;rtlcr ~ro"th attrae­ arail1st a plletcmenal gro""th (f 1 0 8.()S~~. durjn.g tir.g more and more people to the area. preceding decade. FoJJt'lwi"~ the general pattern of the district as a ",)101e, aJftt·(st tile tntire addition 1 he secoJ1dary and terHal) sect,," togtther employ to t}-e popn1ation cf tt.e- tewn is due to jmmj~raRt •. A

o,'er 94% ~f the male workers in the lIrt-aD rart of goverlln:eI!t decision which" as takttt ij» the mid-flftles; , I the St.1A "hile in tt.e JllTal ccmprt.ent' the ~bate 1: ut s"e)\ltd Jain en, to shtft IIle district headCfOaa.fS ef tile .\\-o 8((t(,T8 (CITe to 6~'%. Ot.e of tte tt1ra] to PaStanj fr~m Balllrgh'at, was a180' responsible·!,f." units, namely, KJ-arimaJa l

The rural components of the SUA comprise 5 MaWa-EDglish Bazar Standard Urbu Area mauzas ca4;h one of which has registered huge growth of population during the last two decades. The total The twin towns of old MaIda and English Bazar rural group as a whole recolded an increase of are commonly known as MaIda. They arc connected 31 f %. The gIowth of population in the units is by a broad-gauge railway with Calcutta which is abollt ~ho\\n in the follo\\ing statement. 300 km. away and also by a national highway. The river M ahananda flowing north-south separates the two towns. Growth of population in the rural component (19~1-71) English Bazar is the administtati-vc headquarters --- Population of the district. It is also a trading centre, the second .. Name and No. of Mauza ) 951 ------1961 1971 ary and tertiary sectors together claiming more than Total Rural Components 2.485 5,404 11.837 92% of the total male workers in 1971. Kasba (J.L. No. 145) 1,266 2,445 $,190 The SUA had a total population of 80,081 in Chandar (J.t. No. 154) 361 S08 668 1971 against 56,443 in 1961 which shows a decadal Vdaypur (J.L. No. 155) 268 760 1112 increase of about 430/0' The growth rate fer the Bogram (J.t. No. 156) 387 648 970 urban components i.e" English Bazar and Old MaIda Kamajora (1. L. No. 157) 563 1,043 3,897 taken together is lower at 36% only. Most of the growth in the urban area has, however, taken place in English Bazar, the populat ion of the town having The density of population in the town itself is gone up from 45,900 to 61,335 during thedecade still arolmd 4,000 per sq. krn. The town is extending 1961· 71. The fUl'al component which

> iMJihol)d for the people of these villages as in many are cOntiguous to English Bazar municipality. Mangal .. .other, ccmcentrations ~f jmmjgr~n'" ill urban and bari.Samandai is separated from the town by the peripheral settlements. Mahananda. .,. 122

The proportions of male workers in the thre~ s:ale industry in the tawn, though its role in the sectors of tile economj have not recorded any economy is insig:'lificant. It is aIs') the trading centre ma.rk~d ch:1.1ge dJeing to:! LIst de:ade in the urbln for the moderately flourishing silk textile~ known as component which mlrk out the twin towns as the famous Murshidabad silk. The town is coming primarily servjce-cum-trad~ and commerce towns ut> a,; a centre of tourist interest also, the attraction functionally. As alrt!ady stated, mJre than 92~~ of being the ruins and r~lics of the Nawabs of Bengal the male workers in the two towns were engaged in which are spread all around the town and extend the secondary and terti:uy se;tor3 in 1971. In the upto the town of Murshidabad. rur.11 components also the tertiary se;tor predo mi­ nates accoilntiilg f0f 67.49% of the workcri. In some The town is cxtcading. th~)ugh slowly, southward of the mauzas like Jhaljhalia and Serpur Maklm;>ur abng the bank of the Bhlgirathi and also to the in English Bazar P.S. and Mllng3lbari-Samandi in west beyond the river. MJ.lda P.S. th! share of the tertiary sector rJ.ag!s berween 4 7;-{' ~for the fait na.m:d villag~) and 97 % Kasimbazar non-municipal town which was (for the lir~t-nlrn~d~ 0: tIl! tltal worker,. It i~ worth declared a town f0r the first time in 1971 and ktd a while to note that it is in the~~ villag~s that there population of 6,304 is the other urban component of was a massive growth of population during the last the SUA. The two urban component:) together decade. The em~loyment pattern is f~tlowing the thus accouat f0f a totJ.l pJpulation of 78,709. The ,eneral trend of large settlem~nt of rural im ni­ density of population is pretty heavy in Baharampur grants. tOWIl. It is as much as 4,485 per km: waich is indicative of a congestion typical of many of the The twin towns are extending east and west to mofusliil towns of the state. The density is slightly form a parallelogram. Being in the centr¢ of a rich lower for the urban components as a whole due to m!l.ngo-producing area and the district being a major the low density in the newly recognized urban area producer of raw silk and jute, the towas have SCJP: of Kasimbazar. for so!tting up new production units blS~d on thes.! raW materials. The tertiary sector may also profit The rural component of the SUA comprises 16 by the extension of tourism in the district which is mauzas witb a total population of 34,702 spread over 2 studded with numerous places and relics of historical an area of 42.05 km • The density of population importance. even in the rural component is thus found to be quite 2 high at 825 per km • Baharampllr Standard Urban Area The growth or population in the SUA during the Baharampllr is the headquarters of the district the last decade reveals an interesting feature. Rabara­ of Murshidabad and the core town of the SUA It mpur, the core taWil, added onty 16.51 (Yo to its popu­ is on the blnk of the Ga.nga and jllSt. 1flO km. away lation during the de;:;a:ie as against J2.0 5% increase from Calcutta being connected with the latter by a r~corded in the preceding decade 1951-61. Tbe overall broad-gauge railway line (Sealdah-Lalgola Branch). growth of th~ urol.n component of the SUA is shown National Highway 34 paises through the town, as a higher figure of 2 (). 6 3~~ over the last decade. connecting it with Calcutta on the one hand and with The higher growth is only illu'jory as it is due to the MaIda and other areas of northern West Bengal on addition of the Ka'iimbazar non-municipal area to the other. th~ list of towns for the first time during the 1971 census. The total rural groups on the other hand Babarampur is primarily a service town wh ich grew at a fast rate of 34. 84 ~/o ovc:r the same period. derives its imt)Ortance mainly from the location of This is in ~harp contrast to the almost marginal the headquarters of the district administration and growth in the urban component. uo as the nerve centre ,of ro.£d transport system in the district. Bell metal industry. which is run as a Out of the total male population of 41,148 of the traditional cottaae and small scale industry is the SU A a little less than 40 % were returned as workers mainstay of the • mall secondary sector of the town. in 1971 cen.us. 89% of the male workers were Ivory work is another important traditional small engaged in occupations other tban in the primary 123 sector. Half of the male working population in the from pointing to a growing importance of agriculture rural components are also engaged in the secondary in the economy? How far is the shift due to and tertiary sectors. In two of the mauzas namely, movement of the a,riculturists to urban habitats, if Goalfan and Budharpara. 75 % or more of the there be any such movement at all? What is the working males are already engaged in other than reverse process evident in tbe ru.ra!. component due agriculture and allied activities. Both of them are to? How far has commutation between the rural acroSs the Bhagirathi. The particulars of the two areas and the core town contributed to the situation? vilJages are shown below. These are some of the questions which will naturally arise and which may be answered only after further Population Percentage of male workers field studies are undertakon. J.t. ~o. Name ( 1971) engaged in secondary and tertiary sectors 197 1 The above seems to present a situation where J5 Goaljan 2825 75 urbanisation of the non-urban (and supposedJy urban­ 17 Budharpara 1497 85 isable) components at any fast pace seems to be a The occupational structure of the male workers in remote pos ibility unless, of course, any special deve­ the SUA reveaJs some interesting features. The state­ lopment like setting up of a number of industrial ment that foPows will show that while the urban units based on local raw materials etc., comes to the components of the SUA have. no doubt, fulfilled all help of this essentially slow-moving service town. It the three criteria of a town the total rural compo­ will not be out of the way to remember that M.urshi­ nents have not only come closer to the urban standard dabad is one of the least urbanised districts, in the during the decade so far as the disposition of the state, the proportion of the urban to the total popu­ male workers is concerned. they have also diversi~ lation being 8.45 % only against the state figure of fled the occupational stluctUfC of the male workers 24 75%. It is also to be borne in mind that except more rapidly than the urban units. for the slow emergence of Farakka as a new centre of growth the district as a whole is yet to see any deve­ Sectorwise distribution of male workers 1961-71 lopment that may induce any fast urbanisation around ------.. _._------_. -.----- .. -~-'-- Name of Primary Secondary Tertiary Baharampur or any other existing urban unit. town/village ------1961 1971 1961 1971 1961 1971 _ Krishoagar Nabadwip Standard Urban Area Totul town group 2.89 11.01 22.59 18.76 74.52 70.23 Total rural group 51.85 48.90 ) 3.17 12.72 34.98 38.38 Krishnagar is the distrkt headquarters of Nadia, (i) Berhampore I Al 9.77 21.34 18.78 77.25 71.45 exactly 100 km a way from Calcutta. It is conne­ cted with the metropolis by rail·' - a broad gauge (ii) Kasimba?llr 21.73 ~5.(8 38.43 18.1,6 39.84 55.86 branch line from Sealdah to Lalgola-as well as by National Highway 34. The river Jalangi flows by the A reverse prolcss of occuration shift seemed to to\\n along the northern boundry. The town is have been in action during the cecade in the urran extending to the west Nabadwip, the other urban component of the SUA. While more than three unit in the SUA is 12 krn. away from Kris·hnagat. fourths of the male workers were still in the seeon­ An aU-weather black-top road takes one from Krishna .. d~1ry and tertiary sectors in tbe urban areas the gar to the confluence of the 13 hagirathi and the percentage of male workers in the primary sector JuJangi and Nahadwip is across the river. Krishnagar increased appreciably during the intercensal period is extrnding in this direction but tl-,e liver win remain from 2.89% in 1961 to 11.01 (% in 1~71. But in a constraint for Nabadwip to frow towards the the rural component the same registered a slight fall district headquarter to\\n. The twin cities are likely of 2, t; 5 per cent POiI~tS. Though marginal, there is to remain separated by the Ganga like Calcutta and a definite movement of the male working force in the Howrah, exerting their influence on each other and rural components away from agriculture, almost the a!so on the rural mauzas in the neighbourhood aU entire shift being rei1ected 1 in the upward rise in the the time. A bridge is currently under construction tertiary sector. across the Bhagirathi. The influence of Nabadwip on the mauzas on the eastern bank of the river'is already Does this indicate a lack of opportunities in the reflected in their occupational structure as also the secondary and tertiary sectors of the towns apart semi .. urban look of their settled areas. 124

Krishnagar SUA comprises a total area of 119. 8S ment give3 the density of poplllation, the sex-ratio km 2 of which 27.46 km 2 are in the two towns and and the sector.. wise distribution of the male working 91.79 km· in the rural oomp::)Qents. It enc~mpasses force in the 'ur!)an and rural components of the a total population of 244.4')4 of which the two towns SUA. account for J 80,127 persons. The following state-

Total Sectoral distribution of male Area in km' Number of POPUL.I tion Density per kml male workers (in p:rcentage) UnIts workers I II 1[(

Urban group 27.46 2 1"0 127 6~60 39,529 7.25 30.7H 62.06 J(rishnqar 15.80 85,9B 5438 ] 8.353 9.53 21.30 69.17

Nabadwip 11.66 9~,204 8079 21,176 s.on 39.01 5590

Component 91.7H 22 64,367 701 15.672 49.71 36.52 13,77

Total 119.25 244.494 2050 55,201 19.73 32.42 '8.35

The population of the two towns together came close to 2 laks in 1971. Both the towns are densely Variation of pop:Jlation, Krisbnagar and Nabadwip since 1931 populated. Nabadwip ii more congested than Krlsh­ nagar, the density of population being 8,079 per kmz Town Decade variadon in papulation (percent) There is hardly any op:n space left in the town. ---_---_._- - -_ ...... _------Krishnagar is not much better than Nabadwip in this Krishnagar 193! -1941 31.84 respect. As already stated, the two towns have to 1941-1951 56.30 extend towards each other. The bridge across the 1951-1961 40.76 Bhagirathi which is under construction will hasten the process. 1961-1971 21.98

Nabadwip 1931-1941 62.15 The rural components of the SU A consist of 22. mauzas spread ovec there polic! station; and two 1941 -1951 84.08 districts. The density of population in some of 1951-JQ61 29.42 thes~ rural units espo:cially in Nabadwip P. S. is 1961-197] 29.29 quite helVj el/.!n by urba1 stand.uJs. Gldigac'1ha (J.L. No. 11) and Char Brahmlnlgar (J.L. No. 22) have densities of 3031 an:! 2641 respectively. Char While the decadal growth in 19 S 1-61 for Krish­ Maijdia.. (I.L. No. 19) which has a population of nagar (40.76 010) was higher compued to 29.4270 about 4000 has a suifl)cating density of 10403 per of Nabadwip the growth of the former was 2 \.98 /'0 km'!, Srirampur (J.L. No. 35), tile rura.l unit of only against 29.29% of Nabadwip during 1961-1971. BIJcdw&n distri ~t w lich is air "ady under the inten!ive The phenomenal growth of Nabadwip SiD~ 19~ 1 bas influence. and has almost b: :ome a part, of Nabadwip been due, almost entirely. to settlement of lmmlgran~ bad a population of over soao with a density of from East Pakistan now Bangladesh. The same IS 2 1ass per km • true in respect of Krishnalar also.

Both Krishnagar and Nabadwip, both grew in The importance' or Krishnagar is derived mainly size at a fast ra.to since 1941 till 1961 as will be from the fact that it is the administrative headquarters evident from the statement below : of the district. The growth of the toWD has been 12' .

~low during the last d~c,de att~ se~rn' destill~1 t:. Rat_that St.... ard UrlJ •• Area f'emain so in tle ab~~n:e of AYly other indJcive f,,;::tor for growth. The secondry sector in tb: town a:COtlnts Ranaghat j. a rn~Jlicipal tOWtl with a p3pulatiorl for 21.30% of the male work:rs again9t 69.17% of 47,8(S in 1971. It is the administrative headqllar­ ,claimed by the tertiary se~t\)r. NJ.badwip, 01\ the' ters of subdivision of tb: 8a1ll~ nal1u. It is 80 k"l. -other hand. as a sizea ')Ie se;ond )'''Y sector with 8,261 aW1Y from Calcutta b:ing COl'laected with the Dutro .. mate workers who account for 39.0 I 'Yo of tlte m 11. polis by a brold.gluge railwlY line and national working force. Na ':>a:hvip ha~ fburished as a cet1tre highway 34. Raftagtl1t W1S a busy railW1Y Junctioll of manuf:lcture of han:ilo)m tex-tiles pro:iuccd on & before hldependencc but has lost m:l~h of its ioa,()r .. 'cottage and small scale ba~is. It hall also a number tance .inCl putition. The town has, nevortheless. of smlll units producing bell·m'!tal and brass..vare9 grown not to~ slowly during the po,Hndepelldenco which extend beyond the town limits. A clock: period. The statem:nt b~low show, th'it it grew fas­ manufacturing unit and another unit for m lnufacture ter thln many other towns in tlte stato during tu ·of loom'; and ac;::es)oriei, both under the cooperltive intercensal de:ade and also during the four decade s sector, have mlde for diversity in the secondary since 1931. sector of Nabadwip. The town has also grown a~ .a trading centre serving the neighbouring rural areas D !clda I growth of Ranaghat ,lace 1931 in and beyond the distr~ct. Decade Growth rate 1931-41 44.700/. As the foregoing statement indicates, exactly half 1941-S1 ·of the male workers of the rural compJnent~ of the 70.21% SUA were engaged in the secondary and tertiary sec­ 1951-61 2S.66% tors in 1971. The preponderance of the non-agricul­ 196J-71 3S.S8% 'tural pursuits i~ mlrke1 in the uniU which are elote to Nabadwip. Thc growth or the town is largely fortuitollJ caused mainly by the settlement of the immigrant' Out of 13 mluza~ of Krishnagar P.S. comprised from beyond the b,rders. The rate of growth was in the SUA only one, namely, Boruihuda (JL.No.9l) 7.020/0 annuaty during the decade J 941 .. 51. The shows an occupational structu re resembling that of a growttl has been ap~reciably hign (3.55 % per annum) town. 79.31 % of the mlle w.)rken in the village during the la,t de:ade ai-so which comparod well with being engaged in the secondary and tertiary se~tors. many other town~ of the state. EKcept for the There are other mauza~ with sizeable popula.tion of advantageoul location near to and ju,t beyond the :2500 and above hut the primary sector predomi­ Calcutta m~trop)litan district with good facUity for nates in their economy. commutation the to Nn has little else to promote its growth and exten§ion. It is growing in size and The rural components com~rised in N.1bldwip decaying at the Slnte tim~. It ii jUit a trading ~ent(e P.S. which are close to N:lb1.dwip town but lo::ated and a largely residontial town. About tW() thirds or acro~s the Bnagiratni. in~lude four villages with size­ the mlte w\)rking p3pulation of th~ town w.u engaged able populatiotu of over 3000 each. M lre than ill trade and com l1!rCe &:td other s!rViCC5 in 1971. 25 % of the mde w:>rking population of the,e villaaes The 8m1U secondary le~tor of th, town. employs are engaged in the secondary alld tertiary sectors. .about a quarter of the m do w~rkillg force and is The village; arc Gadiglchha (J.L. No.17), Mlijclia dependent largely 0:1 fCplirinJ and servicina workshop. (J.L.No. 18), Char Maijdia (J.L.N J. 19) and Char an i hao.dloom textile units. Brahmanagar (I.L,No 2l). Char Mlijdia h:u as rnu:b as 98.78 % of its m ,te w)t'k~r; in tae second:l.ry The rural comp:>!1ent of the SUA which had a 1Jeetc)t. Hllldlo3'1l textiles, m)stly or coar$~ vJ,riety, p~l'ulation of 46,234 bu alIt) grown quite fast aDd. and bell·m,tal and bra~~wJrcs ar:s tWl industrie!i tb,a.l itt· fact, grew far more ltead.Uy tUn the urban unit 1nlltata. tho sizeable second.try scct~r in th:se durilll the laR tw.) d"cadO$. Tho growth was units. 1•. 34% ."d 109.17% durioa 1951"61 aacJ 1961-71 126 respectively. This is again due mainly to the The two urban components of the SUA togethcr settlement of the inmigrants. The rural component had a population of 93,351 which was 450/0 above has s·iuabJe secor:dary aId te.rtiary sectors, as much the 1961 figure. The two towns have not, how­ % as (J7A9 of the male wcrkcrs l:eing engagt:d in ever, grown at an equal pace. While Habra has thfm. 1wo of 11.e rural units, Sim AiMala (J.L.No.9) sln:ost doubled its population during the last decade' ar.d 1< ri~hJ1afur Char (J l.No. ll), \\hkh are in tte Asokenagar-I< al)angarh registered a growth of less cutskirts of tte 1(\\n u also AistaJa (J.L.N(I. 114) than) Oo/c) in its numbeJs. The slow growth of the 18\e 8(" ~~J cr rrcre of tbe maJe wOlking force in the lauer was, .however, due partly to the exclusion of SHC r."aTY Btd tertiary sectors, handlocm weavers and some vilJages from its jurisdiction as the non-munici­ petty tradus being the twO main categories of pal town Asoken~gaf was constituted into a munici­ workers. pality in the sixties.

Santlpur Standard Urban Area In the rural component of the SUA. however,.. the popuJation dropped to J 3,667 in 1971 from Santipur is an old municipal town in the 16,392 in 1961. Four out of the seven vi11ages of the district of Nadia. It is situated about 90 km. away rural component recorded a negative growth as from Calcutta, being connected ""itl: the state capital detailed below due partly to emigration. by a broad gauge railway line and National Population Highway 34. Functionally it is a manufacturing­ Name of mauza .T.L.No. ------cum-service town. It is an old centre of handloom 1961 1971 textiles which is run as a small scale and cottage industry. Akrampur (82) 908 877 Asrafabad (~4) 3958 2024 Baning the late forties when the population of Hanria (85) 2334 1615 the town grew unusually fast at 41.89°/~ (in 1941-51) mainly because of the influx of displaced persons, Maniknagar (89) 3973 2105 the town has hardly registered any growth during the seven decade s of the 20th century. The growth The two towns are mainly residential and started rate has been a meagure 19.490k during 1961-71 as government sponsored resettlement colonies imme­ ",bich is ateut the same as tt:e natural growth rate diately after partition. Except for a spinning null of the population. The rural component of the in the public sector and some stray workshops which SUA has, on the other hand, ~hoVl n a somev.hat constHute a small secondary sector the towns have higher growth rei t e (28.5 8 ~{) ) during the decade. 1t retained their functional status all these years. For is !:otcworthy that the same lural areas registered a various reasons (including deficict'lcies in planning a n° ore than ] (.tj ~~J increase in rcpuJation in the fifties proper economic rehabilitation of the displaced per­ (195]-61). ]t is al~o to be ma,tioned that tl~e rural son who were settled in tt.e twu townships) the (crr,ponu:1s, tbct~h comrrisirg a swall population of partiCIpation rate is the lowest in thc two urban 9268 only has a rr.oder(\tc)y big secor.dary seclor units amon£st an the SUA's in the state. 1 bere is ccmprising mostJy of tl.e talldlcom industry. The huge oren unemployment and also a marked degree town has not (xterded sratiaIJy ar:d as a result tbe of under-emplo) rnent. A large proportion of the incrta~ed "workers" are languishing in low-income occupations density of pOJ'ulation has from decade to U· 2 cecade. The dCJ1sity per .km , however, is still at a of vendors und petty traders. In fact, about 64 /0 reJatively Jow level of 2,486. 1 he town is almost of the workers are en.gaged in the tertiary sector. stagnsnt and there is little likelihood of any accele­ Trade and commercc, consisting to a large extent ration in its rate of growth in the near future. of petty traders, ~nd other services account for the bulk of these workers. Asokenagar-Habra Sta~dard Urban Area . Asolcenagar .. Kalyangarh, a municipal town and Of the tetal working force of the urban c()mPO­ Ha bra, a non-municipal town are two cont~guous nent acout a quarter only (24.90°1c) is enga.ged it) , urban arras which have grown during the, la.t two the secondary sector. A spinning· mill at I Habra dec,! des into a big settlement of inmigrants from and some processing units run on a household scale erstw hile East Pakistan now Bangladesh. afC the only constituents of the secondary sector 121 located in the :two towns. The share of commuters had been JargeJy due to inmigrants fro111 beyond the (who reside in the towns but commute to .the borders. Tho proximity to the borders hl'. Oll the units there) in the above figure is obviously su'Jstan­ other hand, acted a~ a deterrent to its furthor gro Nth tial. The ettent to whidl com nllters h3.ve contri­ in 1961·7l because of the political considerations of buted to the seemingly g Jod pro,lortioll of workers the si :"

The distribution of the w,)rkers in t:l! thre~ Bongaon is the sub-divisional hea1quarters of a sectors of the economy is somewhat diJerent irt the subdivision or the Slm" na!ll! and the core town or rural component of the SUA. In the rur,!1 com­ th.e SUA. It is situ lted almost 01 ttl! b.:>rd,ci ~ith ponent. too. the share or the se:ond,uy s'~tor in th~ Blngtade,h anj i~ Ct)ll1~cted wHit Cdcutta. w~licll working force ac; gone up a little during the l.l~t is l)O krn aw.iY. by a bf'.) d·ga'l~: railwa.y lift!. A decade from 10. 74 (;,~ in 196] to 14. 13 ~~Io in the railwlY li1e C).ll!~ti it with R.lUg'ut (Dist. NJ,dil) 1971 due prob tbly to the com nuting w Jrke,'~ as in to the w~st. ·case of th\! urb:1n unit'i. Th:: em;:>lojmeflt i.1 the tertiary sector has gone down by as In 'lC~l as 12. S6 Yo From a §plnely populate:i urb11 or sc;ni-uroan per cent points while the primary sector has come to settlem,nt of a little over 23,000 p:r)on!t in 1951 'employ a larger pro~ortion (60.20(10) or the wJrkers. BOl1galn gr~w into a cla\s Il tOWl,l in 197! witb a It means almost the entire shortfall in the tertiary pi>j)ulation of 50,5 j 8. The tow a ha.d recorded a sector is absorbed in the primary-a phenomen<):} sharp rise in p.)j)ulatioll i!l the wake of the partition which is observed in a number of other SUA's aho. of the province of Bengal and in th:;, fifties. The This shift from the tertiary to the primary sector ii population sh')t up from 2',364 in 1951 to 41,082 apparently a reversal of the anticipated movem!nt. in 1961 which work' out to a growth of 75~{,. from primary to tertiary and/or secondary, in su~h During tbe la5t decade (1961 .. 71), how:vert the areas of urbanization. growth rate came down abruptly; the decadal increase was just a little over 20:;10 waich i!i almost Basirhat Standard Urban Area equal to the natural growth of th~ p;)l':.tlation.

Basirhat which is the coc.: of the SUA is a As in case of Blsirhat the proximity of BOllga'Jll municipal town. It is about 80 km. away from to the internltioall borders w u largely respoQiible Calcutta and connected with the latter by road via for th,: ml';slve growth of tlte fifties. It ceased to Barasat. A meter gauge railway also connects it b! an inducive fa~tor of growth in tlte sbtties and with Barasat which is just 20 km away from even nullified the likely favouraole influence of the Calcutta. It is the administrative headquarter:; of cOllmutatiottlt facilitie\ enjoyed b I the toW:l. be­ a sub .. division and situated close to the interllationll catue of its dir~~t railw ly and rend link with the borders between West Bengal and B lnglade~h. It ij Calcutta metropolitan district. an important trading centre for the a~ricLlltural commodities of the surroun:fing area.s and also for The rural component or th~ SUA also witnessed consumer articles for the rural neighbourhood. the same pattern of growth during the two decades since 195 l. A ~ in ca~e of t11: urba 1 co rnponent, The town Irew in size considerably during the 'that is, BoagaoD. tOWIl, tb~ growth of population in last two decades. the po;.ulation baving increased the rural COmlO:l~nt also W1J quite sp:.:tacular in from 43,823 in 1951 to 63,8l6 in 1971. Mo~t of 1951.61. Til: mlognitude of the increase in the the growth did, ho vever, take place during tne rural units W,,U in fa~t brg!r than i:l the urban unit fifties when the population increased by about 60% as the rural p),l:llation W!ilt up by about 90% and crossed the 50.000 mark. Durilll the la. ouring the decade aglinCJt th~ urban growth rate or decade. however, the increase was a mere 18 % 75,%,. O~ring tb.~ lut de~lde a{'o tho ra.te of which i. no biller than the natural growth of growth in the rLlrd C) U?J.l'llt et=eed:i thlot in the population. The arowth of the town (as well 81 or mUllicipll tow 1. th' grJw~h in th~ grJ,vth i!l tho the rural component or the SUA) durina the fir". total'" boillJ 37 Yo allilut 2') 10 or th' lattor. Tilo 121 political considerations which seemed to have retar­ then came, in the wake of the partition of Bongal~ dtd the BtO'Wth of the town in tbe sixties wefe not bundrtds of thollsands cf the migrants from beyond pelhaps as shong a dctcrant in the cast of the the international borders to settle, mostly 011 their._ iJ.:migrants intent upon settling in fura1 c(oncD'lY in own, in and around Calcutta. Numerous neW towns. the r.ej~hbeurlccd of 1he urbaD centre. and urban areas came into being around the city, existing towns grew in size, the rural neighbourhood Tbe sectoral distJibution of "erken of the SUA Jut mu<.h of its rural look and acquired urban or "ill also reveal interesting features. In J 971 ateut semi-urran chal acteristics as a result of settlement 80 'X) of tle "orkers of the to\\n "ele eD~a8cd in tl~e of iJ:migrants and of industrial development of the' .(cendary and tertiary U!ctOtS, o\ltr ~(, % being fifties and ear1y SIxties. Greater Calcutta, a conti­ employed in tT: de ar.d (.cmmerce and ether s(f\'ices nuous UJ ban sprawl inter-spersed with vast rural cnJy. 'J he last decade witne~sed a marked increase tract spRad over four districts grew larger and larger in the proportion of "orkers in the prirr:ary sector in size to beccme the metropolItan district of today in both the urban and rural (cmponeJlt of the SUA. with fD eight-million plus population in 197 L 1 he increase was a small 4 fer cent points for the rural areas but its Ifallnilude "as hiEher in the town­ As a first centte of British capital in India,. ftcm 8.88 'Yo in 196 J the proportion of primary Calcutta and the surrounding region had a start on cmplo)mfnt h2d Horle up to 20.S 1 <>;~) in 1971. the Jest of the country in the process of industrialisa­ 1be shift in fa\our ef the prirrary secter was at the tion. 1 he first modern jute mills in India were set expense of loth t1 e set on,'ary and tertiary sectors. up along the Hcoghly in the 1870's, the first paper While p~:rt of the deviation in the occupatior.al milJs also came up in tbe 1870's and 18hO's, the first }:attun IJ"ay te cLe to dtfni1icral (hanges the chemica) and pharmaceutical -works were e~tablished tc.vetsal of the anticipated trerd, which is cbsenfd in the 18S0's. 1 he engineering industries of Howrah in a ntlmber of other SUA's a]so, will deserve also h"d their ccginning in the ~eventies of the 19th flU thtr study to find an explanation. century. ]n fal t, with the independence of India and the partition of the province of Bengal almost EOI1gaon is a service-( tm-tn:de and corrmeree the entire industrial activity of the state was concent­ t( wn fl>n<.ticra]]y. 1 he imJ:cr1aL(e of the town is due tIated in metropolitan Calcutta except for the mining mainly to tte Ie ca tion of the r cministrath e head­ industry in the districts of Burdwan and tea in the quarters 2nd its prC"iD",j1y to the international northern districts of JaIpaiguri and Darjeeling. No­ bOlders. It serves as one of the supply bases and where else in tt.e country, barring to some extent in. metropolitan Ecmcay, has there been such a beavy tr~nsit feints cf fJirraJY rrccuce rf daily (OIlSllIl1P­ tion fer the Ca1cutta rretJOpolitan district. 1 he cOlllenllatje n of industrial activity as in Calcutta lc<.atioD of the tc"n cI( se to the torc('Js End witlin metrorolitan arra Vthich has re~ulted in marked (CD'tt:uhticr.ul distance fl (m Calc UUa has its re~i<'I1a] in:balance in the ~tJte. Stalting with the jute mms, paper, pha) mac(uti<.als and engineering tdH,ntapc's as we]) a di~c:.d\~Iltaf(s. With t:onr.ali­ l;aticrlS Vtith 1he rrigl tovrir,g (cl.lntry tl e advan18(Z(;S units of the r.ineteeth cer,tury Ca1c:utta J- as, no dfll bt, diversifi, d its indubtrial structure with the are likely to (ulw(j~h the disad\antafes aId tle ~dditicn of ~11jp buildjng, ruther, light machinery tewn may grc ... ft;rlhu lD sile and in impcrtal1(e as a tradin. c(ntre in the ccming decades. ar.d electJonics etc. But it is still heavily depettdent on engineering ar.d jut,,-an iml-alance "hich is Calcutta Metropolitan Standard Urbaa Area tehind the malady of Calcutta and has made the city sutler the longest during the post.1965 recession.

Calcutta is the most populous metropolis in the As the IT ain port for the eastern region of India state and tbe country. AS' the nerve-centre of the and the Gangetic plains Calcutta handJed abQut entire economy of the state and of the eastern r~gion '30 per cent of the exports and about· 18 qf Innia Calcutta and the neighbourhood haS attracted per cent of the imports 'of the country I in "its job seekers from al1 over the cQuntry, especially the peak year. 1966-67. Silting of the H~ogh\y eastern. states of Bihar, Orissa, eastern' tJ.P~ and and consequent " of, . its. prts of MaQhya Prade~h and of course, trom :tbe deteri~rat~Qn n~~i.g~ble districts of West Bengal through the decad~s. . At-.tt ~haftne1 'ha&' OMlsed gradual decline., of. :tM'~ ,p.oft 119·

an~ devcrsion of tr~mc necessitating establishm.ent of Growth of Calcutta SV A, 1"1·71 f,' port :>a "lUblidiary at Haldia. As the 'premier trading Popufat'cn I)«.a. V.Jattn and financial centre, however, Calcutta continues petcfnt ..... ---.-...... -- to serve the state and the estern region. 19S1 1961 1971 1951-61 1961-71 Total 5,077,569 6,593,866 8,265,930 2986 25.36 The Calcutta &taadard urban area is roughly conterminous with the Calcutta metropolitan district Urban 4,663,835 5,978,560 7,408,459 28 19 23.92 Rural 413,734 615.306 857.471 48.72 39.36 as defined by the Calcutta Metropolitan Planning --.-_- Organisation and is much hiager than the Calcutta uTban agglomeration. Against 74 urban units of the It is also interestina that the Calcutta SU A as a urban agglomeration the SUA had 96 cities and whole Brew f86ter ttan the CalcuUa urban s,aJomera­ towns including all the 74 of the former. Jt comp­ tion during the last decade~ the rate of arowth beirg rises in area of 1399.73 km 2 (677.53 km 2 in urban 25.36 per .cent and 22.57 J"er cent respectively. lbe areas plus 722.90 km2 in the rural component) and ~rowth rate of individual urban units of the SU A natu­ had a population of 8,265,930 in 1971. The urban rally \'sried wideJy flom unit to unit. The core city, population was 7,408,459 and the rural population Calcutta municipal corporation. is a saturated urbtln 857.471. area with bardly any capacity to absorb any more increase in population within the present city limi ts The. SUA has been divided into 15 sub-units , recorded a marginal increase of + 7 57°1<) only in conuguous tracts of urban and rural ~ettlemems being popUlation during' the last decade whie h was t):e clustered together as sub-units according to the lowest among aJI the million pJus cities in the country contiguity and interdependence and Jinka~e of the In the preceding decade (1951·6)) also the growth constituent villages and towns. The farthest sub-unit of the city was a meagre 8.48~,. Tlere is no space to the north is sub unit VIII which comprises, 1eft fer any new built-up afta to StoW within tI.e amongst others, Kalyani, a newly establi: hed town­ city and, but fer some vertka) expansion \a hich is ship in Nadia which is eomh'g up, though slowly taking pJace in ~('me areas, t}:e population ,,·iIl rem~in as a new urban centre. The southern-mo~t sub,un;t stagJ1ant rr jncr~as~ only margiJllalIy and has to spill No. IV comprise,; Rnjpur and Baruipur, two munk-i­ over in the coming) ears to the new areas of settle­ paJ towns which have recorded spectacular growth ment like tte Salt Lake dty etc. \\ hich are coming up during the Ja~t to decades as new areas of urbanisa­ beyond the city limits. tion teyond the Cal<.vtta uTl.-an agglomeration. In the eastern periphery is sub-unit XI. This includes As the .. ta1ut.enl belo,", 't\iIl shew, exccpt for Jhe besides the old industrial towns of Panihati and Jone dcca~e of ) 93 1-41 Callutta city has ne\u Titagarh, the new urban settlements of New Barrack­ recorded any sperta(ular gro'\\th since the turn of the pore,. Madh,amgram and l\abapalJi, inhabited mostly ((n1\1CY. Only in 1931·4], \\hkh induced the first .by dIsplaced persons from erst\\-hile East Pakistan. . two )urs of world \\a1 II and wjtne~s(d lin impre~ Rates of £rowfh in the sub-units have naturally teen ((cented H un in ir.dLstrhd ar.d tJadir g acti,ity in unev,en as the gr.owth in the units has been caused by the m('tr( polis, did, tte lilY glOW at a reany fa~t var) m~ factors) Ike simple residential settlements (e.g. pa( e of 77.4~ ()f<", a rate whilh was ne'er to be apPlo-

suh-umts IV I VJIJ, X]) or expansion of industrial xirr ated again. '

a(.tivity (as in sub-unit., IX, X. XV) or a combination CaJcutfil cify decadel "autlt in topuratien (l~OJ.-71) of such factors in the other E.ub-units. Year l»opulation Decade· . PelteDt a.gc deeac!c ,"_riation varla.ti(JO Dllring the two decades 195 1.. 71 the SUA regis­ 1901 . 933,754 _.. ,\~red on overall growth of about 62.7'1 per cent. Jt 1911 1,016,:445 +82,691 + 8.~. is of interest to observe that, .contrary to normal 19%1 1,0" 3,,134 ' + 36,389 -i~ 3.63.

19" < 1.Ul~2iO" + 167~814 , t ~5.94 expe.ctation~, t~~ urban component of the SUA has 1941 2,J 67,4f1S + "'~,275 + ;7.49 Bf()W~ slower than the ru;ral both during 1951-61and 1951 2,698,4P4 + 531,009 + 2•• 50 19. 61-71 as, shown in the st4tement below. 1961 2,927,2811 + 228.795 + 8.48 1971 3,1'8,467 + 221,457 + 7,S7 130

The first census after independence found the city Deeaclal growtb in to"D~ aDd titles atblald CalcUtta (1901.71) to have grown by 24.50% since 1941. The growth rate came down to 8.48% in 1961 and then to a Pe~ntaae marginal 7.57% only in the sixties. The slow growth City/Town Year Popul:1tion I>ecade decade variation variation was r.erhaps due to the fact that some degree of satur­ ation occurs when a city reaches the size of Calcutta. 4 To thj~ should be added the economic and political South Suburban lOt)! ·26.:li4 chaolj and instability of the late sixties which discour­ aged inmigration, the main component of growth of lOll :n.:;~:l + 2;;,1+4: + 14.27 pJ;,)ulation of a city like Calcutta. If the growth of l\)~1 33,:lJ;,) + Ii,' Iti + R.')() population of the city had been onI y marginal in the 1U31 3!),4~O + :W,7lO + H>-SO two succ~ssive decades the rate of economic growth has nc t been, as we shaH discuss later, anything lfHl li3,4i!J + 174,Jli9 + 68.M spectacular either. 19.,)\ lOt,O.~•. ) + (;7,0-;(1 + laJH

Besides Calcutta there are as many a~ eleven more HhH 18;;.811 + 137,O~~1 + 27.5!l Class cities the which Howrah, on I within SUA of + 10-1,021\ + 16.·11 the west bank of the Hooghly and rightly regarded as the gateway to Calcutta city, is the Jargest. with a South Dum Dum Hlo1 10,\)01 population of 737,877 in 197 I this city also, like I!) 1 1 + l,n,,;o + 18.07 Calcutta, has reached a degree of saturation when jt lH~l 14,030 + ],1;)(\ + s·ns can hardly take any more Increase in popuJatioll. During the last two decades the city, of course, grew 18,471 + 4,.. 141 + :n-(;.-. a lirtle fa5ter than Calcutta. the percentage mcrease ) ~H 1 + 7,3137 + 39.88 in population being 27.59 and 16.41 r~spectiveJy 1D 3;;,.j.j3 ]37.60 1951·61 and 1961-71. As In cas~ of the overall tH .3!J 1 + + position of the SUA the somewhat rapid growth of 1\hH + !9,8\I3 + 81.2; the ci ty in 195 1-61 was largely due to the gro wth of the engineering industry and in·mi8ration since the 1~17 I 17-1,342 + fi3,O.;S + 56.00 mid-fifties. But the accelerating force spent itself in Kama "bali lUOI 1 :},:!IG the late sixties and the net result was a considerable lS,O}:,) slowing down of the growth rate of the population 1911 + 4,7!)l) + 36.31 during 1961-71. I!):!l 23,1)18 + ;;.003 + 27.77

In the other cities of the SU A the growth of 1~131 + i,3W -I- 31.78 0 population has varied between I 1.47 / 0 (in Seram· 1\)41 + 12,211 + 4O.21J pore) and 57.920/0 (in Panihatil in 1961-71. The ,rowth rate was, again, ('on!iderably higher in these H1:a 7-;.~,jl + 34,700 + 81.57 urban units too in the preceding decade. Bulk of 1061 I 25,4.j7 + 48,20G + 62.4-0 the increase in population in the metropolitan area in 11)7\ + sri.OS J95 1-61 had, in factt occurred in the metropolitan eore which comtKises, besides Calcutta and Howrah, Panihati lUOl the cities of South Suburban, South Dum Dum, North - - 11,118 60 Dum Dum, Kamarhati, Panihati. Baranagar etc. The HUl statement below will show that the growtb rates had )921 10,161 9;)7 - 8.61 been quite impressive in many of these units during 11,699 + 1,538 + 1ll,Ut the decade 1951-61 but slowed down appieciably 1931 durina the last decado (oUowin, the aenera! trend in 19,&,1 27,4:10 + 10,711 + 184.29 all of the SUA. WI)} 40,514 + 22.104 + 80." 1f)61 93,74,9 + ".235 + 89.1' 1971 148,046 + M,291 + 1'7.91 III

j 2 , 3 4 s J 2 3 4 ---.. --. 8aradaaar lool !!u,432-- 1901

Ifill 1901 4!'i,403 1021 3:!.OS-l + 0,189 + 23.110 1971 61,i4S + 1(\,21'[1 + 3jU~2 In31 37,n,iO + 4,M6 + 15,48 Dum Dum 1901· 1041 Hill- 19:; l 77,I:!H + 2:.!,G7,. + 41,1)4 1921- )Q()) 107,8:17 + ~tO,711 + 3!I.B2 1\131 li.3;,O

J071 13r.,8J2 11141 + 2.27~ + 4:!,47

Barrackpur 1001 10M 14,(lO:! '+ 6,380 + 83.7 L 1ml ~7,nO,i + 8,2Hk + 4:.!.HS 1{In 1 + 6,03!l

H)~l 22,4CO (-) 5,14:' (-) l~.tq 1971 ~I,:I()3 + 1 J ,322 J 1I',i , 1 " I" " 't 4 <~ (-) 1\,0'7 (-) :;:-,.!-i~ ] tl4) -)n 1! fij-21 r: l 0' [l'm .... n~ rort of ~orth Dum Dum 21,773 + 7,S(lC) + GI.Oj munidpality. 11':31

1%1 + 4!1.",S \Ve m~ y fC'W ba\( a lc( k at tl e distribu1iun of 1Hil, tl:e \\ (.}'k r(lfuJation in the difTClcnt indu!ltrial (ate­ {)n,88!J + 3:1, III + ;'1 J.:! {cries ud sectcIs of the f(Or.(rny of the SllA l'orth Dum Dllm If01 AClording to the last ((t~SllS the SUA had 2.fO mill. 1 IlIl S,f'6.-, (-) l,Ooil (-) H'.el ion workers in 1971 again~t 2.38 million in ] 961-. 1 he s]·,~res of tr.~ urban Cf mponttt \\ere 2.39 million Hl:.:!) -) ... ,')') ~,22·1 (-) f,4] ( ~ ._.1 llJ1d 2.20 miIJifn Ttspccti\ely in the t\\O ytars. While tie lllsolu1f un-Jer cf \'olhrs isthus fcund to have im reased by .22 mmjen in aU {'f the SUA and by.19 J2,).-.fi + li,lfl2 rnil!icn in itl>: tllan c.cn.p< T.eflt the rartilipation rate~ i.e d tl.e ratio cf \\ ('I1fIs to tl e total popul~tjon, 1%[ 38,1.tO + :.!."i,»~4 dcdircd in tt:e ~U A as a \' h(.lle llT.d also in its tuban 10il as well as lural c('mpe1ncnts duriTIS the 1ast decade. The statfrr(nt telo", ~h(j\\S that the faB in te rate North Barrackpur }!lO] l!:!,(;(If) has been e,f aID ost tl1f same order in tl e two lUll r: ( " ll,bli (-) 7.i!l ( __ ) ,1 •• J,'l components, 1$.121 Participation rate In Cailulfa Sl'A, 19M It 1971

1f)·U 1961 1971 1951 + 10,31 SUA 3(;.00 31.39 Hill + 7H.18 Urban compuncnt 28.40 24.72 19iJ + 3~.C7 'Rural cn1'lwnent 36.88 32.16 Dansbtria '101\} fl, J7:.t " , :1 '. ";}I I ~)' I, " : The d{"clire in the participation r,te Wal in ,J~'p , (IS {"":") (~.l. F(l;~ ,.(.... ) ~,04 tefping "ith tt.e ,eaeral trend, in die ·state and we.~ , ~" J.(J2-l t,~!! +:.. !'i4 dut. partly, to changt8 in U,e ,definition ora «\\'Ofker + ~A!l " ': ' in 1"e 1971 (tl1st$"and pertly,."nd to a larser cltent, 14,2;~;!. :;;+ to t'he ·retes!j('n·m·~ t~e econclnY and CCJlscquent fan ~ . ,.j,~: "'194J ~,' .2a;1!J II'· .' 0+: in the jJ1du~tda) 'c~plo~ ment jn the .tate ita general an j in the C:llcutta .rnetropJlitan area in plrticular neering~ located almost entirely in and around Cal· ;" the late sixties. Looking at the sectoral distri "u­ cutta were, and are still, the two leading industries in· ti m of workers it i-; seen that, as in 1961, th: the industriJl structure of the state. The number of tertiary sector W.lS the largest employer in the SUA worker employed in jute mlnufacturing reached the in 1971 also, the share in the total working for~e peak or 347,000 in 19JO-31 in undivided Bengal. being 53.81% and 56.51% respectively for the SUA The figures stood at as many as 315,000 in 1948-49. and its urban component. The secondary sector In the wake of plrtition of the province jute ceased a,:~ounted for 41.57% of the workers in the urban to prosper in the state a 1d the number of workers in cnmponent and 40.94% in all of SUA. the industry was falling steadily which reachej the low figure of 202 0'10 in )961. There was a shIrp A com::,~rison with the 1961 pJsition reveals that re~overy thereafter due t,) the general up-surge in the there was a marginal fall in the proportion of workers economy and in 1965, the peak year of industrial­ in the secondary sector in the urban component ic;ation in the state, the employment shot up to during the la.st decade a~ it came down from 4l.67% 259.01'). This was followed by a steady decline, the in 1961 to 41.57% in 1971. In the rural comp.:>­ employment figures falling below 200,000 in 1971. ne:lt, however, the decline was a liltle more marked, The reuons behind the decline of this prC!mier indu'i­ the proportion having g.:loe down by 4 83 % per cent try of Calcutta and ea,tern ,India like increasing com­ fH·ints during the decade from 38.76~1u in 1961 to petition from Eastern Pakiitan now Ranglade hand ~.":. 93% in 1971. There was a marginal decline of also frl>m synthetic substitutes, difficulties in procure­ I .01 per cent points in the tertiary sector als J in the ment of raw jute, bdlJ'itrial disputes and the climate urban component during the same period. In the of instability etc are too w.!11 known to be dis;usied fllral units on the other hand, the decline in the share at length. The fact i" that by 1959 jute yielded its 0:' the tertiary sector was a little more at 2 93 p~r cent place of pride as the leading industrial employer to p,)ints. It is evident tbat the secondary and tertiary the other major industr." namely, engineering. From sectors which are taken to be the attributes of urb1n 2 21,000 worker) in all registered engineering fac ories ar.!as declined relatively while the primary sector pros­ in 1959 the employment in engineering reached the r~red both in the rural and the urban component recor'! figure of 324,0)0 in the peak year 1'165 which . during the decade. worked out to about 40~fo of employment in all ma'lufacturing industries of the state. During the The relative decline of the secondary sector may post-1965 rc!Cession also engineering mOr¢ or less be explained by the slump of the late sixties as elabo" mlintained its share in t'le declining total of factory rated in the following puagraphs The decline of workers as jute wa~ affected even more severely. t he tertiary sector i~ also attributed to the prolonged Employment in aU registered factories in West Bengal re.;ession in the economy and w"s accentuated by the was going down steadily. It came down to 791,000 d~cline of the Calcutta port and the shrinkage of only in 1969 against 880,000 in 1965. As many foreign trade through the port. Even then the bena­ as 700 units mainly in the engineering industry and vi lur of tertia~y sector raises some questions bearing including a number of jute mills all located in Howrah on the conceptual intricacies of the process of urbani­ and other urban centres of the Calcutta SUA closed sation as will be elaborated tater. down. Even .fler a'l this decline and inspite of the recent growlh of other centers of industrialisation at The years 1959 to 1965 saw the most rapid indus­ some distance away from the city Calclltta still con­ tr;J.l developm~nt in West B~ngatt the peak being tioued to be the major suppliers of engineering goods relChed in 1965. The started a recession which could uDtill the closed of the decade. be tide over, only partially, in the year 1972. With the heavy conocattation of the industrial activity or The dominatlce of the two industries jute and th~ state in tbe Calcutta m~tropolitan ar.:a-as mJcb engineering. in the indusuial sphere and of export a" 82% oC re,liitOre:l factor, employ meat of tbe state of tea and jute manuractures in the commercial bas w ~s eoafiried to the area in 1%6~thc SUA Ploticed made for a structural imbalance and basic weakness In )it by the boom up to 1965 and, in' tllr~ alJO of the metropolitan economy whick remained concea­ su.rerect the moit aDd. tho lonpst thoroafter COt the led behind the external facade of development. TIle remaining year. or tho decade boca_ of t. ft.­ pliaht of the jato manufactutel is wellk DOWn. Enli­ SiJD. As it ...etl-kttoft' jute IJlsouf'act ... ~d 'eali- .-rilll hu also been structwalll vulnerable all aJooa , 133 being(ar,~iy J:?eni'ertt olo:,d~n fr:'>n th: rJilwiy.i The terthry se~tOr or Calcutta which' com,risei' ,anJ alsd b:inl c,nn!.;t!j wit\ jute, M.)c.!over, sO:;;ia~iged ~ervice~ like blnldl1g altd finau::e a1d Ib~ause orthe ext'!rnal signs of d:velop.nent W~;t e.tport aDd f'l1,ort tra1e. apa.;-t fro:1l tradin~ and Beog''¥ and talc~t1a were denied their due ~hJ.r~ of cOnlmer~', administration and otb:t service",. ii ,the developmental cxp:nditure in th! p;1bli;: ai' I well chuacte.rised by a very big informal sector which as the private sector. absorbs about 40% of th~ Urbl1\ wlrking population.

B:cl.US! Ilf th: ede(lu.I sig H Jf d;/.!lc>? n ent We: In !pite of all the m lIaise whi.::h hilS plagued it large propJrtion of industries itl th.e stlte (1l)ated rllr the severa{ d'!~ld!~ pHt Cltcuua's importattcls for all ln1ia a1i for the e \stem r !gion in plrtictllar m')sdy in. the:~Cal.;;utta m:cropJlitan district) and the or large volume of exports tllrOJglt the Calcutta, . pJrt. as ih: m'1jor Urbl'1 c~ntre or a Vl~t . will continuo West B.engal was con)ider,ed as a'1 induitrially developed a~ b!fore. (t' i;; a signi i:lllt p:cJHarity or t!n state. The Ihlicy of regional development atlJ location of the city thlt C l1cutta hld, until recently no other mij)r urb In centr! in the vicinity with any priority for "ba;kw.lrJ stat:s" tberef~te, dOilie:i W:Jt silea'lle employrn!nt opportunities. Other p:>uible Bengal (and CalcuttF!-) as alsJ til: el;ter~ sta.te., of th:ir du: s:lare of th' d!velpprn!ota.l eJJrts and growth points have ,,0 doubt. emerged or late at Bokaro. R1nchi and Januelpur in Bihar, Rlurketla expenditure undertaken in tho! fifties and sidle; in th~ an i Pd.radip in Orissa a1d at AHnsol-[)urgapur in public a.nd private sectors. rh~ beoelts of the loeational advantage because or proximity to the cOoll West 8 :ogal. I t is yet to be seen h 1W far they can a-:t ac; counter-m 19net, to flJtur" migration anJ 1) and irJn belt wu~ also denied to W~jt B:ngll and Calcutta. The over-all elfc:ct on tb: economy of the wn.\t extent th.ey tln counter the overwhelinlol aUra ~tiol1 C:tlcutta Within th ~ ea'ltern region. A, ~tate and the m.}tropJlis hlli b~~n thlt eve,l dlring or the early six.ticl, the p.ak YC:US of intutrial d!v:lo?­ atrea1y pJinted oat, the short-fall in the anticipated d!~lh growth of population in the Calcutta CMD ment in W~~t B!ngll, th!re wa4 UJ attem?t to c~tre:t be attritute.1 plrtly to slo",in~ d)Wl im nig­ the ba~ic structural irnJllan;;e of th: m;tro;Jllitan mty or C()Heq'J!1t tit: CJntrlction economy. The relative growth of industrial proju.c­ ntio1 01 ~r ern;>loym~:1t o )lnrtunities in th ~ mid six:tiei. It fU1Y, h ')wever. tion in the st~te and th: rn~trop~litan area h.d all) been pitiably low com '.ned to t:1: w:1Jle of (ndil as b: "restirn:d th It. as in the P11Jt, an, e.yorh to r~duce will be evident from the follOWing statem,nt :- ullern )loyrn.mt in the cllcuU£ m!trop)litan area will lead to an increase of the in·t1ow or th' people frOfD tbe rural areas of the state and al.) from outside Index or industrial production We"t Bongal. so long as th~ 'push- factor or miJl"" West Beagalaad India (1964 to 1971) is not eliminated from th.e rural scene. The SPlItt ill construction activity in the private and tbe ,phiit' 1964 1965 1965 1957 196~ 1961 197a [971 sector since about 1971 in the city has already pUlhod India 108.6 118.6 117.1 116.7124.Q 133.0 143.6 151.9 up the level of net inmigration and if the trend continued tho level will be going up further. CoDS­ West B~Qgal 106.6 112.8 10t8 lOll tOt4 9).3 94.3 95.6 ttuction activity along may not of course pUlh up to., (Base -- 1", - 100) level or inmigrant. for any considerable period as the construction work.rs arc mostly coatra:~ labourers It will b" se.:n t~lat th" p )It-196$ slllmp lasted "imported" rrom outJide the metropolis for speci8c for ollly a ~",ple (If lears (1966 ~nd 1967' far alJ jobs. This is an important aspect of the labopr of India and ovon ,in' these yoars tho ,eDoral ind:, or ~ lrtet iD tbe metropolitan arca wbiob will hive. pr04uction fo,r India wa~ h,i,her thstl the highest 'bearlol on t"e ,rowth or tile J8.etropolitao P')pulatiOll levil ever attlin.ed by W~st S,ngal. But in case or in tile 10DI ru. W'* B~ll&a.l and GlJ':U,t1. dcp:lld~nt at they were on ~Xrport~eD," jQtc;. t~ alt4 eaaiQ.oociog. the rccessiotl r.o r. of .,:awth of the motropoli,taD. diltriet u., J~sted thro'4P th, "'mli.iq 1carl or tho de;:.a,,~ eot b- partioolarly hiP, It was actu.ally below t~ ~Il 1'69.,t~e lade' caaU clow~ ~.w tho ~sWJ YOar~$ lo~Cit projection of tbe C.M.P.O. dun., 19'1-71~ ,04 WeDt Ciqn .~ u.a~ 1972 wbeD tIio sips or Tbo "...,.. 01 tb.e eC()aoDl~ hat boe~ .~ ... ..a, . • sUIh* ...., ~ be Ii~. •..... hllllllocl u4 huassed by .,beI recctSi.oaa or , ", .' 'I 134 tile late ,uUes, the in dustriaJ and urban infrastructure city. Tt,e ~aJf.e trcrd is exptc1(d to r(r~ist, for baa deteriorated, ther e is se\,HC eeficiency even in the tb:rt if, as abel dy ~tat(d, 10 Hope fer [tnY futtber .sic civic services in Calcutta dty, in lIowrah sed opfJlsion "i111·n the pJtHr.t cit)' lin its. 1f.e frin£e in many other urban arc as \\ itbin the metropolitan (f 11e D1(tlofolitln «re ard ott.er Hmi-urtan areas, area, there is severe cODltStion and stifling 0' er­ urcda))) CD tie tHt "l:nk of tbe Hooghly, are also­ crowdina in the city and stJrounding arens ,]so. 11le li~ ely tot e ircJ( asi!' lly \lrbatised. AT d, theD, c10f e­ port, one of the mainsta) ~ of He CCCI!( D'I), is D"ori· to t} e rnthuD Hmits (f tile city, the f>.tenshe Salt bund there is mounting open utfmplo)Jr.cnt aTd It l;e City with its 'Yen-laid Ttfic'cntiaJ aTd (cmmcrcial, .aste of human resources· All thjs is a blad( pictUl e c(mpJt~: pumises t(l rro\ice tte )eng-,,,aited relief inceed and the city seemed doomed for 0((11)' and to the (jld city of Calcutta aTd mi!U (JN~r!e in the ruin. But there is, of Jate, a t (Ireful '''BaneU of (crrliJ'1g )ears as a brjIhtef rart ('f t1:e metropolis the need to presene the premier uIban centre and AsaMo) Standard Urban Area efforts are ,oing on to rcsu~dtate and re, italise the Asamol 5UA is at one end of tl)e Asamol­ econr my of Calcutta. An ambitions pIo,nmme cf DUJgapur industJ ia] telt which is tbe most importan' dC'tlol-mfflt and renc\' al cf the UJ bllD infrastructure aera of grolJith in \Vest EengaJ, besices Calcutta. !ias cun ur dcrtakcn by tt e Calcutta Metropolitan located in Ue heart of the cOBI-mining areas of the pIT Devel( ent Authcrit) ~l d otter agencies for sc me state 1t is (onnecled w]th Calcutta a:td other parts tin e rait. Massive investrr:ellts for r:cw jndu~trja 1 of the country by National Higb\\ays (No.2) and units in the n ctrorolita n area and also in the gro\\ th doublc-trvck railway Jines. The SUA e:xtends over ceT,bes ot Hal~ja, KaJ)ar.i, Durrarur, A~ansol ard 30].921m2 in area atd cCD1prises 10 url:-an units Kr.!lI8~pUr ftC. He hiD!! made to i-ring abeut a and 123 tura] n'aUZ8S. Two of the urban units, baJ~Jl(cd eCOf-emir grcwlh \\ith the required t)re ar.d D81I'eJy, A~ar.sd ar.d RSl1il?arj Dre municiral towns. (f jndu~tries throu~hc,ut tt.e ~1ate. 1hese are mix 1he d!,bt otteJs are ncn·m\JIJid~al tCWIJS. Besides .cxpectcd to rtlie~e the po nne cn the D'ftropoJis aJ d the collieties tle m41in industJ its located in the SUA help it tide over the uitic"l rc:riod. EverytIJip8 may are jwn sr.d steel (Eurf,pllr, Kultj, A&anso1), (hemi­ net, howe~er, ,80 on as smoothly as could be desired, cab, bicyc1es and other engineering good:;, ndning major (COf.< for any expansion of mic activity in and a~ricultural equipment, fire bridc:\, paper etc. Calcutta will ine,,jtably increase t) e cf the littraction A~ ansol is the admir.istr ative beadquartus of th~ city for the surplu~ rural JabOllf aTld sueler ate sub-divisicn and the civisional leadquuTter of the immi~ratjon re~uHin!! in fT(atu iTlCleaSe in the lIlb n ra~t(Jn R'l1i]\\ay. Jt is aI~o an impcrtant centre for Jabour fcree and adding to the {xistiJig rriH'lies ar.d trade and ccrr.n'trce ft.r the entire industrial and nin­ difficulties of the city. ing belt. . Calcutta is in a \\ay fortunate that the rate of its The suA had a total l'cpulation of 593,215 in irowth since 1951 has not teen as fast as in the otller 1971 of which n.e urban components 8cc('unted for million pros cities like Bombay, Delhi, Madras etc, 361, H 8. 1 he rural components which spread 0\ er which grew at an annual rate of bet\\ een 3.3 8fld 4.4 S polke stations had a population of 232,047. Th~ per cent. Things w('uld ba, e beel} "orse indeed had population increased by 24 % for the SUA as a the growth rate of (akutta been Dcater to that of \'thole. 1 he urban rOD"ponents have, unlike most Delhi or Madras. Even at the prestnt leVels of other SUA's, recorded a higt.er gro\\th of 34.10% urbanisation the population of the Ca]cutta metropo­ against 1] .34% of the rural components during the litan district w(utd, according to C.M.P.O, estimates, Jast cecade. Asansol, the ttntraJ town itself record­ , 1'0 up to about 12 million by J 986. As the Bflsic ed an impressive growth :of'SOCYo ouring'tile 1961-71 Development Plan of the C.M P,O. indicated, the as against ··3S~/~) itt the preceding' decade. ' anticipated • population \\ould be located in tbe . Participation rate (27.041 b8rs not been parti .. metropolitan centre which comprises Ca'lcutta city and cuI~rly hi£h in the urban co&;poncnt' Of tli;e s:vk, the cODtiguous areas of Baranagore, Ksmarhatj, Dum The secoTldary; sector does: hOWever, claim il' high Dum, Jadavput, 'Behala .. and· Garden .. Reath' and p~~portio~ pf 4 2 "6~ % 'of the ~o"i~I Wor~err ': '1,"1~ tbe ·K~lyanj-B8nsl beria centre itlc1udm'~' B.nde}, t~~fiary, s~~fo~ ,has' also ,_town I.!rl ,ke, ~ts, '~1~~fe' "i'~ l<,anchrap,aM, and Haringhata etc. The 8r~wtli' (furiri. : ]let '\\\'0 "decades .. smce '1951 within ibe Ittt1¥opctitan ,~~ ~~tkJ~' fo~c~ Qei~a' rO~~;~. ~;~, ~.'~ ~e.~,: r~i~l ~~~~. J)onents have also s~ ,~~IJ~~(~~nal district lJas:'mOstly been)'in areas (l'Ufside me ieaJCUlra structure in favour of dt'he "·seoondarf anel' teltial'Y' , acctors. 13S'

" , The SUA is ~ndl')Ned with a Io:ational advantage no'tified area and has since beeome .. class I city with a which is unique ii\ the state. It is at n fortunate p)putation of over two la;~ in 1971. The 'city is enough to have Il! .fai~ly develop~d j~rrJstru:tuN 4'l,j 185 Ie n. away frJ n CalctJttll arJd is connected with Jus a tremend)u~ Pt)teBdill fIJr grJ 11th. It is exten j­ it by Ea.t~r:n RaiINay tru,Ic fine a~ well as National ing east-west along' the £a~ter!l R :~ilway and along Highway 2• .the N ltiolUl Hig:1 Nay tJ HI: norttl. Th! D.1:nJdar river is a p!1ysicat corutraint to its gl"JNth to t'le With its steel ptant, fertiliser factory, mining and south and fle river Bar4kar to the west. alJied machinery p'ants, coke oven plant, chemicals, power generating units and a Dum ber of engineerinl B:ardwan Standard Urban Area units etc. Durgapur bas establh.bed itself as an important urban centre in the state beyond the Cal­ Burdwan SUA is comi)rised or B:.ard .vela city ali cutta metrop~litan area. A new administrative sub­ the only urban component ald th: core town and l4 diviiion ha~ been carved out for Dl1r~aput industrial villages or mauzas as the rurdl com;>onent BurJ~afl, region with the headquarters in the city. A regional a class I city with a pJpulation of 14J.318, h tb.e engineering college. and an engineering research headquarters of the di\trict. an impJrtant r~il way centre have also bJcn set up in the city. junction and also an important trading centre for agricultural produce 8rtd general merchandise. It is The d~velopm !nt of the city which "as sl.lpposed also emerging al\ a neW cet1tre of higher education to b=corne the Rurh of ea)teCit Irtdil bas not b~o as being the se3.t of a university. atltbipilted. Nevertheless there ha~ been a phenome­ nal growth of PJP llatiol in tne city durin& the lau During the last decade the city lll;Julation gr!w decade, the rate being as much as 400%. Tbe by 32%. The growtb w.u a'>out 44% i1 tile pr¢.:ed· poPUlatiol figure stood at 206,638 ill 1971 agaiost iog decade. The rural compDnent, which cOlD;lri!J­ 41.696 of 1961. Toe rural COmpJlents of the SUA. cs small sized mauz;as with sm 111 p()Plllatiols. recorJ~ 0'1 the otlu~r halld, witnessed a small growth of 2109 ed a higher growth-rate of ahout 39% in 1961-71. p!rsortS 011y over the 1961 figure or 9.606 persons It grew at a still hig!ler rat: of aboat 10~~ dJrinl during the St'l'le period. the decade 1951-61. The city hId a larg, tecliarf sector whi~h accounted for .19.25% of the total A~ exp:cted of a neNly emerging ioduttrial town worker~ in 1971. Tne secondary sector hl:l a ttie se:o:1dary sector or the city employed 60.26% of small share of 19,69(~~ o'lly of the w;)rker~. its workers in 1971. [n a'uolute nd. ubers, Manu .. r4ctUrin& and hOlJsebold industries a::tuallY employed The city is currently groNing within the murtici­ 35,770 oat of t"e total of 63.870 workers or the city­ pal limits. The den"ity of P >plliation hlS atrel1f T ne tertiary sector was also quite bi, claiming crossed the 6000 mlrk and stands at 6325 P!C Icm1 31,29% or th' workers. allinst4776 ill 1961. With this scale of conlestion ill the city proper the town bas to spill over to the The city has trem:ndous pi)tential for Ifowth. rural neighbourhood mainly to the ea,t alongside There is enough of space within the city limits (or the railway track and the Natioul Highway. River expansion of industrial activity for the two decades Damodar is a pbysical constraint to the growtb or up to 199 L al the total notified area extends to the city to the south. An aU-woathor brid.. aeros, 154.20 kOlI which meant a low population density or tbe river collocctillg the city with the louth'ta part 1340 oaly per km! in 1971. Proposals for seUiIlg of the district wifl oot only open up the area louth up of a motor tyro aad tube factory. pharmaceutical of the river but will also help the city graw south- aad other chDmical unit. hold, ollt prospect fot wards. further development and expanaioJl or the city.

Durpput SUA is at t~e ea;tera end or the A,allsol-Durppur iodustria'. bolt. The i.mportallt Baatara tOW4, the aillliDiJttative lleacIquanen or JI'Owtb area or the state. The core or the SUA is the district, il tho core of the SUA.. It it ••eatially D1uppur Wlaich i. a a,,,ly established town with a a M'Vico-oGca-tra40 aa4 commerce toft. It ia connoctcd with Calcutta by railway and with DQrgapur ali directions. O,er the past few )'ears Kharagpur by road. bas developed as a flourishing cenfre or trade and' comn crcc. It'llas been seJe(.ted! as one of tht atW N(itt.er tt.e ~rA rer the core to,,'D has .town at &J o"th centr~ s in the state (utside 'the Caltutta any fast race d1.lrirg 1t.e Jast two decedes. The melrcpolitan distri{t. '1 he West· Ben8al Industrial' roplllaticn cf tt.e to\\n gnw by 25S4% only durjng lnfrastructure Devel('prr ent Corporation has taken in the JaU deuce. 1 he E1C\\lh v.as marginally faster in hand develcpment work on 300 acres of land for- 1951· 61 ~dl1B at-cut 27% ,only. The Iural (cmpo­ , aCCl mmodating new industrial units in the industrial r.ent Brew (\Cn s]c"u ~uJing the last deca(!e. The estate near Kharagpur. Civil consttuction for the­ ff(\\th rate was 21.7~% only which is close to the West Bengal Scooters Limited, a joint sector project J'latural growth of population. for manufacture of scooters, has already started. 1 be scooter project and a maleic anhydride project The sectorwise distrilution of workers shows that and engineering and other units of production to be the tov. n had a sizeable proportion of workers ~d up jn the industrial t~tate wilJ D1ake fer t~e % (28.88 ) in the secondary sector which consisted of expansion of the city in the next decade. servicing and repairing workshors, units for bell-metal wan s, rice min hiri making and handloom tt'xtiles A look at the grow1h rates of the last two decades, units. lhe tertiary sector was tr.uch bjiger employing however shows that Kharagpur cilY has not grown at (,3.6(% of the workers of 1he tOl\'n. lhe rural any fast pace during the last decade 1961-71 or the component of tre StJ A also had a sizeable working dtcade preceding. The population gr" w at J 3.59~;;) fcree in the tertiary s(ctor accounting for about 370/0 and 9.51% respecti'\·e)y durirg 1951-61 and 1961-71. or tl~e total workers. The rural components of the SUA added as mucn as, 83.66 o/~ to its popuJatlc,n in 195 )·61 but the growth Eeil1g lcc~t(d in tte (entre ef a predcmil1antly rate in t~e rural units, tl o. came down to 13 .52~'o 'ssrkultural area \\ hich is econcmically one of 11".e only in ,he last decade. The city had 77.82% of n ost backward in the state, the 10v,n seems to have its workers in the tertiary sector while only 15.60~~ litt]e rrospect for fTowil1g into aD important url'an of the wOlking force \vcre engaged in the secondary ('entre unless there is any deJil-erate drdsion for sec10r in 1971. TJ ansf ort, storage and communi­ ](lcaticn of some industrial units in a planned manner. cations alone prOVided emplo)ment to 20,487 persons A IT odern rice mill carre up recently In the coope­ (r &bout 500/0 ofUe working force in the dty. rative sector at son-c' distan: ~. • : derives its importance mainly from its status 85 the : ~'bar~gp1)r city which includes KbaraWltr munici­ ;'Stalt 'of the distrkt administration. Being, tpe he~d­ pality, K~aragpur ncm.municiI'aJ town, JndianJnstitute ,- q'HrtMS t1f lh~ biggest district in -Welt! ,B,eopl it CJt Technology area and Kharagpur raHway~ttlement dev~J~1'td as a Sf' vice town ,and has also ,AQu.rishtd ,is 'th~ '~o~e or the SUA. t is tln important junction : as a centre of trade and commerce. 'of the S'Obth ":Eastern Railways' 130, km away:from Calcutta. ,~, A dh isional headquarters' 'of th~, SOU1h lhe SUA had a population of 81,201 inJ971 Eastern Railway, it has a sprawling railway settle­ whkh was 21 % ~b9.~~ ,;' t~~,l9:6 J,<~,~~ulatj?:~., ,}~~le ment around which tlfe' P~~t f dtY '..... e, iUp. urban compontnt I.e., Mldnapore town regWttt~a a A modem railway yard also Was developed recently. ~ Ir~l~th of l~~.~ 1~ Qver l~6lj wpij~, th~ ~ur~:l ~mpo­ , he' city is' aho an important :ter~inal poiJl~, for 1 he DCIlt. ~"icll (comPriseq e1e~en rilral 'trla}l~~ had a '" rOad~ transpo,t system 11 the «&ion, w'it,h i)UCDC!J,oUS .. la~J! gt9tr~l,o(~~.~~~~JdU(~p'g., J~~, d~ta~~:~1:~c bt$ roultS COIlvergitlig, in or radiating, Il'ODl ,'h~,~ity;;in :, ~~tor~l.4i~tp~~~ ~~~ qf ~,9~~.~rs, ~I~t~~t~ ,~~ !:U¥i?- J37 tional status of the town in as much as threefourths growth has been only nominal and is likely to feI1.ain or 7St34~/~ of the working force are foutJd engaged so in the foreseable future. in the tertiary sector jn the town. The rural compo­ nent on the other hand levtals borne dIversity of Purulia has ceen a purely agricultural and econo­ occupation as 33.90~~ of the workers are found in mically the most backward disfrict in t~e state. the tertialY sector and 27.()9% in the sHotJdary Barring some servicing and repairing shops and biri sector which compris~s a sizeable pro duction of making units the tewn has nothing of note in the handloom textiles. secondary sector. New growth centres which are coming up in the district. name1y, Santhaldih and Neturia· The proximity of the town to the up-and-coming Ramkanali are both away from the district town. t growth eeJ1 re at Kharappur i~ OIle factor which is Unless conscious afforts are made PUruHa seems to likely to have SO{Tle effect on the future pattern of have little prospect for any spect acular growth and is development of M idnapore. The proposed setting likely to remajn as a centre for trade and commerce up of the regional ~econdary education board and a as ,It present and continue to derive its importance universifY for the westl'rn districts at Midnapore may mainly as the seat of administration. also give a new dil eetion to the gIowth of tl ... e town.

PuruUa Standard lTrban Ana Rural Population

Puruiia municipal town is the core of the SUA. As already indicated, 74.25%., or three·fourths of It is the hea.dquarters station of the district adminis­ the population of the state reside in the rural areas tration and is connected by the South Eastern and only 25.75% or one-fourth live in the towns. Of Railway and a state highway with Calcutta to the the tota] population of 44,312,0] 1 of the state 33,344,978 are rural, living in 41,392 mauzas or east and with Jamsedpur to the west. Functionally f it is a service town, 70 41 o/~) of the working force villages. 38,074 nf these villages are inhabited and the being employed in the tertiary sector. During the remaining 3318 uninhabited. Jast decade the population of the SU A as a whole went up by 17°(1' The urban component i e. Purulia The distribution of the Iural population and the town recorded an increase of 19.89% only. The vi1lages among the districts is given statement IV.31.

STATEMENT IV.31

Distribution of ,illages and rural population in districts-1971

State/District Total number Number of Nurnbt:r of Total rural Proportion of villages inhabited uninhabited population of rural villages villages population in district

<) :~ 4

WEST BENGAL 41 ,3~S 3~()'i..j 3~~, 1S 33,344,HiS 100 Darjeeling ,iUO 1.. 07 !-i:l 60 I ,50;; UW Jalpaiguri 75-1 ';H 10 l,.GS2,07H 4.7+ Cooch Bchar l,II)';' !, 14-! ~:I l,317,5:H 3. H."') ] I):! West Dinajpur 3,:~Ii:. j.l i:; 1,6811.197 i'i. JO MaIda 1,70 t l,n J I l~:~ 1,;).14,(131 4,tia Murshidabad 2,226 ] , !,(I:~ :IU~I 2,6UI,i7!J R.07 Nadia 1,!18:1 1 ,:.!7;' ]Os 1,812,211 GA:l 24 Parganas 3, !-; 7.-, ;j, 7~12 sa fi,4 79 ,HI::! 10.43 Howrah 7tW iii (I 1,403,7lit; 4.21 Calcutta Hooghly 1,H% 1H:~ :33 2,1 ll,R40 0.33 Burdwan 2,7~x :!, !ion lJ II 3,024,18.{ 0.06 Birbhul11 ~,472 2,2:J:' 237 1,651,1:n 4.\1.; Bankura 3,826 3,.)4S 27S 1,879, 304 5,63 Midnapore Il,HOD 10,380 I,42!l 5,OSH,091 ll'i.26 Purulia 2.f\~7 2.4/W 228 1.470JIOS 4.41 138

Midnapur, the second largest district in terms tricts and accounts for 16.43% of the total rural popu .. of area as well as total population, has the largest lati n of the state. Midnapur, a predominantly rural number of villages (11.809) and Jalpaiguri, which is distri~ts, is a close second with ] 5.26~~ of the rural ah:l an extensive district, the least numo~r of vill.ig:!s population of West Bengal within its territories. Dar­ (754). Hl)wrah, the smallest district in the state in jeeJing the district with the smallest total population, area, has 780 villag!s It is interesting to obs~rve is at the bottom of the Jist with just 1. S ~/o of the that tie largest di;trict, 24 Parganas~ has about one states total rural population. third the number of village.; in Midnapllr, the second largest district This is due, in part, to the exten;;ive. Villages by population ranges ioeest areelS in the sou hern extremity of 24 Parglnas and also tJ the fact that t he habitations in the Union Table A -Ill (Part II _-_ A General Popu- district of Midnapur are w,del), di')persed and, as will 1iltion Tables, West Bengal) has classified the villages be se~n stu)rdy, th! villages are mJstl" small in area. by ~ize of pot'ulation. The following statement gives and size of population. In term~ of the numbers of t he distribution of t he inhabited viJIages by popu­ the rural people, however, 24 Parganas lead the di,- btion ranges in the state and Its districts.

STATEMENT 1\'.32

Distribution of "illages by size of population-state and districts

Total of Number of inhabited villages in each size class

~latelDistrict inhabited villages Less than 200 ~OO-499 500-999 1000-1999 2000-4999 5000-9999 10000 & abl)v e

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

WEST BENGAL 38,074 7,604 10.957 9,Od5 6,622 3,342 412 52

Darjeeling 507 74 125 J 18 112 62 14 "I

lalpaiguri 744 23 45 114 302 217 33 10

Cooch Behar 1,144 178 260 281 256 143 22 4

West Dinajpur 3,175 789 1,238 749 318 76 3

MaIda 1,611 298 489 356 273 165 27 3 Murshldabad 1,923 220 379 476 459 304 75 10 Nadia Dist 1,275 100 212 331 349 294 29 5 Twentyfour Parganas 3,792 146 596 1.036 1,196 723 86 9 rHowrah 771 16 54 165 270 241 23 2 Calcutta HooghJy 1,903 122 451 612 458 231 28

Burdwan 2,609 176 601 743 707 343 35 4

Birbhum 2,235 372 7J3 662 367 107 11 2

Ban~ ura 3.548 860 1.346 910 337 93 2 Midnaporc 10,380 3.724 3,553 1,872 895 316 20

PUTulia 2,459 S06 895 660 322 72 4 139

It is significant that, inspite of the very high inhabited villages. A total of 72.61 o/~ of the density of population in the state, as many as 7,604 viUages are, therefore, found to have populations of or a fifrh of the total number of its viUages have a less than a thousand each. This only highlights the !'opu)ation of less than 200 (aeh. 10,957 (or importance of the smal1sized villages in the rural I ire 28.78(%) more have population of he tween 200 and of the state. The statement which follows gi ves 499 each. Tha tis, 48.75 ~~ or about half the the proportion of villages by size class in each district inhabited vilJages are small in size with a population and also the proportion of the rural population in of less than 500 each. The sJjghtly bigger size ea('h class of villages. villages (500 to 999) constitute only 23.86 (;0 of the 140

Xl 1- ,~ ~ rrJ rrJ ~ Xl I.~ ~ .::,; _. -ti -

,,,,, II'!) ::5, ......

-< ..... C~ ~ , .....7J -'

=" 1- -, ':'1 '~ , I I I ,.., o. :~ ~: ~: 0\1 _. ~r _.... .- ~I '=,- ~ I i~ (6 :! :5 1':'1 ...... '--~l -t' ':'1 =~ 1-

'": -...... e. :.' c -,-...... ':',-:-1

',_ ~f, ,.,... -: I- '. C""':' .I""'i

1- :~~ C"":' t- ~'I M ~I

."" ':) '_ZJ -" ,'; ~ ':'1

/) ~ 1 .~ ,-,-. ,~ ..... t- 1-

-J) 1- 1- ,-~ t - el

'f, I' -:-1 M '. 1- M ':'1

1- ""f' ..... ,"'; - z· z , ..,.. 1- '- or, -to 1- 1':'1 ..... c _0 r~ §: E, ..5 ,-, ;:,. 8, 8, i:--;~.- o o ,-, ...... c' :;1- o=­ C> o o :. ,=.; CX:5_ _' ...... o t:l. o ~, e., c' g c' '_' ,,::;' 8..... ,~ ':, 0 ... .-~... e,'" Q)

! , . eI)"; ,~ - . ~ tC tI'.l "'#' = ------141

All already stated. a,out three-fourths of the range have varied frorn district to district somo total number of villages are with a p:>?ulation of rern lrk:able fClturei will ah~ b~ evid.:nt Crom tbe below 1000 each. On the other h.lnd, th,r~ are ai statement. many as 52 villagci which. have el.ch a pJpulation (1) The average size of villa~e$ (in term! of popu· of 10,000 or more. Thc number is just 0.14 % of tile lation) in MidnaPJre and W ~st Dinajpllr is quite small total villages. But amongit them these 5 2 village~ As ma:;:h as 88.15% ani 87.50Yo of the villages accommodate a sizeable population which is 2.180/0 b!long to the pc>p:11ation rallge of bolow 1000 in the of the total populatiorl of all villages. For the state two districts rei,ectively. In th.e districts of Bankura as a whole, the distribution of the population in and Pllrulia atso. the prop.Jrtion, or such. VIllages villages according to population range is summarised are above 80 % each. below. ----- ( 2) The same f\)ur districts do not have any Population No. of Proportion Popu- Prop"rtion village in the pOT'ulation range of 10,OOO+while all range yillages ..,f lation of villages population the other districts, irrespective of their size or density --_"_. ----'-".-- of popUlation, have one or morlS villages or suah .., 3 4 5 gigantic size .

Very small- Less than 200 7.()O-1. 19.97 840,823 2.52 (3) The proportion of villages of the medium Small- 20:)-999 2J,012 51.04 10,158,974 30.46 size (population range 1000-4999) is the highest 'Medium - 1000-4999 9,964 26.17 18,961,610 56.87 in JaJpaiguri. the percentage being about 70. Only Howrah (66.28 0/ ) comes doge to this propor­ Big- 5000-9999 4[2 1.08 1.456,315 7.97 0 tion. Very big-)OOOO & above 52 0.14 7:.7.246 2.18 (4) Of all districts in the state Jalpaiguri, It is o"s~rved that the smltl <;jl~ viIlag;!s in the population range of upto 99() are numerically about Murshidabad and Darjeeling have the highest propor':' tions villages in the big villages (popu!atbn range three·fourths of the total villages but they c()ntrib~te or file pr,)portions are 4.44%, 3.90% only about a third of the total rurJ.1 popLllatio,l. But san· )9~N)' and 2.7 S%. The r;ontribution of such villages to villages of medium size (p~pulation range lOOO-4999). constituting ab,)ut a qUlrter of the total nurn:nr, the total rural pJ;,):1!ation of the districts are 13.4 7%. I 8.31 and 15.3 respectively. account for neuly three-fifths of t!1~ rur:!1 papulation. % 2~;': The contribution of the oversize villages (population 5WJO+) is also quite Sil~lblc, nei1g 10.15 % of the (5) While fl)ur of the districts, namely, Baokura, total population. Purulia, Mindnapore ani W.!st Oinajpur are without any 'very big' villages the three districts of lJ.lpaigLlri, Let U5 look at the "it lJation di.;~rictwise It will be Murshidabad and Twentyfour P;:trganas have see.n that th~ di.,tricts with fairly high dell.,ity of pJpLl­ the largest number of such villages, their shares being latlon, IH'TI!ly. H )WCa'l. H )ogh Iy, T .ventyfour Parga­ 10, 10 & 9 re')pectively out of a total or 52 in the nas, Nadia. Burdwan and Murshidabad, have smiller state as a whole. The most remukable of all is proportion of villa~es In the p\)p:.llatioa range of the fact tilat thes~ oversize villages contribute as below 200 each i.e .. vd!age, of 'verv S'll'ltI' size. The much as 11.45 % of th~ p'>fmlation of the district proportion varies between 208% (in HJwrah) and in the case of Jalpaiguri. 1 {.4"-% (in Murshidlbad). Oil the other hand, larger prop)ctiOtlS of villag!s of the lowest popUlation (6) There ii ha.rdly any cJrrelation between range are found gmeraHy in th! distri:ts with low p::>pulation rang.:: and nu rnb!r of Villa.g¢3 or the total demity and also in di)tricts in which the villaO'!!) are TlJptllation of a r~gio~. G!ner lLly speaking an wj~elY disp~rsed as in Midnl;lJre or D l~e\!ling. inv!r)e correlatio:} exigts b~tw"ell the density of ~Idnap~re ha.Ii' in fact. the highest protlortion of its p:>pulatio:l anj the nurnb~r of villages in different vll~agec; In !hls p~pulation range. the exact figure size cla~ses esp::ciaHy in tne low"r population ranges. b~lOg 35.88 Yo. While th: proportions of the numo!r of A

]n a flee ~cci(ty Here is hardly ~Dy S(Ofe to wi)} renEe into or be converted, of necessity, into, li mit the size cf a \lmarc. Ellt tte ui5terce (f an urban ccmn)unity, for the amenities, functions oversize "il1a~('s \\m tt.tvr.. J1J rahe l2riclls (ju(Sticr.s and institutions which are considered as urban will of social and (conomic impcrtance. Villages EfO\\ rave to te pro\lided or performed by the rural in sile by a historical process, the geo~raphical community itself. Diversification of the economy

conditions, ecology and. above all, the economic and occupation will follow I again of necessity, ane' factors playing their respective palt in the process. the thin line between the rural and urban will onl) A vil1a~e may grow into a giant in size, as has wait to vanish. occurred in a numbt'f of cases l'nd may rrmaine ntire­ ly or e~s(ntjall~ Jural invircr.ment, outlook and Distribution ()f filJages by size class in police stations ecenomy. But a question ()f orEanisation of the rural community, provision for and administration It may be worth\\hiIe to have a look at the pattern of 60cial overheads will crop up sooner Of later. of dbtribution of the villages of diflerent size classes Even more important \\-ill be the problem of how among the p(..lile stations as in the statement best to sustain tbe growth of the community. Jt below. wilJ then be a question of time Gnly when the rural

STATEMENT IV. :{ ....

Disrributicn of, iflaJ!es by size ()( p()puJation in police staticfts. 1971

Total No. of Unit inhabited Number of inl;ahted \ il1ages in each sii'e class villages Less than ------. ------200 200-4nH W(l-Sl!W lOOO-11JH11 2OCtfl-- 4\\I'H 5UOO-I.'!IUIJ 10,000 & abo\'e ... 1 2 3 4 [) 6 , s 9 DARJEEUt\G 507 74 12;) 113 112 62 14 2

1. Sukhiapokri t;s 6 6 4 10 4

2. Pulbazar iJ 1 1 1

3. Darjeelmg )8 [, 6 6

4. RaDgli·RaD~liot 20 1 6 3 "i 3 6. lore-Bungalow 21 2 10 7 J 6. Kalimpong 64 11 11 1': IS 16 " '1. Gal ubathan 27 3 7 6 7 3 1

8. Kurseong 38 3 5 11 13 4 1 1

9. Mirik 10 1 2 6 1

10. Naxalbari [.9 8 21 14 12 2 2

11. SHiguri 6S II) _,)')- I.) ti 3

12. Phanside\\ a R7 ]7 .....C)~ J 25 12 7 1 U. Kharit>ari 7~ 13 28 17 12 -2 STATEMENT IV. 34 -Contd.

2 3 4 s 6 7 8 9

JALPAIGURI i44 23 45 lU 302 217 33 10

1. Rajganj ~1 3 10 5 7

~. JaJpaiguri .i 6 4

3. Mal 102 7 10 4. MitiaJi 8 1.'} - 5. Maynaguri 77 1 40 17 1

O. Nagrakata :n I J 12

7. Dhubguri 4 48 ....)

R. Birl'ara 21 1 ., 8 1

n, FaJakata 31

10, Madarihat 7 10 7

11. Alipur Dllar 1 19 36

I:!. Ka1chini .. 12 ]4 10

1:1. Kumargram ,.,; 27 14

1,lH 17~ CODCH BEHAR 2:;6 4 :1\1 17 19 1.; 1. H aldibari 1 2. Mekhligan_i 140 13 5

:l. Mathabhanga l!I,) 48 1 ... .) 11 19 -to Sitalkuchi 1 !i. Cooch Behar :!..17 ,il) 71 fl.) 30 fl. Tufanganj 127 -4)<).. i. Dinhata 24G 62 :u

8. Sitai 4 17 .. I

WEST DINAJPUR 3,173 7~9 1,238 318 70 :~ 136 1. Chopra 18 11 1 2. Islampur 124 20 29 31 3. Goalpokhar 1114 26 46 27 1 4. Chakalia 190 73 - 5. K.arandighi 23R 63 R7 Ol 2 6. Raiaanj 220 75 68 41 10 I - 7. Hemtabad 113 19 46 31 16 1 ..... S. K.aliaganj 191 38 .. , 50 19 9. Kushmundi 227 6() 105 47 14 1 10. Itahar 242 40 99 00 32 .5 144

STATEMENT-IV.34-Contd.

1 2 3 4 s 6 7 8 9

WEST DINAJPU R-Coneld. I ). Banshihari 274 00 III 57 7 3

12. Gangarampllr 19S ~6 5

13. Kumarganj 211 90 1U

14. Tapan 270 71 I1S ::!o ,)"'

15. Balurghat 299 103 1 1";' 61 16. Hilti 76 H 2

MALDA l,fIll ] ti.-, 27 ,..)

], Harishchandrapllr 175 47 f)1) 1

2. Kharba 181 1-; :n 1

3. Ratua 24 211 ... - 4. Gajole 2Hli j, 11 !I -.

(;. Bamungola 140 6:) 24 \

,... .. l ... f;' Habibpur i_ 101 41 17 i

7. Maida llr) 4~ 21 7

S. Englishbuzar I I I <)~_, 2(; 24 17 15

9. Manikchak 70 3 18 21 ....I" .... 10. Kaliachak 1 HI , 17 34 :1';

MURSHIDABAD 1,!l23 371:1 471i

1. Farrakka n·t 7 2, Shamsharganj 41 (i 4 ,.. 3, Seeti i :.!o :~ <)., 4. Raghunathganj lin 1.. 6

5. Sagardighi HW 3,-, 50 13

6, Lalgola ,,-<''> 10 17 1;-; 17 1

7. Bhagabangola 108 27 24 2(; 10 6 1

8, Raninagar R7 16 11 22 19 6 1

9. MurshiJabad 75 IS 12 1., 8 10. Jiaganj 42 13 13 -.". 1 11. Nabagram 10~ JO 24 25 8 2

12, Khargram 241 43 4-1 12 I

13, Burwan 1M ';' 48 4R 40 11

H. Kandi 84 4 ]!:! 30 26 10

15, Bharatpur 130 6 27 33 39 19

16. Beldanga 114 4 '11 23 31 34 10 1 ' 145

STATEMENT ~V..34-'('tltd.

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 26 1 17. Berhampore 129 2\1 (\ 11 1.1 1 A. Harlharparn. 3 4 4 (j ]0. Nawada 2S 1)0; 20. Domkal :~ 14-

(j ,1. ::!I. Jalangi 3!l 4

:149 249 29 5 NADlA J,275 1f'0 212 331 27 1. Karimpur 130 21 36 7 7 16 30 6 ~. Tehatta 88 J9 3 3. Kalignni 105 H )6 30 21 30 4. Nakasipara 100 6 16 14 15 2 1 5. C'hapra 6 10 11 19 10 f, Krishn:l,pm 52 ., .. 34 4 1 7. Kri.;hnagar 1:!7 ..., 2 9 10 3 R. Nahadwip '27 16 16 1(; II 9. Santipur 64 5 J1 II 27 J8 1 10. Hanskhal1 77 3 47 55 2 11. Ranaghat 15 4S 30 15 2 J:!. Chakdah 131 1:! 8 .5 7 D. Kalyani 5 ..,., 14 ... , 24 I:> 14. Haringhl1ta g6 9 1.036 1,196 -".I;..) 86 TWCNTY FOCR 3.792 146 PARGANAS ..., 40 I. Bagdah 105 32 41 16 .., BongaClll 149 7 17 16 31 42 3. Gaighata 107 15 4 19 65 4. Habra 155 17 4 ]7 32 3X 5. Deganga 108 3 4 ~7 ~ 6. Rajarhat 52 29 6t 67 10 7. Barasat )7~ 6 17 21 28 8. Amdanga 79 4 3 9 9. Bijpur 21 3 S 4 10. Naihuli 14 2 6 7 11. lagatdal 17

12. No~\para )46

STATE~NT IV.34-Contd.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

TWE~TYFOUR PARGA~AS-Concld. 13. Barrackpore ., 14. Titagarh I1 2 3 4

}5. Khardah 18 2 5 7 3

16. Delghoria

17. Baranagar Ht DumDum 3 2 1

19. Garden Reach

.20. Metiabruz

11. Maheshtala 38 2 9 9 14 4 1 3 1 22, Dehala 16 3 i'>

.,~ ..J. H 5 3 23. Jadavpur _.) 2 53 27 3 24· Bhangur 143 3 19 3S 19 4 25. Sonarpur 97 4 9 28 33 .., 35 26. Bishnupur 155 15 47 55 17 5 27. Bud!Jc Budge 91 .2 7 25 35 .., :!8. Baruipur 131 J 31 35 40 20

29. Canning 119 13 )6 26 33 27 4 30. Basanti (i5 2 5 7 25 24 2 24 4 3 31. Jaynagar ] 14 7 18 25 33 19 5 32. Kultali 50 4 7 14 ., 5 1 33. Mograhat 170 26 46 59 31 14 34. Falta 132 5 20 51 41 54 19 35. Diamond Harhour 167 3 36 55 .,2 31 9 1 36. Kulpi 167 24 49 10 2 37. Mandirbazar 108 8 32 35 21 17 10 2 38. Mathurapur 121 12 27 31 22 34 2 39. Pathar Pratima 87 1 4 12 34 9 9 2S 5 40. Kakdwip 48 .... Sagore 45 3 5 12 24 41. ., 4:2. Namkhana 25 ... 6 17 17 22 1 1 43. S warupn aS~lr 66 1 9 15 19 1 4":. Baduria 94 2 J9 18 35 2 45. Basirhat 129 4 23 313 42 22 7 2 46. Haroa 97 7 24 29 28 147

STA TEMENT IV.34-CQD1d.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 ~"

TWENTYFOt::R PARAGANAS-Conctd. 47. Minakhan 63 2 l6 19 20 6

48. Hasnabtld 84 3 12 21 31 J6 1 49. Sandeshkhali 54 13 34 6

50. Hingalg:lnj 31 3 10 14 2 51. Gosaba 50 3 11 33 3 HOWRAH 771 16 54 165 270 241 23 2 1. Bally

2. Liluah 7 4 9. Domejur 48 1 3 9 D It) 3 to. Sankrail 29 3 13 9 2 1

] l. Panchla 32 2 15 j

12. Jagatballavpur 76 4 24 27 17 3

13. tJdaymmtyanplll' 75 5 23 27 18

14. Arnt2 142 5 1~ 25 57 41 2

15. Bagnan 99 3 20 34 39 2 16. Uluberb t 14 8 26 3S 36 6

17. Dauria 5

18. Shampuf 143 3 19 34 39

3 8 included in Howrah City. HOOGHLY fl<;03 451 6J2 231 28 1. Goghal 205 49 75 37 16

2. -,1 Arambagh 152 54 36 41 S 4

3. Khanakul 145 9 21 33 41 37 4 "'.., 4. Pursurah 50 3 8 15 2

5. Dhaniakh::lli 214 13 68 84 36 13 43 1 6, Panduah 156 11 34 55 11 37 43 27 14 7. Balagarh 132 1l 14 12 8 8 Mogra 46 3 9 6 3 3 2 9. Chinsul'llh 16 2 6 31 25 26 4 10. polba 98 6 34 42 12 4 11. Dadpur 3 19 1 21 11 2 12. Tarakeswar 87 146 8 27 63 36 12 13. Haripat 148

STATBMBNT-IV.31-Coatd.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

HOOGHL Y-ConeJd. 97 7 11 29 26 2J 14. Singur ., 2 1 15. Badhreswar 16 - 3 6 4 J 16. Chandarnagar

17, Jangipara 117 6 41 39 31 8 ...., ., 18. CbanditaJa ]00 7 21 28 34 8 ]9. Serampore 16 5 6 4

20. Uttarpara 8 1 3 4

BURDWAN 2.60') 176 601 743 707 343 35 4 ., ], Chittaranjan

... Salanpur 67 11 24 23 8

3' Kulti 47 7 8 7 10 12 3

4. Hirapur 21 4 JO

S. Asansol 33 5 13 5 8 ., (I, Baraboni 51 3 J J 18 11 6

j, Jamuria 66 .2 9 16 17 16

8, Raniganj 27 6 4 12 .2 .. ., 9. Ondal .'- 5 3 9 9 4 2 10. Faridpur oh 5 16 15 17 12 1 11. Durgapur 5 1 3

12. Kaksa 84 ]6 21 19 22 4 2

13. Bud-Bud 56 14 16 12 9

14. Ausgram 142 9 42 34 39 18

15. Galsi 125 8 22 40 33 21 1 16. Khandaghose 104 5 25 43 18 13

17. Raina 196 12 43 66 5] 24 .,., 18. Jamalpur 121 5 ..... 33 46 ]5

19. Memari 216 J2 64 6] 65 J3 1 20. Burdwan 143 11 30 36 46 18 2 - 21. Bhatar 104 3 17 25 42 13 4

.. ., Mongalkote 129 10 24 35 40 18 2

23. Ketugram 117 6 24 21 39 26 1 24. Kalwa 125 6 26 27 38 26 2 149

1 2 3 4 s 6 7 8 , ----:- BURDWAN-Concld.__ ------

25. Monteswar 136 11 37 40 32 16 26. Purbasthali 184 8 59 59 37 19 2 - 27. Kalna 110 16 48 78 55 J2 BIRBHUM ,235 372 713 662 368 ]07 11 l J Muraroi 142 6 33 43 37 21 1 1

2. Nalhati 14J 10 27 43 43 15 3 3. Rampurhat 204 28 58 52 51 13 1 1 4. )[ayureshwar 234 40 88 62 35 8 1 5. Mahammud Bazar 133 27 42 43 18 3

6. Rajnagar 84 20 31 9 1 1

7. Khoyrasole 1:!5 28 3J 40 ]8 7

8. Dubrajpur J93 48 67 54 :20 4

9. Surf 187 43 69 51 20 .3 1

to. IJIambazar 1:?4 18 35 42 28 }

11. Sainthia 48 88 62 21

12. Bolpur 157 20 56 53 23 4 1

J 3. Labhpur 1.59 24 60 46 lS 10 1 14. Nanoor 13:? 12 28 49 27 16

BANKURA ~.548 860 1,346 910 337 93 2

1. Saltora 145 28 55 39 J8 5 2. Me.ihia 15 23 17 )3 5

3. Borjora 179 45 58 45 21 9 1 4. Gangajalghati 151 22 .53 41 27 8 ; 5. Chhatna 275 69 122 68 14 2 6. Bankura 269 75 87 73 28 6

7. Onda 266 75 92 69 , 1

8. Indpur 196 S3 72 54 IS 2 9. Khatra 260 72 114 53 20 1 - 10. Ranibandah 176 41 82 43 8 2 11. Raipur 342 91 130 95 20 6

12. Simiapat 190 60 81 41 6 1 141 - 13. Taldangra 27 58 37 17 2 14. Bishnupur 147 38 56 34 IS 4 lS. Sonamukhi 160 36 61 40 19 " 150

STATEMENT rV.3+-Contd.

1 2 3 4 5 6 i 8 9

BANKU.R.A-Concld. 16. Patrasair lSI 29 51 45 20 5

17. loypur 137 26 5: 3& 13 8

18. Indas 127 13 4: 40 2(; 6

J9. J(otalpuf 163 45 56 3B 12 11

MIDNA'PORE 10,380 3,n4 3,553 1,8i2 895 316 20

J. Binpur 81::! 487 249 59 J4 3 2. Jamboni 274 167 74 2~ 7 ....'" 3. Jhargram 492 ~O(, 151.) 19 ~. '. Gopiballavpur 372 146 168 41 I·::' 3 S. Sankrail 247 120 101 .."'''' ~ 3

I""~ 6. Nayagram 30t 143 ~.) 26 <;;

7. Mohanpur 99 ]9 40 18 h 4

8. Dantun 298 77 93 !-IS 31 !)

9. Keshiari 198 76 73 34 13 "-'"

10. Narayaogarh 451 203 159 6:5 10

Il. Sa bang 224 48 89 57 1(1 9

12. Pingla 168 43 64 35 19 7

13. Kharagpur 549 263 194 t:8 1'" 5

14. Kharagpur Town

15. Debra 454 194 16 59 14

16. Midnapnre 228 94 4 29 19 2 17. KeshpUT 526 264 18: 65 13 1 .., 18. Salboni 372 196 1:9 40 5 ...... , 19. Garbeta 723 324 24: 1~7 2b ...

20. Chandrakona. 249 56 109 55 :!4 '""'" 21. Ghatal 139 16 48 34 31 JD

22. Daspur 243 13 64 96 45 23 2

23. Panskura 348 39 109 90 86 21 3

24. Moyna 83 4 9 29 22 19

25. Tamluk 185 4 27 65 64 24 1 26. Mahisadal 166 2 31 S7 43 31 2

27. Sutahnta 159 J4 37 Sl 38 19 lSI

STATEMENT IV.34 -Concld.

_--- _," _. __ .... -~--.--. ,.~ .. _.... -.. _. __ ._--,_ .... -.... 8 1 2 3 4 s 6 7

------MID NAPORB-Concld. 30 3 28. Nandigram 251 33 70 59 56 J 29. Bhngavanpur 317 73 95 87 47 14 - 30. Pataspur 276 46 111 73 33 13 ., 31. Egra 240 43 89 56 33 17 .. 32. Ramnagar 234 52 74 61 35 12 - 33. Digha .29 6 12 8 3 137 216 ]30 46 9 ~i4. Contai 588 - - 25 13 3 35. Khejri )35 16 43 35 322 72 4 PURULIA 2.459 506 895 660 27 6 J I. JhaJda 254 47 97 76 2 1 ., Jaipur 107 17 35 9 20 8 3. Arsha 93 14 23 ::8 )8 3 4. Baghmundi 135 48 33 33 2J 2 5. Balararnpur 90 11 30 26 50 18 2 6, Barabazar 201 39 60 49 3 7. Purulia Mutfasil 203 .21 70 8. Purulia Town 37 J8 9 1 9. Para 117 15 37 24 8 10. RaghunathplJf ]69 37 54 46 46 8 5 11. Neturia 113 31 8 12. Santuri 94 23 37 25 3 13. Kaship ur 198 41 77 53 6 14. Hura 109 10 42 30 21 S J5. Puncha 156 44 53 26 28 3 I 16. Manhuar 285 74 105 80 22 - 17. Bandnnn 130 34 56 32 7 I -

Because of the special nature and pettern of tlte the population range of 500.. 4)99. Tho romainiq settled areas in its hilly parts the dis~rict or Darjee­ four villages belong to the rang, 51)00+. In tho other hilly police stations also the villages are monly ling has a high average population of 1t 18 7 persons per village (vide Statement IV. 31). Four of the in the medium population ra.nge of 1000.. 4999. police stations all in the hilly sub·divisions, do not Coming to the plain sllb-divisioll of Siliguri, however, have any village at all with less than 500 people. the ,pattern or settlement changes and the smJ.1I viII· These are Sukiapokri, Pulbazar, Darjeeling and Mirik. ages (200 .. 999) are more namerou ,. While there arc 47 out of 51 villages in these 4 police stations arc in. some rural settlements of medium size in aU the roar 152

1'( lj( r sfat~('r.s of tl:e Siliguri sub-divislon, on1y 3 Bengal, West Dinajpur has just a handful of villages. 'iratlZ8S- CIie iIi Pb:;Ii~ide\\'a 8t:d two in Naxalbari­ with population of 2000 + the number being 79 lieicI1g to the "big" size class of 5000+. On the only. 1 he villages in the population range are (CDtrary, unlike in nio~t of tbe hilly pOlice stations. howe\ler, distributed, though unequally, among aU there ate quite a nllmber of "very small" vilJages the police stations with the exception of Kumarganj (with population of less than 1(:0 each) in all the wbich has no village, of the class. Jt is also note­ four police staticns of the plains. worthy that five of the police stations, namely, Kumargunj, Kallaganj, Hemtabad, Kushmandi and In Jalpaiguri, which has the highest proportion Bangshihari did not have any village with 2000 or (about 70%) cf "big" villages (50CO-9999) for any more inhabitants in 1961; but all of the except the district, tte pattern of rura) settlements in the police first named had one or more such vil1ages in 1971. 5tations foHows closely that of the district as a whole. liVery small" vi1leges (Jess than 200 each) ]n :Malda there is, by and large, an even distribu­ are just a few; the "small" ODes (200-9<;9 each) are tion of different size cJasses of \iIIages (very small to mere nllm~r01.JS. Polke Staticn MitiaJi does not medium) in the district as a v. hole as also among the l1a,'e a ~ing]e vm3~e in -the popuJation ranfes of upto police stations, The share of the size c)ass 2000-4999 499. On the other h:Jrd Mitiali and Madarihat are is somewhat Jow for the police station of Gajole, the only two police stations in the district whkh do Habibpur, MaIda and Bamangola, the fir~t three not have any big vi1Jage of 50CO-+-. Kakbjni in baviug 7 each of suc'h villages and the last only one. Alipurduar sub-di\'i~ion and Jalpaiguri have as many The same police stations (Igain do not have any village as 10 and 12 sUlh villa£t's respectively. As already of the big or very hg size, Thert! are only three mentioned, Jalpaiguri l18s the distinction of having very hig vilJages in the district which are shared by the largest number (lO) of "very big" villages of Kaliachak (2) and Ratna (I). Incidentally, Kaliac­ 10000+ population. The ten such villages are hak is cne police Ijtation in the district where both distributed arr.ong 4 police stations, namely, Rajganj the number and proportion of villages of the medium ar.d JaJpaiguri (4 each) and Ma) nagiri and Birpara to big size are hea,y. (one each). In the great Gangetic plain to the south of the The police st~tjons of Cooch Behar have ead) Ganga, the districts of Murshidabad. Nadia, Hooghly. their due share of the villages of the very small Howrah and Twentyfour Parganas are all densely popu­ to medium size classes. "Big" villages/ too, are lated areas where the average size of population of distributed among all the police station~ except vilJages is 1110 (in Hooghly) at the lowest and goes up Sitai which has non of them. Cooch Behar, Toofan­ to 1821 (in Howrah) Both M urshidabad and Nadia ~al1j and Dinr.ata havc the largest shares of such }1ave a goed number of very small villages of less than villages with 8,6 and 4 respectivcJy. Sitalkuchi (1), 200 in all their police f.tations except Na\\udah ToofaD~anj (2) and Mekliganj (1) account for the 4 (Munhidabad). Both the distri(\s have likewise quite vil1afes of the largest size class (of] 0000+). a number of villages of the hig and very big size (5000+) which ~re di~tributc·~1 over m05.t of the ]n the di~\Jict c f \Vest :c jJ ajr ur. tl e pattern of police statiol1s. As already mCJltiuned, Murshidabad di§.tribution of the villages is tl~e same in all the as the distinction of haviIlgs many as 10 villages of police stations abouts 70%of the vil1ages being in the J OOCO+ population, the s,lme number as J;,dpaiguri. size classes 20(! to 1999. Tl:e number of i'very Four of tt.em are in the northern end of the district in sm'all" villages is also quite sizeable in the distrirt . the police stations of Sammarganj (2), Farakka (I) and being as mspy 1:[8 789. These ar~ all very evenly Sutl (1), 1 he six others are dispersed all over the distributed among all the 16 police stations of the district. oee each in the police stations of Bhaga wan­ district. The a\lerage population size of a vilJage in gola, Raninagar, Bildal1ga, Nawada, Domkal and the district was at a low figu~e 9f 531 only. The ialangi. It is not mOTe coincidence that aU these three bjg vmages of the districts ale dist.~ibuted polite stations bave each a good number of villages among three police stations of ;Rakganj, Chopr, and i~ He population range 01 5000-9999. In fact, Goalpckhar. Another siEllificant p.oint about the the$C 4i~d r,n05t other police stations of the district, district is tllat, unlike in the other ar~as of northern fol1owing the general pattern in the district as a 153

",holt", ba\'e good proportions of vi1la~es of the popu­ stalicts. AlJ tJ-e rolict" staticns except LiJu'a, Uday­ lation range 5CC-4 9 9 9. Jjagan j is the only police naJB' at rur t Pal!ria Sliampur, again~ llave two cr more station in which the ~mal1 villages in the population "ma; es ,a(,h (f \t.e ICbig" size. Sank rail and l'anchla range of Jess than lOCO accOLlnt fur almost an the c1aim CT,e (ad1 of 11 e 1\\0 'very bj~' villages. vilJages, out of a total of 118ving a popu­ only 3 .<.12 1 he proportien of the "vuy small" vilJa~s in lation of 1COO or abovt". The distrkt of Nadia has a Hoophly is larger than in Twentyofur Parganas, All tbe fair number of villages of !(f( Only three of its +. poli(e stations of the dj~trict exctpt Pursurah, Chin­ poJice stations. namely. Krishnagar,j. Santipur and sura, Bhadreswar, Scrampur and Uttarppra, whkh are Haringhata are" ithout any big or very big vj]h~ges all whithin the Calcutta metropolitan ares, ha\'e each The 5 "very big" villages of the district (10000-+) a few (sf the villalfs of the smalle~t size class. i The are distributed in four roJice statiol~s. namely. Rrm~­ bigger size classes of the ratl£e ~(:b-~~99 'ar~ evenly ghat (I). Krishnagar, Chapra al~d Kaliganj (] each). distributed among the police stalions. . P s .. Ch~ndi­ tala has the largest number of villages (~) in the next 1 went) four Par ganas, which contains the largest higher class 5000--9999. The only. ",ill age j of the block of rural popUlation in the state and has an 10000+ category is in the police station of Singu,r. t\\'erage lorulaticn of 1445 per \il1;:tge. presents a con­ trast in that almost all the polite ~taljODS have only a Looking at tl;e Trgion as a "ho'e the villages of few vilJage!' (_,f the srralleH size (.la~s of Je~s than 200 the popuJation range of 1(OC- 4999 are fOUlld by each. In the polke stati0ns comrrised "ithin or do~e and large to have been distributed evenly among the to the Sunderbans, namely, Go~aba. Hingalganj, San­ police H'ltions, It is only Ilatural that in a fertile deshkhali etc .• the small vi11a!!e~ nre rare and most c.f Hgicn where agric"ul1ure is thtiving alOn!flide indust­ the vil!;'l1cS f:1C in 11 e range rf 5CC to 4999. This is Jinl p(: r(fjt~' iT) n tit) r1s((S tIle hurren ~ettlfD1ents because the ature of terrain, for the human settle­ ~tclJJd r,e big in f'ize, 1 he t'Ver8~t village is big in ments llad, (f r.f>(e~l-jty. to te of big si7e in ttc area, tJ~e south'rn extn n-,ity of tl" e region in most of the The "big" villages of 5COO-9999 people each are to roJi( e Hstions. lkcllube of the swamps'and forests be fourld in larger numbers in the police stations cf and the deltas and islDnd~ of the Sunderbans the the Diamond Hal bour sub·di\ i~ion and in the roJ ice human seuJement5 in the southern poHce· stations of stations in the adjoining north. 1 he larger aver:}f:e T'\\ent~ fcur Pargsni.1S have been quite big while' ,in the sile of popL'laticn of villages in tle district are more nOTHern (rd of the region in the purely agricultural due to the vilJa!'cs of 50(-- 4t'~,'-J than to big rnajzas district of Ml1TS1, id"bad there is a coexistence of "very of 5COO+ of wHch tI'cre \\ere only 95. The small" \iJ)ag("s and "big" to I\try tig" ,'jH8~(s; )n the "very big" vilJafcs are met with in tl~e southern police police shltions sit\'tIted· in 1he c:entral pert of the stations of Jaynagar (3), Muthurapllr (2;, Mograhat, region (HooghlYI Howrah and f,or1hern TWenl)four Di(JTIlond Harbour and Swarupna£ar (I each). Otle Par~ana8) which is \\'hithin the·'Ca)cutta m'ctropoHtan more over-sile villag~ in Behala police station which is district a nd is highly urbani~ed, contain fewer villages close to the Calcutta metropolitan :.Hca completes the of the "vcry small" or "small" category. ' .

, I' "t tally of 9 for the district. In the westc rn tract of the state extending from Burdwan to PUfulia ul'd Birbhum to Midnapore, 'the The ~,erage villa!c in Howrah hus a ropulution number of villages of the smallest size (Jess than. 200) of 1821 whidl is second only to the averc1ge for Jul­ is far larger fbtll1 in other ra,rts of ~est B~,n2al. raipJJ i vlJ1ages. In this district, teo) the viUafes of Ondal is tl:e .only po)jce station in BW'~wan· whi~h

the sma)Jest size ne just a l~andful of 16 only, 1 he does not have uny village of this si1.(", ! B¥rd)\~n,.pas bigg(st ntJrnbfr of SUl h vilJ:..gcs in any polke staticn in fuet the ,smallest number of these tiny yilJa~es; JQT is in UdaYlwra) anpur (~), Li!ua. Ulubcria ard 1)8u­ any district in the re~jo'll; but these a~e eveQl)' dist~i­ ria do not have any such small' V ilJafc. 1 ihia and huted among 'the' police stations. The dist'rkt does rUlria "hich arc alrr:c~t within tl e C::kut18 n:ctroro­ not have rr any viJ1afcs of tte hj~hcst population lit,ln ((re have ~dJ tl fir ,jl1aEcs (7 ard 6 rcsre(1iHly) ranges, Out of 39 vilJa£es of 5(,00+ popuJation in tIe r(r11~1((n JaI!e (f ]((-'E~9. Al(tt 17 are in the ccal mining area comprised within the thJcc-f( urtt~s cf tr,c tctal r.un I er of \ilhq (s in the POllef ~tatjons of Jamuria. :R aniganj, Boraboni and district ~:Je in f~(t \\hitJ~in this rarge nr.d tley ale Ondal. 1 hese poHce stations do not have many m( re or Jess e\ en])' cistritutcd an eng the rolice vj)]a~cs of the smallest size. 154

Villaves, or all categories upto 1000--1999 in r~gio'l tf) regi11 and from di~trict to district. As Birbbum are distributed evenly among its police afr!ldv iniicated the n:lmber of vil'a~ec; (3.g 75) in stations each of which have a fairly good number of Twentyfour Parganas (which is the large;t dj~trict iq the villages or the smlllec;t ~iz.~. Villages with t~r'Yl~ ')r ar~a) is ju~t about a third or til,! n'Ji11;~r in 2000+ pl.lpulation are only 120 in number and these Midnlpore (I t,809) atth3ugl the tWIJ di'itri:t:i are are found to be fairly concentrated in six "olice al most equal in area. stations, 3 each at either end of the district, namely, Murarai (23), Nal'l~ti (IS) and Rampurhat (J 5) and In the district, of JalfJaigllri and Darj:eliog Bo'pur (5) , Labhpur (11) and Nanoor (16). which are within the Himalaya'l and sub'H'lrnalayan reglO:1S the vill.lges are generally larg.'r in area than Tht' pattern of distributio:l of the villages of ill tIle plains In the p:ains again the villages are different sjl,e classes is i] 1m ost uniform in the three not ne..:e~sa.rily smtl1 in sil,e and th'~rl! are wide western most districts of Midnaporc, Blnkura and va,-i:1tio:l5 from district to district ali observej between Puruli:l. The average size of the villages is sml11 ,Midn lpore a'ld Tw~ntyfour Parganas or between jn each of them n 1].1 proportions of vi Ilages of the Howrah and West D n:1jpur or betw~en West Dinaj­ smallest size vary hetween 20'·:. in Puru'ia- and 36% pur and its ~outhern neighbour, Ma.lda. As already in Midnapore. These villages are again evenly set out. it is the revenue mauza which goes by the distributed among all the police stations in each name of "village" in W,;:~t Bengal ai in many other district. ViJiages of the population range of 2(}OO- states and the revenue mauza has a well-defined 4999 are not many in any of the districts and the boundary fixed by the survey authorities The handful which are there are again evenly distributed boundary changes rarely if at all. Due ti.) the among the 'police stations of the respective distrkt. nature of the terrain and the extensive forest areas There is not a .;ingle viJlage of the 'very big' size in in th! district", t he survey authurities had to cover any of the three districts The' big' villages the ar~as in .Ldpaiguri and DctrjeeJing in 1Jrger ('5000-9999) are also few and far between-only blocks than were usual in. the plains The average two in Bankura (located in pc)lice station) Borj:)ra mauza or village in the districts, therefore, came to and Onda). 4 jn Purulia (one each b~ated in police be of a Idr.~er :,ize than i,') u,ual in the plains. In stations Jhaldl, Jaipur, Pora and M tubazar) and 20 t.he plains distl'ict, again. the units of surveyor in Midnarore. These villages of Midnai)Ore are mauzas varied in size according to the convenience of dir;persed throughout the district and n0 distin.!t !he sllrvcy authorities as the revenue survey was pattern can be no;jced except that I 7 of them are carried 01 gradually. In the process the mauzas of concentrated in the police stations of the Tamluk Twentyfour Parganas came to be much bigger in area and Contat sub-division. Nowhere else in the state than i hose of MidItapore 01' Bankura, The population except in West Dinajpur are the villages of different ofa mauza will naturally vary with its area. D;!nsity of size-.:lasses (from below 200 to 4999) so evenly populathn IS, of course, an imp.)rtant factor deter­ di'ltributed among the police stations as in each of mining the population of a mauza. these three dIstricts of the laterite soil zone. Very big villages --their significance Area of villages It has already been stated at the outset that As already mentioned there are 52 over-size West Bengal, had in all, 41,198 mauzas or villages mauzas in the state, each with a population of in 1971. Out of a total arCl or 87,853 km~ of the 10,000. The statement on the next page is a Jist of these 2 2 state the rural area. covers 85 90l.l krn . The villages Density per km and the proportion of average size of a village in area comes to 2.08 km' wor~ers in the three sector.> of the economy in the in the state. The average will naturally vary from viI ~ ages have also been shown in the statement 155

STATEMENT-IV. 35

ViIlDgt's with p(lptllaticn of 10,000 and above-1971

Name of District Naml! of police ~tatiln Population Density Percc&tage of workers (Total) Name of village per km.~ Primary Second~lry Tertia!s (J.t. No.) Sector Sector Sector

1 1 3 4 5 6 7

Durjecling Pulbazar ".S.

Chebu Lama's Estate (2) 29,917 247 8:-;.5::- 4.2" 7.;'/')

Kurseong p. S.

Cart Road (1) 11,4.fO 6~6 24.1!.J J3.~S 6~.·n

Rn.ig1lnj P. S.

Dn h!!ram (1) 38.859 847 21.1~ 16.97 61.90

Binnaguri 0) 12,71 ~ 216 9273 2.15 5.1 ~

SaJlnyasil\:lta (::(,) 11.615 205 95.\)1.\ 1.15 l.S7

Sukani (28) ) 4,7()'+ ;'65 86.18 2.81 1U)! , . , .lalpaiguri P. ~.

Patl ata (5) 10 R1 '7 J50 86.87 4.{),2 9.11

Kharia (7) It,2(;: 569 45'(,0 14.·0 39.97

Garalbari (f) 12.0S~ 267 97.85 0.33 I,S:

lkruhari (13) 22,(13j 352 94.55 1.13 4.3~

Maynaguri P.S.

Sapl ihari (85) 11.5S..I- 294 95.62 1.36 3.02 Birpara P. S.

Birrara Tea G~lrdcn (9) 11,850 455 56. ().+ 8.41 34.6.5

Cooch Behar Haldibari P. S.

Bar:l Haldibari (I) 14,522 356 96.55 1.09 ' ::!.3 1j

Shalkut'hi P. S.

Sitalkuchi (43) 17,826 394 91.07 L~_; 7.4()

Tufunganj P. S.

Andaram Phulb;lri (71) J2,385 902 45.6 I 22.14 32.25

Ibl

Pu~.huria (1-~4) 10,045 1187 89.07 3.77 1.16 156

STA TE\fENT -IV.35 -Con td.

1 2 3 4 S 6 7

Maida Kalla Cha,k P. S.

Panchanandapur (II) 13,564 589 93.17 2.73 4.00

Nayagram (30) 10,910 1,068 85.55 824 6.21

Murshidabad Farrakka P. S.

Kuli (58) ]2,895 1,067 61.67 28.50 9.83 Sbamslaerganj P. S.

Kankuria (88) 11,903 3.440 47.51 46.37 6.11

Anupnagar (90) 16,946 2,184 40.14 48.43 lO.S3

Sutl P S.

Punropara (63) J4,637 1,896 23.06 70.90 6.04

Bbagwaagola P. S.

Naripur (66) 15,760 ] ,01] 91.63 2.82 5.55

Raniaagar P. S.

KulJamari (89) 12,561 780 85.06 5.26 9.68

Beldanga P. S.

Mirzapur (64) J 1,299 1.499 90.48 3.67 5.85

Nawada P. S.

Bali (10) 10,261 589 94.15 1 65 4.10

Domkal P. S.

Soriamari (81) 13,033 553 94.81 1.31 3.88

.Jalanal P. S.

Sagarpara (10) 10,695 59J 87.44 4.76 7.80

Nadia XaJlganj P. S.

Dcbagram (60) 11,330 570 67.28 6.24 26.48

Chapr. P. S.

Mahatpur (l (0) 11,187 3SS 90.93 2.90 6.17

ltrllhnagar P. S.

Dhubulia (33) JO,146 1.714 38.27 4.80 56.93

Ranaghat P. S.

Aranghata Narayaopur (49) 10,438 940 43.32 16.16 40.52

Magurk hali (158) IS,633 6,036 32.98 30.74 36.28

Twentyfour Bebal. P. S. , ' ParganBS Gopa]pur (10) 10,643 3,093 47.96 27.06 24.98 157

STATEMENT-IV.lS -CODtd.

1 2 3 4 S 6 7

Twentyfour Joy...... P.S. Paraaanas Kararia (88) 10,900 SS4 92.73 0.85 6.42

Mayahauri (90) 1J .566 1.235 89.17 1.99 8.84

Gardoani (91) 10,042 1,086 93.17 1.86 4.97

Magrahat P. S. Syampur (43) 15,810 1,585 83.54 8.62 7.84 Ku'pi P. S. Lakshmipur (152) 14,320 637 90.63 0.91 8.46 Mathurapur P. T. Khari (49) 15,114 1,208 87.31 1.72 10.97

Gilar Chhat (1 ) 9) lJ ,832 708 90.24 2.62 7.14 Swarupna.ar P. S.

Banglani (38) 11.004 999 85.96 3.95 10.09 Howra~ Sankrs" P. T.

Dhulagari (1) JO,814 3,368 31.61 54.53 13.86 Panchla P. S.

Jujarsaha (8) 11,408 2,830 63.82 20.57 15.61 Hooghly Singur P. S.

Bara Kamalapur (J 00) 11,343 1,803 75.66 H.67 12.67

Burdwan .Jamurla P. S.

Sripur (24) 11.959 2,909 88.S2 2.22 9.26 RaniganJ P.S.

Siarsol (17) 13,874 1,630 74.77 8.20 17.03 0_1 P. S.

Babula (30) 10,486 2.929 79.38 3.62 17.00

Kajora (41) 14,395 1,394 89.15 3.13 7.72

Birbhum Murarol P. S.

Paikar (76) 11,741 630 62.93 22.63 14,'" a ..parbat P. S.

Mararam (138) 14,674 80S:: 70.83 11.70 17.47 ISS

~ " ' Out of 52 ,mages of the ~jze c),lSS as irany as , respective regions. 19 alefotlrd jn fhe distrk:s {{ North Beng&1. Jat­ pai gufi alone accounts for 10 of them. In the Gan­ The proportions of \\OJ kers in the primary sect~r ~etic plains again Mursbidabad haiio the same number as 'r(:vta!cd in t~e col. (~, 7 and 8 will indicate that .. of such vilJagts as Jalpaiguri. TIle pclite stations in \\ ith (,nly a ftw ex<.:epti(Jns, all tht&e mauzas ale over­ tte southern end of 1 "entyf()ur P"rgBnas aho 17a-ve () \\heJmingl) agrituJtund. In :19 out of the 52 villages villages of the size dLibS. lLe Erov.th of the vmi:lges as tit: pnmilly beltor aect UI, \::-. fl\f bet \\'ecn ()O and ~'8 also the pattern of their spatia.l dislribulion have r\:tn Ptf (ent of tbe \1 clkeJ~. Jt is \H rth"hile to examine due to geo-}; iste rical proces~es. 1 he dist flbulictl of the 11 e few C~M.. ~ "here the secondary ano tertiary sec­ WOI king force in the seeton. of the economy in the tors upp(ar to t e 9l;..tnjnallt· Thtsc villages are villages. however, follows the gentl.al pattern of the shown in the following statement

STATEMENT JV.36 ViliagOii '" ilh a claim to urban status

District Police Station J. L. No. Name of M:ull.a Population Proportion of worker

Scconuclry "1ertiary

---_._----_.... _--,.,_----... "-~------. --,,~~- Darjeeling Kurseong Cart Road 11,440 13.38 62.4.1 ..., Jalpaiguri RajganJ .... Dahgram 38,859 16.97 61.90

Nadia Ranaghat 158 Magurkludi J 5,(133 30.74 36.21)

Twentyfour Parganas Sankrail Dhulagori 10)~ 1.+ 54.53 J3.fHi

Murshidabad Suti 63 PUrIlopara 14,63'7 70.90 6.0..J.

.. ' MaUlft D, tpcnl i~ 'l(!~nI t to SiliplJi (L;~ir;ct 1 ( ('onsidelcd as a tc wn in the next CtllSU'). Dhulas- rBrjf~ljng) ~rd fnIT s a r (lIt (f the Sil)p.lli Standard Ef'ri in He \\ ruh distJ ict, \\'eJl within tile <- alcuUa Urban Area. Dabgram is an extt:nsion cf the SI}lguri Metrrpolltarl DistTlct, also has a sizeable sel'ondarv town and is ,cry n u{ h fin UI ban arca. It should have sector enCplo)ment 'of )4.53% and a popu]atio~ been treated as a tOWD. in fact, as part of Siliguri but der.sI1Y"ls (f 33(:8 rer ~q. km. couJd not be so considered because it is within juris­ diction of a separate district. PUrIlO[-nra in Suti PoJi<.e Station is Hl1othc'f vill­

age wjtll Oh r ! 41 CCO people and, more jIll porlant, Cart road in K urSfOl1g is developing fa!lt and will has over 7G(j" of the w~,Jkers engaged in the s\!con­ lay a claim to udan status in the next (ensus. d"ry set tor ~rd (, ~.~) in tLe 'tertituy st'ctor. With a demity of accut I,' CO peltlOnS per sq. kfll. The place htlS already a resemblance to an Ul ban area. Magurkhali in Nadia has already 30 74 /~ of its workrrs in the secondory sector and another 36.28°~1 in the tertiary in 1971. With its big population (If Distribution of viJIagfs Oler ) 5,000 persons, a density of 60 J 6 per sq krn. which exceecs that of many urb~n areas and the lhe folk\\ing statfrrert (IV37) gi'es tbcavcrage lccational advantage of being witbin corrmutational POfuhJtiC'l) size of inbabitcd vill'lges and also the ranEe of ttt Calc utta M etropoJi,an Distfl(:t the place di s1yirutiorl of '\ i1Iage's over space. Density of popu· Is already acquiring an urban leok and is likely to Jation is also shown in ·the statement. ""~..... ~~'''''' . .. ",J.'. ..."", ~.,.,," ., " 159,, ',

STATpMErrr IV. ,37 Average Population of.village. West Bengal __ ----_._-- -_. St~te/Dis(rict Rural density pe'r km 2 Average population per No. of inhabited

village (Inhabited) villages per 100 kmt . I '. -__", ...... _. 1961 'f97~ 1961 1971 1961 " " 1971 ...... ,. ' i - _-_ __ __ ._._._ ...... -~-,- ...... _.. '" .. _-.-----,-_._--_. -_._ . 2 3 4 5 6 7

WEST BENGAL 304 388 686 876 44 44 Darjeeling 149 198 896 1,J 87 17 17 lalpaiguri 203 '!.57 ],596 2,126 13 12

Cooch Behar 280 392 833 ] ,I 52 34 34

West Dinajpur 232 327 391 531 59 62 MaIda 3:!6 417 731 959 45 43

Murshidabad 396 512 1,084 1,400 37 37 Nadia 368 476 ] ,090 ) ,421 34 33

Twentyfour Parg3nas 303 412 1,124 1,445 27 28 Howrah 909 1,060 1,542 1,821 59 58

Hoogbly 546 698 865 1,110 63 63 Burdwan 371 450 946 1.159 39 39

Rirbhurn 301 367 602 739 50 50 Bankura 227 276 434 530 52 52 Midnapore 298 376 377 490 79 77

Purulia 205 237 509 598 40 40

The statement r.!ve:ils tint fJul d!1.sjty ha~ gJne 1971 Midna,ore remlin'l the o;lly district witll tbe up from 304 in 1961 ttl 388 in 197 L The average aver~ge village sile of b~loN .50J. The reUOllS are population size of a village haq increa~ed by about not feU to s!ek. Mi;i£lapJre hu a very la~ge number 28(% during the decade from 686 in 1961 to 876 or villagec;; in tact. tllo,DUmb!r is th= largest amongst in ) 971. It is natural and is in confJrmity with the districts. The bulk of the villages, again. be10ea increase in population, The number of inhabited to the small and very small sile class. The growth viUages in the state haq not. ho .vever, rl!c()rde j allY or p.>puJation in the di,trict hai al,so been marginal. -change, the figure r~maining stationary at 44 frl)lD almost equal to tIle natura.l growtn of popuiatioll. 1961 to 1971. The district of Weit Dinajpur, 0:1 the other hand, grew at the rate of 40.500/0 p:r a'1urn during the The average size of villages vary markedly from decade. Bankura registered a growth rate of district to district and within the same district there 22.02%' is a considerable variation between 1961 and 1971 ~ In 196 r there were three districts, namely, Midna· Puralia (598), Bankura (530), Birbhu.m (739). pore, Blnkura, and West Dinljpur, in *hicb the Mdd]. (959) an'j West Dina.jplll' (531) arc districts .average population of a village was below 500. In with ICB thl'l lO:» person; pel' inhabited villagc iD 160

1971. 1he I(mair.ing distrkts have over lOCO' (T,,'e:n1} four Parsanas) and 63 (Hooghly) and no defin­ fersons per '\'illa~e CD Bn 8\'fHlgt. 1,he districlS ite patteJ n fesicnal (r ethel Wi6t, is evident except that "'ith the 18rge~t ~'en,ge size are Jalralguri (2126) in the "estern lalerile soil zone, comprising Bankura, and Ho\\'rah (1821) liS tbey had the smalJe,t n\lm~er Midnapolc, Birbhum and Purulia the villages are­ of viIJases. 111 case (f H(J\\Iah it is the smallness ~ jee1)' dis~ened, the Dl.:mber of inhabited mauza~ is. ()t the ~rea of t.he distrj"t relath e to tr.e ei2e of the fadrl)' laJft J:cr 1(0 ~q. 1m. and the average popula .. total popu1atkn "hkh )lc.d m~:ccccdirg ICCO in vU three of them, the number of Midnapore, the district witli tl:e ~mal1c!:t 2V(fa~e vi)Ja~ (s to tte )(0 km~ is low and TllTal density is I=cplllation rtf ,jlJ8~e 1&5 the jal~ebt J\Jruhr of also )0\\. In JaJp&igUli the numter of inhabited inllatit(d ,nil ~(S, to "it, 77 rtl a(. ~q. l in tIe COJ trmt with the se in tbe we~tern extremity of the distric.t (3J73) v.as cr.})' «0 ft"tf tIbn in 1"ent)f(Uf sta1('. farrely, Purulia. Barlkura and Midnapore \\here Pargonas (3791). It hIs to ie leted lhbt 1went\f(lr the 11II al d(uit)' m a!~o the aveHlfe population for ~ Parganes Was aIn'nt cC\Jtle Ibe si2e of 'West an inb, blted villSft are l( w t ut Ihe num rer cf in­ Dinajpur in area. habih d "mart S t(l 1 he 1(0 km:: is Vet y high, the fi Eure for MidJ1arcte (77) hiIlg the hjghe~t fc'r uny lhe di~1ricts f.f JaIl aiEUYi [nd ['arjeeliJ1g ra' e an district. The cerllral rivuing tract comprisirg 8'\'erage of 12 8r.d 17 irhabitt d ,iJlagtS aspn tiHl) Mvrstidt bad. Ntlc ia. Tv.-elll) fruT Pargan3s, H(~\\rah. to the 1CO sq. krn. lhe districts alc located in 11 e Heeghly 8J1d Bur(.;"an pre~eIlts an almost uniform }1imala),an and ~lJ b·1-Jimal£) ~n J(ficn. 1t,e inbllbitcd pattenl rf lj~h rural density ranging between 412 vilJases are naturally di~peH ed widely 21 d the Illlmter (1\\en1yfouJ Pargana5) and letO (Howrah). high of viJJa[(~ are r:Jw H'ly HTaJl. tt'ipg 744 ar.d 5(,7 average populat!cn size of lilhl£e (Petween] 110 in only respectively. lIe aVtra~e rop.dation size in Hoophly and) 821 in He wrab) and medium to large the districts has cODHquent1y bet n quite high-· 2126 numh:r ofvillaHs perlCO km:!. As alreody indicated, and 1187 respective1y; for Jalpaig'uri the figure is the the total number of villages in lwent~four Parganas, highest in the state. is relatively small (3792). The number of villages to In the remaining districts the average number of the 1CO km 2 is accordingly quite 5rnall-28 only-in inhabited villages to the 100 sq. km. vary between 28 the district. Chapter V

SEX RATIO AND AGE STRUCTURE

IatroductiOD STATEMENT V.I-amcld.

, In India o.nSU$, the sex ratio is the number ot' 1 2 3 famales per 1000 males. There were 23,435,987 maJes and 20,876,02:4 females in West Bengal at the Iran 932 20.11.66 1971 census, t~" males outnumbering the females Iraq 962 14.10.65 by 2,6 million. The sex ratio comes to 891, which Indonesia t.028 31.10.61 is fat ,~low the Indian average of 930 and is one of Algeria 992 the lowest among, the states in India. The sex ratio 4,4.66 in west Bengal has always been adver;;e to females UAR 982 30.5.66 since tbe first census was taken a hundred years back Nia~ria 980 8.11.63 Md follows the pattern for India as a whole and for Sou!h AfricJ 990 6.9,60 most of the other states. Japan 1,037 J.10.70 United Kingdom 1,069 As in the case of India. most of the underdeve­ 23.4,61 loped and developing countries have more females ItaI)' 1,0(i3 15.10.61 thllu males while in the developed countries of the USSR 1,.71 15.1.70 west females generally outnumber the males. Loss Wcst O ...aoy (FlO) 1,118 6.6.61 of the male population in World War II and in earlier US'" 1.055 1.4.70 wars, sex s~Joctive international migration, etc, are said~ to be ~ome of the reasons for the sex t8,tio being SoUfCCI : Demoarapbic year book-1970 favQqrable to fem8t~$ in the developed countries of tbe west and also in Japan. Statement V. 2 that fOllows presents the IU Unlike in the developed countries of the west the ratios in India and the state in 1971. sex ratio in Iodia has been unfavourable to femaJes STATEMENT V.2 ever ~jnce t~e first ~stematic count of the popula" Sex Jl.Uo (1871) tion Was taken in the subcontinent. The sex ratio ------_-____- _____ in some of the developed and underdeveloped Uait SO¥ ratio U~it Sox ratio coulltries is shown in the following statollloat. INDIA 930 Tamil Nadu 978 STATEMENT V.I Tripora 943 Sfut'$ Sa ratio : W'. Idld other eOUDtries Andhra Pradesh 977 Uttar Prade$h 879 __try Sex Ratio I.ercrorq. _/pen", ASlam 897 Welt ..... 891

\ " r' , ,~ I I Bihar 95.4 Union T,rrlton- t' • lMDIA 930 1971 } Oujarat 134 Alldamala .I: Htobar " ;, -.ka ,24 1.1.63 , ,HaryIDI 167 lalaada 644 Ptkiataa • 1.11.61 HimachtJ, 'radcIb ~$8 Al11aaebaJ ",b 861 162

' .. ST A'J'EMENT V.2--Concld. The sex ratio has always been adver. to. felnales 1 2 3 4 in I nd ia as well as in West Beftgal since the tum of the century. The defjcieJ1CY in the numbers of Jammu Ir. Kashmir 878 Cbandigarh 749 females has been widening over the years for India Ketala 1016 Dadra & except for a single decade 1941-51; in the case o( Madbya Pradesh 941 Nagar Havell 1007 West Bengal, however, the trend has not been uniform­ Maharastra 930 Delhi 801 ly downward throughout. From 945 at the beginning Mani,uf 980 Goa, Daman & Diu 989 of the century, the ratio came down sharply by about Megbalaya 941 Laccadive, Minicoy 100 points in the course of four decades to 852 in 1941. The downward trend appears to have beell MYlore 957 " Amindivi Islands 978 reversed since 1951 when the ratio moved upward for ., Nagaland 871 Pondicherry 989 the first time in fifty years and reached 865. The Orissa 988 ratio is going up 13 points every decade after 1941 Punjab 865 in the state and has now reached 891 in 1971. Rajasthan 911 Sex ratio in India and the states: 1951-'1

The statement b"low compares the sex ratios in' the states and union territories since 1951. Kerala (1016) and the union territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli (1 ()()7 ) are the ouly two areas in STATEMENT VA the country with sex ratios favourable to females. Unit Sex ratio The sex ratios of Andhra Pradesh ( 977), 1951 1961 1971 Orissa (988), Tamil Nadu (978), and Manipur (980) and the union territories of Goa. Daman & Diu 234 (989), Laccadive, Minicoy & Amindivi Islands (978) and Pondicherry (989) are 40 points or more above INDIA 946 941 930 the national average. At the other end are the States 6tateS of Assam, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir t 1. Andhra Pradesh 986 981 977 Nagaland, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and 2. Assam 877 876 897 the union territ Jries of Andaman & Nicobar, Islands 990 994 954 Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and Delhi which have 3. Bihar all sex ratios below 900. The ratio is in between 4. Gujarat 952 940 934 these two groups in the other territories. 5. Haryana 867 6. Himachal Pradesh 915 923 958 7. Jammu & Kashmir 873 878 878 STATEMENT V.3 8. Kefala 1028 1022 . 1016 Scx ratio India and In West Bengal (1901.71) 9. Madhya Pradesh 967 953 941 Census year Sex ratio 10. Maharashtra 941 936 930 India West Bengal 1 t. Manipur 1036 1015 980 1901 972 945 12. Meghalaya 942 . 1911 964 925 . 13. Mysore . 966 959 "S7 1921 9S5 90S 14.. NagaJand 999 933 871 1931 950 890 15. Orissa 1022 ·1001 988 194.1 945 852 . , 16. Punjab 858 8~ 865 1951 946 865 921 908 911 1961 941 878. 17. Rajasthan _', 1'971 930 891 18. Sikkim 907 904 , 'STATBMBNT V.4~oncld.

Union territories 1. Andaman 8t Nicobar Islands 625 617 644 2. Arunachal Pradesh 894 861 3. Chandigarh 749 4. Dadra & Nagar Haveli 946 963 1007 S. Delhi 768 , 785 SOl 6. Ooa, Damln & Diu 1128 1071 989 7. Laccadive, Minicoy & Amindive Islands 1043 1020 978 -----8. Pondicherry 1030 1013 989 Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Tripura are the (i) Sex ratio at birth has been grossly favour­ only three states, besides West Bengal, where the sex able to males in India; ratio reveal s an upward trend during the last two decades. The ratio has moved upward in tbe union (ii) There was a sex selective emigration; and territories of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Oadra & Nagar Haveli and Delhi. From Bihar to Kerala (iii) Indian women suffer from more adverse through Orissa. Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, mortality conditions than men. Tamil Nadu and Mysore an almost contiguous tract can be demarcated in which the disparity between the Sex ratio at birtb two sexes was not, unlike in other parts of the country. too wide in 1951. The sex ratio was in fact favourable There is a slight excess of male babies at . birda to the fair sex all along the coastline from Orissa to over female babies in all countriC$, between 104 and 107 Kerala thro-:.:gh Tamil Nadu in 1951. In the other states males being born against every 100 females. Avail­ of the tract also the excess of males over females able data ftom various surveys and ~tudies in, India, was not too big compared with the national averaae. show that there is no wide diverlence from the intof-o The ratio was quite close to unity in Bihar and national level in the sex ratio at birth in India. Tho Andhra Pradesh, being 990 and 988 respectively. sample registration scheme (SRSl 'Which covers all' In Madhya Pradesh (961) and Mysore (966), the parts of India gives the pooled sex. ratio, of 923 :aod ntio was well above the Indian figure of 946. 928 respectively for India in1968 and 1969' at . birth. During the last two decadest however, the trend has This is not surely ~ny drastic deviation from the inter­ been distinctly downward in the entire tract. While national level and cannot be an explanation for" thcf Kerala remains the only state with a slight excess of sex 'disparity 'in India. females over males (1016) in 1971, Bihar and Orisia registered the steepest decline in the ratio. The ratio came down from 990 to 9S4.in Bihar ~nd from 1022 to 988' in Orissa during the two decades. latematjonal migration whi~h ex,plaial dilJ~o~, in many countries allO RealOlIS for 10".. ratio tion of· the sexes cannot acCX)aUf for' the very· low, lex ·ratio ,'which bas: bee. Un,dcrenumeration or tho fair sox has oCten becD QbJCrvtcl (or several decades' in, India.. :NIt ,misra" " held to" be the maUl reason fqr the marked c~ss ot tio.,: frOID other states into West Bensal has, however.. .' males over femalea:Jn India., In the socio..economic influea.ced the sex ratio in: the ltate considerably. J6.• " .'

1'h'" .... '.0 do.bt,. IH.'.PO"'aJl~ ,qf "'~ is too slender to account for the diefNity in sex·ratio ...... -araat. h. lUia ",or. ~4~e~ thore 'heiDI 311)5 ••1" pcr 1,Q()O f__ l,1I ~lIli'''ll*,. Pe.. le mortality B.I ·tae mapit1ld. of ~e o\lt·:misration ,~o 1~ 7 •• to 11D11l. co.p.red to the t9tal population tb4'!t Higher female lportality, especially duriPI tbe­ it .,. could hardly hI"e "IY efect on the III ratio of reproductive flies, 'hp been the main reason far the tbe couatry u.a wbolt. 1~ a few ye.rs (oUllwin, numerical imbalance of the two sexes in India. The 1.4·', there Jw been miltation 0-' a ~rBID sqalo system of vital regist.ration, though far from perfect, 'rem aad to Pakistan. ~",t hwo, too, the eff,ct" on sample registration system (SRS) and pther itudies­ the ...x ratio it ins.Jlificallt. ActC)rdinB to tbe 1951 have; clearly indicated that female mortality' h~s bene amu't the aumllw of refupta were 7.3 JDillion oo,m~ appreciably higher than male mortality in all age· prieio. . 3.9 million males and 3.4 million r.males. sroups througb the decades in India. As the SRS DuMB the 1961 cen.u. porsollJ born in ,at_tan and resuhs reproduced below will show, the differeotial is. enumerated in India were 4.' million m~l" ~ 3.8 quite appreciable amongst infants of age group 0-4 as. nri,UOJl f~l~es. It has been estimated that after well as in age group 5-14. It becomes particuJarey allow~1 'f.or mQrtality net in-migration into Judia wide and critical in the early reproductive age group was 6.1 a lakh. m~le. and 6.88 lakh females during of lS-34, dtJe most)' to maternal mortality. Only 1951-61. This is not mooh compaJed with the popu· beyond the age of 3 S years that the sex ratio at ltti<)n of t~e country -.s a whole and the differential death move in favour of females. , f: .

STATEMENT V.S Sex ratio at 4eath by a,e

.', Age groUP

Year AU aleS 0-4 4-14 lS-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55+

1968 lOIS 10SS 100 1716 1862 923 682 873 1949 1039 1l3~ 1079 1629 1543 833 710 862

&T;'TEMENT V.6 frequ •• c:hild.,b,.riDI with poor a»4 j~~qll.. tc .edi~l care both duri»& 'tho pNDual ud pe.~ s.~ .... tlo in diltrkts (1971) puiods .~4 the low value attached to female off apr .. Uuit Sex ratio ~ ...... - ...... -:o--, .....,._ -- --~_,_... iIJ al a J.ult of a .u-Oll, preference for male issues Total Rural Urban are held to btl fC'P ••ibJ. fpr: tho sUR.don. no ~ WEST ~ENOAL 891 942 1S' tables of the pteVious CeDOles also thow that f~ Dar,ieeUb.g 882 91O 793 JofPliPJli 887 893 829 .qpfl~~t;y . baa ~en hlpe,r in childhood and early QMch Bellar 916 923 837 adult aacs. It is only in the adv~ .... that the W~J>inNpur 92~ 9U a~ biological superiority and natural resilience of "'males 14a1~ 948 951 ~6 )dgn)li4abad 956 9S8 933 to mortality can be observed. N,.dia 948 "I 929 titnt,rour PatIaAU 882 93S '~3 8 ...... '.. W...... , I'll Howrah 8U HI ,. Ca1eutta 636 636 ..... V.6 PClMtI' ~ ~ ,.tIf.) II ~, Hooahly 196 .. .. 918 7., ••• of the ... lit ia 'P11... .~'!M .,' , ,", ,'Jiirbll\Un ~a '14 m '\ . ," I ' I'".~~ 958 , ' , ;f I.,~ 'r' ", .j ", .. ' ' .~ • ! _., MlbQore 952 'I6J- PutUJIa 9$3 t70 .. - 16S

The sex ratio is higher than the state average in Sex ratio is appreciably below the state averase all the districts except Darjeeling~ Jalpaiguri, Twenty­ in Calcutta and the surroundina districts of TwcDtyfour four Parpnas, Howrah, Calcutta and Burdwan. Beside Parganas, Howrah and Hooghly in which the lara. scale Caloutta which is a wholly urban district with a industries of the state are concentrated, attrac.dn.l in­ very Jow ratio (968). migration of males from outside as well as 'within the state. Of the 4 districts in the Calcutta industrial The predominantly agricultural districts of Cooch region, Hooghly bas a somewhat balanced economy Behar, West Dinajpur, MaIda, Murshidabad and with a sizeable and flourishing agricultural sector Nadia, constituting a compact block in the northern wh~ch has prevented its sex ratio from falling below and central parts of the state, and Birbhum, Bankura, the state average. In Burdwan the sex ratio is a Purulia and Mid-.pur, another compact area in tbe little below, but close to the state average It is sex­ western part, have sex ratio of over 900 each. selectivc migration again which has played an impor­ tant role in lowering the sex ratio in the district. In­ migration of male workers to the Asansol-Durgapur STATEMENT V.7 industrial belt and the colJieries of Raniganj-Asansol Ranges of sex ratio from within and outside the state has depressed the ratio in the district considerably. Range I Range II Range III Range IV (upto 840) (841-940) (941 -999) (1000 & above) The northern-most districts of DarjeeJing and Jal­ Howrah (833) Darjeeling (882) Birbhum (968) paiguri, especially the latter, have substantial, in-mig.. rant male labour in the tea plantations which has Calcutta (636) Jalpaiguri (887) Bankura (958) contributed to a large extent to the exec:;s of males Cooch Behar (916) Purulia (963) over females. In the hills district of . Darjeeling W. Dinajpur (921) Midnapur (945) wbich has a small population of 181,777 only, the Twentyfour in-migration from outside the district to the newly Parganas (882) Maida (948) emerging urban sprawl around Siliguri has also pla­ Hooghly (896) Nadia (948) yed a part in pulling down the sex ratio. Statement Burdwan (886) V.6 will show that the sex ratio in the urban areas of the district (793) is among the lowest in the state except in the industrial districts of the Calcutta region. The districts with low sex ratios are distributed Sex ratio 10 police ItatJODl' over three regions, of the districts of Darjeeling and JaJpaiguri in the extreme north, . the districts in the If the districts reveal a mixed pattern of high and Calcutta industrial belt in Central West Bengal and the low sex ratios, the police stations within the districts industrial and mining district of Burdwan in the West. also highligh.t some interesting features.

STATEMENT V.8 Distribution of police stationl b, failles of sex ratio

Ranges of sex ratio Diatrict RanJe I Range II RanpIll aaDle IV up to 840 841-940 94.1 .. 999 1000 .nd above

t 2 3 4 s DarjeeJiD, 1. 8iJipri (735) '~" .' " 1. Pulbazar (937) 1. Sukhiapokhri (m) 1. Jore Buaplow (1010)

, I 2. N~~baril(827) '.', 2. DarjeellQ '(914) , 2. RaDali \ \< J :; I . "I ',,'"' Ranaliot "(980) 3. Mim (917) , .,..~ ... <'3;;~ (889) 4.a~.,.(8m 4. KunooDl (941) 5. PhaDUdew. (879) ~. Kbaribari (896) 166

STATEMENT V.8-Contd.

1 2 3 4 5

JaJplliguri 1. Rajganj (848) 2. JaJpaiguri (870) 3. Mal (885) 4. Mitiali (915) 5. Maynaguri (890) 6. Nagrakata (906) 7. Dhubguri (889) 8. Birpara (898) 9. Falakata (894) 10. Madarihat (903) 11. AJipur Duars (889) ] 2. Kalchini (877) 13. Kumargram (916)

Cooch Behar t. Haldibari (887 ) 2. Mekliganj (904) 3. Mathabhanga c9:4) 4. Sitalkuchi (909) 5. Cooch Behar (907) 6. Tufanganj (934) 7. Dinhata (925) 8. Aitai (932)

West Dinajpur J. Chopra (893) I. Kushmundi (954) 2. Islampur (884) 2. Itahar (952) 3. GoaJpokhar (908) 3. Bangshihari (960) 4. Chakalia (924) 4, Tapan (959) 5. Karandjghi (919) 6. Raiganj (894) 7. Hemtabad (914) 8. Kaliaganj (909) 9. Gangarampur (936) 10. Kumarganj (938) 11. Balurgbat (914) 12. Hili (927)

MaIda 1. Harish J. Kharba (947) Cbandrapur (940) 2. Gajole (9'4) 2. English Bazar (917) 3. Bamangola (973) 4. Habibpur (966) St Manikchak (972) 6. Ratua (948) 7. MaIda (949) B. ICaliaohat (949) 167

STATEMENT V.8-eontd.

1 2 3 4 S

Mursbidabad 1. Farrakka (909) 1. Jiaganj (943) 2. Beldanga (929) 2. Jalangi • (950) 3. Berhampur (936) 3. Shamsherganj (980) 4. Suti (973) S. Raghunath- ganj (9S6) 6. Sagardighi (983) 7. Laliota (967) 8. Bhagw8ngola (959) 9. Raninagar (954) 10. Murshidabad (953) 1 t. Nabagram (965) 12. Khargram (964) 13. Burwan ,965) 14. Kandi (955) 15. Bharatpur (972) 16. Haribarpara (955) 17. Nawada (968) 18. Domkal (953)

Nadia 1. Nabadwip (940) ]. Kaliganj (946) 2. Kalyani (8!l3) 2. Nakasipara (947) 3. Chapra (950) 4. Karimpur (961) 5. Tehatta (958) 6. Krishnaganj (959) 7. Krishnagar (954) 9. Santipur (947) 9. Hanskhali (944) JO. Ranaghat (947) 11. Chakdab (947) 12. Haringhata (943)

Twenty-four 1. Bijpur (772) 1. Bangaon (938) 1. Gaighata (944) Pargaoas 2. Naibati. (804) 2. Rajarhat (915) 2. Habra (945) 3. JagatdaJ (679) 3. Barasat (927) 3. Bagdah (952) 4. Noapara (755) 4. MaheshtoJa (842) 4. Deganga (972) 5. Barrackpore (693) 5. Behala (853) S. AmdaDga (952) 6. Titaaarh (700) 6. Jadavpur (859) 6. Bhangar (958) 7. Kharda.h (840) 7. Sonarpur (8'1) 7. Magrahat (951) 8. Belghoria (755) 8. Bishnupur ,934) 8. Mandirbazar (956) 9. Baranagar (800) 9. Basanti (924) 9. Swarupnapr (966) 10. Dum nuni (814) 10. Kultali (913)' 10. Baduria (969) 11. GaN1en Reach (729) 11. Diamond (933) 11. Basirhat (953) Harbour , '., 168 • ' , STATEMENT V.8-CoDtd.

1 2 3 4 5

Tweotyfour 12. Metiabriz (7.0) 12. Mathurapur; (927) 1Z. Baruipur (943)

Parganas 13. Budge Budge (830) ,13. , Patharpratima. (919) 13. Canning (942) 14. Kakdwip (925) 14. Jaynagar (942) IS. Sa,ore (929) 15. Falta (942) 16., Minakhan (938) 16. Kulpi (944) 17. Hasnabad (935) 17. Namkhana (941) 18. Sandcshkhali (918) 18. Haroa (949) 1,9. HingaJl8nj (929) 20. Gosaba (916) :~~~, \ . , Howrah I. Bally (725) 1. LUuah (875) 1. Udaynarayan- (986) pur 2. Howra city (679) 2. Domejur (904) 2. Panchla (942) .:,";, (79~) (926) 3. ~~~,~rai1., 3. Jagathallavpur 4. Dawna (708) 4. BagnaD (923) 5. UJuberia (895)

Calcutta Calcutta (M.e.) (638) .. ".,HOOIhJy 1. MOira (798) 1. Dhaniakhali (940) 1. Arambash (945) 'I: It) 2. Bbadreswar (692) 2. Chinsurah (817) 2. Pursurah (943) , • \ 'I

3. Ser~mpore (762) 3. Tarakeswar (926) 3. Goghat (983) 4. Uttarpara (817, 4. Haripal (929) 4. Khanakul (956) S. Singur (9J4) S. Balagarh (951)

6. ChaDdernagore (849) 8. Polba (9.54) 7. Chanditala (933) 7. Dadpur (973) 8. Panduab (547)

Burdwan J. Chittaraojan (781) 1. SaJanpur (877) 1. Ausgram (976)

2. Kulti (792) 2. Barabani (875) 2. GaJsi (965) 3. Hir-pur (774) 3. Kaksa (939) 3. Khandaghosh (973)

•• Asansol (762) 4. Bud Bud (920) •• Raina (957) l ~ ., I 5. Jamuria (75S) 5. BurdwaD (972) S. Jamalpur (957) (,_ ;.1 6. Ranipnj (695) 6. Bhatar (978)

7. Ondal (690) 7. 1rfoDgalkot (992) 8. F:aridpur (80D 8. Ketugram (984)

~ j , '. j 9. Durppur (768) 9. Katwa (96S)

10. ---Monteswar (972) . ' , 11. Purbaathali (962) ~ ",.' ~ ;:'" " 12. Kalna (9.57) 13. Memari (942) " 169

STATEMENT V.8-Contd.

1 2 3 4 ':' S , :~'

Birbhum 1. Suri (937) 1. Muraroi (977)

2. Nalhati (975)

3. Rampurhat (959) 4. Moyureshwar (967)

S. Muhammad (962) Bazar

6. Rajoqar (979)

7. Khoyrasole (971)

8. Dubrajpur (978)

9. lIlambazar (976) 10. Bolpur (957) 11. Labhpur (990)

12. Nanoor (990)

t 3. Sainthia (948)

Bankura 1. Indpur (935) 1. Salton (964) 2. Borjora (964) 3. Oan.ajal- ghati (970) 4' ehhatna (974)

S. ODd. (967) 6. Ranibandb (952)

7. Raipur (952)

8. Bishnupur (970)

9. Sonamukhi (963)

10. Patra•• ir (980)

11. Joypur (973)

12. Indas (965)

13. Kotalpur (966)

14. Mcjhia (947) is. Bankura (94S)

16. Khatra (942) 17. Simlapal (921) 18. Taldanara (9SO) 110

STATEMENT V.8-Coneld . ._-_.,.--_ .. _---- 1 2 .3 4

Midnapore 1. Kharaspur (938) 1. Binpur (978) 2. Kharagpur (851) 2. Jamboni (959) Town 3. Midnapur (889) 3. GopibaUavpur (953) 4. Keshpur (936) 4. Sankrail (976) 5. Garhbeta (950) S. Nayagram (963) 6. Moyna (940) 6. Mohanpur (953) 7. Tamluk (938) 7. Keshiari (961) 8. Sutahata (923) 8. Sabang (952) 9. Nandigram (928) 9. Pingla (956) 10. Bhagw8npur (945) 10. Salbani (962) 11. Pataspur (949) 11. Chandrakona (969) 12. Contai (940) 12. Ghatal (972) 13. Khejri (936) 13. Daspur (979) 14. Egra (95J) 15. Ramnagar (975) 16. Digha (956) 17. Jhargram (943) 18. Dantan (943) 19. Narayangarh (942) 20. Debra (942) 21. Garhbeta (950) 22. Panskura (949) 23. MahisadaI (946) 24. Bhagwanpur (945) 25. Pataspur (949)

Purulia 1. Purulia Town (898) 1. Jhalda (976) 2. Neturia (9OS) 2. Jaipur (965) 3. Arsha (955) 4. Baghmundi (964) S. Balarampur (966) 6. Barabazar (984) 7. Purulia (970) Murrasil 8. Para (960) 9. Raghunathpur (953) 10. Santuri (966) 11. Kashipur (954) 12. Hura (972) 13. PuD.c;ba (986) 14. Manbazar (971) 15. Ballduaa (179) 171

Out of 291 police· stations in the state, 32 are The middle range of sex ratio between 841 and found to be in the very low sex ratio range of 840 or 940 is observed in 98 police stations. Many of the less, that is, SO points or more below the state ave­ rage. There are 98 police stations with sex ratios urban areas of the state are situated in these .. police ranging between 84L and 940, that is, within 50 stations. points on either side of the state average and 160 police stations are with sex ratios of 941 to Q99 In Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar, which are conti­ Jore Bungalow (Darjeeling) is the only police station guous, aU the police stations are in the middle range in the state with a ratio favourable to the females. of sex ratio. Cooch Behar is a predominantly agri.. There are 10 10 femates for every 1000 males in this cultural district with a low degree of urbanisation police station. with the small urban settlements distributed almost equaUy over all the police stations. It has a sizeable All but two of the 32 police stations which have in-migrant population which again comprise mainly Jow sex ratios of below 840 are concentrated in the airiculturists. There was, therefore, little scope for Calcutta and Durgapur-Asansol industrial regions. 13 the sex ratio to vary wideiy from police station to of them heing in Twentyfour Parganas, 4 in Howrah, police station. 4 in Hooghly and 9 in Burdwan. Preponderance of males in these police stations is due to the in-migrant male labour in the industrial units and preponderance Rural-urban variations in sex ratio 1901-71 of other male migrants. For similar reasons the sex ratios are below 800 in all but one of the 9 police Be it towards the industrial towns and cities or stations of the Asansol.. Durgapur industrial-mining service towns or towns of any other functional cate­ belt. These police stations comprise the industrial gory, the volume of rural to urban migration as also towns and cities of Durgapur, Asansol, Raniganj, migration from one urban area to another, in search K ulti Chittaran]an etc. Siliguri and Naxalbari are of fresh or better living conditions, has always the other two police stations beyond the old in been a prominent factor in making the sex ratio dustrial belts of southern and western West Bengal uneven in the urban areas. As Statement V.9 where the sex ratios are appreciably below the state will show, the sex ratio has tended to equality in tho level. The low ratios of 735 and 827 respectively rural areas of many of the districts although the pro­ for the two police stations can be attributed to the portion of the sexes is very much adverse to the presence of the newly emerging urban centre at Sili­ females in the districts as a whole. Even in districts guri with its new industrial units, fast expanding trade like Howrah, Twentyfour Parganas, Hooghly and and commerce, university campus, cantonment, rail.. Burdwan where the sex 1'atios ar.e quite low, the rural way settlements, etc., and also to the existence of tea areas have more than 900 females for every 1,000 plantations and forest areas. males.

STATEMENT V-9

Chan,es in sex ratlo io districtt, (1961-1971) ------Unit 1901 1911 1921 1931 1941 1951 1961 1971

1 2 3 4 S 6 7 I 9 10

WEST BENGAL Total 945 925 90S 890 852 865 871 891 Rural 994 982 971 961 945 939 943 Ml ,(I ",. Urban 6Sl 614 591 578 SS9 660 701 151

.' ~. 172

STATEMENT V.9-Contd.

1 3 6 , 8 1) 10

DarjeeliD, Total 876 871 898 881 884 863 864 882 Rura) 894 893 912 906 912 903 909 910 Urbau 690 666 777 728 736 721 731 793

JaJpaiguri Tota) 843 ~29 856 830 836 825 854 887 Rural 849 835 862 838 846 838 863 893 Urban 580 SS9 616 581 594 679 768 829

Cooch Behar Total 881 873 877 886 879 855 890 916 Rural 892 885 888 896 893 867 899 923 Urban 540 529 575 621 608 713 774 837

West DiDajpur Total 918 920 929 923 910 884 906 921 Rura) 918 920 929 923 913 890 914 921

Urban '00 '0, 583 771 821 863

MaIda Tota) 1007 1004 991 989 983 966 965 948· " ' RUral 1012 1008 996 995 988 971 969 951 Urban 854 861 802 814 827 853 873 896

Murshidabad Total 1040 1022 1006 1005 990 973 974 956, Rural 1046 1028 1012 1011 996 978 979 958 Urban 940 941 935 926 919 923 920 933

Nadia Total 1014 996 956 951 945 937 948 948 Rural 1006 988 946 947 941 940 952 952 Urban 1082 1067 1035 981 973 927 933 929

Twentyfour Parpnas Tota) 918 881 855 849 826 846 866 882 Rural 952 941 933 933 912 924 932 935 Urban 740 639 577 574 581 666 737 '793

Howrah Total 935 892 864 834 788 810 808 833, Rural 1054 1006 990 948 920 92.5 940 941 Urban 584 564 520 537 528 610 644 702

Calcutta Tota) 518 492 48'7 468 456 580 612 636

Rural 00. '00 ... '.0 Urban 518 492 487 468 456 580 612 63&

HoocbJy Total 982 959 921 879 864 883 896 Rural 1027 1014 998 956 944 955 940- Urban 760 707 642 627 633 690 784 ',' Total 1004 997 965 934 893 888 ,886· Rurai 1015 1010 979 958 946 918 Urban 833 813 788 694 678 *777 78S 1'3

STATEMENT V.9-- Concld.

2 3 4 5 6 1 8 u 10

Bit'bhum Total 1029 1017 !004 1005 999 974 973 968 Rural 1031 1019 1009 1010 1008 984 984 914 Urban 848 861 825 198 861 851 844 893

Bankura Total 1032 1024 t002 996 978 981 981 958 Rural 1031 1025 J006 1000 984 984 987 961 Urban 1042 1012 956 927 904 946 905 920

Midnapore TotaJ 1006 1000 991 975 955 955 952 945 Rural 1009 1006 997 985 966 961 963 9S2 Urban 935 847 829 803 798 885 830 865

PUTlllia Total 1011 1001 997 989 977 983 973 963 Rural 1015 1006 1002 995 986 988 979 970 t!1rban 900 889 881 861 848 921 889 890

- ,,~~ .. ,.-.. -." ... ~ , ... ,. ,-_ .. ------,_ .. - ..

The statement shows the sex ratios in the rural The four districts in the arid western zone of the and urban areas of the districts and also traces the state, namely, Birbhum, Bankura. Midnapore and changes in the ratio in die rural and urban areas of rurulia, and the agricultural districts of MaIda, Mur­ the state and the· distrkts since ] 90 J • The rural shidabad and Nadia in the central zone, which inci.. areas of the state which had a virtual equality of the dentalJy had the hig.hest sex ratios amongst the sexes in 1901 recorded a continuous and steady fall districts in 1971, had an excess of females over in the sex ratio till 195 1. The ratio recovered mar­ malts in the beginning of the century f, r the total as ginally in 1961 and the recovery was maintained in well as their rural areas. All of them except Nadia ) 971. lJrban West Bengal, however, had a fluctua­ maintained this position till about 1931 and then, ting ratio tiJl 1941 and showed a sharp upward following the general pattern in the state and else" movement in the decade 1941-~ 1 due, partly, to where in the country. the sex ratio turned to be settlement of displaced persons from East Pakistan in more and more disadvantageous to the fair sex even and around the urban areas in the wake of partition. in their rural areas Bankura (920), Murshidabad From 559 in 1941 the urban sex ratio shot up to (933) and Nadia (929) are three districts in which 660 in 1951 and in the course of the la't two the urban sex ratios are still the highest in West decades it has rapidly gained another hundred points Bengal. These are preponderantly agricultural and reachc:d 751 in 1971. distrkt8.

Darjeeling, West Dinajpur ar,d Cooch Behar are In the districts of Birbhum, M21da and Puruliu t tbree districts which show .little variation in their sex too,. Which happen to be among the areas with high ratio during the seven decades &ince 1901 for the sex ~atios, the urban ratios are close to 900. Except total population as \\ eU as for their rural components. for Nadia, the urban areas of all tbese districts are The little variations that are observed in these districts comprised mostly of residential and service towns have been due almost entirely to the cbange in the where migratory movements have not been entirely or urban sex .ratio coupled with the growth of their , la.r,gcly male-dominated to depress the sex. ratios un­ urban population. Uke in, other large towns and cities. 174

-~ .. ---- In the case of Nadia towns like Nabadwip or -- 1901 1911 1921 1931 1941 1951 1961 1971 FuIia or Santipur Ranaghat cannot be classified as or 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 service towns. They have substantial secondary sectors also in the economy. But they are at the Total 1014 996 956 951 945 937 948 948 lame time residential towns also and have attracted Rural 1006 988 94ti 947 941 940 952 952 migrants (from East Pakistan as well as from within Urban 1082 1067 1035 981 973 927 933 929 the districts) for residential purposes too. Entire families of artisans, have settled in towns like Naba­ The present position in the cistrict may be a d\\ ip and Fulia ~ a fact which has not alJowed the continuation of the decades-old trend. sex ratio to be unduly adverse to females. The Sex ratio among workers and non-workers urban sex ratio (929) in the district compares favour­ ably wjth, and is llot in fact much below. the rural While the sex ratio bas been unfavourable to ratio of 952. The sex ratio in urban Nadia had been females in varying degree for all or the state, its higher than in· rural Nadia until only thirty years districts and its rural as well as urban areas the same back in J941. among the workers has been still more depressing. Owing mainly to social, cultural and economic factors, The sex ratio in Nadia district in its urban and the work participation rate among females has been rural components is shown below since 1901. very low indeed throughout the state as in the whole of india. Against 924,833 female workers, there are 11,444,111 male workers· i e., for every 1000 male workers there are only 88 female workers in the blate.

STATEMENT V.lO

Sex: ratio of workers and ol)n-workers in West Bengal and districts (1971) ,-----_.••.. _-----_.. --_. Sex Ratio

Tota) 'Non-workers' Unit Rural Categories of workers Urban 1 II III IV V (a) V (b) VI VII VIn IX X

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

WEST BENGAL Total 2~ 144 426 57 150 33 2S 22 22 143 1664 Rural 29 146 468 59 178 58 33 3S 23 93 1744 Urban 33 87 33 28 86 25 21 18 21 180 1432 Darjeeling Total 412 397 932 S9 337 68 139 64 84 148 1353 Rural 412 400 ~44 lOS 609 72 234 9S 145 129 1330 Urban 400 317 198 21 134 58 17 47 61 177 1426

JaJpaiguri Total 24 81 i27 379 114 51 44 21 31 152 1589 Rural 24 83 732 391 126 62 58 26 37 127 1S97

Urban a~ 42 33 88 22 18 12 22 216 1520 Cooch Behar Total 13 51 111 533 210 83 17 24 16 lOS 18'3 Rural 13 51 128 429 213 101 17 34 21 60 J885· 'Urban 18 61 31 625 193 5S 17 to 13 179 1474 175

,I STATEMENT V.lO-ConcJd . .-.- ..... ----.-.------... - .. -.---.. ----.------~-~-----,._----,-- 1 2 3 4 s 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 -_,....------_._----_- -., .. _-_ .... _-- West Dtnajpur Total 17 109 164 13 229 69 16 16 14 93 1837 Rural ]7 110 181 22 252 101 19 25 15 62 1890 Urban 23 77 8 152 28 13 10 13 140 1430 MaMa Total 14 112 18 ]597 236 130 20 74 11 139 181S Rural 14 113 79 1800 249 151 22 93 10 119 1831 Urban 29 106 56 44 29 IS 23 12 '206 1514 Murshidabad Total 18 35 37 95 393 82 10 44 8 134 1794 Rural J8 34 38 197 4Q8 105 6 60 5 91 1817 Urban 45 54 23 322 39 2J 21 14 224 1572 Nadia Tota) 11 42 51 67 68 13 19 7 165 1733 Rural 11 41 46 S9 68 10 26 6 J21 1'177 Urban 10 66 86 79 69 15 13 18 218 1560 Twentyfour Parganas Total 13 25 28 88 56 31 23 22 20 128 J637 Rural 13 24 31 200 62 32 26 27 9 99 1767 Urban ::!o 39 19 31 49 30 22 19 24 139 1422

Howl'ah Total ]4 11 26 14 3S 15 9 16 IS 124 1568 Rural J4 11 35 44 13 3 24 8 89 1689 Urban 26 13 14 105 23 16 14 13 17 146 1402 1394 Ca)€utta Total 51 92 21 17 85 20 15 16 16 210 Rural 210 1394 Urban 51 92 21 17 85 20 15 16 16 19 138 1606 Hooghly Total 19 229 52 20 70 26 26 21 Rural 19 233 66 19 70 23 20 23 16 102 J648 Urban 21 124 16 20 71 27 30 29 21 169 1493 20 31 121 1622 Burdwan Total 26 223 59 56 90 3S 47 1682 Rural 25 224 64 58 100 80 66 26 40 96 1437' Urban 42 191 29 28 71 20 36 16 26 lSO 46 44 109 1786 Birbbum Total 301 140 74 81 133 139 51 1805 Rural 30 141 80 82 139 184 54 62 S2 86 1552 Urban 64 112 23 75 57 4S 22 36 204 40 84 1694 Bankura Total 43 362 114 2S 132 45 66 32 Rural 43 161 123 26 155 49 64 32 23 60 1705 Urban 43 92 57 72 36 69 32 54 165 1571 27 26 23 99 1700 Midnapore Total 2S 232 81 7 210 102 11 80 1721 Rural 24 236 85 7 223 128 29 31 23 20 29 172 J472 Urban 27 118 24 ... ' 56 39 31 102 1818 Total 68 436 39 165. 110 56 33 181 120 66 31 26 71 1849 RU1'8.1 68 441 94- 36 lSI 1537 Urban 36 199 42 61 IS 31 27 116

As expected in a region with a low female parti· sex ratio among plantation workers in the two cipation rate of 4.4~~ the sex ratio among non· districts The sex ratio (727) among the workers of workers is as high as J 664 for the state. The ratio for this category compares favourably with tbe ratio of the rural ar.:a!t 1744 is again higher than in the 882 among tt;e g~neral population highlighting. the urban areaS for the state as a whole 1438, and also pref~rence for female labour for certain operations in all districts except in DarjeeJing where the rural in the plantltions in the two dislricts. ratio i'i 1330 against 1426 i 0 its urban areas. Dar­ jeeH'lg is the only distri-:t in the state with a relatively Sex: ratio in urban areas high femaJe participativn rate of 21 6 % compared to 4.4 i)/~ for the state. The sex ratio is somewhat high It has been observed already that the sex ratio is among agricultural labourers and also among those lower in the urban than in the rural areas throughout who are engaged in livestock, and plantations and the state. allied activities, household injustries and other services. This is true for both the state as a whole and its rural areas. The sex r, tio has varied universely with the size clas~ of the urban tmits. The bigger the size of the The sex ratio among agricultural labourers is the to~ns the JO\ver is the sex ratio. Apparently, besides highest in the districts of Purulia, Midnapore, the functional characteristics of the towns, the size of Bankura, Hooghly and Burdwan where there is a their population has played a part in determining their greater participation of women of the f-cheduled sex ratios The sex ratio is the lowest in class I towns and cities and the highest in ( ase of trjbe~; and also of the scheduled castes in agricultural class VI. activities. These are districts in which canal irriga­ tion lS qujte extensive, multiple cropping is ex-teDd· ing' and consequently, there is a higher demand for STA.TEMENT V.ll labour in agriculture. Ln Darjeeling the participation of the hard-working females as agricultural labo'Jrers Sex ratio of class I cities in the terraces of the hills is quite heavy and the sex ratio in the category is 400 in the rural areas of the Town Sex ratio PopulatioD district. Be,ide manufacturing, trade and commerce, storage and communications and transport are the 1. Bhatpara 624 204,750 most male-dominated of all the industrial categories 2. Calcutta 636 3.148.746 and the sex ratio is the 10 Nest in them. 3. Howrah 679 737.877 ] n the secondary sector' of the economy the 4. GarJcn Reach 729 154.913 number of women in the household industries 5. Asansol 751 155.968 is sizeable in some districts like Cooch Behar, Maida, West Dinajpur, Midna.pore, Murshidabad, 6. Kamarhati 755 169,404 Purulia and, of course. in DJ.rjeeting, and is 7. Dursapul' 764 206.638 generally larger in the rural areas in all the districts. In the large and medium scale manufacturing indus­ 8. Seramporc 765 102,023 tries on the other hand~ the employment of women is 9. Baranqgar 800 136,842 not viewed favourably by the employers and women 807 143,318 "orkers are scarce in such units except in rice mins, )0. Burdwall biri m:lking. etc. The sex ratiois consequentty low 11. Panihati 811 148,046 for the state and also for the districts among the 12. South Dum Dum 872 174.342 industrial workers. In the districts of Darjeeling 161,257 and Jalpaiguri, whete all the tea plantatioQC1 of 'the 13. Kharagpur 851 state are cO.Deentrated, female puticipation rates are 14. South Suburban 8S1 272,600 . the highest in the state, being 21.6 and 10.0 respec­ 1S. Hoolhl-y Chinsurah 871 105.241'., tively. Women constitute a sizeable proportion or workers in the. plantations as is wtlected in the hiah 177

Bhatpara (Twenty four Parganas) is, an industrial Statement V.I! indicates that tbe industrial town with a concentration or j'Jte milts, employing towns tend to have a lower sex ratio as manufactur­ 52,000 male workers in the manuf4cturing industries. ing industries emptoy more ml1es than females. At It has the lowest sex ratio among cities I. CaLutta the otber extreme are residential and service towns in city, the only metropolis and the commerciil trading which the ratio is comparatively higb, thougll not and industrial centre of eastern India, cornel nelCt close to the ratio in the rural areas. The reasons (636). The sex ratio is low in Calclltta as in other are obvious. Th~ populations of these urban centres metropolitan cities because of the pre;ence of a are largely co 'Htituted of native9 of tll! places atld ~izeabJe number of male migrants, from withill as the in·migrants from outsid~ have also settled in the well as outside the s~ate. who have left behind their localities with whole fa'llilies to become part of women-folk. The ratio is below 700 in the twin th' r:sident population. This has narrowed down city of Howrah. also for similar reasons. It is the sex disparity. Towns in w~lich primary activities between 700 and 80') in Garden Reach. Asansol, are still an important, if not th! major, employer may Kamarhati. Durgapur. Serampore and Baranagar, also be bracketed in this c.ategory. which are all industrial town .. with large in-migrant by populations which h we d .!preHed the se~ ratios. The Sex ratlo ale·grollps: West Bengal and districts remaining cities also have Sex ratios below th~ state A look at the sex ratio~ in the ~tate and jts average of 891. districts by age-groups at this stage may be of help to appreciate the trend in the ratio and its likely Sex ratios in individual cities of the same class impact on the future growth of the population. The may not vary with po putation size alone. but func­ sex ratios by age-groups are shown in Statement tional characteri-;tics also affect the se" ratio. V.12.

STATEMENT V.ll

Sex ratio by Age groups (1971)

.... ".~ ...... ,_~ _ ..•.. _._~ .,.m, - _. _' __ '., .....c •• -_._----" -_. ~---~.------._. ------.-~--- ._._-----._.'-'... ' .. - ..--.,------...... ,-----." .. ,~.--.-..• --.... Unit Total Aae-- no. Rural 0-4 5-14 15-19 20-24 25-29 30-39 4{) -49 SO -59 60+ stated Urban

1 2 3 4 S 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 WEST BENGAL To'al 1019 944 848 915 883 820 696 786 992 1317 Rural 1032 956 876 1005 981 913 781 847 1021 1344 Urban 96J 902 778 735 681 631 513 624 90S 686

1. Darjeeling Total 965 950 964 984 .854 821 693 663 804 602 Rural 971 959 1007 1053 902 868 .730 676 817 436 Urban 939 921 846 807 718 689 S83 618 763 726

2. Jalpaiguri Total lf46 Jl22 1004 910 824 674 583 567 640 1682 Rural 1162 1139 1021 920 825 675 S85 S60 611 1945 Urban 950 983 883 831 814 664 558 655 939 333

3. Cooch Behar Total 1059 1128 824 843 780 787 624 802 777 S308 .Rural 1063 772 82S 847 775 790 623 811 772 6310 'Urbah 981 849 822 ,80S 832 745 628 673 849 1.533

4. West Dinajpur Total 1024 9SS 781 1078 ,1025 886 756 796 828 1189 llural 1022 9SS 777 1107 ' 1035 894 770 813 8U 1165 Urban 1060 956 80' 866 927 809 623 639 777 ZSOO 178

STATEMENT V.l2-Concld

1 2 3 4 s 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

5. Maida Total 1071 938 908 935 1011 936 797 810 1084 6684 Rural 1074 938 911 939 1017 941 800 810 1079 7164 Urban 997 932 851 864 893 828 734 821 1180 833

6. M ursbidabad Total 1024 950 858 995 1027 957 831 897 1106 1900 RUral 1025 949 851 1008 1037 965 836 8<)8 1104 123() Urban lOll 959 923 888 939 882 781 893 1132 308

. 7. Nadia Total 1015 967 841 958 975 915 810 925 1127 805 Rural 1016 963 829 979 J005 928 812 929 1136 819' Urban Ion 986 825 886 868 864 798 912 ]098 765

8. Twentyfour Parganas Total 992 918 861 919 896 839 687 ':"62 984 966 Rural 1013 926 879 996 992 964 793 820 989 751 Urban 936 901 834 8t3 760 684 544 664 973 1202

9. Howrah Total 1063 948 818 789 736 703 582 752 1009 549' Rural t100 tOl0 911 897 848 841 721 897 1075 385 Urban 985 862 714 684 634 581 448 556 884 594

10. Calcutta Total 938 873 680 584 526 517 436 509 760 2145 Rural ••• ... Urban 938 873 680 584 526 517 436 509 760 2145 11. HooghJy Total 978 947 831 894 888 827 740 849 1054 657 Rural 987 960 814 940 995 936 847 ~91 1076 570 Urban 937 904 877 798 698 636 538 750 995 736 12. Burdwan Total 1031 916 849 961 876 790 682 805 1106 287 'R ural 1034 921 881 998 927 854 745 845 113t 1246- Urban 101 S 900 750 868 755 635 496 658 1002 171 13. Birbhum Total 995 924 885 1113 1065 950 8J2 1051 1282 545 Ilural 1000 923 885 1134 )074 9SS 822 1070 1300 667 Urban 918 939 885 916 969 887 695 798 1026 36 14. Bankura Total 1020 1007 813 1010 10J9 896 765 975 1144 J884 Rural 1022 1012 806 1022 1022 892 766 981 1163 1989 Urban 990 952 897 893 989 938 754 892 904 ] S. MidDapore Total 1020 923 905 1042 1029 972 809 812 925 1319 RuraJ 1022 923 910 1062 J041 982 832 820 984 1329 Urban 983 934 856 855 900 878 589 708 1004 97 16. Purulia Total 1MJ 887 909 lJ 04 1024 ]005 854 908 1 J 87 704 Rural 1045 884 920 1117 ]034 1018 871 918 1J 87 567 Urban 982 917 805 980 914 881 678 788 1197 6000 179

For the whole state the sex ratio is adverse to Calcutta, Howrah, Burd wan, Twentyfour Parsanas, females for all age groups except group 0-4. The Jalpaiguri and to some extent Hooshly are districts -ratio exceeds unity (1019) in age group 0 .. 4 and with sizeable prJportions of in migrants In their popu­ ·comes down steadily and rapidly to 944 in 5·14 and lation. While the in-migrants have pulled down the 10 848 in 15-11/. With almost universal marriage sex ratio of the general population in these districts, for girls and that I too, at a young mean age of the proportion of women is particularly low in the around 15. the Jow ratio of 848 in the young and late child-bearing age groups 40·49 and also in -early child-bearing age group of 15-19 may be indica· group 50-59 When women migrate the least to these tive of higher mortality among young mothers. After areas. On the other hand, the rapid and almost uni .. a short recovery in the next age group 20-24, the versal gain in tbe sex ratio in tbe old age group 60 + Tatio plunges to 6()6 in the late child-bearing age of may be attributed partly to the biological resilience 40·4Q. It moves up again until it reaches almost of women and partly to the return flow of retiring parity (992) in the old age 60+. In rural areas migrants from urban centres of work to ~heir places the trend is similar to the state total. It is signifi­ of birth. <:aot, however, that the ratio is above unity in the rural ar~as in age group 20-24 and close to unity in Sex ratio iD the cities by age-groups the next group 25-29. In some of the districts, namely, West Dinajpur, Maida, Murshidabad, Nadia, Birbhum, Baokura, Midnapur and Purulia, Statement V. 13 presents the sex ratio in the females outnumber males in age group 25-29. cities of the state by the broad age-groups.

STATEMENT V.13

Sex: ratio by age-groups in citil'l

All 0-l4 15-19 20-24 25-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60+ Age Dot District/City ages stated 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Twenleyfour Parlsna4J 1. Bhatpara (M) 624 848 635 638 565 476 366 461 714 333 2. Panihati (M) 811 929 929 874 761. 645 517 707 106l 100

3. Kamarhati (~) 755 893 832 826 751 620 463 606 971 1267 4. Baranagar (M) 800 940 816 88S 761 666 564 628 1033 5. South Dum Dum (M) 812 906 884 824 802 727 583 724 937 1000

6. Garden Reach (~) 729 846 698 709 770 696 465 5S1 748 1000 7. South Suburban (M) 851 929 915 895 914 758 577 742 1929 1333 Howrah

1. Howrah (M.C.) 679 869 709 672 621 S70 428 .'23 8S3 4.12 Calculta 1. Calcutta 636 890 680 S84 S26 517 436 S09 760 U4S Hoogbly

1. Hooghly Chinsurah (M) 877 946 938 888 785 775 686 867 1104 846 2. Seramp6re (M) 76S 824 916 854 694 603 516 934 lOll ... Burdwaa

1. Asansol (M) 751 986 "6 686 163 645 424 '68 752 t •• 2~ Durgapur (N.A) 764 919 841 1209 '685 '408 431 JJ21 1184 ... 3. Burdwan (M) 807 910 788 7:U .776 7,89 593 680 937

1. Kharaapur city lSI 950 782 830 942 9S8 sao 'IS l213 - 180

In all the cities thes ex ratio among children of birtbday succeeding the date of enumeration. To ag~ group O"J~ is relatively high compared with the ascertain the date of birth as done in some count­ ratio in an ages. It varies between 824 in Serampore ries is out of the questj"n in a country like India (against 765 for all ages) and 946 in HooghJy­ which is largely illiterate and where few people keep, Chinsurah (against 877 for all ages). In working popu· records of, or can recollect their dates of birth. lation, the ratio goes down steadily from age-.8roup to India Census has~ therefore, settled down to ascetain­ 8,ge·group reaching tbe lowest in age group 4()'49 when ing the age as the number of completed years at the it varies between 388 in Bhatpara and 686 in Hooghly­ birthday precedin& the enquiry. Chinsurah. It gains a little in the elderly age SO-S9 and then picks up further in the old age 60+. In Difficulties of enumerators the fO -j- group, the ratio is favourable in seven of the 15 cities. It is th e in-migrants in these cities It has always been a difficult task for the census. (and other urban an:as) \\ho set the pattern of enumerators in India to ascertain the age of the movement of the sex ratio in the different age groups people for few of them know and can return their in those districts. age correct to the Jlearest year. Apart from errors· due to ignorance there are other reasons also for Conclusion misreporting of the correct age. People who do· not know their exact age ttlld to estimate it by With the existing favourable Sex ratio among quinquenniums or decades or t: ven scores of years. infants and tIle slow but steady improvement in By and large, such peopJe return their age ending in maternal and child care in the stete, tbe sex ratio zero or 5. While the older people would prefer to wbich has been improving during the last tbree report their uge in decades or even scores of years at decades is likely to improve further in the coming lo\\er ages there are preferences for some particular decades. TIle gain in the sex ratio along ~ith the figures like 12 or 18. On the other hand those presC'nt age structure, will make for continued growth wl10 try to make a closer approximation prefer an of the population in the state as a whole and even number as the age rather than an odd number. especiaJly in the districts whicb have already attained Enumerators are therefore instructed tl) be particu­ sex ratios not far below unity. larly careful in collecting this simple but important information and to try to make the best possible Distribution of population by age estimates of the age of the respondents who fa)tc:r or fail to make any returns or who may return The distribution of the population by age is one figures which are apparently inconsis1ent or unaccep­ of the most important demographic cbaracteristics table. Each enumerator is provided for this purpose which is provided by the census. There is hardly with a "calendar of impottant local events" which any scope for elaborating on the importance of the may help the respOndCllt recall wl'at they were Jike data on age for the anal~sis of changes in population, when one or the other of tbe events in the 'Calendar' estimates and forecasts of population, mortality rates, occurred. assessment of man-power etc. It may suffice to say The census question on age and instructions to that the data on various other characteristics of the population 1ike migration, marital status, literacy, enumtrators fertility, economic activities etc" as obtained i .... the Information about age was collected in J971 censuses become "much mor~ meaningful for demo­ census through question 4 of the individual slip. The graphic, economic and sociological analysis when they instructions issued to the enumerators for the purpose are presented for various age .. groups". are reproduced below : .

Different methods are adopted in . different coun­ "Record the age of the person in total years tries to collect the information about the age of a completed last birthday. Very often there is a puson. In some countries the actual date of birth , tendency on the part of the individuals to return is sought to be ascertained while in some other. the 'years running' rather than the 'years completed' .. aBe is counted in completed years only with ref~ce Make sure that only tbe actual number of years. to the neatest birthday or the last birth day or the completed is tecoroed. 131

In respect of infants who might not have event etc., well know in the area. Sometlme:s the completed one year by the day of enumeration age can be ascertained with reference to the age of their age in completed years should be invariably another person of a known age that may be jn the shown as 'Of as they. have not yet completed one sam e household or in the neighbouring household or year of age and add 'Infanf in brackets. As was that of a well known rerson of the vlllage such as stated under general instructions make sure that Headman of the village, A person can more easily say infants even if a day old are inyariablY enumerated. whether be was older or younger to such a person You should not enter the age in montbs. The age of and by how many years. This will help you to an infant who has not yet completed one year should record the age more accurately.' I invariably be noted as '0' only. Age distributioD 1971 : India and West Bengal Age is one of the most important items of 1 demographic data and you should ascertain the age The distribution of population by broad age with greatest care. Many persons particularly in groupS according to 1971 census in West Bengal the rural areas cannot give their age correctJy. They and in Jndia is shown in the statement below: should be assisted to state the COrrect age by stimu.. lating their memory wHh reference to anv historical - ~

STATEMENT V.14

Distrilmtion of population by Ble-groups for West Bengal n71

West Bengal India Proportion Proportion population t\.ge .. groups Population --, ;; 3 4: 1 2 ---- 44,312,Oll 100.00 AH Ages 6,45\919 lLn i 0-4 1 ~ I 6,754,583 I5.24 r 42,S!} 5-0 r 230.253,98 i 42.92 t 5,797,540 ) 3.08J 10-14) 4,090,fH2 0.23 15-19 4'7,44.7,028 8.63 3.386,175 7,64 20-24 '3,082.378 7,S15 3,358,806 7.5S 25-29 40,799,3513 7.44- 2,963,981 6.69") 30-34") ~ 12.59 12.50 ~ 69,O.3j .4:87 2,613,586 5.90J 3fi-39J 2,226,082 5,O2~ 4:0-'(4~ 9,05 51,155,109 Q.33 1 783,636 4.03J 45-49J J 1,48] ,856 3.36 } 50-54l 5.57 6.0S S3,345,~Sl 984:,196 2.22 .'55-7i9 J 5.30 5,9e. 2,349,446 150+ 32/j~2,7M 65,593 0.]5 Age not stated 1l6,21R ('1,1"16 1~2

As expected, the age distribution in the state that the ratio of the child population (O.14) .to the follows the pattern in the country as a whole. The total population is higher in . India and in West Benpl young age-group of 0"14 constitutes as much as than in countries like U.S.A., U.K. and Ja.pan etc. 42.89% of the population in West Bengal and On the other hand the ratio of the elderly ~ple 42.02 % in all of India against which the old and (60+) to the total population is much lower in dependent age-group of 60+ comprise! 5.530/~ of the India than in the western countries. people in the state and 5.96 (/~ in India. The inter­ mediate age-group 15-59 consists of person of pro­ Ale distribution in westero couDtries ductive age supplying the working force. The proportions in this group are 51.58% and 5202% The following is a statement of the distribution respectively in West Bengal and India. A compa­ of the population by three broad age-groups in rison with some of the developed countries will show India, West Bengal and some developed countries.

STATEMENT V.15

Distribution of population by age-group.

Percentage of total population

West Age-group lndia Bengal U.S.A. U.K. Swe:\an France

0-14 42.02 42.89 28.50 22.97 22.00 23.75

15-59 52.02 51.81 57.39 59.78 60.74 57.45

60+ 5.96 5.30 14.11 17.25 17.26 18.80

The dependent population index or the ratio of total population has made for continuous growth dependent population of age groups 0-14 and 60+ of the population in India and also in other develop­ to the working age population which shows the ing and underdeveloped countries. degree of responsibility of the working age popula­ tion for family support is as higb as 92 per cent in Distribution of population by age-groups aDd sex ia India and 90 per cent in West Bengal against 74 per West Beaga\ 1971 cent each in U.S.A. and France, 65 per cent in Sweden and 67 per cent in U.K. Apart from the very impor­ Statement V.16 gives the distribution of the tant bearing of the index from the economic point of population of West Bengal by age--groups and by leX view tbe very high proportion of the children in the with rural-urban break-up in 1971. 113

STATEMENT V. 16 (a)

Diltriblltion or ,opal.ti08 by Ile·lfOUpila nral areas of W.t Beapl-1911

RURAL Total Males Females Number Porcentaac Number Percentago Number Percentage

1 2 3 4 s 6 7

All ages 3.344.978 100.00 17,173,552 100.00 J 6,171 ,426 100.00 ()..4 2,629,149 15.31) 2,713,585 78 5,342,734 16.02) 16. 1 5·9 5.375,52;' 16.12 ~ 45.34 2.671,254 15.36 ~ 44.42 2,704,268 16.72 46.33 I f 10-14 4,401,494 13.20} 2,326.218 13.55) 2.075,216 ) 2.83J 15-19 2,967,836 8,90) 1,582.025 9.211 J.385.811 8.571 I t I 20-24 2,370,081 7.11 I 1,182,366 6.88 I 1,187,715 7.35 I I I 25-29 2,378,226 7.131 1,200,409 6.991 J,177,817 7.28 I I I I 3()"34 2,086.235 6.26 I 1,018,952 6.281 1,007,283 6.23 J , I 35-39 1,832,929 5.50 ~ 49.26 969.326 5.64 ~ 50.39 863,603 5.34 ~ I I I ~ 1,562,739 4.691 865,487 5.041 697,252 4.31 I

45-49 1.310,967 3931' 747,661 4.35 ! 563,296 3.48 1 I 3. I SO-54 1,090.144 585,085 3.41 I 505,059 3.12 27J I J 55·59 760.533 2.28 416,667 2.43) 313,866 2.13 60+ 1.801,904 5.40 891,741 5.19 '10.163 5.63

Aee not atated 63,644 0.19 27.152 0.16 36,492 0.23 ------_._------'------~-----. • A.NS. added to 15·59 ia arrivinl at proportion in tbe ale-Jfollp. 114

STATEMENT V.J6 (b)

Di~tributiion Ofplp'Jlation by are-gl'oups in urblln areas or West Bengal 1971

URBAN

Tota] Males Females Number Percentage.-- Number Percentage Number Percentage

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

AII·ages 10.967,033 ]00.001 6,262,435 100.001 4,704.598 100.00 1 ()"4 1,113,185 567,772 9.07 I 545,413 11.59 \ lO.15} I 59 1,379,061 12.58 35.46 712,516 11.38 ~ 32.37 666,545 14.17 >- 39.57 1()"14 1.396,046 ]2.73 746,580 11.92J 649,466 13.81 J 15 .. 19 1,122.776 10.24 631,390 1008") 491.386 45 1 I 10. 1 20-24 1,016,09' 9.261 585,645 9.35 I 430,449 9.15 I 25·29 9,805,80 8.941 583,350 9.32 \ 397,230 8.44 I I I I 30-34 877,746 8.00 I 525,136 8.39 352,610 I 1 7.50 I 35-39 780.657 7.12 ~ 59.55 491,722 7.85 ~ 63.04 288,935 6.14 r 54.90 I , 40-44 663,343 6.05, 430,829 6.88 I 232.514 4.94 i I 45-49 472.679 4.31 , 320,021 5.11 152,658 3.24 J' SO-54 391.712 3.S7J 245,235 3.91 146,477 3.11 55·59 223.663 2.04 133.622 2.13 90,041 1.91 60+ 547,542 4.99 287,461 4.59 260,081 5.53 0.02 1,949 0.02 1,156 0.02 7.93

A.N.S. added to 1559 in arrivina at proportion ill tb- age group The proportion of children in the rural areas of is appreciably higher than that of women both in the state is much more than in the urban areas. It the rural and urban areas. Wh.He the proportion: is 45.34 per cent in the former against 35.46 per cellt of the two lexes are close to each other in this qe. ~ in the latter. The aged people in age-group 60+ are group in the rural areas (50.39: 48.04) the same almost of equal proportions in tbe two sector•. differ widely in the urban areas, beiDa 63.04 per c:ent This means the total dependency ratio in the rural for males and 54.90 per cent for females. ~reas is more than 100. A striking similarly in trend is however Dotiocd a8 one looks at the age-group Fro. • Looking at the rural and urban areas separately workioa closely. sub-groups 15·19 onward upto 55.59 the proportioDi and sexwise it is observed that tbe proportion of of mates as well al females are coming dow. children in age-group 0-14 is larger among female, uniformly and gradually both in tho rural and in than among males in the rural as well as in urban urban areas. As the people pass into tho .pgroup areas. But while the proportions are almost equal of 60 and over, however, femalea have a higher in the rural areas (44.4 2~~ for males and 46.33 % proportion of their number than the males ill the old­ for females) they are wide apart in the urban ,areas, being 32.37 per cent for males and 39.57 age..ll'oup. per cent for females. Ale 4istributio8 Ie districts In the productive age-group IS-59, on the con­ trary, the proportion of the people is higher in the The following Statement lives th., distributioa of urban than in the rural areas the proportions being tho total population in the state and its districts 59.55 per cent and 49.26 per cent resPectively. Sex­ b, wise, again the proportion of males in this age-group age-groups. 116 STATEKENT

Distribution of populath.:n by age-aroups in West

0-14 15-19 20-24 25-29

State/District Total Population Pertentaac PopuJaticn Pcrt(ntage Pc ):uJaticn Penentsgc F(~ulaticn Per(.cnta&e population

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 , 10

West BeDaa] 44,312,011 19.008,042 43.89 4,090.612 9.23 3,386.175 7.64 3,353,306 7.52 Darjeeling 781,777 319.791 40.90 80,444 10.29 70,617 9.03 65.065 8.32 JaJpaiguri 1.750,159 756,937 43.25 155,028 8.86 128,474 7.34 137,489 7.86

Coach Behar J.41 4,J 83 673,061 47.59 125,539 8.88 90,922 6.43 93.437 6.61

West Dinajpur 1,859,887 862.109 46.35 J 52:990 8.23 127,537 6.86 138,632 7.45 Maida 1,612,657 760,266 47.14 146,735 9.10 107,199 6.65 112,263 6.96 Murshidabad 2.940,204 1,408,977 47.92 271,499 9.23 292,593 6.89 190,465 6.48

Nadia 2,230,270 1,023.222 45.88 208,188 9.33 159,836 7.17 147,396 6.61 Twentyfour Parpnas 8,449,482 3,59S,i72 42.55 775,336 9.18 687,547 8.14 676,803 8.0}

Howrah 2.417,28' 97J.210 40.18 224.684 9.29 193,332 8.00 196,157 8.11

Calcutta 3.148.746 922,583 29.3 325,698 JO.34 316.724 10.06 303,824 9.65

Hoogbly 2,872,116 1,239,405 43.15 275,976 9.61 229,120 7.98 212,790 7.41 Burdwan 3.916.174 1,695,877 43.30 356,553 9.10 295.914 7.56 299,89. 7.66 Birbbum 1.775,909 197,912 44.93 16,116 9.07 118.884 6.70 119,721 6.74 BankuTa 2,031,039 884,413 43.55 188,748 9.29 144.773 7.13 147,071 7.24 Midnapore 5.509,247 2.440,420 44.30 497,586 9.03 399,647 7.25 386,082 7.01 Purulia 1,602.875 656,387 40.95 144.492 9.02 J J 3,056 7.05 131,717 8.22 ---.--~--~.---- 181

V.17 Bengal and districts-1971 _._._,_ ..... 30-39 40-49 SO-59 60+ Aae Not Stale

Population Percentage Population Percentage Population Percentage Population Percentage Population Percentap

Jl 12 13 14 IS 16 17 18 19 20

5,577,567 12.59 4,009.118 9.05 2,466,052 5.57 2.349,446 5.30 65,593 O.U 102.001 13.05 68,021 8.70 41,720 5.34 33.913 4.34 205 0.03 225,381 12.88 159,674 9.12 104,880 5.99 82.077 4.69 219 0.01

163,447 11,56 11 1,695 7.90 78,713 5.56 76,4fJ7 5.41 902 0.06

230,167 12.38 160,283 8.62 100.057 5.38 87,869 4.72 243 001 193,889 12.02 128.989 8.00 78,437 4.86 84,272 5.23 007 004

326,376 11.10 239,831 8.16 152,960 5.20 146,968 5.00 535 0.02 246.224 11.04 187,466 8.40 125,090 5.61 132,617 6.95 231 O.Ol

1,053,794 12.47 746,057 8.83 445,683 5.27 468,096 5.54 694 0.01 338,892 14.02 228,579 9.46 135,002 5.58 129,241 5.35 189 0.01 528,738 16.79 381,666 12.12 204,358 6.49 164,960 5.24 195 0.1)1 351,589 12.24 251,738 8.76 156,337 5.44 154,417 5,38 744 0.03 518,977 13.25 361,071 9.22 204,947 5.23 181,952 4.65 989 0.03 215,168 12.12 160,699 9.05 108,041 6.08 94,177 5.30 224 0,01 243,331 11.98 183,154 9.02 121,329 5.97 117.946 5.81 274 0.0) 626,750 11.38 483,700 8.78 306,230 5.56 309,829 0.62 59,003 1.07 212.843 13.28 157,135 9.8() 102,261 6.38 84.645 S.28 339 0.02 111

The districts, by and large, follow the pattern of While the proportions of yOUDg children have­ the state as a whole. The proportion of infants and varied widely from district to district the same for the children (age-group 0-14) in the population is found aged people of 60 and above have almost been of an 'fD be the highest in the district of Mursbidabad equal order in all the districts. It is the highest in (47.92) and the lowest in the all urban district of the district of Nadia (5. 95 %) and the lowest in Calcutta (29.30). The next lowest proportion of Darjeeling (4.34%) against the proportion of 5.30 children is in the district of Howrah, the figure beinl per cent for all of the state. All the districts of the ...0. 18 per cent. The proportion is telow the state State may be said to be more or less at par so far as average (42,890/0) in the districts of Calcutta (29.30) longivity is concerned. It is in the middle produc­ Howrah (40.18) and Twentyfour Parganas (42.55). tive age-group of 1 ~·S9 that wide variations are These are know to be areas which receive in-migrants .bserved between the districts. belonging to the working age-group of 15-59. It is ODIy natural that these districts should have a relative­ Calcutta, the metropolitan city, has 65.46% of ly small proportions of children belonging to the its population in the working age-group. The reasons young age-group. At the other end are the districts for the high proportion are obvious and hardly need of Cooch Behar, West Dinajpur, MaIda and Nadia any elaboration. Next in order come Darjeeling with all of which have 4S per cent or more of the population 54.76 per cent, Howrah with 54.47 per cent and in the young age-group of 0-14. The fiaures for the Purulia with 53.77 per cent. While the existence of districts are: sizeable numbers of immigrant labour in the manu­ Cooch B(har 47.59% facturing units in Howrah and in plantations andin West Dinajpur 46.35% the newly emerging and expanding SiJiguri town of MaIda 47.14% DllrjeeJing may account for the high proportions of Nadia 45.88% the population being in the middle age-group in these two districts the case of Purulia is somewhat different lhese 8re predominantly agricultural districts ~ hich and deserves a closer look. had registered growth rate I appreciably above th• • tate average of 26.87'Yo during the last decade. Although part of the addition to the population may DistriltlitioB of ••Ies an4 fe ••le. by .ee-eroupi "e' attributed to in-migration from beyond the borders the natural growth bas also been quite hi&h in the 4iltricts. The high proportion of infants and child­ Statement V.18 shows the proportion of males ren in the districts is, therefore. a natural corollary and females to total males and females by age-groups .r the steady and steep rise in the population. in the state and its districts. 189

.... t­ ...... 0, O o 0 . o C'-1 .... Q o· -o -Q o o

o ...... C o o z s o ... o· -Q <::) o· "o ;: ..... t-. .' L.~ ...... ao t-• ...... l­ =...... '4:S

... N

I~ 00

..;. IN .... IX c;, .... M C M O. r- . 00 oc c· 0' o .....o - "': .... - Cl .... "1' .... I -.:f'o ...... c. oc .... I <:'1 o Cl ~I C'I .... f I IU M .... o r- Q CIl c C'I l- C': I '<:" .... ~ -ex ei el 1"'- C'I .... - -.... II": r­ 0) t:'1 t:; .... I .... 1- .. M o,z' oc. r.: • 1- c;,1eN 2 - . ,~ I CIl C'l ..... I- fH ..... o ~. <:'1 C ~ :E C .... r- IX. • 00 'Of4 I~ C': ...... o CI OC t- t- r.: l·~

l­ ei....

C C'I C I­ <:'1 Qlo t- CI t- CI ci -~ 1- OC OO o ...o -o .-el

I v IU -~ I ~ M .:-:. ..,...... c 'Of' I e ... I I 0 I~ e 00 ... QC:. t- °1"iU I­ .... I~ .... -...... o o o o o c o g c o c C; o o g c 8 c· o· o o g g o o g g g 8 c c - ...... - - o o '_.2 q :? c 8 o· C c· g o· .....:;:> o o.... o - ....

to .5 e .! .... ] -e .!9 ..c:= ~ o "0 of "2 Q 8 Z iii ...::II 190

The statement points to the following important males in the state. the figures being 5.61 %and aspects of the age structure. 5.03% respectively. The four northern-most districts of Darjeeling. Jalpaiguri. Cooch Behar and West (1) Among females the proportion of infants and Dinajput' show a deviation with low~r percentages children of age-group 0-14 is a little higher than of females than males in the age-group. among males for the state as a whole as also in all the districts except in Birbhum and Purulia where it (3) In the miJdle age groups in between the is the reverse. The disparity in the propartiol1'l is child population and age group 60 the propor­ the biggest in Jalpaiguri and Calcutta 25.36 '/"o in + tions of males are larger than of females for the case of males against 3 5.50% in case of females in state as· a whole except in the age-group 20-24. Calcutta and 3 ~.29ryo : 48.841Yo in Jalpaiguri. This is apparently due to the pattern of employment and the sex ratio among the migrant labour in the The age structure of a population can be readily two districts. gusped and appreciated with reference to the "age pyramids. ,/ The percentage distribution of males (2) The proportion of the aged people (60+ ) and females to total population by age-groups is indi­ is also slightly more among females than among cated in the Statement V.19. 191

ctl ... z z c:- z o o -0, -o ci o o ...... 1:'1 o ...... o z e z ~ 0, z o o 0' o o c: -C ctl......

CI .... r- 1-, ...... C'1 cI co C'I C'1

.­..... ~'

e ocI~ Co

o ..... t- C>, 1':'1 .... 0, ...... r:; t- c::..' ..... -cos -o o

,..... -o.. ...;

1.- <:'1 OC. .. t- 1-, - OO ~, .. - "Ot" ...... r­ cr-. -eM

IN . a; .- 0' C'I -IN CI

o g o o Q g o .~. 8 o 8 o C g' g ~. g C> g g g ...... - ...... - - -

• -::s ~ 192

Looking at the stat~'n'!nt a 1j folio ving th: a~! (15-59) and in the combined age-group of the depen­ pyramid diagram for the state it is observed that the dent population, viz., 0-14 and 60 + . At the same bottom slab or base of the pyramid i; the longest a1d time the year) 931 appears to mark the dividing line every higher slab is smaller in ltmgth than th,! lower as the period of relative stability ends with the year. stab, for there are few.!r people in it. The pyramid takes The proportion of the population in the working age­ the shape of an ho;cales triangle the apetap;:ring off group reached the peak of 60.3 ~~ in 1931 and then suddenly above the ag! 60 +. The broad bl~e is started falling. Between 193 Land 1951 the propor­ indicative of high fertility, for a large proportion of tion in the intermediate age-group came down by young people make~ for a high birth rate whicb 0.6 per cent points only. This was due more to a rise in its turn tends to brolden the bac;e further The in the proportion of the aged people of 60 -t- than population of India and \Vest Bengal is of the to a variation in the proportion of the child popula­ ~ prognssive type" on the Sundburg scale. But it tion. The child population had actually recorded a is worthwhile tl) examine how the age-structure has slight decline in proportion during the two decades behaved over time. from 36.2(~/o in 19n to J5.1% in 1951. Since 1951, horwever, the variations have been quite sharp. The Variations in age structure proportion in the productive age-group has slided The age distribution of a population tends to down to the all-time low figure of ') 1. 8% in 1971. remain stable unless disturbed by circumstances like The fall in the proportions of the working age-group sex-selective deaths due to war or epidemics. or largo populaiioin has been caused by an equal rise in the scale migration. As in many other developing and proportions of the young age-group O~ 14, from under-developed countries, the age-structure of the 35.1 oft) in 1951 to 40.9~~ in 1961 and agains to population of India as also of West Bengal is charac­ 42.9°/~ in 1971. The other component of the depen­ terized by a predominance of the young through the dent population, to wit, the age-group 60 + has decades. I n the developed countries of the west remained stable over the two de<.:ades. As already and also in Japan, on the other hand, the stated the continuous increase in the numbers and proportion of the aged people is high and that of proportion in the age-group of the young dependents. the infants and children has reached a very low level. indicates hIgh fertility whirch has ~hown no signs of The following statement traces the variation in the age any decline in the state (or the country as a whole). structure ()f West Bengal since ] 901. Jt is arparent tbat the family planning programme which were initiated as early as in 195 1 are yet to STATE\{ENf V.20 make any appreciable impact on the age structure. Proportion of population in broad age-group' The year 193 1 also H1W the lowest proportion of the West Bengal 1901-71 elderly people of 60+ and a reversal of trend there­ after is clearly noticeable. From 3.5 per cent in 1931 Year Age-groups the proportion went up 5.2 per cent in 1951 and has cvcred round 5 percent till 1971· This has not ------0-14 15-59 60+ only meant a heavier burden of dependncy for the '-- r-····---·_·-2 3 4 state but has also emphasized the growing yourhful­ ness of the population of the state. While the depen­ 1901 36.8 57.9 5.3 dency ratio is on the increase the ageing index or the 58.5 5.0 1911 36.5 propOJtion of the elders of age 60 and over to infauts 1921 35.5 60.1 4.4 and children of age 0 to 14 is on the decline in the state as well as in the country as a whole. PH1 36.2 60.3 3.5

1951 35.1 59.7 5.2 People in the intermediate age-group of 15-59

1961 40.9 54.1 5.0 are taken by convention to be economically active; t~e infants and children between 0 to 14 years and 51.8 S.3 1971 42.9 the elderly and aged people of 60 years and above are accepted as dependent on the economically The statement reveals an almost constant age-dis­ active or productive people for subsistence, medical tribution in the state over the last seven decades, care, education aDd so on. The dependency ratio there being little variation until 1961 in the propor­ may be reckoned as consisting of two components: tions in the intermediate or productive age-group (1) youth dependency ratio or the proportion or 193

the young people of 60-14 years to the population The dependency ratio has to be viewed to.ether in the working age-group 15·59 and Oi) aged with the other important demographic feature-the .dependency ratio or the proportion of the elderly ageing process which indicates a rise in the prop()r• people of 60 + to the people in the age-group IS-59. tion of the elderly and aged people. The ageing or The ratios may be represented as under: a population is caused by a decline in the birth rate. A population is said to be of an " aged type tt wben Total the proportion of the aged population in the total Youth dependency ratio +aged is very high. The "ageing index" or the proportiOD dependency - dependency ratio ratio of elders of age 60 + to young people of age 0-14 has followed an upward course over the decades in Total _Population ~r_ 0-14 plus 60+ )( 100 the western countries while the dependency ratio i. dependency lower in all of them than in the developing countriel. ratio Population 15·59 A reverse trend is observed in the developi", countries. Youth Population 10-14)( 100 dependency -- Population 15-59 The statement that follows compares the depen­ ratio dency ratios and ageing indices of the populations of Aged some advanced countries and developing countries. Population 60 + ')( 100 - ~--•. dependency - Population 15-59 ratio

STATEMENT V.2t

Age-composition of Welt Bengal. India and som. selected countries

' .. ------Dependency------ratio Country/State (with Percentage to total population Total dcpendenc, Youth dep~ndeDcy Aged dependency ---Agcina reference year) ------ratio ratio ratio iDdex 0-14 15-59 60+ [(2+4) ..... 3) (2-+-3) (4+3) (4+2xl00 2 3 -1 5 6 7 3

INDIA (1971) 42.02 51.99 5.97 92 81 II 14.2

West Bengal (1971) 42.s9 51.81 5.30 93 83 10 12.3

Persia (1966) 46.09 47.38 6.53 III 97 14 14

Egypt (1960) 42.76 51.17 6.07 95 83 12 14

Thailand (1960) 43.11 52.11 4.60 92 83 D 10 Brazil 42.67 52.44 4.73 90 81 9 11 England (1961) 22.97 59.78 17.25 67 38 29 75

USA (1970) 28.50 57.39 14.11 74 50 24 50

France (I 968) 23.75 57.45 18.80 74 41 33 79

Sweden (1960)' 22.00 60.74 17.26 65 36 29 79

Canada (1970) 32.!a 56.06 11.01 71 ~9 19 33

Japan (1965) 25.61 64.70 9.69 55 40 15 31 194

A stril:ir~ diiftTfncc in thr f ~e (( lIirnitkns (f sre urplo)

and 64, 7( % (in Jar an). 1 he sitv2.ticn is ccInpJcteJy theref(JeJ (cmicucd to be of eeoDemic advantage. tiifi'er(nt in the de'eloping countries. Whcrt'as tlie E:xprctafioD of Ufe child rcpuJation sccftmts fer 42% ard abo,e,jn aU of them rte aged pefu1atieD of (;0 ,eeTS ard atove As Stat(JTfnt V.22 s~cw{d the prorortion of the cc,mtitulcs a low prcrnticn of 4.(, % to 6.5~ % {lily. eleerly atd a~(d rcrrle of sixty )(ar5 aLd over ))ad The (!epu:dency Jatio v.hi(h Jefeets the :lEe HJucture been cntle c:eclile in the ~hte since 1911. lhe of the ropulflticn is cor sfquently fa\ouJ able H d Cov.r,y.ard trcr.d (cr,tju:e till )931. Tl:e prororl;on ad'arltr~ecl!s to tl'e advanced ccunlJies Vlhile )e ('ked up fer tJ::e fr~t time in ) 951 \\ }1en it readed (()untries like India Vlith H:eir c'epu:dency Jatios clese 5,:t%onlytocorredc\\nE!ain to 5.('~(, in 1961. to H 0 each are bearjng heav)' burd, ns of depn d{ncy. ]n ]97] il H'Esimd the Je\'c] of 1951, the exact fgure ihe high total ccpencency ratio in the developir.g trir.g 5.30/.,. 1he 10w proporticn of tl-.e aged people countries is due to tt e high ) outh dependency "hile is due to tl e anelcrated gro\\th in the numbers of the the aged de):,cnd{n,:y ratio is walkedly hiEh in the ) oung peopJe of age-grcup 0.] 4 aIJd should not be advanced countries. taken to irdicate a decline in the expectation of life. In fact, the expectation of life at birth in the country 1 be }"'eavy dependency ratio in India and othu is on the increase, thanks to tle (ontro) and eradj· dC\eloping countrits tccorr,es n ore n.caningful 8S (atien of dista~es lIke rnalaJia, small pox etc., im· . cne views it in the inten:ational perspecth e. Not only pro,ellicnt in maternal and cHId care and other docs a heavy ratio impcse hea"y expenc:'iture on foed, Fublic htallb mfa~Ules. 11 arpr08(.'red 50 years jn c]othing, educationl medical and (hild caTe elC., it 1971. The fo1lowing statur.ent ~hoVls the expectatieD also eJodes the savings rotential of the people and, of life at tirlh in Jndia sime 1941. 1he trend may to that extent, aft'eets the entire patte'rn of investmf nt be taken to be more cr less tl~e Eame in West Bengal in the country. The burden also becomes the heavier and other states also. fOT the deve)cping countries because of the eAtremely low level of their per capita income. EVen if the !5ame STATEMENT V. 22 level of the dependency ratio as in the developed Expcctatkn (,f life-India coulltries could be attained in the developing countries the burden would have remained the more heavier Year Unit Males Females and onerous for the latter because of the low level ()f per capita income and Jiving standards. 1941·50 India 32.4:'') 81.66 1861·tH West Bengal 3'7.66 3R.f5 It is only through conscious efforts over the 1961-70 India 47.1 decades that the advanced countries of the west as '6.6 also Japan have reached the present level of low birth N. B. Source : rate and a relatively stable population. 1 here is ). Census of India, Paper No.2 1954, bardly any indication of any appreciable fall in birth Life 'fables' 1951 Census. rate in India in the near future. The ageing process 2. Life Tables for the States of India, will, thercfore~ take long to set in on the youthful ) 951-61 by U.P. Sinha and S. Lahiri, IPS. population of India. Bombay. There is one aspect of the concept of "dependent 3. CensuS of India 197: Series I population index" \\hich has to be mentioned in any Miscellaneous Studies such discussion. 1his is about child labour and the Paper 2 of 1974-Age and Life Tables (1 ~~ eJderly working people. ChiJdem of ago group S-14 Sample) 195

Tne single Yi!lr ag= r.!turm for W~$t B.1ngil In 1971 West Bengal Iud as mlny al 7,684 shows that the numJer or p~C,)on' of ag~ 70 years contenarians. The figures are larger than in 1961 and abave was up by 242,600 during the lagt decide. whoa centenarians numbered 6,799 comprising 2,99& The number is 820,545 in 1971 against 577,945 in m,n ani 3,801 WJmeQ. It is not unlikely that the 1961. Tilis is surely injicative, of the im?covm:nt numb~r3 are oVer-estimlted. As already stated at in the IOllgivety of the people. It is also significant the outset, inaccuracies do appear in age returns. An that the fair sex outnumbered th~ mlle!l in this age .. old age is considered a symbol of' pride and prestig.,. grollp according to the last tw J cen'!tus~s a~ will be not only in Il'ldia but in western countries too. There seen from the Statement V.23. It mly be worthwhile is, therefore, a general tendency to eXaggerate tho to have a look at tlte oldest people of the state as .tripe old age". The exaggera.tion becomes more retlected in the single year age returns. pronounced when it comes to having the rare dis­ tinction oc being identified as a "centenarian" in spite STATEMENT V. 23 of these limitations. Persons agecl70+, in West Beagal, 1961 and 1971

Population Year ------..---- Persons Males Females 19tH 517,9'5 17l,"7 106.1'8 1971 S10,545 3D3,t80 '27,265 Chapter VI

LITDACY

hc1lan census aud literlcy 70. For a person who is illiterate i.e. who can neither read nor write or can merely read but can· It is the d~cennjal censuses that provide almost not write, in any language, write '0' in the triangle the only data about the state of literacy in the against question 12. All children of the age of 4 country, the progress made in the field of education years or less should be treated as iJliterate even if the and the level of education of the literate popUlation. child is going to a school and may have picked up Data on literacy are one of the few items of census rtading and writing a few odd words. Question J 3 ; information which are universally accepted without Educational level. any controversy. 71. This question will be asked of tho~e frr whom Definition of literacy fL' has been recorded against question 12. For a person who is illiterate and 10' has b(cn put against him in Information on literacy and educational level the answer to question 12, tllere is no advanti.lge in were obtained in 1971 through questions] 2 and 13 ascertaining the educational level even If he had of the individual slip. The instructions to the at some stage attended school and passed a standard enumerators on the subject were as follows : and had relapsed into illiteracy. In such a case you should put 'X'. You have to ascertain and record "Question 12 : literacy (L or 0) the highest educational level attaiI1ed by a person for whom 'L' is recorded in answer to question ] 2. 67. Definition of 1iterate: A person \\ho can both read and write \\ jth understanding in any Jangu­ 72. For a person 'Aho is still studying in a parti­ age is to be taken as literate. A person who can cular c1as!', the highest educational level attained by merely read but can not write is not a literate. him will te one that he has actually passed and not the one in \\Ibich be is ~tudyjng. For example, a 68. It is not necessary that a person wbo is person stud)ing in 1st year B.A. should be recorded literate should have received any formal education or as only 'PUC' or 'Higher Secondary', a~ tbe case may should have pa~sed any minimun educational standard. be. Similarly, a person studying, say, in the 4th year of 'MBBS' should not be noted as 'MBBS' but 69. For a person who is literate Le., who can as 3rd year 'MBBS' which is the highest leveJ he has both read and wdte, record 'L' in the triangle against actually attained. If) au are not sure whether a question 12. Jf there is any doubt a person's ability person has passed Primary, Middle, Higher Secondary to read or write, the teH that may t-e applild for or other definite levels, you may record the actual reading is hiS/her arility to reed any portion of the standard passed such as say Hlrd standard, VlIth printed matttr in the Enumeratol's Instructions and standard, 1st year B. Com. etc. similarly for writing he/She should be able to "'rite a simple letter. Ability merely to sign one's name is not adequate to qualify a person as being able to.. The highest educational level attained by the write with understanding. ]f a person cJaims to be person enumerated should be recorded. When a person literate in some other Jan~uage with which the holds both general and technical qualifications both enumerator is not acquainted, the respondent's word of which are of equivalent level su(;h as say B.Sc. bas to be taken as correct. Other members of the (Zoology) and M.B.B S. or B.A. (Maths.) and B. E. household may also be able to testify to the literacy (Bachelor in Engineering), the technical qualification of the person enumerated. should be given preference in recording the highest 1" educational level attained. Where the general educa­ family and not from all individuals. Possibilities of tional level is higher than the technical educational error or exaggeration also remained, for illiterate level or where it is not pos~ib)e to decide which of ren;ons might be incJined to return themselves as the two levels is relatively higher, the highest level literate out of a sense of prestige generally associated of edtJcation as returned by the person concerned with literacY. There might be some others who re~ should be recorded. ported higher educational standards than what they had actualJy attained The cases of such wilful mis­ In recording the highest educational level of a reporting must have been few and far between graduate of a po~tgraduate, subject of specialisation and have not come to notice at any stage. such as B. Sc. (Maths.), M.A. (Economics), M.Sc. On the contrary it is genenraJJy observed that the (Botany). B.Sc. (Agriculture), etc., should be noted. removal of all am biguity in the definition of literacy You should not use abbreviations which are not in since J9n I has certainly made for a greater degree of common usc. In such cases, the degree or diploma accuracy in the returns. should he spelt out fullv. Information on edueational le'fel 73. Whenever you come across graduates or pOst­ graduates or post·graduates also those with a techni­ Apart from the general state of literacy informa­ cal diploma or degree, you will have to issue him a tion on the educational level attained by the indivi. "Degree-holder and Technical Personnel Card" and duals were also collected.""ft8 already indicated. through ask the person concerned to fill it. You should note Q. 13. By ed~cationat level was meant the standard the location code on the card while issuing it. Put a reached by each person in tbe system of formal edu­ tkk (C) after noting the educational level against cation of the country. The highest examination question 1 3 i mmedia te 1y after you issues a card. actually pa~8ed by the respondent was to be recorded When you collect it after some time but before you against the question irrespective of whether he had complete the enumeration of your area. cross the tick completed his formal education or was still a student in a school or college or other institution. and put a circle as (X). - . In pro~essing and presenting the data Primary or "You wilJ have to ensure that the card issued to JUnIor BaSIC has been taken to be the minimum stan .. all the graduates and the technical degree or diploma dard which is w:>rthy of categorisation Persons who holders are collected back. The non-crossed tick, if are literate but have not passed any examination or any, against question 13 will show that the card has have not passed at least the Primary or Junior Basic not been collected." examination have been shown in the tables as literate educational Ie.vel. Others have been grouped The (lefinition of literacy and the tests for ascer­ ~ithou~ mto dlfferent educatIOnal levels according to the taining if a person was literate were the same in 1971 hjghe~t examination passed. The following are the 3S in 1961. In 1951 also the same definition and educational levels adopted in the tables : tests were adopted. But a separate count was taken of those who were able only to read. Such persons For all areas (rural and urban) : who were capable of reading only were treated as iJliterates but were shown separate'y. (l) Literate (without educational level) (2) Primary Accuracy of tbe data (3) MiddJe As in case of all other items in the census ques­ lionaire the answers to the questions on literacy and (4) Matriculation or bigher secondary education were to be recorded as they were returned by the respondents. Only in doubtful cases an (5) Non-technical diploma or certificate not equal enumerator was required to test the respondents for to degree. literacy in order to satisfy himself about the answer. It waS obviously a delicate ta~k but was performed (6) T echnical diploma or certificate not equal to well by the erumerators. The tests could not, how­ degree ever, be applied in cases where the information were coUected from the head or se me other member of the (7) Graduates and above 191

The "Graduates and above" were further classi­ STATEMENT VI.I-Contd. fied as under for the urban areas only : 1 3 4. (i) Graduate degree other than technical degree Mysore an.sa .i8.51 24.55 (ii) Post-graduate degree other than technical degree Nagaland 31.3:! 39.65 21.56 (iii) Engineering and Technology Orissa 44();j 16.2Q (iv) Medicine Punjab 4n.22 29.Ul Rajasthan 33.87 1<'.05 . (v) Agricultural, Veterinary and Dairing Sikkim 2022 28.52 10.31 (vi) Teaching Tamil Nadu 30.92 (vii) Others Tripura :w.ln 24.R4 Literacy in West Bengal, 1971 Uttar Pradesh 12.46 West Bengal ·tH.fJ7 !W.53 Out of a total population of 44,312,011 of the lJniuD Territories state 14.711,739 or 33.20% were literate in 1971. if the population of the age·group 0-4 is excluded Andaman & Nicobar the percentage of literates comes to 38.86 for both Islands 5S.S:.! ::18.29 iexes. it is 49.57 for males and 26.56 for females. Arunachal Pradesh 20.63 4..l3

Chandigarh 7.i.74: 6:\.1 r. Statement. V1.1 gives the rates of literacy of West Bengal and other stales and union territoriel of India Dadra & Nagar Haveli 1 S. J 2 ~ti.'iH !1.;iO

,....".) ....- in 197 L Delhi (i.I .08 j", •• '.1

STATEMENT VI. 1 Goa, Daman & Diu 40.27

Literacy ratcs-.lndia and the States, 1971 LaCClldive. Minicoy & Arnindivi Jslands ;;1.70 07.33 3603 (excluding age-group 0-4) Pondicherry ()tLiO 40.1' Unit Persons Males FemaJes

1 ..') 3 4 \Vcst Bengal ranks 5th among the states in total litera~y. The ilr.,t four positions go to KeraJa INDIA :.!l.H7 (69.75 ~,~), Maharashtra (45.77 0/0)' Tamil Nadu States (4540%) and Gujarat (41.84(/~). The new

Andhra Pradesh 2s.[j2 38.43 18.~:! state of Sikkim (20.22~~) occupies the lowest pOSItIOn. Considering the states and union territories Assam 3l.60 44.31 23.I>2 together West Bengal slides down the list to the It th Bihar 23.:15 :3;').78 10.24: pJace. It is noteworthy that all the union territories & (18.12(10) Gujarat 41.R4 ;;:l,78 2\).00 except Dadra Nagar Haveli and Arunachal Pradesh (13.26 %) have literacy rates of Hal'yana 31.91 44.02 17.77 more than 50%. Chandigarh which is practically a Himachal Pra.iesh 37.:~O ,iO,32 :.!3.67 city state has the highest literacy percentage (70.43 %)

< among tbe states and union territories aDd Arunachal Jammu &. Kashmir 21. 7'1 31.01 10.94 Pradesh the most backward of Indian territories ranks Kerala 6S),7;; 77.13 1)2.53 the lowest in general literacy. In respect of male Modhy. Pradesh 26.37 38.77 13.08 literacy West Bengal occupies the sixth position amongst states. In female literacy the state lOCI Maharashlra 45.77 ;)9.40 31,00 down one place Jower. Ketala which has tbe hi,beat 3S.47 ;;3.70 22.87 Manipur acacralliteracy ranks first in male and female lite~ MeabaJaya 35.0G .~O.U ~9 31 as well. . . 199

Regional differences in literacy to be back educationally as in many other spheres. The five districts of the northern region taken together The.re are marked regional dif>trences in the state of literacy in West .Bengal as will be seen from State­ has a literacy rate of 27. 21 % only. ment VI .2 which presents literacy percentaaes in the districts in 197 1. To the south of the Ganga, Mursbidabad (which happens to be the most backward in literacy besides MaIda), along with the districts of the western zone, STATEMENT VI. 2 namely, Birbhum, BaDkura, Midnapur and PuruJia Percentage or literates, 1971, We~t Bengal and diltrkt. form a second compact resioD of low literacy. Total (excluding age-group 0-4) literacy in this region (31.84%) is, however, a little higher than in the northern region. Like Darjeeling Unit Percentage of literacy in the north, the district of Midnapur with a literacy Total Male Female rate of 3 8.47%) is an exception in the western region. ... '_'-'-'- ~'." ~ ,._, ,,-_,-, ~-----.------... _- ----~---".---~-'-- --_.__ 1 2 3 4 The central p,rt of the state comprising the diltrict WEST BENGAL 3S .HI) 40.;)7 2G.ijG of Nadia, Howrah, Hooghly, Twentyfour Parganu, Burdwan and Calcutta forms the third region wbich Darjeeling 3~.4S 4~.24 27.24 is the most advanced in terms of literacy rates. P~r" Jalpaiguri !!SJi7 37.1S H~.37 centage of literacy in the region varies between 3(\.95

Cooch Behar 20A!1 37.0:~ 14-.64 (Nadia) and 65.50 (Calcutta). For the region as a whole total tliteracy is as much as 46.63% which is West Dinajpur 27.04 37.ft!) lli.!ll well above the state average. Calcutta, the nerve MaIda 20.!lr. 29.9:1 11.25 centre of economic, cultural and political activity of Murshidabad 2:l.6;-. 31.0' 14.86 the state, has attracted, as expected of a metropoli­ tan city, the educated peopJe for employment. It js Nadia 36,9;; 4.i.2H 2KO" only natural that the city shall have a fairly high Twentyfour Parganas 4,,,03 [i;i.74 31.St percentage of literates. In fact the percentage could be stilJ higher but for the high incidence of illiteracy Howrah 47.1:1 ;'7.61 :l4.04 among the in-mjgrants from the neighbouring states Calcutta 6iJ.!iO 68.:'il 60.3" like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh etc. The pride of position Hooghly 45.;")S ;13.S8 3:~.a9 of the central tract in respect of literacy is due largely to Calcutta and the large and extensive urban areas Burdwan 40.4H 4!i.G:l 2!l.r.H in the surrounding districts of Twentyfour Parganas, Birbhum :n.44 3H.S7 20,11-& Howrah and Hooghly. The influence of the higher Bankura 3l.02 42 . .{O 17.W urban literacy is apparent in case of Burdwan also whero the literacy rate has e:xcceded 40%) fot the district. Midnapore 3R.47 4!l.OO 22.SR Purulia 2:;.72 34.43 9. '70 Literacy among males and Cemales

The city district of Calcutta with a literacy rate Coming to the state {)f literacy by sex the same of 65.50% ranks first among the districts. MaIda pattern of regional differences is noticeable. As in ..bich happens tp be one of the most back\\ard of the case of West Bengal as a whoJe, there is a wide diver .. districts in many respects, has the lowest literacy of gence between the literacy rates of the two sexes in all 20.96 % Murshidabad (23.65 %) ranks second in the . the districts except Calcutta. The gap is the widest in list from the bottom. Bankura (4240 : 17 I 6) and the narrowest in Calcutta All the districts of North Benga] except DarjeeJ­ (~851 : 6034). But the state of female literacy is j", have low literacy. the percentages varying between the most deplorable in Purulia, the percentage being 20.9~ in MaIda and 28.48 in Jalpaiguri. The district 9 .. 70 only. MaJda and Murshidabad aJso do not of Darj('eling (38.48) js very close to the state fare any better, only J 1.25 (% and 14. 86 ~o of the fair avera Ie (38. 86). The entire northern region is found sex being literate in the two districts respectively. 200

Looking at the picture regionally aglin, th~ N Jrth If the state of literacy varies appreciably from Bengal districts as a whole have the poorest literacy !'legion to region and from diitrict to district the rate\! among females 06.26 %). fn none of the variation is even more pronounced between the difFe­ districts except Darjeeling the rate~ reactl even 2J. rc!llt police stations of the same district. Statement The positbn of the western region including Mur­ VI. 3 shows the police sLltions of the state by ranges shidabad h a little shaje better tbe rate b:ing or Ii [cracy rates. Percentage of literacy is shown in 18.53 % only. Here, too, it is only Midnapur which four ranges: very high (literacy 50 % +), high has attained a moderate rate of 22. 88/~ for its fair (3)l;O to 50%), l()w (33 % to 20%) and very low sex. In the remaining distlicts of the region the per­ (below 20 %). As the net or effective literacy percen­ centage varies between 9.70 in PLlrulia and 20.64 in tage excluding the population iD age-group 0 4 is not Birbhum. The situation is somewhat better in the available at police station - level the gross literacy or d :s' ricts of tbe central trelet which have a relatively population including age-group 0-4 has been taken high fem tie literacy of 34.97r~'o. Besides Calcutta, into account. The statement would give a fairly where female literacy is as high as 60.34%, Howrah accurate picture of the level of literacy as the propor­ and Hooghly are two districts in whicb female literacy tion of population in the age-group 3-4 does not vary ex~eeds 30% each. Burdwan and Nadia foHow them widely in the districts or police stations. closely with rates of 29.59% and 28.040/0 respectively.

STATEMENT VI.3

Pollee stations of West Beugal by ranges of literacy rates, 1971 (including age 0-4)

Low Very Jow District Very high High below 20% 50%+ 33% to 50% 33% to 20~~ 4 S 1 2 3 Sukhiapokri (29.40) Phansidewa (13.15) Darjeeling Mirik (55.35) DarJecliD8 (44.84) KalimponI (38.10) Pulbazar (24.58) Kharibari (15.88) KurseOng (38.27) Rangli Rangliot (29.84) Siliguri (47.71) Jore Bunslow (32.87) Garubathan (23.42) Nazalbari (22.63)

(36.32) Rajganj (24.44) Mal (18.72) Jalpaiguri Jalpaiguri Mayaguri (25.97) Mitiali (17.37) Alipur Duars (32.73) Nagrakata (14.37) Kumar.ram (20.80) Dhupauri (19.28) Birpara (17.49) Falaklta (19.88) Madaribat (17.4') KaJcbini (16.84)

(22.65) Meklipnj (18.34' Cooch Bebar Haldibari Cooch Behar ~8.9l) Mathabbanga (17.65) Tufanganj (20.62) Sitalkuchi (US.46) Dinhata (21.29) Sitai (14.89) 201

STATEMENT VI.3 -Contd.

1 2 3 4 .s

West Dinajpur Balurghat (40.66) Raignaj (29.66) Chopra (15.76) Hemtabad (20.24) Islampur (14.83) Kaliaganj (25.00) Goalpokhar (10.62) Oanaarampur (24.06) Cbakalia (t 3.91) Kumarganj (26.64) Karaydin (13.17) Hilli (30.72) ltahar (19.55) .8an&chihari (19.26) Tapan (19.80)

English Bazar (33.69) Kharba (20.94) Harish- Maida chandrapur (14.90) Ratua (15.78) GajoJe (13.77) Bamanlola (16.80) Habibpur (13.89) Maida (18.09) Manikchak {IS. 10) Kaliacbak (13.73)

Berhemport (33.27) Murshidabad (21.80) Farakka (18.23) 'Murshidabad Jiagaoj (39.57) Khargram (20.00) Shamsersanj (16.46) Barwan (21.69) Suti (14.74) Kandi (23.12) RaahuDatqanj (18. J2) Bharatpur (23.5J) S,ardiahi (19.46) Lal80la (17.07) Bhapwan.oJa (12.83) Raninagar (15.42) Nabaaram (19.04) Beldanp (19.3$) Hariharpur (15 22)

Nawada (17.37) Domkal (13.70) Jalangi (16.12)

(37.41) Tehatta (20.7S) Karimpur (19.83) "Nadia ~yaDi (50.60) ~irshnapr Nabadwip (41.87) ~Jipnj (21.13) Cbapra (16.79) Santipur (1$.88) Nakashipara (22.20) ltanaahat (-40.96) K.rialmaaanj (29.07) Chakdah (fIO.74) HanlhkhaJi (30.98) HariDahata (20.02) 202

STATEMENT VI.3-Contd.

1 2 3 4 5

Twentyfour Bijpur (S2.40) Bongaon (37.18) Basdah (24.34) Minakban (18.02) Parpuas Noapara (54.40) Haisbata (38.01) Deganga (28.20) Sandeshkhali (18.79) Barrackpore (55.69) Habra (45.59) Amdanga (24.69) Khardah (6308) Rajarbat (39.17) Bhangar (20.21) Belgharia (58.41) Barasat (40.84) Canning (22.19) Baranagar (63.06) Naihati (48.21) Dasanti (20.77) DumDum (63.89) Tit8garh (48.84) Joynagar (27.48) Debata (61.03) Garden Reach (46.45) Kultali (20.69) Jadavpur (61.52) Metiaburuz (39.61) Mograhat (28.69) Jagatdal (42.14) Bishnupuc (31.50) Meheshtata (45,32) Baruipur (31.59) Sanarpur (39.89) Kutpi (30.74) Budge Budge (37.13) Mandirhazar (28.74) Flata (34.20) Mathurapur (28.05) Diamond Pathar Pratima (30.17) Harbour (35.05) Kakdwip (28.28) Sagore (31.27) Namkhna (30.14) Swarupnagar (28.63) Baduria (32.19) Bashirhat (32.58) Haroa (20.57) Hashnabad (28.60) Gosaba (26.85) Hingalganj (28.49)

Howrah Bally (58.61) Liluah (41.88) Panchla (29.26) flowrah city (55.65) Domejur (35.70) Jagatballavpur (31.98) P.S.3 to 8 Sankrail (40.14) Udaynarayanpur (30.88) Bagnan (39.24) Amta (30.60) Bauria (33.13) U]uberia (28.13) Shampur (34.83)

(;alcutta Calcutta city (60.32)

HpOlbly Chinsurah (58.18) Arambagh (34.83) Goghat (30.22) Chandemagar (60.16) Panduah (33.56) Khanakul (:9.57) Serarnpore (51.40) BaJagarh (33.10) Pursurah (32.01 ) Uttarpara (63.92) Mogra (45.45) Dhuiakhali (31.53) Tarakeswar (36.48) Polba (32.59) Singur 05.99) Haripal (29.76) Bbadreswar (40.33) Dad pur (28.16)

Chanditala (38.71) Haripal (29.78)

Jangipara (30.52) 203

STATBMBNT Vr.3 Contd.

1 2 3 4 S

Burdwan ChittaTanjan (67.73) Kulti (35.79) Salanpur (29.78) Durgapur (56.35) HiTapur (46.64) Barabani (25,]9) Asansol (48.24) Jamuria (24.76) Raniganj (34.23) Ondal (31.07) Raina (35.15) Faridpur (2.5.24) Burdwan (42.06) Kanksa (28.35) Kalna (35.10) Bud Bud (31.) 1) Ausgram (27.20) Galsi (29.93) Khandaghosh (29.93) Jamalpur (31.62) Memari (31.38) Bha[ar (31.86) Mangalkote (27.29) Ketugram (25.75) Katwa (29.69) Monteswar (31.98) Purbasthali (25.43)

Birbhurr Nalhati (23.74) Muraroi (17.49.\ Rampurhat (28.12) Mayureswar (28.00) Muhammad Bazar (25.21) Rajnagar (23.99) KhoyrasoJe (26.70) Dubrajpur (24.70) Suri (:H .37) lIlambazar (22.59) Sainthia (31.12) Bolpur (31.16) Labhpur (27.62) Nanoor (29.20) Saltora (21.09) Bankura Bankura (33.73) l\fejhia (27.45) Barjora (27.80) Oangajalghati (27.10) ehhatna (25.72) Onda (24.56) Indpur (20.00) Khatra (21.80) Ranibandh (20.25) Raipur (25.1 S) Simlapal (24.47) Taldanlra (25.31) Bishnupur (27.97) Sonamukhi (25.98) Patrasacr (24.36) Joypur (28.33) Indas (29.51) KotaJpur (29.19) 204

STATEMENT VJ.3-Concld.

1 2 3 4 5

Midllapore Kharagpur Town (57.11) Pingla (34.35) Binpur (24.57) Sankrail (14.89) Debra (33.94) Jambani (25.21) Nayagram (19.46) Midnapur (36.93) Jhargram (31.14) GopibalJavpl1c. (24.42) Mohanpur (31.02) Dantan (26.73) Keshiari (22.79) Narayangarh (l9.7S) Sabana {29.75)

K ••raa~ (27.61) It'.osbpor (22.35) 8aJbooi (23.46) ("arhbeta (25.49) Ohatai (33.64) ('b~drakofla (30.16)

Panshkura (35.39) Daspur (30.99) Moyna (35.26) Egrll (32.65) Tamluk (39.26) Mahisadal (36.25) Sutahata (34.55) Nandigram (37.32) Bhagawanpur (36.8(1) Patashpur (35.38) Ramnagar (38.35) Digha (41.69) Contai (38.33) Khejri (37.22)

Purulia PUTlIlia Town (50.01) Para (24.08) Jhalda (18.77) Raghunathpur (26.12) Jaipur (l7.00) Arsha 03.09) Santuri (21.60) Baghmundi (]7.38) Kashipur (28.87) Balarampur (19.92) Hura (21.13) Barabazar (19.73) Puncba (20.59) Neturia (18.91) Manbazar (19.41) Banduan (15.27) 205

22 of tbe police atations includiQS the cities of stations which have urban populAtion in them. na me­ Caleutta and Howrah are in the very high literacy ly. SiJigurj, Daijeeling, KUfseong and Kalimpoltg, range of 50% + and 66 are in the high range. In are in the high ran,e. Kharibari (15.88) and Phan .. the very low range come as many as 6 I police sta­ sldewa (13.15), whicb are in the plaina subdivision of tions. The remaining 144 police stations belong to SiHguri, belong to the lowest literacy range and the tbe range of low literacy of 20.33 %. It is remark­ remaining six police stations are in the low ranse of able that all but three of the police ~tations with very 20 to 33 per cent. It wiIJ be observed further than hiSh literacy of 50% + are in the highly urbanised literacy is generally hisher in the hilly areas of the Calcutta metropolitan area and the Asansol-Durga­ dis1 rict than in the pi ains. pur industrial belt. The three police stations beyond - the two industrial belts wtjhin the very high range In the district of Jalpaiguri all the police stations are Mjrik (55 3~%) in Darjeeling, Kharagpur town except one, namely, Jalpaiguri, belong to the low and (57. ) 1 %), an all urban police station in M idnapur very low ranges. Literacy is below 20% in J 0 police and Purulia town, also a wholly urban police station, stations and between 20% and 33 % in 4. The police . in the district of Purulia. The highest percentage of stations in the are among the most backward literates for any police station is in Chittaranjan group of the police stations in the state. Jalpaisuri % (67.73) in district Burdwan \\-hich is a vastly urban (36.32 ) is the only police station in which literacy police station in the industrial belt. is above the state average in the district.

33 or about half of the police stations in the high All the eight police stations of Cooch Behar are literacy range also belong to the Calcutta and Asansol­ below the state average in literacy, the hilbe&t literacy Durgapur industrial belts. The high percentage of rate in the district being 28.91 % in police station literacy in these police stations is obviously due to the Cooch Behar. It is apparent that even in this police higher literacy in their numerous urban areas. It is station the rate would have bten still lower but for also noteworthy that except in case of Birbbum all the high literacy among the urban population of the the police stations which contain the headquarters district headquarters town. Sitai has the dubious towns of the districts are within the high literacy distinction of a police station with less than 1 S ~.~ of range This will also point to the differences t hat exist literates. between regions of t he same district so far as literacy and facilities for education are concerned. It is only The picture is the same in West Dinajpur except in the district of Midnapur where rural literacy is for the fact that one of the police stations, namely, moderately high that a large num!Jer of police statii)ns Balurghat is in the high ranse with a literacy rate of fall under the high literacy range. 40.66%. All the 15 other police stations of the dis­ The list of police stations in the very low literacy trict are below the state average of 33.20%. LiteraCy raDge is more revealing. The police stations in this is tbe lowest in the police stations of IsJampu.r sub. range are those which are almost entirely rural with divisio~, that is, the territories transferred from Bihar. only sprinklings of the urban population here and In as many as four police stations, all belonaiDg to there, 31 or half of the 61 such police stations belong IsJampur subdivision, Jite·racy is below 15% each. As to the North Bengal districts; ten more are in the already mentioned, GoaJpukhor has the lowest litera.. second region of low :(.wer"all literacy that is the cy of 10.62% among police stations of the I tate. western districts. Th~ lowest percentage of literacy in any police station is in GoaJpukhor (10.62%) in Maida which has tho ,lowest rate of literacy anel West Dinajpur. The fourth range of low literacy is its southern neighbQur beyond. the Ganp, nar;nely, to be found in 138 police stations, the bulk or which MUfshidabad are at almost the same l~vel or lPw are, again, in: the two backward regioBs of the literacy. In Maida all but two police stationS .•1.' north and west. in the "very low range". Four of the police .tatiODI Jla~Jy, Hari~hpbaQdraput, (I4~90%), Oajot. tet UI look: at the picture distrlctwise. In Dar­ (13.77°Jc;), Habibpur (13.89%> and KaUsChait jeeHi\1 police' atation Miri'k (55.35) i. as already (13,730/0) ,Jlavo ,1~~s thall 15 ~~ literates each... The awed, in the bJahtst literaor ranle. It is the, odly t\ip,t .u~ ..acy r~e in tho .d iitrict is in" t~e :~I~ PQlj~ station':.iQ the wh'" of N~, 8... 1 u.t 'flItiOll of ~DI~i4h a.,zar. (33~69%). IQ Muabjd.~ to t~e. very bilh raDle. The four polio. e .~ literacy. rate is uniformly WW throQ.hQIl.t .u. bel,.1\ , I ' \ ~ , • , 206 district and the highest rate for any police station is taken to be literate if he or she were able to read 39.51'% only (in Jiaganj). In the western di,stricts and write. This was so in 190 l as in I 971. This of Birbhum and Bankura the situation ii almost has certainly made for comparability of the data from identical. In the former all the police stations except census to census. one arc in the low range of literacy Muraroi is the only police station in the very low range. In Ban­ kura, too, all but one of the police stations are in the low range of 20% to 3 3 ~<). Bankura is the only police STATEMENT VI.4 station which has just marginally drifted into tbe higb range with a literacy rate of 33.73%. The biggest Percentage of literates-West Bengal and district9, 1901-'1 of the western districts, namely, Midnapur, presents a somewhat brighter picture. There are sizeable Stater District Person') Males F(males pockets in Sadar, Co nta i and Tamluk subdivisions which are in the high range of Jiteracy. As many 1 2 3 4 as 16 police stations belong to this range. The low range of 20 % to 33% also claims the same number 1901 which are s!,cead all over tile district. K haragpur West Bengal 9.83 17.86 1.21 Town is the only police station in the very high Oarjeelioa 8.14 1.3.6S 1.68 range with a literacy rate fo 57.11 %. Sankrail Jalpaiguri 4.54 7.98 0.42 (14.89~/o) and Nayagram (19.46%), both of which belong to Jhargram subdivision. are in the very low Cooch Behar 6.81 12.19 0,52 range of less than 20%. Incidentally, the four other West Dioajpur 6.25 J 1.44 031 police stations of this backward subdivision also 'belong to the low range. Maida 441 8.64 0.24 Murshidabad 6.44 12.43 0.68 In the central Gangatic plains literacy rales are, as already observed, quite high especially in the Nadia 6.50 1205 ],01 Calcutta metropolitan area. The police stations of Twcnty(ollf Pargaoas J2.9S 23.02 1.48 the area are also distrabuted in the high and low Calcutta 26.72 33.46 12.78 ranges. The number of police statioDs in the highest range of 50

STATEMENT VI.4-COotd. STATEMENT VI.4-Contd.

Persons State/District Persons Males Females State/District Males Females

2 3 4 2 3 4 1911 1931 Howrab 16.21 28.07 2.66 HooghJy 15.95 25.78 •• 61 20.94 2.9S Hooghly 12.65 22.50 2.34 Burdwan 12.31 Birbhum 8.13 15.01 1.24 Burdwan J 1.25 20.94 1.47 Bankura 9.89 18.49 1.24 Birbhum 9.99 10.35 0.72 Midnapore 17.52 31.16 3.41 0.91 Bankura 10.77 20.90 0.31 Purulia 5.51 9.65 Midnapore 10.65 20.46 0.76 1941 PuruJia 5.24 9.66 0·55 West Benlal 19.72 29.33 8.29 1911 Darjeelins 16.27 25.79 5.43 West Bensal 12.28 20.99 2.48 Jalpaiguri J 0.1 t 16.07 2.82 Darjceling 12.42 21.10 2.54 Cooch Bel·ar 9.53 15.88 2.07 J,lIpaiguri 6.54 11.28 0.85 West Dinajpur 11.39 18.92 2.81 MaIda 8.61 14.77 2.48 Cooch Behar 9.09 15.88 1.07 Murshidabad 11.21 17.79 4.55 West Dinajpur 9.01 16.06 0.98 Nadia 11.84 17.42 5.80 MaIda 5.51 10.28 0.70 Twentyfour Parganas 18.19 26.12 8.26 Murshidabad 8.01 14.19 1.82 Calcutta 57.71 61.18 49.61 Nadia 7.31 12.00 2.34 Howrah 29.59 41.41 13.98 HooghJy Tfieotyfour Parganas 15.01 2523 2.44 25.24 36.39 11.39 Burdwan 19.67 30.30 7.66 Calcutta 45.03 52.98 27.14 Birbhum 14.78 24.74 4.71 Howrah 16.80 2'1.08 3.48 Bankura 14.34 24.06 4.41 Hooghly 14.50 24.80 3.24 Midnapore 19.27 32.69 SIC) Burdwan 1 J.32 20.27 1.97 Purulia 12.42 21 27 2.61 1951 Birbhum 1J .42 21.63 1.18 West Bengal 24.42 34.14 12.74 Bankura 12.46 23.73 1.11 Midnaporc 1 J .62 2J.82 1.26 Darjeclini 22.71 33.74 9.73 Purulia 5.90 10.55 0.83 Jalpaiauri 14.26 20.37 6.60 Coach Behar 17.14 26.10 6.14 1931 West Dinajpur 12.27 19.92 3.58 Maida 11.68 18.16 5.04 West Bengal 12.65 20.41 3.7S Murshidabad 14.71 22.02 7.~ Darjeelinl 12.63 21.11 2.74 Nadia 17.42 20.7~ 13.84 Jalpaiguri 5.65 9.20 1.30 Twentyfour Parganas 27.13 39.77 11.55 Cooch Behar 7.74 13.11 1.42 Calcutta S3.33 5S.99 48.08 West Dinajpur 7.43 12.96 1.11 Howrah 33.02 44.86 17.57 Maida 3.78 6.82 0.72 . Hoo,hly 28.50 40.43 J4.51 Mursbidabad 6.26 10.72 J.8O ""rdwan' 21.70 32.04 9.47 'N,dia 6.IS 10.77 2.63 Birbhum 19.92 31.66 1.64- ,.wentyfour Pargau& 12.74 . 20.68 3.15 24.04 7.S1 ,". j Bankura 16.06 Calcutt. 43.23 "7~S8 ~3.29 Midnapore 21.33 29.54 12.23 IfOwtall 20.61 30.3.1 26.92 '.11: '. 8.76 PuNlIa '6.41 • ' d

"~' \ ' ". ',~ 208

STATEMENT VI.4 -Concld. Two striking points emerse fr~D,l th~ s~~tc:~~~~. The first is that not only was the literacy in West State/District Penons Males Females Bengal at a very low level the growth of literacy in 1 2 3 4 the state has @,lso been too slow undl 19.41, ~he rate having gone up by a Mere 3 per cent points from 1961 9.83 in 1901 to 12.65 in 1931 It was only in 1941 that the literacy percentage reached a modest level of West Bengal 34.46 46.57 20.27 19.72· The decadal increase between 1931-194 J Darjeeliog 33.76 46.68 18.44 was of the order of 7 per cent points. The year 193 J Jalpaiauri 23.21 32.15 12.34 may tbus be treated as a water-shed in the growth ot literacy in the state, although a real break-through in Cooch Behar 25.39 37.43 J 1.40 the sphere is yet to be achieved. No doubt the rate West Dinajpur 20.66 31.04 8.90 of literacy has reached 38.86 in 1971 which is almost a 100 per cent increase over the figure of 1941; but Maida 16.63 25.73 7.08 this is by no means remarkable compared to the Murshidabad 19.40 28.30 10.17 achievement of states like Kerala, Maharashtra. TamO Nadia 32.54 42.43 21.95 Nadu and Gujarat. Twentyfour 38.16 50.79 23.10 The second remarkable feature that is revealed by Parganas the statement relates to the state of female literacy. 68.51 58.95 Calcutta 64.98 The percentage of literacy among the fair sex has always been lower than among males. Female literacy Howrah 42.93 55.50 26.86 had been negligible at the tum of the century, only 40.92 53.88 26.07 12 out of 10DO females of age 5 and ov~r been able BurdWlo 34.80 45.63 21.75 to read and write in 1901. But compared to males females, education has made spectacular progress Birbhum 26.60 38.87 13.87 during the last seven decades. The gap that separates Baokura 27.15 42.40 11.49 male and f(!male literacy ratel is :yet to clOiC down; Midftapore 32.26 49.00 14.48 but the rate at which the latter has progressed is re- Purulia 20.54 34.43 5.90 markable indeed. Female literacy has grown by 68.85% during the last decade against a growth of 1"1 34.58% in literacy of males which has narrowest West Bengal 38.86 49.57 26.56 down the gap between male and female literacy from DarjeeliD, 38.48 48.24 27.24 26.30 per cent points in 196 t to 23 01 points in 1971. JalpaifUri 28.S7 37.18 18.37 Looking at the districts individually Darjeeling il Cooct4 B.ehar 26.49 37.03 found to be one district where literacy has been very 14.64 close to the state average all through tbe last seventy West Dioajpur 27.04 37.59 ] 5.31 years. On the other band MaIda has b:en at the Maida 20.96 29.95 11,25 bottom of the list in terms of literacy eVer since 190 I, 23.65 14.86 the rate of literacy having grown at a snail's pace iD Mu~idab8d 31.9~ most of the decades. The yea.r 1931 actually wit- Nadm 36.95 45.29 28.04 nessed a fall in the percentage of literates in the Tweruyrour 44.63 55.74 31.81 djstr~ct. Murshi9abad and Purulia may abo be Paraanas br.cktted with Maida in term,s of the slow Ch'owth of Calcutta 4713 5761 34;04 .'- " literacy. The central districts of Twent)four '.Parganal, Howrah 6$.SO 68.67 60.34 Hooghly, Howrah and Nadia and the district 01 HooahJy 45.58 56.34 33.39 Burdwan, on the other hand; have made more or less even and fair prolreas and maintained their BurdwlD 40.49 49.88 29.S9 pO$i~ion as the l'J)q,t advanced districts .in ·term. of Bitb~~ 31.44 41.84 20.64 expall~on of c

STATEMENt VI.6

Literacy am3Rg rural Md urban ..Iad_-Weit ...., ... " ..rlett: 1971

Rural Urban State/District --- Persons - Mal" Females PersODS--- Males ---FomaJct

J 2 3 . 4 S 6 7

WEST ~ENGAL 30.63 42.27 18 .• 0S 62.25 68.19 54.11 DarjoeliDI 30.57 41.18 18.77 63.79 69.38 $6."

< Jalpal,uri 24.68 33.59 14.17 63.17 68.55 '6.55 ·Oooch Bobar 23.37 M.ot H.39 65.9' 72.6.2 57.78 \ ~.t·Di~.ur 23.00 33.86 J1.03 63.23 69.M 55.34 . 1',: • loot • Ii ,'" I

< 74.29 . Nal4a 18.84, .,. 27.87 9.13 ~.o3 '." " .I',., 218

STATEMENT V1.6 -CoDcld . • 2 3 4 S 6 7 Mut'lbldabad 20.90 29.16 12.16 51.87 60.12 42.91 Nadia 29.91 38.22 21.08 65.76 73.93 56.87 Twentyfour Parpnas 34.06 .7.30 19.68 63.02 69.31 '4.94 Howrah 38.63 50.97 25.10 58.07 6S.11 47.65 Cak:utta 65.50 68.67 60.34 Booghly 39.81 SI.91 26.82 60.56 66.87 52.33 Burdwan 34.61 44.19 23.93 59.55 66,98 49.73 Birbhum 29.67 40.16 18.84 54.04 62.44 44.61 Bankura 29.27 42.54 15.32 51.80 62.93 39.60 Midnapore 36.74 51.59 20.97 58.58 68.96 46.39

Purulia 22.49 37.28 7.04 53.82 65.91 40.03

Against a 'total literacy of 38.82 per cent in the lowest positions in rural literacy also, the respective­ Itate, literacy in the rural areas is only 30.63 per cent. percentage being} 8.84, 20.90 and 22.49 only. The­ In the urban areas the percentage (62.25) is double three northern districts of West Dinajpur (23.00), the rural flgure. Tte rural-urban difference is the Cooch Bel1ar (23.37) and Jalpaiguri (24.68) are not far widest in the districts of MaIda, JaJpaiguri, Cocch above the fir~t trio. In Darjceling, too, rural literacy Behar and West Dinajpur which are among the most is at a Jow level of 30.57 per cent only, although in backward educationally. It is a measure of the back­ total literacy the district has a fairly high ranking. ~ardness of tl1e districts of PuruIia, Munhidabad, Bankura and Birbhum that the rates of Jiteracy even Literacy rate in the urban areas of the state is in their urban areas are just above 50 per cent and moderately high at 62.25 percent. It is worthy of are .among the loy. est in the state. notice that urban literacy is at a fairly high level in all districts except M urshida bad (51. 87), Bankur&. Hooghly (39.81) and Ho\\rah (38.63) are at the (5J .80) and Purulia (53.82) which incidentally happen top in rural literacy as in total literacy. The district to be among the lowest in general literacy. It of Midnapore wbich ranks 7th in total literacy comes is remarkable, however, the MaIda which ranks the a close third in rural literacy with a rate of 36.74 per lowest in total literacy, tops the list in urban literacy cent. The other districts in the central tract, Twenty· with a high percentage of 67.03. Next to MaIda four Paraanas, Nadia and Burdwan have al10 fairly come Cooch Behar (65.93), Nadia (65.75) and. high ruraJ literacy rates of 34.06, 29.91 and 34.61 Calcutta (65.50) in this order. ftspectively. It is also remarkable that the rural- 1 ...urban differential in literac} in these and in the two If the rural-urban differrntia in total literacy is leading districts of Hooghly and Ho\\rah as welJ does quite marked in some districts the slime is more pro­ not exceed 30 per cent points except in Nadia. It is Dounced in case of female literacy. F('Ir the state as actually the lowest in Howrah and HooghJy being of a whole literacy among males is 42.27 per cent in the the order of 20 per cent points each. In Nadia,· of rural areas against 68.19 per cent in the urban areal. course, tbe urban literacy is quite high 'at 65.16 per Except in case of MaIda and Murshidabad, the two cent compared to tho niral literacy rate or 29.91 districts at tlie bottom of the list of seneral litera~y, pel' cent only, literacy amonl males in the villages exceeds 33 per ~e.Dt in all districts. But the percentage of literacy amoll, As in total literacy, the districts of MaleJa, Mur­ females in" the rural areas is merely 18.85 qainst :tbe .hidabad aDd Purulia, in tldI order, occupy the three fairly mah fi,ure of 54. J1 in the urban areas. DiI- 211 trict·wise, female literacy in the towns is at the lowest our towas and cities at this stage. It will be obser­ in Bankura (39,60 percent) whiJe the rural areas present ved that many of OUf urban areas do not fare much .a dismal picture with such negligible figures as 7.04 better than the villages and have still remained educa .. per cent in PUfuJia and 9.13 per cent in Mcllda. Four tionally backward which is dlle as much to the defi­ 'more districts, namely, West Dinajpur (11.03), Cooch ciencies in the program!Des of literacy a~ to the ,enesis Behar (11.39), Jalpaiguri (14.17) and Murshidabad and character or many or our towns. ( 12.16) are below IS per cent mark, The highest females literacy in the rural areas anywhere in the state is only 26.82 per cent in the district of Hooghly. As already observed, the rural-urban differential 'This will only expose the hollowness of the claim that in literacy is quite marked in almost aU the districtl female literacy has made spectacular progress in the of the state. The st lte literacy varies no less widely state. It is obvious that whatever progress has beeD between individual towns and cities in aU the districts ,achieved in the field has been limited mostly to the with the exception of Dc1rjeelinl where all the four urban areas which the rural areas are still steeped in urban areas have high literacy rates. Stat ernent ill iteracy. VI. 7 which presents the cities and towns in three ranges of literacy rates, will also show that there is a Literacy in cities and towns wide gap between literacy rates of males and females in most towns. We may have a look at the state of literacy in

STATEMENT VI.7

Uteracy ratel In cities and toWIll, 1971 (lnclndiag age- group 0·4) PERCENTAGE OF LITERATES District Name of town/city Range I (above 55.93) Ra~ II (33.20 to 35 92) 33.20) " Ra.!!E.!!.l(ueJow Persons Males Females Persons Malos Pemales Persons Males Femalel 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 JO II

DarJeeling Darjeeling (M) 57.21 64.lS 49.29 Kalimpong (M) 56.46 61,72 50.26 Kuneong (M) 58.47 65.80 50.19 Siliguri (M) 56.10 60.93 49.54 JaJpalgurl JaJpaiguri (M) 61.26 64.06 57.74 Mal (NM) 52.10 58.71 43.71 Domohani (NM) 32.22 40.21 23.10 Maina,uri (NM) 52.83 60.87 43.42 Dbupguri (NM) 51.02 '8.23 42.3' Palakata (NM) 47.08 53.36 39.84 AJipur Daur (M) 57.68 63.87 50.47 Alipur Daur Rty. Junction (NM) 58.97 62.83 54.33

Coodl Bebar Hadlbari (TC) ~7.6S 62.03 52.46 Mekliganj (TC) 53.38 '9.31 46.44 Matbabhanaa (TC) 55.13 61.71 47.09 212

STATEMENT VI. 1-CODed.

1 2 J 4 6 7 8 9 to II

, CoecIa ....r Cooch Behar (M) 52.36 67.31 S3.70

Guriahati (NM) 46.18 $4.43 36.92

Tufanganj (TC) 57.33 67.S4 44.68

Djnhata (TC) 61.63 67.89 54.0)

West D_Jpur ls1ampur (NM) 36.84 44.53 26.93 Dalkohofa (NM)· 35.31 42.96 24.59 .

Ray:pnj (M) 59.87 66.45 52.47

KaJiaaanj (NM) 52.35 58.21 45.69

Gangarampur(NM) 42.93 51.74 32.99

Ba)uTghat (M) 63.42 69.95 55.R7

Hili (NM) 49.29 54.56 43.51

.M.kIa Old MaIda (M) 48.18 57.96 37.50

English Bazar (M) 59.67 66.15 52.42

Mursbidabad Farrakka Barrage

Township (NM) 61.56 66.35 54.66

Dhulian (M) 26.00 36.22 15.46

Aurangabad (NM) 21.91 30.08 13.38

Jangipur (M) 35.59 44.06 26.66

Lalgola (NM) 27.44 34.57 20.16

Murshidabad (M) 45.96 53.34 38.22 Jaiganj.Azimganj (M) 51.18 SS.77 43.34

Kandi (M) 40.29 47.56 32.54

ReId'Dia (N M) 48.92 56.RS 40.11 Bah.rampur (M) 60.50 66.48 53.98 Kasimbazar (NM) 48.87 55.85 41.66

W.dia Japdanandapur (NM) 56.70 63.40 49.52

K ri.hnaDaaar (M) 65.36 71.06 53.35

Nabadwip (M) 55.64 65.13 45.61

Santipur (M) 47.31 54.64 39.61 Ph\1\ia (NM) $4.70 63.03 4S.65

:&quIa (NM) 58.80 61.36 4S.62 2J3

STATEMENT VI.7-Contd.

-,~~,,~ ...---. --.. -,-.. ~ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 It

., -----.---.--~.------...... ------_---_._-- '------.----~---.--.. -.... -"- ..... ~, ...... ~.-., .. _..• -"-~ .. -----,... ,-- Nadia Tahcrpur (NM) 57.23 66.5I.J 47.61

Birnagar (M) 50.19 5H.49 41.23 Ranaghat (M) 66.2R 72.91 59.02

Chakdaha (M) 60.15 67.85 51.90

KalYJni (NM) 54.:!(' 59.71 47.43 Kataganj & Gokulpur

Govt. Colony(NM) 63.36 7(lo30 50.20

Gayespur Govt. Colony (NM) 62.79 71.01\ 5.'.77

Twcntyfour Ba.ngaon (M) 56.27 64.81 46.93 Parganas

Gohardanga (M) 52.84 60.73 44.26

Habra (NM) 5H.60 6(·.1 J 50.40

Ashoknagar- Kal) angarh (M) 70 ..16 76.(,5 (, J, lJO

Krishnapur (NM) 43.67 53.90 32.51

Jyangra (NM) 57.05 66.2(, 45.(J5

A rjunplif (NM) 58.% (13.87 5.1.41

Barasat (M) 57.7'K 65.50 4lJ.IO

Madhyamgram (NM) 6.:1.07 (,8'41' 59.10

Nabapllly (NM) 63.86 69.68 57.71

Nebadhai Daftapukur (NM) 59.81\ 67.39 51.45

Kan.hrapara (M) 59.08 67.72 48.28

Halisahar (M) 44.54 50.05 36.58

Naihati (M) 49.06 54.59 41.80

DcuJpara (SM) 56.11 63.24 47.80

Bhatpara (M) 42.05 46.74 34.53 Madrail- Fingapara (NM) 52.32 60.69 43.51

Narayanpur (NM) 49.24 50.44 47.95

Panpur (NM) ~5.19 64.22 44.83

Gurdaba (NM) 46.04 S7.04 33.52

Oarulia (M) 43.36 49.70 34.39 ,214

STATEMENT VI. 7 -Contd.

1 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Tweat,rour Ichhapur Defence P.r..... Estate (NM) 53.06 57.6J 45.96

North Barrackpur (M) 61.02 66.09 54.72

Barrackpur Contonment (Cantt.) 55.69 63.55 44.35

Barrackpur (M) 62.58 66.97 56.97

litagarb (M) 36.05 42.86 24.36

Khardaha (M) 66.91 73.48 5925

Patulia (N~) 55.55 62.45 47.4.~

Kerulia (NM) 75.74 83.72 6686

Panibati (M) 64.75 70.24 57.98

New Barrackpur (M) 72.80 78.65 66.37

Kamarhati (M) 58.41 63.59 51.56

Baranagar (M) 63.06 68 53 56.23

North DumDum (M) 64.46 72 48 55.44 Disarpara (N M) 62.65 68.69 55.82

Dandra (NM) 60.84 69.99 50.30

Sultan pur (NM) 57.73 66.42 47.67

Dum Dum Aero- drome Area (NM) 75.39 80.76 68.45

Dum Dum (M) 65.26 69.02 59.21

Oarui (NM) 70.84 76.59 64.33

South Dum Dum (M) 64.87 69.93 58.64

Oarden Reach (M) 46.45 54.97 34.77

Panchur (NM) ~9".61 46.86 29.40

Krishnasar (N M) 47.11 53.68 39.08

Jagannathgarth (NM) 40.54 50.65 29.04

BataDagar (N M) 83.45 85.86 78.61

Nangi (NM) 53.34 60.06 45.45

South Suburban (M) 62:78 69.87 54.46

Purba Putlari (N M) 65.72 72 55 58.49 , , Chakdaha (NM) 51.18 67.31 46.32 '

. " . " " , . ,. f . .. 2U··

STATEMENT "'.7·...: Contd.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Bansdroni (NM) 74.88 81.55 67.34

lCamdahari (NM) 64.75 71.95 54.28

Bademasar (NM) 71.86 76.79 66.21 Rajapur (NM) 55.38 62.71 47.48

Santoshpur (NM) 76. f t 8(,56 69.98

Jadabpur (NM) 60.95 62.04 59.39 Garfa (NM) 72.26 78.00 65.89

Kasba (NM) 63.53 72.91 58.57

Rajpur (M) 55.37 63.44 46.24

Kanyanagar (NM) 47.95 59.76 34.69 Budge Buttge (M) 52.99 57.26 46.69

. • J " Uttar Raypur (NM) 36.38 48.11 23.58

Birlapur (N \of) 38.03 47.86 20.63 ,., . Baruipur (M) 60.78 68.91 51.97

Cannina (NM) 42.25 53. t I ";30.0(1' .

Jaynagar Mazilpur 1:56•74 66'.70 45.56 (M)

Diamond Harbour fNM) 55.69 65.41 44.49 Baduria (M) 40.59 50.51 30.25 " :-, : \ (. , Basirhat (M) 50.56 59.41 41.16 Taki (M) 51.22 61.16 40.57

Howrala Bally (NM) 58.~l .64.,66 50.26

Chakapara (N M) .65 59.79 42.26

Jagadishpur (NM) L53 48.90 26.68 Howrah city (Me) . ,5.5.65 . ·~"2 " ~~4~:; Dakshinjhapardaha (NM) 41.79 ,.S8.$)4 ...... 'J JS,)6 Domjur (NM) 39.79 48.30 30.69

Kalara (NM) 32.)1 .. , , ., ~., ~1. 21.97 Kahiari (NM' ·46.13 91,'18 ~ ''3.J:41 f Nibra (NM) 37.38 46.68 27.19:'~'

Bankra (NAI) l~i.s8 ~49'.ll :'18:99 Podara (NM) 1~~1 ~:'~*'4 18.57 DhuJlya (NM) 62.34 70.38 53.44-

ADdu! (NM) 75.82 81.32 69.41 216

STATEMENT VI.7-Contd . .. - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Howr •• MuUa (NM) 48.24 56.39 38.87

Jborhat (NM) 52.55 62.27 4Un Banupur (NM) 41.74 45.50 ll.15

Sankraj) (NM) 36.70 43.61 28.49 Manikpur (NM) 62.97 91.09 19.77

Sareup (NM) 54.88 8~.Z2 11~~

PaDchla (NM) 24.35 l4.87 13.15

Amta (NM) 3.t09 40.48 25.07 Uluberia 39.95 49.74 28.69 hltabla (NM) 27.96 37.56 17.15

Chenlail (NM) 2S.l9 31.89 14.31

Bauria (NM) 31.54 40.01 21.20 Burikhali (NM) 40.11 50.42 28.27

Port Gloster (NM) 34.20 40.96 20.98 c.-ua calcutta City. (MC) 60.32 64.08 54.40

IIHI'IJ Arambaah (M) 39.66 48.44 29.34 Pandua (NM) 41.06 46.35 34.97

8anaberia (M) 50.95 58.90 40-56 HOOIhly Cbinsura (M) 62.40 69.1)3 54.14

Tarakfswar (NM) 42.65 52.58 30.81 Harlpal (NM) 44.84 53.83 35.11

Sinpr(NM) 41.55 55.43 3g.36 Bhadreawar (M) 41.57 49.17 30.44

Champdani (M) 38.10 44.74 27.61 Chandannqar(MO; fiO.t6 66.99 53.29

Baidyabatl (M) 62.10 (19.88 53.16

Serampore (M) 53. 76 59.31 46.50

iitftra(M) 45.19 50.36 36.93 'Nabqram ColoDY 7(t20 79.66 7isl (Ntd')

Konnl8u (M) '.92 '1.19 •• 51 Nebla (NM). 48.29 53.66 40.61 Uttarpara-Kotnaq 66.01 72.09 58.66 (M) 117

STATEMENT V1.7-Contd.

:2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 to 11

Barchran Chitlaranjan (NM) 69.41 7S.4f) 61.59 Hindu8than Cables

Town (NM) 47.48 5O.9S 42.98 Kulti (NM) 40.95 50.36 28.96 Barakar (NM) 42.86 48.14 36.16 Dilhergarh (NM) 42.2; ~i4" jO.37 Niamatpur (NM) 38.44 48.61 25.89

Bumpur (NM) 61.96 68.42 53.11 Outer Bumpur 47.80 56.51 36.65 (NM) AsansoJ (M) 53.97 61.33 44.17

Sarakdi-Nadeha (NM)

(Sen RaJuah Township) 59.37 68.02 48.13 Jamurla (NM) 25.73 34.35 14.84 Ranlganj (M) 45.26 52.97 35.36 lemari (l.te. Napr Township) (NM) 38.44 46.07 26.19

Ondal (NM) SI.77 61.14 39.15 Ukhr. (NM) 41.68 52.10 28.08 Duraapur (NA) 56.77 64.06 47.23

Guskara (NM) 37.12 44.24 28.62 Memari (NM) 45.52 52.39 37.03

Burdwan (M) 53.16 59.44 45.37

Kat". (M) 41.69 50.70 31.90 Dainhat (M) 39.21 46.57 31.78 iaiBa eM) ".85 6.5.01 50.07 Mal ...ti (NM) )9.$2 41.43 29.96 -- Rdi~\i~hlit (M) 48.08" 5.5.08 40.12 Du.,....,r (NM) 37.74 49.05 .15.66 Stnt eM) au 59.S2 4s.66

' , '1",' • " Saintbia (NM) '~~" 51.06 37.16, ." ~~, 4',76 S6.6l 41.24 '.', ' ' ., ""'_,W) ~7~, $1,80 ,~ ,: .;" ....." " ~ckMt .. UN· ~1'. STATEMENt Vi.7-Concld.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Baokura Bfshnupur (M) 41.84 51.97 31.07

Sonamukhi (M) 50.61 59.91 40.96

Patrasaer (NM) 41.22 49.21 33.01

Mid.pore Jhargram (NM) 61.15 69.34 51.61

Kharagpur City(M) 57.11 66.9,2 45.59 Bali Chak (NM) 41.89 52.22 29.26

Midnapur (M) 56.66 63.66 48.18 Amla,ora (NM) 31.50 39.55 23.00

Garbeta (NM) 38.08 48.52 26.98

Ramjibanpur (M) 34.68 42.75 26.37 Chandrakona (M) 38.01 48.83 26.87

Kshirpai (M) 34.90 42.g0 26.53

Kharar (M) 43.S~ 53.50 33.32

. , ' . Ohatal( \'.I) 44.83 57.93 31.11 . . ! Kolaghal (NM) 40.78 52.53 27.37 Tamluk (M) 53.22 63.53 41.31

Mahisacal (NM) 49.01 61.67 35.11 Haldia (NM) 36.78 47.02 21.10

Contai (M) 49.30 58.90 38.46

ParuJia Jhalda (M) 37.86 50.45 24.05 . . I .. • .• Balarampur (UC) 37.85 52.93 21.45

PuroUa (M) 50.01 59.65 39.27

Chapari (NM) 56.53 63.41 48.37

Raghunathpur (M) 37.02 49.38 23.56

Arra (NM) 38.96 52.45 23.51

Adra (SC) 57.97 67.03 47.21

The average urban literacy' in 'the' 'state was Municipal Corporation; it is the lowest at Aurangabad 55.930/(\ for total urban population., ' Ihe, ,males had (21.9 J%), another jnd4~trjal,towJl but for away from a rate of 62.01

·among the towns of the district (58.47). The four Murshidabad presents a ·sorry spectaclo of, ,as towns of the district are all at the same level of many as 3 town, with literacy ratei of ··below the literacy. stato average of total literacy. rh~ towns ar~ (i) Aurangllbld which has, as alrea:1y mentioned, tho In Jalpaiguri the district average of urban dubious distincti01 of baving tile low'st lit~racy Jiteracy is fairly high (63. I 7l~~), the highest ute (21.91o/~) amJng the townsia. th~ stato, (ii) Dhulian among the urban areas being 61.26% in Jalpaiguri, (26.00% ) a sm III co:n!l1~rcial tOWll, and (iii) Lllgola lhe district headquarters and a servic~ town. In (27.4 a smlll nOIl·mullicipll town. Baharam­ Atipurduar and Alipur Ouar Railway Junction. two '0/0) pur, the largeit urbln area in the district, and ·other service towns of the district, the litera:y ra.te is FUdo\Ckl Bur.lge Tl)'Nil~hip, a new Urblll settl~meot, ·on the high side, being 57.68 and 58.97 per cent res­ e'(cced 60 in literar:y while in only one more town pectively. Domohani, a small non-municiPll town % (Jiaganj-Azimganj) the litera:y rate exceeds 50% the where the primary sector 'is still the mlin employer other urban area, are in t'te middle range. Literacy accounting for 50)~ of the mlle worken, is at the differential between the se)le~ is quite mlrked ill the {)ther extreme with a puor literacy of 32.22 % whi ~h three towns with the low:n literacy rates. In Aur~nga­ is below the state average of total lit~racy. In ba.d the fem lies have a dis ani literacy of 13.38 % between the two corne the four other non-municipal only a'ld ar~ b~~lind the OclPJiitc S'!'t by abo:!t 17 per towns in which the proportion of literates ranses from cent P()illh. Dhlllia'l a1sJ d)~~ nJt fare any better, 47.08 (in Falakata) to 52.83 (in Mlinaguri). The only 15.4S%, of its wom~n b:ing literate. It is in literacy differential between the two sexes is not also Dhulian tha.t the gap b~tween the two sexes is the too large in any of these town~. In cage of DJrnohlni wideit for literacy -the mates have a rate of 36.22 'Yo it is the largest, the females in the town having a aglinst 15.46% of the women. liter.lcy rate of 23.10% only against 40.21 % claimed by the opposite sex. Seven of the 13 towns of Nadia are in the hiab Cooch Behar is almost at par with Jalpaiguri. range of literacy. Ranaghat, the su~divisiona\ head· Here, too, three of the towns, namely Haldibari, quarters and Krishnagar, the district town claim the Tufanganj and Dinhata are above the state urban highest percentage of literates among tlte urban area, average in literacy, the last named town having the the respective figures being 66.28 and 6S 36. Th, highest percentage of 61.630/0' But, unlike in Jal­ lowest literdocy is found in the old to Nn of Santipur paiguri. the rate of literacy has not come down to a (47,31%), Female literacy is allo at a fclirty high very low level in any urban area of th! di~trict. The level in the town4J of the district. Santiput is again lowest percentage of literates in any urban area in the only to'Nn with less thIn 40% of literates among Cooch Behar is 46. t 8 % which obtains in Guriabati. the women. an extention of the district town Co)ch Behar. It is Coming to tbe Calcutta motrop()litan area the al most unique amJng the districts that Cooch Behar. district of Twentyfouf Parganu has more than· half the seat of the district administra.tion and, the big~est of its numerous urban areas in the high litoracy rango. urban area, is b:low the state average in litera::y with 40 of the towns and cities of the distrjct have literacy a proportion of 3 2,36~{, only. rates exceeding the state average, the remaining 30 In the district of West Dinajpur the two largest are in the middle range of between 55.93 % and tOWIl!, Btlurghat, the district headquarter, and Rat­ 33.20%. The highest· literacy i. claimed by Bata­ ganj. th~ subdivisional tOWIl, have higher literacy ratel na,:lr (83.4S %) which is followed closely by Jhan the state average 63.42% in the former 59.87% Santoshpur (76,11 0/0)' a fa.t developing non­ in the latter. AU the other urbln areas belong to the muni.cipal town of the residential catelory. Titagara. 'middle nnge of literacy, the rateS being the lowest the old industrial town. hal the lowest literacy among (3',31 %.) in the new primlry-cum·commercial to~n ihe urban area' of the district mainly due to the low ,.f Dalkhola. The difference in literacy among mates level of literacy among the in-migratina labourert. and rom'des is also the.widest in Dalkhola. For simit ..r'tealons literacy' is low (42.05 0/0) in tbe indu,trial city of ·Bhatpara· also.' There is a big In ndghbouring Maida which i. :~e'lea"t urbinii- difference' betwetn, the literacy. amoDI mile. ~ aad ed or the. district. English Bazar il above the the state rem.les· in a number of towns, the rates amon, lb• .aver~ in literacy .. while. the. twijl tpwn ot.. Old latter bein, particularly low in towns like Bid.pur "'&14a b ,19, bebilu:l wiUl oAly ~4g;18% "of liter~te.:bi the (20.63~~), 'Tita:g~rh (24;36 lo>. Pand1llf f29~40%) ,.popul~tiqD, . , .. . _. " , ,an~':~ "R&ypUf· (2tSS%) .. · B1: ~ad, tatlOI,the .'" I" - , \' ~. I, • • , ! ,_ • .. " "" 220 differential between the two sexes is narrow in the oDly in Surl, the district headquarters town that­ residenti~l' and service towns, the females of such lit~raey crosses 50% in Birbhum. The district town tow~s a180 having attained a high level of literacy. of Bankura has, however, failed to attain even this level. SonaJl1ukbi, a ,mall trading-cum-residential, The towns of Howrah, the most urbanised of the town, is the only urban area in this district which has­ distrIcts, are an odd It-ixture of contrasts as far as just tOllcheq the 50% mark, the exact rate being 1iter~cy in the urban areas is concerned. While 4 of SO.61 %. But unlike in some other districts th~se the towns have high literacy rates of between 58.61 0/0 two districts have one thing in cOlT'mon that Jitera~y 0 and 7~.82% as many as 7 are below 33.20 / 0 , that r~tes in all their towns are at a model ate level of is, the state average of total literacy. Only eight of about 45 %. The sarp,e observatiotls are more or the towns, including the 4 in the high range, have le$s true about the other backward district of the 0 crossed the 50 / 0 maJk in literacy. Nowhere else in region, too, namely, Purulia. In two of the towns pf West Bengal is the urban literacy in such a state of the district. namely, Adra (56 .53c;~) do the literacy disarray. 1his is due largely to the Jow level of rates come under the high range. The district towtl literacy among the industrial labour in the numerous also claims 50~~ literacy. In all the other tow~s jute mills of the urban units most of whom are in­ the proportions of the literates are close to, but just migrants from tbe neighbouring states of Bih ar and short of, the 40

Having examined the state of literacy in our urban STATEMENT VI.8 areas we may now refer briefly to the level of educa­ tion among the backward sections of the community. Literacy among 1cn major scheduled castes and scheduled the scheduled castes and tribes. tribes 1971 (Including age-group 0 - 4) Literacy among the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes Name of caste/tribe Percentage of literates '-Person Mafc··-Pemale --_.. _._-_._- Against a gross total literacy of 33.20% the sche­ 1 2 3 duled castes in the state had a literacy of 17.80% only in 1971 and the scheduled tribes a still poorer AUscheduJed castes 17.80 25.78 9.18 rate of 8.92 0/0, The progress of education among 1. Rajhanshi 17.56 25.96 these weaker sections of the community has also been 8.72 too slow and at this rate it can never catch up 2. Bagdi or Duley J0.79 17.26 4.20 with the not-too-high rate literacy of the total popu­ lation. While total literacy went up from 29.28% 3. Namasudra 26.86 36.24 ]6.22 in 1961 to 33.20% in J97l the scheduled castes and 4. Pod or Poundra 27.31 39.99 scheduled tribes too recorded small increases of about ]3.85 the same order inspite of all the special measures 5. Baud 10.J 1 15.49 4.58 adopted for the uplift of the backward people. From 13.58 in 1961 the percentage of literates among the 6. Chamar, Cbarmakar, 12.00 17. t3 5,96 scheduled castes increased to 17.80 only in 1971. Muchi, J\1(.)chi, Rabida., The scheduled tribes also recorded only a nominal Ruidas, Rishi increase during the same period as the rate of literacy 7. JaJia Kaiborta 20.47 among them reached 8.92% in 1971 from 6.55% in 28.49 II.4S 1961. 8. Dhoba or Dhobi 24.28 33.84 13,69

If the rates of literacy among the scheduled castes 9. Dom or Dhangad 9.89 15.17 4.19 and scheduled tribes are low tbe same vary widely 10. Sunri excluding Saha 22.41 between the individual castes and tribes. A few of 31.57 13.14 the major castes and tribes have, of course, attained All Scheduled tribes 8.92 a fairly high level of literacy which is not for below 14.49 3.09 the rate among the total population. The Pods or 1. Santal 7.93 13.66 2.06 Poundras and the Namasudras, for example, had relatively high literacy rates of 27.31 % and 26.86 % 2. Oraon 9.74 14.59 4.58 respectively in 1971 which are close to the total lite­ 3. Munda 9.21 13.62 4.35 racy level in the state. The Lepchas and Bhutias have likewise the highest percentage of literates among the 4. Bbumij 8.86 15.15 2.25 scheduled tribes the figures being 25.90 ond 23 4 () respective]y. These few castes and tribes have gone 5. Kora 8.43 13.77 2.7S ahead of their less fortunate brethren and may be 6. Mabali 9.52 14.10 4.83 said to be relatively advanced. But the women folk among all the scheduled castes and tribes are still 7. Lodha, Kheria. Kharia 6.21 10.38 1·79 shying away from formal education. Al> the State­ R. B:lutia including Sherpa, ment V J.8 will show. the females of only one of Toto, Dukpa, Yolmo, the trihes, namely. the Bhutias have crossed the 15 ~/o Kllgatey. Tibetian 23.46 25.52 21.34 mark in literacy rate. The Lepcha women, too, have a moderate literacy rate of ) 4.66. But the women 9. Malpahariya 7.29 10.30 4.01 of the other eight major tribes bave not even reached 10. Lepcha 25.90 34.38 14.66 the 5 % mark in literacy a dismaJ picture indeed. Among the scheduled castes also only one community, 222

. . Many of the scheduled castes and tribes are is only in the primary sector and in unskilled jobs numerically insignificant. The above list hal. there­ requiring manual labour that the illiterates do not fore, been limited to the major communities only. suffer from any disadvantage. As in case of the coun­ try as a whole, the rate of literacy among workers in Literacy among workers-West Bengal and districts West Bengal are far above that among non-workers. Among the workers again in levels of literacy vary In a country like India where the vast bulk of widely from one industrial category to another and the population is illiterate the levels of literacy will from district to district within the same category. . naturally vary, as already observed, from region to But the literacy differential between the two sexes region, from one section of the community to another, varies more widely in same industrial categories than ·between the two sexes aud between the rural and in others. urban areas· It follows as a corrolary that the rates of literacy 'will be reflected in the pattern of employ­ Statement VI.9 shows the percentage of litera­ ment also in the different sectors of the economy. It tes among the workers in the nine industrial cate-­ is almost axiomatic that Jiterates wiJI have tbe larger gories for males and females in West Bengal and its share of employment in most industrial categories. It districts. 223

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00 .... 00- -..... N 00 8 r<) V)r-= d :i ICi

o 00 o r-: -- -t'l .... ~ 00 o - Vl o ,..... vi - 1.0 - Literacy is at the hi&hest at the state level arnon& from employm,nt ill the category and that the Se.:" ··the workers in category VII-Trade aou Commerce tion of population from which Agricultural Labourers ( 73 2 8 ~~) and the lowest among the Agricultural are drawll carl harJly arf->cd to proviJo formal eJuclt.· Labourers (21.33%). The highest male literacy in tion to their childrell and have beel} tied down to any category of workers is also in Trade and Com 111- the occupation for generations. etce. Among female workers, however, the rate of lite­ racy is at the highest in category IX-Other Services In category HI of worker~ - L;vesto:::k, Forestry etc., (52.93 %) . As in case of male's, literacy among literacy rate varies widely from district to district. It female workers also is the lowest (6.16 %) in cate­ is as high as 71.83% in twenty four Parganas and gory II --AgricultJral Labourers. The lit~ra\!y diffe­ comes down to 2 J .44% only in the district of Jalpai­ rential between the male and female workers in any guri. In Cooch Behar, which has a low total literacy category is the largest in category III ---Mining, Quarr­ rate, workers of the category recorded a high literacy ying and allied activities in which 44.3~i % of male of 56.62%. It is interesting to note that female workers arc I iterates against J 0.16 <;'0 of the females. workers of the category in Cooch Behar have a far The gap is the narrowest among 1 ransport and Com­ higher literacy (75.80%) than their male counter­ munications workers 63.15 of the males being lite­ % parts (54.52%) in the category the number of work­ rate against 52.46% of the females in the industry. ers in the category (males 2687, females 298) is, of course, too small and it is unwise to make any infe­ Cultiva.tors have a high literacy rate of 50.5) % rence from the figures. for the state as a whole. The males am ong them claim a little higher rate of 51.20 but the female Mining and Quarrying which is almost entirely cultivators ha.ve a low lit~racy of 26.84~/~ only. F'ollowing the general l")attcrn of variation in total limited to the district of Burdwan claims a moderate level of literacy (35.29%) among its workers Female literacy the proportion of literates among the culti­ workers in the category have a little higher literacy vators is quite high in the districts of the cullural (36.21%) than the males (35.24%). It has to be Gangetic plains and varies between 69.43 % in Howrah and 57.78 % in Calcutta. In both Hooghly remembered that Burdwan alone accounts for 103. 769 out of a total of 1] 5.478 workers of the cate­ and Twentyfour Parganas the percentage of literates gory. The females of the category in the di.strict in the category exceeds 60, the exact figures being 63.19 and 65.] (, respectively. In the northern and have a literacy rate of 37.27% against male literacy western districts of the state which have generally a of 35.27%. Purulia, Birbhum and Bankura are the only other districts with any sizeable lobour force low level of total literacy the proportion of literates engaged in Mining and Quarrying. In these districts. among the cultivators is allo low. It is actually below too, the~e workers have fairly high literacy fates. 400/0 in all the five North Bengal districts and also jn Murshidabad and Purulia. The lowest literacy rate Curiously enough, the female wJr!\:ers of the category among cultivators (29.71 110) is in the district of in Purulia also claim higher literacy {41.670/0 } than the (25.01 in of Burdwan. Female DarjeeIing. On the other hand, Midnapur in the mltes %) a~ ca~e workers in the digtrict. or cour:;e, number only 216 western region has a high. literacy of 6S.72ghly (73.78 %) where tbe gap highest being 34.11

males, the rates beintr 66.72 and 57.60 per cent res­ 62.93 % for the state as a whole. In the districts: pectively. In rr.ost of the other districts the literacy too the regional variation is not so marked as in differential between the workers of the two sexes is some other industrial categories. Transport workerl quite big. of TwentyfouT Parganas have the higb~st literacy of 81.52% for any district. In some of the districts like Among the workers in the Manufacturing Industry Calcutta. Twentyfour Parganas and Murshidabad also the percentage of literates varies widely from literacy rate! among the female workers of the category districtto district but the variation is more pronounced are very high, But, as in case of Mining and Quarrying, between the two sexes in most of the districts. For the the high rates hardly mean much as the number state as a whole industrial" orkers nave a high literacy of ffmale workers in Transport/ Storage and Com­ rate of 62.73 O;{), 'The rate is the highest (74.57~{») munications is to small in these and a11 other districts in the district of Burdwan and the lowest in JaJpai­ to be of mu(h significance. At the same time some of guri (35. 76 ~{)). But in almost all the districts there the di~tricts 1ike Darjeeling (J 7.09) Bankura (17.92) is a wide gap between the male and female workers and PuruJia (22.52) etc., have very low literacy among of the category. lhe differential is of the order of H.e fen ale "oriers of the category altllough the rate 51.05 per cent points in the distJict of Murshidabad, ;:tmong their male counterrarts in the same districts the ratio of tbe literacy rates of the two se:xes being is quite hil2h and varies between 53.72°,~') in Bankura .fiS.85 ; 17.80. 'Tbe difference is the smallest in and 58.2/0/0 in Purulia, Munhidabad, Nadia, Howrah Calcutta. ]n fa(t, He literacy rattS amoIlg the male and Hooghly have very higb literacy among the and f( male workers are almost equal in the district. workers of the category ranging between 75.451<) (Murshidabad) and 66.40%) (Hooghly). The lowest Consttuction workers claim a total 1iteracy of rate of literacy is in the district of Cooch Behar 52"I70~) at fte state level. The proportion is 52.78% (40.11 (~~ ). among the males and 28.25 % amoDg the females in the category. Cooch Behar lias the hightst In category IX·Other Services also the literacy of literacy rate (73.43 ~~) among construction worktrs. the wOlker is quite high at 70. 140ft) and in fact it is '1be difl"trtntial between the two SC)les is quite only second to Trade and Commerce. As in Trade malked in districts like DarjeeJing, Cooch Btbar, and Carr,mcrct, there is little variation in the literacy T"ent)four Parganas, Hooghly, Burd"an and Midva­ rates of 1he workers of this category too in the ~ur. Lituacy is at the lew"st l-oth areor,g ma1e ar.d different districts. ABainst the highest rate of 81.05 t higher than 75~) in exactly half of the 16 districts of the state, As already mentioned, Trade and Commerce namely, Cocch Eehar (75.67°/»), WeSt Dinajpur claims the highest Jiteracy among workers of al1 in­ (80.7~%), MaIda (77.~2%) Twent~four Parganas dustrial categories. The rate is at its highest in the (77.70

Darjeeling 29.71 37.27 24.12 STATEMENT VI. II Jalpaiguri 18.97 24.19 15.68 Literacy rate b, age-group8, West Bengal 1971 --_ .•.. _._ .. __ ._-_._---_._._- ._----,....._--- Cooch Behar 16.24 24.99 11.52 Age-group Percentage of literate West Dinajpur 16.79 25.20 12.20 PersonS Males Fema...... -----_.. -. Malda 12.95 20.09 9.01 1 2 3 4 Morshidabad IS.55 21.85 12.04 5-9 22.S1 25.92 19.08 Nadia 27.60 35.27 23.17 10-14 SO.74 57.47 43.15 IS-19 54. SO 64.50 42.71 Twetnyfour PargaD8s 31.46 39.36 26.63 20-24 SO.23 63.96 35.25 Howrah 33.70 42.12 28.32 2S-34 40.82 S4.S8 U.93 35+ 32.46 46.46 14.78 Calcutta 58.13 62.81 54.7' Aae not stated 38.72 52.71 28.09 Hooghly 33.08 40.50 28.45 Burdwan 28.80 34.69 25.17 Percentage of literates in the age-group 5-9 when Birbhum 21.85 29.31 17.67 education begins is only 22.51 and is the lowest among all age-groups. It moves above 50 per cent Bankura 22.02 33.48 15.26 in the next age-group and reaches the peak (54.50 Midnapore 25.05 34.19 19.68 per'cent) in age-groups 15-19. It comes down agaiD Purulia 17.22 33.84 8.08 gradually in the higber groups reaching a low 32.4. per cent in &ge-Ifoup 35+. As expected, literacy 228

percentage is 11jgber among males than amonl group 35 +. It is apparent tbat the order the indi· females, in all the age.. grollp!. The di\'ergence ~iduals the greater is the disparity in literacy between bet" ten male 8nd ftmale literacy is the least in tlle the two sexes. Tbis may be ascribed directly to the lowest age-group 5-9 when mate literacy is 25.92 fact that spread of education started late among per unt against female JitelHY of 19.08 indic ating females and has made any impact only in the recent tbe lower coverage of yeung girls of school-going age. de(ades and that Jiteracy among tile fair sex is mov­ Male literacy fo11o\\s the trend of the total popu)a M ing faster th an among roales. Statement V1.12 gives tion and reaches the maximum in the age-groups 15- the percentage of literates by bn ad age'grotlps in the 19. In case of females, however, the maximum is districts fer to1al population, males and females reached earlier in age-group 10·14 and then comes separately. down gradually tapering ot], to 14.78 per cent in uge

STATEMENT VI.12

Percentage of literatn by broad ag('.groups, 1971

State/Distriot Percentage of Iiterittes in aKe groups 5-9 10-14 15-19 20-24 25- 34 35+ Age not Hated

.,---_.-..+, -... ---~--.... ,-~" .. ---. -.. -~--. 2 3 4 S 1 _._._____ . _· ______._M_. 6 7 8 .. fi ",,_, __ , "_""'___ R.~ __·U'__"_ ~-... -~--- •• ".~ • __ ••• __ ,- -_ -_ -.- .-_-- _---_._ _--_ .. A. Total population

WESTBENOAL 22.S1 50.74 54.50 50.23 40.82 32.46 38.72 Darjeelin, 22.99 56.64 52.81 46.53 35.84 30·90 19.51

Jalpaiguri 12.91 45.21 43.77 35.40 27.91 24.01 27.40

Cooch Behar 13.08 36.33 39.92 38.75 26.84 23.10 11.09

West Dinajpvr 14.62 41.09 41.87 33.44 29.40 22.23 33.74

MaIda 11.32 24.61 30.91 28.77 26.25 16.05 9.88

Murshidabad 12.24 29.44 35.03 23.90 28.21 18.f.0 27.10

Nadia 19.67 47.06 53.79 49.09 39.95 30.36 58.0J . TweDtyfour Parganas 24.90 59.08 64.27 54.70 46.52 37.50 36.02

Howrab 25.5S 67.76 64.20 S9.94 48.72 39.60 51.85 Calcutta 48.76 77.35 78.71 73.65 65.65 59.68 20.51 58.91 46.51 Hooghty 27.83 61.71 60.36 38.01 32.93 Burdwan 28.28 51.16 ",5.66 56..55 41.56 31.22 4271

46.30 44.84 31.93 23.64 Birbhum 23.87 37.83 20.09 Bankura 20.22 43.26 41.46 41.64 31.]5 25.21 2555

Midnapore 23.13 52.00 57.32 46.93 39.12 30.20 40.00

Purulia 15. J4 36.84 34.88 33.62 25.56 19.85 0.88 229

STATEMENT VI.12-Concld.

Percentage of literates in age-groups Agcaot State/ District 5-9 10-14 15-19 20-24 25 --34 35+ stated ------_ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

B. Males

WEST BENGAL 25.92 57.47 64.50 63.96 54.58 46.46 52.71 Darjeciing 24.70 63.00 63.80 60.60 48.60 43.80 11.70 Jatpaiguri 1.5.30 58.80 56.20 48.10 37.00 32.00 26.30 Cooch Behar 17.40 51.70 52.10 51.50 39.20 33.70 24.50 West Dioajpur 17.60 49.10 53.90 49.20 43.70 34.50 28.&0 MaIda 15.10 31.S0 44.20 41.30 41.30 23.60 ..- Murshidabad 14.70 34.70 42.50 48.30 42.10 28.40 29.30 Nadia 21.10 SI.30 58.90 59.30 52.70 43.60 69.50 Twelltyfour Parganas 28.30 64.10 74.00 68.00 61.50 53.20 41.10 Howrah 28.90 73.30 71.80 72.90 60.50 S4.40 59.80 Calcutta 50.30 78.10 77.70 74.70 68.00 66.40 40.30 Hooghty 32.00 6H.1O 66.60 72.00 59.90 54.10 44.50 Burdwan 3'0.10 57.00 65.40 68.00 54.40 43.80 55.00 Birbhum 26.50 43.10 56.00 62.70 45.20 38.40 24.10 Bankura 24.70 57.90 51.90 59.70 46.70 41.30 21.00 Midnaporc 27.70 59.40 75.90 66.60 59.00 48.90 54.50 Purulia 22.20 48.50 51.50 56.30 43.20 35.10 1.50 C. Females

WEST BENGAL 19.08 43.15 42.71 35.25 24.93 14.78 28.09- Darjeeling 21.20 49.90 41.50 32.30 21.00 13.00 32.50 Jalpaiguri 10.90 32.50 31.40 21.50 16'20 10.60 28.00 Cooch Behar 8.90 24.20 25.20 23.60 11.10 8.60 8.60 West Dinajpur 11.80 31.40 26.S0 18.80 15.20 6.60 37.90 Maida 7.80 16.40 16.20 15.30 11.30 7.40 11.40 MUl'shidabad 9.70 23.50 26.40 19.50 14.30 8.40 25.10 Nadia 18.10 42.70 '7.70 38.40 26.80 J5.90 43.70 Twcntyfour Parganas 21.50 53.20 53.00 40.20 20.50 17.60 30.80 Howr.h 22'20 61.50 55.00 43.50 33.10 J8.50 37.30 Calcutta 47.10 76.50 -80.10 71.80 61.30 46.40 J 1.30 Hooghly 23.40 54.90 52.80 44.20 31.10 18.90 1$.30 Burdwan 26.40 44.20 44.10 44.60 26.30 15.40 29.00 Birbhum 21.10 31.90 35.30 28.80 18.80 8.50 12.70 Bankura 15.7() 29.20 2~.60 23.70 14.80 7'60 28.00 Midnapore 18.60 43.20 36.80 28.00 19.60 8'SO 29.00 PuruJi. 8.10 21.40 J6.60 13.00 8.20 3'90 230

The district-wise variation in literacy in the the districts is reflected in the age-group .. wise distri­ ag_e-.groups follows the pattern of the state ~s a whole bution of literacy. As already mentioned, tbe per­ and· points to the great leeway that hag to be made in centage of literates is at the maximum for females tbe districts of the northern region where literacy in in the age-gronp 1 O¥ 14 for the state as a whole and the lowest age-group of school going age is as low as then comes down gradually to 14,80 in the age-group 1l.32 per cent in Malda and is at the bighe:)t in West 35 +. . In the northern distritcs (with the exception Dinajpur with a slightly higher figure of 14.62 per­ of DarjeeIing) the percentage is between 7.90 (MaIda) cent only. The next two age-groups also hardly fare and 10.90 (Jalpaiguri). At its maximum it is only any' \better the maximum literacy bein_g 4 L.8 7 per cent 32.50 per cent in Jalpaiguri in age-group 10 .. 14. In only in the ag~;group 15-I 9 in West Dinajpur. In t he western districts again the situation is only the ceQ,tral districts the percentage varies between marginally better. PuruHa is behind all the distrjcts 60.36 per cent in Hooghly and '78.71 per cent in with only 8.10 per cent literates among females of Ca1cutta. In the districts of tne western region, again age .. group 5-9 and 3.90 per cent age-group 35 the'position is obly slightly better than in the north. i~ +­

H'owever t as in total literacy • the districts of Darjee­ Percentage of female literacy in the district reaches ling apd Midnapore are two exceptions in the the maximum of 21.40 per cent in .age-grol]p 10-14. 1w~ regions and their age-group-wise literacy rates This and the steeply falling rates in the ,higher age­ .arc ciose to the state average. groups, indicate clearly that. the district has started The poor stare of female education In most of very low rate in the field of female education. 231

Edycational Levels : Statements Vl.13 glve the distribution of literates by educational levels in West Bengal.

STATEMENT VI.13

Discributio.( of JiteJate persons by educaticnal leyels W cst Bengal

Educational1evels Percentage of total literate Persons Males Females Number Percen- Number Percen- Number Percen- tage tage ta&e

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

All Areas Total literate 14,711.739 100 10,031.89 1 100 4,679.848 100

Literate (without educational 4,188.626 28.47 2,681,831 26.73 1,506.795 32.20 level)

Primary 5,168,051 35.13 3.3~O.231 33• .50 1,~07t820 38.63

Middle 2,S38,409 19.29 2,010,244 20.04 828,165 17.69

Matriculation or Higher l.S84.846 1.3.49 1.552,974 15.48 431,872 9.23 Secondary Non technical diploma or 9,137 0.06 8,164 0.08 973 0.02 certificate not equal to degree Technical dipJoma or certificate 23,t 50 0.16 21,170 0.22 1.380 0.03 not equa 1 to degree Graduates alld above 499.520 3.40 396,677 3.95 102.843 2.20 Urban Areas

Total literate 6,133.785 100 3,883,254 100 2,250,531 100 Literate (without educational leve1) t,213,831 19.79 673.043 17.33 540.788 24.03 20.36 617.737 31.89, Primary 1.624,944 26.49 ~O7,207 542.897 24.12 Middle 1,471.717 23.99 928,820 23.92 Matericuiation or Higher Sec on dary 1,399,5'09 22.82 1,042,756 26.85 357,053 15.87 0.01 Non technical diploma or cc:::rtificate not 1,131 0.02 878 0.02 253 equal to degree 510 0.02 Technical diploma or certificate not 15,OOg 0.25 14,499 O,3l equal to degree 69640 3.10 Graduate degree other than 304.181 4.96 234,541 6.04 technical cegree 13,144 0.58 Post~graduate degree other than 53,972 O.8t 40,828 1.05 te<:hnical degree

Engineering and Techtlica~ degree 19,592 0.32 19,208 0.50 38' 0.02 0.33 Medicine 14,131 0,23 12,703 1,428 0'06 Agricultural, Veterinary and Dili).- jog 201 N 176 N 25 N

Teaching 11.156 0.18 :5, ( !7 0.13 6,029 0.27

Others 4.111 0.07 3,468 0.09 643 0.03 232

Out of 14,711,739 literate persons in the state both the sexes. Among 1000 urban literate males 6,133,785 or 41.69 per cent are to be found in the 173 are without educational level and 473 have urban areas and the remaining 58.31 per cent arc in attained the pre-matriculation stage. Matriculates the rural areas. Of all literate persons in the state and above account for the remaining 354 of which 28,47 per cent are without any educational level, again graduates and post-graduates number as many 35.19 per cent have passed primalY examination and as 80. Incidence of higher education is no doubt 19.29 per cent the middle examination. Those who low among females in the state as will be evident have passed Matriculation and above but are not from the statement. Spread of higher education graduates constitute 13.71 per cent, while 3.40 per <.:ent among females in the urban has nevertheless been of the literates are graduates and abuve. fairly impressive especially in the urban areas. Against 240 literate women without educational level there 1he male-fem:.tle diiferential in educationl level are 560 who have passed the primary and/or middle among the literates is quite pronounced as in over-ali standard as the highest examination. Matriculates literacy. Out of 1000 literate females 322 are and above number 2110 of which the graJuates and without any educational level. 386 have passed the above including holders of Jegrees and diplomas in primary examination and 177 the middle examination. engineering, technology and medicine etc, constitute Only 93 of thc literate females have attained the as many as 41. It is a measur..: of the advancement stage of matriculation and above of which 22 only of women in the field of education that out of a total are graduates and above. Female literacy is thus of 102,843 women who are graduates or have post­ found to be limited mostly to the pre-matriculation graduate degrees or diplomas 1,837 possess degrees stage which claims 885 of every lOOD literates and in subjects like engineering, technology. medicine. Matriculation and above claim the remaining 115. agriculture, veterinary and dairying. The rural-urban Graduates and post graduates constitute only 2.20 differ~ntja} in higher education will however be evident per cent of the literate females. Male literacy presents from the fact that out of ] 02, 84 3 women holding a somewhat different situation with a better spread degrees and diplomas as many as 91,293 or 90 per cent and coverage of higher education. Pre-matriculation stage does no doubt claim 803 of every 1000 are to be found in the urban areas of state. Education educated males J 97 of the males have attained the seems to end with the primary or middle standard stages of matriculation and above including 40 who for mo!>t of the women in rural areas, for as many are graduates and above. as 357,816 out of 431,872 women who ht\ve passed

In the urban areas, however. the levels of the matriculation but are undergraduates belong to education are djfinitely higher than in rural areas for the urban areas. Chapter VII

IVIOTHER TONGUE

Dc1inition from Bihar were being re:orded as Hindi ·spea­ Mother-tongue was defined aq "the langllugc kers and their real mother-tongues such as Magahi, spoken in childhood by the person's mothl!f to Bhojpurj, Maithili etc., were apparently being supp· the pl"r:-.on." The instructions to enu Illerators r~ssed. EnqJiries Juring the enumeration revealed went on to say tha.t jf th~ mother died in that this was not true. In table C-VA (0, however, infancy, the language mainly spoken in the p~f'ion's MaithiJi. Bhojpuri etc. have been grouped under Hindi. home in childhood would be the mother-tongue. In Another complaint was that Oriya was not correctly the ca"e of infants and deaf mutes the language recorded in Midll'lpOre district and the Bengali was usually sroken by the 1111)thcr was to be recorded as recorded instead as the mother-tongue of the mother-tc1:l[,llC Thi~ COllCl'pt \V.lS acco~nTnnicd by Oriya-speakers. This was also enquired into and no dear directions that the Cl1u!ncrators were to record ev idence of any misrecording of mother-tongues was the language as returned by lhe person as his mother· found. As the tahles will show, there has undoubtedly tongue and should not dn any argume-nt with him and been a drop in the number of Oriya speakers in try to record anything othcr than what was returned. Calcutta. but not in Midnapore. One of the reasons for The concept is fairly clear and does n,)t require any the lower numbcrc; of Oriya-speakers in Calcutta is the amplification. The cnumerators were briefed Clrt:fulJy general recession and uneasy political situation in tile so as to avoid any resentment about the recording of state which resulted in many migrants from the neigh. the mother-tongue. 1t is worth noting that the defini­ bouring state going back home, at Jea.,t temporarily. tioll c1early provides that the language usually spoken There wa~ also a complaint about the recording or by a person would be his mother-tongue only if his Nepali as mother-tongue instead of Lepcha by a group mother had died in infancy. This was to avoid com· of persons interested in the furtherance of the Lepcha I'Jications in cases where some children spoke a parti· language. This complaint was also investigated and cular language among themselves, such as English, but the exact area where the wrong recording of mothe..... was spoken to by their mother in another language tongue was supposed to have been done was located. at home such as Hindi. Bengali ctc. What has been The enumerators, who were asked to report on this. presented in the Table C· V is the data on mother­ said that they had recorded a few cases of Lepchas tongues and not data on languages usually spoken, as speaking Nepali as their mother-tongue but this unless the person did not have a mother to speak a was only because the persons themolves returned particulur language to him when he was a child. Nepali as their mother·tongue. Since the enumerators were instructed only to record the language as retUJ1J­ ed by the persons as their mother-tongue, they merely Controversies about motber·toDlues recorded Nepali, although it would have more correct to bave written Lepcha. This was, however, confined There were one or two complaints from a few to not more than 5 or 6 cases. The other cases men­ groups about the recording of the mother-tongue tioned in the complaint proved to be unfounded. during the census. Most of these groups, however, did not appear to have too much of a following. In Accuracy or returns fact, one only heard of them during enumeration and received letters with very impressive letterheads. After 0.0 the whole, the recording of mother-tongues the enumeration they vanished just as suddenly as they was done aecording to the instructions given. A word .appeared. Every effort was made, nonetheless, to needs, however, be said about the correctne •• of tho enquire into allegations received. There was a comp­ returns. Lallluage has not been a burning iSlue in laint from an orpnisation to the effect that persoDs West Bengal. It certainly was not one dunDJ the 234

census of 1971 "hen many other things like the poli­ What call, ho,\c,'er, be said to he univer~al1y true of tical and econoll'llc uncertainties etc., cust their shadow this return js tllat the enumerator recorded what he on the public mind. There can thC'refore be no ques­ was asked to rec(.)rd and did not use his own judge­ tion of these returns ha\-jng been distorted. It is likely ment to dctemine a person's fil0ther .. tollguC. r, idence tbat in a few cases the enurr.erators did not actually of this wi1l be found in Table c· V. There is a sharp a~k the question regardiq~ languuge, wlien the mother­ increa~e in the number of !>ipealers of minor mother­ tongue seemed to them to be apparClll 'VI hen speaking tongues} if one can usc tllis term and some ether to the penons ccncen~ed. 1t is for Ml(..:h reasons that mothcr-t()ngue~ '" hil:h arc ob,iollsly not languages at returns like "Madrasi" etL, \'Iere alw recorded. It all, c. K. "Gurung", "Limbu" etc, Werc also returned. n:ust also be admith. d that in some plates especial1} If the enumerator had bee}l using his own judgement the urban podets \\ hich "ere in a dibturbcd state for or bting 1<11) or careless. he would have grouped considerable reried the enumerators did not ask the people into Jl.ore common mothtr·ton£ucs and avoided respondent s})ccifically about the mOlher-ton~ue as a lot of work. the answers were obvious. For examph.·, a person whose namc was givcn as Shri Asit Kumar Banerjee was not asked his mother-tongue but Bengali was Mother-tongues in West Beng1,1 written in the appropriate column. One hastens to add that this certainly is not true of returns as a Statement VB.l g jv("s the Jist of mothe-r-tollgues whole or for any sub~tantial number, but only of lfl West Bengal together with the number of ~ome in those utbnn areas v.here violence was rife. speakers.

STATEMENT VB.!

Mothu·TuFlIt" in "'c~l B(.'ogal, 1971 -_____... ____ ... _,_r~ _____ ~ __ .__ ._ . --__ ~------_." ------_ ....----~- -. , Percentage of spcakcr~ to Mother Toneue Number of speakers tota I population (Mo1her tongues included in Schedule

---. ---.. -~~ .. -- --. --_._ ".~ .....-----.,~ -." -- -.-.-- .. - - .- ... ~.-.- .. VIII of the Constitution) Person Male Female Person Male .Female

J 2 3 4 5 6 7 -"""-~-""-'-.-,_,...-.- --.. -_-_._-. ------...• ---~---.--.-----,-. ~ --~------.. -- 1. Assamcse 2,756 1,933 823 0.01 0.01 N 2. Bengali 37,805,905 19,595,365 18,210.540 85.32 i!3.61 87.23

3. Gujrali 34,030 18,742 15,288 0.08 0.08 0.07 4. Hindi 2,715,384 1.754,046 961,33S 6.13 7.4~ 4.60 S. Kannada ],700 948 752 N N 'N 6. Kashmiri 278 155 123 N N N

7. Malayalam 14,155 9,069 5,086 003 0.04 0.02

8. Marathi 7,205 4,610 2,595 0.02 0.02 0.01 9. Oriya 152,010 11,0348 41.(162 0.34 047 0.20

10. Punjabi 66,031 41,076 24,955 0.15 0.18 0.12

t1. Sanskrit 171 92 7';) N N N

12" Silldhi 5,093 2,777 2,316 0.01 O.OJ 0.0; D. Tamil 21,454 12.243 9,211 0.0.5 0.05 0.04 14. Tdugu 84,492 45,64S 38,844 0.19 1).19 0.19 1 Urdu 0 s. 9541.363 58 ,971 369,392 2.14 2.48 1.77 Motber-tonaucs not Included in 8fhedule VIII of tbe Constituti(lo

1. Angam 4 2 2 N N N 2. Arabic I Arbi 2,453 1,309 .' l,JH.. 0.01· (1,·01 O~() 1. " 235

STATEMENT VII.l-Conctd. __ .... _._._. _- -_.... _--__ ._----_----_. '---'--- 3 4 5 6 7 ---_... ,,-_._------_._._--". 3. Bhili/ Bhilodi 20 17 3 N N N

4. Bhotia 2,603 2,444 O.Ot 0.01 0.01

S. 3,7 :5 2,028 1,687 O.Ul 0.01

6. Bl)do/Boro 20,384 10 ,513 9,871 0.05 0.0' 0.05

7. Chinese/Chini 7,873 4,369 3,504 0.02 0.02 0.02

s. Coorgi/Kodagu 6 2 N N N

9. Dogri 269 173 96 N N N

10. E!lglish 27,204 14,648 12,556 0.06 0.06 0.06

] I. Garo 664 370 294 N N N

] 2. GooJ; 466 163 ,.'N N N

13. GorkhaJi/~el'aJi 615,544 32,1405 29A.t39 1.39 1.37 1.41

14. Ho 569 287 282 N N N 1.5. Khandeshi 2 2 N N

16. Kharia 15,207 7.427 7,780 0.03 0.03

17. Khasi 95 47 48 N N N

1Ii. Khond/Khondh 170 69 101 N N N

1fl. Kisan 351 182 .169 N LN N 20. Koch 34 16 )8 N N N

21. KOU

22. Konkani 1.222 692 53" N N N 23. Koya 739 392 347 N N N

24. Kurukh/Oraoo 206,121 106,486 99,6.35 0.47 0.45 0.48 25. Ladakhi 57 22 35 N N N 44 31 26. Lahnda 75 N N N 5,701 5,327 27. Lepchn 11,028 0.02 0.02 0.03 47 30 17 N 28. Lushai/ Mizo N 11 179 147 29. Manipuri/Melthci 326 N N N 60,736 31,527 29,209 0.14 30. Munda 0.13 0.14 9,589 4,692 4,897 0.02 31. Mundari 0.02 0.02 8 1 N 32. Naga 9 N N 1,736 910 826 N 33. Persian N N 7,869 4,038 3,831 0·02 34. Rabha 0.02 0.02 1,4J8.362 714,568 693.794 3.18 .3.05 35. Santhali 3.32 2'()45 1,061. 984 N N 36. Savara N 145 78 67 N N 37. Sikkim/Bhotia N 5,123 2,j7S 2,548 0.01 0.01 38. Tibetan 0.01 21 14 7 N N 39, Tu}u N 23,488 13,241 10,247 0.05 0,06 40. Others 0.05 236

A total of 54 mother-tongues have been shown 1.39 and 0.47 per cent of the population. It will fer the state. The other languages have been clubbed be observed further that an the languages of the eight together and shown as ·'Others". Some of the langu­ schedule inc1uding Sanskrit figure in the stntement. ages returned in 1961 did not come up at all this English is the mother-tongue of as many as 27 ,'~O. time; some others bave been rationalised with the help persons or 0.06% of the population It may be of the Assistant Registrar General (Languages) so that mentioned incidentally that in ll: 61 tl'e number of the correct names have been indentified as far as English speakers Was much IT.ore (39, 325) than in possihle for each language. 197]. Arabic, Chinese, Persian and Tibetan are some foreign ]angtwges which have been returned by size­ In the recording of languages one of the major able numbers of the populaticn. While the Chinese difficulties is the rendition of the names into either and Tibet.ln returns are understandahle. being the Bengali, Hindi or English depellding on which langu­ mother-tongues of settlers, Arabic and Persian are age was being used to fill up the "individual slip." apparently confusing In some cases at least the two Distortions occassionally took place as a result of languages have been returned by orthodox Muslims enumerators hearing the name incorrectly. Then, out of a sense of prestige ju!'t as Sanskrit has heen again, the names of these languages were transcribed returntd by 171 persons as their motl;er tongue. from an Indian script to English since the jndividual slip was filled up in Benga1i, Hindi or Nepali. In a few Major mother-toolu fS West Bengal and districts, J 97 J cases distortions took place in spelling too. With the help of the Assistant Registrar General (Languages) all the returns were scrutinised and su~h mistakes Statenlent VII. 2 shows the distribution of the were rectified. Naturally, Ben!Zali is the mother· speakers of the first six major mother-tongues of the iODiDe of tbe overwhelming majority of the popula­ state in the districts. Besides the first six languages, tion of the state (85.32 0 • --.... r-- -c 'D '" ~~ ~~ 00 ... " - .... "III' f' !~ ... ~ 00- M S 2 ~ 8 .... Q .... .0 z - z - 0.-100' o <:> e .... (- 00 te 00 "1 IoC> - N f'f

0\c c:I\ o IIIo

.... 1- ..... ~ ~ ~ -1"1 'D e '" *~ ..... 00 ..,. ~ ~ o QO 'D N 00' o ..... M-

....r­ -.. = N- 00 ""00 ~..... ,,' -....

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M 0- o ..". r- M III 00 00 0\ 00 C"'l C"'l- c~ II') 0\' r-f ..... r- 1"1 1'<'1 - 0'\ - .... ~ ~ 1"1 " 0'1...... ~ ~ 7t 0'1 ~ ~ g 00

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Io,:ihc' ..dlStricts the ·pattern ~f distribution of the 6.64 .per conl respectively of tqe population of the mother*1oqgu~s varies with the comp:Jsition, of th.! three:,districts. West Dinajpuf and MaIda 'are two populat'o~~ Darjeeling.. 'for iqstancc, has 51·13 PCI' other diitricts with ooncentration of the Santhals and cent of its .!,opulation speaking Nepdli as mother­ Santhali 1anguage is the mother-tongue of as much IlS tougue and' 20.21 per ';ent speaking Bengali, b~t this, 8.80 and 6.57 per cent respectiv¢ly of their people. however, is the only Qis~rict where one notices a complete turn-about in the pruportion between Bengali The largest prOl'orti0n of Urdu-speakers in the 1'0- . puJation was recorded in Calcutta (11 07%). West and other languages. Given the ethnic characteristics of the district this is obviously to be expected. Dinajpur has also a si~eable proportion of people who speak Urdu as the mother-tongue, their percentage The larg_st proportion of Bengali-speakers a'll.ong to the total popUlation being 6.55. The" three districts the population hu~ been recorded in Nadia, 98.41 ~.~ in the Calcutta indlJ'trial belt has also not too insig­ or the people of the district having returned Beng lli nificant proportions of Urdu-speakers in their popu­ as their mother·tongue. Cooch Behar, Murshidabad. lation, the language being prevalent mostly among TWc:ntyfour Parganas, Bil'bhum, Baokura anu Midna­ the Muslim in-migrants. Similarly in Burdwan too the pore are other districts where speakers of Bengali speakers of the language constitute a good proportion constitute 90 % or tnl>re of the populatiDn. Besides (2 .26 ~la) of the district population. Darjeeling. Calcutta (59 94 '10) and Jalpaiguri Jalpaiguri has returned the largest percentage of (60. 24 are two districts in which the proportions %) Kurukh/ Oraon-speakers (8.27) in the populatIon of of Bengali-speakers ar~ not as overw:}elming as in all allY district. In Darjeeling, too, Kurukh/Oraon has a other parts of the state. The reasons are obvious; place of importance. the Ipeakers of the language, the presence of substantial numbers of in-migrants in spread mostly in the plantations, constituting 2.880/0 the metropolitan city as also in the plantation district of the population. West Dinajpur is the other North <>f Jalpaiguri whose mother-tongues are other than Bengal district in which the language is spoken by a Benga.li, There is, of course. a difference between the fair proportion of the popUlation 1.1 0 ~(). two districts in that the in-migrants to Calcutta are mostly from outside the state while in Jalpaiguri many As already noted, OorkhatijNepali is the mother­ -of them. speaking Kurukh/Oraon, Santhali, Nepali tongue of the majority of the pl)pulation (57 13~~) of -etc., are from within tho state and have settled in the Darjeeling, The speakers of the language are found in district permanently. fairly high proportions (7.36%) in the neighbouring district of Jalpaiguri too, They are found in insigni­ The largest percentage of Hindi-speakers is in ficant numbers in other districts except Calcutta Calcutta where they con~titute 23. 24'~:. of the popu" where, for obvious reasons, they number over 15/000 lation. The districts in the Calcutta metropolitan areJ, and constitute 0.59% of the population. namely, HO.Jghly. Howrah and Twentyfour Parganas. the industri;.ll-mining district of Burdwan as also the The lowest percentage of Bengali-speakers in any district of Jalpaiguri have substantial numbers and district in the state, as already observed. is in Darjee­ proportions of Hindi-speaking people. Besides Cal· ling, Bankura has the lowest percentage of Hindi­ cutta. the proportion of Hindi-speakers is the highest speaking people (0.34 %) and also has not accorded in Jalpaiguri ( 15.55 %). In Howrah also Hindi-spea­ a single speaker of Kurukh/Oraon although 374 per­ king people constitute a high proportion of 8.65%. sons returned Munda as the mother-tongue from the In Burdwan their percentage is still higher at 9.01. district. The lowest percentage of Nepali-speakers Darjeeling has also to be mentioned along with these (0.01) is again in the district of Bankura. Calcutta districts. Due mainly to the in-migrants in the newly has the lowest percentage (0.03) of Santbali-speakers emerging urban complex of Siliguri and also in plan­ in the population. In respect of Urdu the lowest tation etc., Hindi-speakers in the di~trict account for position got:s to Nadia (0.01 %), the district of Cooch as much as one-eighth (12.71 %) of the population. Behar returning just a few more speakers of the language giving a higher proportion of 002 % to the Purulia had the largest percentage of perSons total population. (12.41) who returned Santhali as their mother-tongue. Santhali is the mother.. tongue of the third largest group Distribution of six major laDguales amoDg districtt of people in West BengI1 and has been returned in good numbers and proportions also from the other Statement VII. 2 (a) shows the percentage distri.. wcs~ern districts. namely, Midnapore, BanJrura and b ution of the six major mother-tongues of West Bir1;>l)um. ~nthali·speakers constitute 5.18,8.77 and Benla! as a whole amonl its sixteen districts. 239

00 - 00 00 o M ci c:.' .... ci

ClIO- 0c:-' 00 C"'~ _ 00 ("I N ('1

o 0 ." ..... 1 00 - f""t ci o 0

o f". 00 N

0\ o ~, 18 or. o o ci

:l "0 co 00 00 :5 ~ -~ ,3

1"'1 0'\ '1'\ 8 \0 o 1"1 ("i 6 ci N

...Q .~ r-. r-·I 00 o V) ~ 00 - o~ 00 ." ~ ("·1 r-. - .,.. oc g ff'. ci -tr'I

o 00 .... r') ..... o N... 00,., g ... 11"\ r. r-.

1"1 00 00 V') t"1 ." 'ri M

M 00 \0• (" . ..". 00

E .E ,.0.... 240

The largest percentage of Bengali-speakers in thc to job seekers in its mining-industrial belt. Itate a~ a whole is to be found in the most POPU10U41 district, namely, TWentyrour Parganas. But Bengali Among the districts Purulia had within it the being, as is welt known, the mother-tongue of over­ largest prop\)rtion of Santhali-sp:akers in the popu­ whelming proportion of the population of all districts lation; but considering the state as a whole the largest except Darjeeling one need not go into the relative percentage of SanthaJi is found to be in Midnapur. numerical strength of proportion of the speakers of In fact, the westernmo~t districts of the state, namely, the language districtwise. It may suffice to note that Purulia, Midnapur, Bankura and Birbhum along with Darjeeling has the smallest number of Bengali-speakers adjacent, Burdwan, contain among them about seven­ among the districts tenths of Santhali-speakers. The two northern districts of MaJda and West Dinajpur are another area of Hindi-speakers are spread over many districts in concentration of SanthaJi-speaken, about 20 per cent sizeable numbers, but their largest concentration in a of them being counted there in 1971. Calcutta has the single district is in Calcutta which is followed by smallest number of the speakers of the language in Twentyfour Parganas and Burdwan. The districts ill the any district an inlligllificant 1,080 only. Calcutta metropolitan area (Howrah. Hooghly, Twenty­ rour Parganas) along with Burdwan, in fact, account A~ a mother tongue Kurukh/Oraon is practically for about seven out of ever; ten Hindi-speaking people limited to four North Bengal districts of Darjee]jnl~ of West Bengal- Jalpaiguri in the north is another Jalpaiguri, West Dinajpur and MaIda which among district which hlS large numerical strength nf the them have all but live per cent of the speakers of the Hindi-speakers, about a tenth of the total speaker" of language, Naidia Twentyfour Parganas. Hooghly, the language being concentrated there. Bankura has Burdwan and Birbhum have also about a couple of the smallest number of people speaking tiindi-a-smal1 thousand of them each. In Purulia only 3 persons total of 6,875 only. returned Kurukh/Oraon as the mother tongue while Bankura did not return the language at aU. As with Hindi, the largejt percentage of Urdu· speakers in the state is in Calcutta, more than a third Imp:ntaot mather-tongues and their growth 1961-71 of the people sp.!aking the language being concentra­ ted in the city district alone. Unlike Hindi, however, As set out in the begining. 54 mother-tongues tbe other districts of the metropolitan area except were listed for West Bengal in 1971- The actual twenty four Parganas do not have very larg~ concen­ returns were. of course, many more but they were trations of Urdu-speakers though their number~ are by rationalised in the Language Division and about 200 no means imignificant. In twentyfour Parga las there of them were grouped under the heading "Others." A are 159,133 Urdu-speakers or a sixth of the total num­ look at the Statement VIr. 1 will show instantly that ber in the state. Outside the Calcutta metropolitan area not many of even this short list are numerically West Dinajpur has the largest numerical strength of important for the state as a whole or for any parti­ Urdu-speaking people (I24,1l3) mostly in the terri .. cular region or regions. There is linguistic diversity, tories transferred from Purnea district of Bihar, now no doubt. but it does not pose any complicated pro­ forming the Islampur subdivision. The smalle!lt bJem ae; the list may apparently suggest. Besides the number of speakers of Urdu -a-handful of 267 only-is languages of the eighth schedule there are only 14 to be found ill Nadia where 98.41 % of the popula­ more which are numerically important with 5,000 or tion speak Bengali. more speakers. Three of them again are among the first six languages of the state; they are Santhali, Nepali, as already observed, is confined almost Kurukh/Oraon and Nepali. As the statement VII. I entirely within the four corners of Darjeeling and its will show, the speakers of the six major languages are southern neighbour Jalpaiguri. The two districts 98.63 % of the total population of West Bengal. together account for more than nine-tenths of Nepali­ speakers. Of couree, Calcuta too has a sizeable Statement VII. 3 lists the major mother tongues number (15,784) of Nepali-speaking people. The of the state including the languages of the schedllle reasons are obvious. So has Burdwan (4,903), which and shows their comparative strength and proportions alao has offered fairly good employment opportunities in 1961 and 1911. 241

STATEMENT VII' 3 The pr"portion of Bengali speakers has gone up from 84.20 <'10 in 1961 tl) 85.32 % in 1971 though it is still below the percentage recorded in 195 I whicb was 85.64%. Similarly, the percentage of Hindi (spoken by 50:)) or mlre in 1971) speakers has risen quite appreciably from 5.24% in 1961 to 6.13% in 1971, but it is still below the Per~entage (0 percentage recorded in J 951 which was 6.34 %. The S1. Mother tongue No. cf speakers tot~!l>~puJ..ltio'l absolute rise In the numbers of Hindi-speakers, is No. 1961 1971 1961 1971 however, quite noticeable there bas been about 50% 2 3 4 .5 6 increase of the Hindi-speaking population during tho last decade. While part of it is due to grouping or I. 8engai 2.),427,OJ5 J7.~05,905 8:1-.26 85.32 languages like Sadan/Sadri, Marwari etc. under Hindi. (including Rajll:l!1shi) The increase is partly due do in.. migration from the 2. Hindi 1,894,039 2,715,H4 5.42 6.13 neighbouring states too. This will be evident from tho fact that there has been an appreciable increase in the 3. Santhali 1,121.447 1,403,362 3.2t 3.18 numbers of Hindi"speaking people in Calcutta city 4. Urdu t>32,847 950,3()3 2.39 2.14 proper as also in th: districts in tho neighbourhood. The percentage of Santhali speakers increased frOID ~. Gorkhali / 524,284 615.544 1.50 1.39 2.70% in 1951 to 3.21 (Yo in 1961, and hat then Nepali declined slightly to 3.18 % in 197 J. Urdu has also 6. Kurukh/Ot3Jn 1215,1).1:) 20),121 0.62 0.47 recorded a similar trend-a noticeable rise in the per 7. Oriya 212,890 152,010 (l.61 0.3~ centage from 1951 to 1961 and a slight drop over the la~t decade. This has happened in the case of ~, Telugu 80,930 X4,492 O.2~ 0.19 Nepali and Kurukh/Oraon also. Oriya ha~ consistently 9. Punjabi 57,011 M,031 0.17 0.15 declined over the last 20 years, the speakers of the (including GUrlunlikhi) Janguage having been reduced by about one third during 1961-71. Against 212,890 Oriya speakers in II). Munda 49,411 0.14 0.14 19 () 1 there were only 152, 010 in 1971. The propor­ 11. Gu jarati 25,707 34,030 0.07 0.08 tion of Telugu speakers has also declined though their ) 2. English 39,325 27,204 O. t I O.Of, numbers have incrc!a~ed slightly during the Jast decade. It had recorded a higher percentage in the 13. Tamil 32.663 21.454 O.O') 0.05 1951 census· Punjabi has increased in numbers but 14. Bodo! Boro 5,903 20,384 0.32 0.05 has declined in terms of percentage to total population. The percentage of English speakers has declined 15. Kharia IX,32) 15,207 0.05 0.03 sharply from 0.11 to 0.06 during the-last decade. The. IG. Malayalam 1'<.320 14,155 0.03 ().OJ number of the speakers of the language came down by about 12,000 during the period. Tamil has also - S,855 17. Lepcha I J,028 0.03 0.02 shown a similar trend, the number of Tamil speakers 18. Mundari 13,140 9.5:N O.O~ 0.02 has dwindled to 21, 454 in ] 971 from 32, 663 In (Adibh:l'ia MJ01da) 1961.

19. Koda/Kora 7,766 12.167 0.02 0.03 Languages which have recorded sp~ctaculal1 rise 20. Chinese/Chini 10,384 7,873 0.03 0.02 in the number of their speakers are OUjrati, Malaya" lam and Boro/ Bodo. The 1irst two ar~ tbe languages 21. Rabha 6,101 7,~69 0.02 0.02 of in-migrants and the rise in their numerical strength 22. M lrathi 13,239 7,205 0.0+ 0.02 testifies to an increase ill the scale of in-migration. The three-fold increase (from 5,903 in 1961 to 20,- 23. Tibetan 7,R:n 5,123 0.02 0.01 384 in 197t) in thenumberofsp~akersofBodo/Boro 24. Sindhi 5,093 can hardly be explained except by ttle fact that there 25. Bhotia 5,047 might have been a conscious attempt on the part of the tribe to a~sert their separate linguistic and ethnic identity. 242

Amon& the other languages 'hat have declined English-spellkers who are mainly Anglo-Indial1s have in numbers of spf~1cers during the la&t dc-cade the migrated to other countries or to other parts of India. fol]o\\irg are v.~rthy of notice: Kharia, from ]8,325 To this must be added the fact that some people of In 1961 to 1 S. j('7 in 197 J: Mt.r.dari (Adil:l:asa Goarcse origin v.ho used to return English as their Mtmdan, frem 13,140 10 9.~ 89, Tibrtasl, fr\.m 7,833 to mC'1her t('ngue niight h.,'e !!iven Gcanese or K onkani 5,123 al1d (hiJ1cse/C}1iri from Jf'.:F4 ill ]90 to 7,S73 as 11)(' mot.her-tongue now. The~e are. of course, in in 1971. The decline of the 111st two is uJ1den1ar.d­ tht nature of hypotheses It would he worthwhile, e abJe t11e sreakers of t!-e' languaaes I1Hve ob\'icusly hvwe\er, to investigate tht rtaSons for the dr-dine in either repatriated to tr.eir he me (('\lIT: tries or shifted the number of Ellglish-spcaker~, since the langua.ge .;0 outside the state· But the fall ill tt:e numbers of stiJI ocrul'i( s a position of jmmen~e importance the Mundari ard Kharia-speukers bas no S\lch ready not only in lhe state but in the count! y as a whole as explanatJon, for the)' are natives of the state and there weB. is no information of any out-migration of these tribes. West Bengal had a]so a fairly large Chines ~pea­ Idr.g populatjon concer.trated mostly in Calcutta. PGsitloD of EIJ~ish and Chioue Ihis group is also d" indlillg every decade, the Tlumber having corne down to 7,873 in 197] from 10,3t,4 in A w('rd needs re said about tIe position of En8- 19()J. RtpHtriatiop to the I~ome ('('unlry or elsewhere Jibh in the ~ ta teo .A s is "e)) J.. JiOWTl, t he language}1 as stems to bc the reason for the decline of the language t.c~n and stiJ1 ccntinues to be an impcrtant factor in group. the life of Wc~t Bengal and especially of Calcutta. lhe Dumtcr of Eng1i~h-~rfaker!'! in the state has, Important mo'her-tongue~ in the districts bOYfeVl r, been declining steadily onr the decades siBee indepfndenct. During the Jast ten lears it has Statemfllt VlI. 4 gives tlle six major or nurtlcrj­ been Jeduced by abcut a third of what it was in 1961. caUy impol hmt mother-tongUtl s of each of t he districts 1his is quite possibly 1:ecause of the fact that the of West Bengal.

STATEMENT VilA

Six Dlllj( r m( thr tugu(S in djstJicH', 1961 and 197. ---,-_.-._.__ ... -----.. -..~ ... --~-.--.------_._--- Mother tongue Percentage of total population 1\'1 other tongue Percentage (0 total popuinlion 1961 1971 1971-" )t)hl

1 2 3 j 2 3

DarjceJing CoocJJ Behar 1. Gork halil Nepali 57.13 59.09 J. Bengali 97.30 96.13 2. Bengali 20.7R 14.44 2. Hindi 2.2~ 3.1 J 3. Hindi 12.71 7.66 3. Rapha 0.12 0.15 4. Kurukh/OraoD 2.~8 2.81 4. Sant h .. I i 0.) 1 0.03 S. L.epcha 1.38 1.30 5. Gorkhali/Ncpali 0.09 0.01{ 6. Santhali 1.20 1.28 6. Kurukh/Onwn 0.07 0.08 .Ja)pajguri Wtc·st Dinajpllr

1. Bensali 60.24 54.50 I. Bengali 78.22 72.20 1- Hindi: 15.55 6.99 2. Santhali 8.~O 9.29

3. Kurukh/Oraon 8.27 11.87 3. Urdu 6.04 10.14 4. Oorlc hali/NepaJf 7.36 8.04 4. Hindi 5.3 L 2.38 S. Munda 2.31 3.21 S. Kurukh/Oraon 1.10 1.43 6. : Santhali 2.16 2.15 6. Mundu 0.23 N 243

STATEMENT VilA -Contd.

"" , ~.-- .. ,,._,,. ... 'T' 2 ~ 2 3 ._ . ------. · ....r-. Ma!da Calcutta

1. Bengali H5.6H lD.S9 1. Benaali 59.94 63.84

2. Santhali 0.55 7.19 2. Hindi 23.24 19.34

~. Hindi 5.96 2.5~ 3. Urdu 11.07 8.98

4. Urdll 1.36 1.72 4. Oriya 1.34 2.02

5. Kllrukh!Oraon 0.27 0.34 5. Gujarati 0.86 0.70

6. Munda 0.05 fl. Punjabi 0.84 0.20

Murshidabad HooabJ,

I. Bengali 97.4X 96.72 1. Benaali ~9.19 H8.08 2. Santhali 0.IJ6 0.95 2. Hindi '.97 5.80 3. Hindi 0.93 1.49 3. Santhali 2.47 3.09 4. Urdu O.5:! 0.61 4. Urdu 1.49 1.41

5. KUl'lIkh/()r;lon O.O.~ 0.04 5. Oriya 0.43 0.8J

6. Gorkhali/Nepal i ().() J O.O( 6. 'J'eJugu ·O.J~ 0.18

Nadia Durdw.1t 1. Bengali 9H.41 97.67 1. Bengali K2.55 X2 . .15 ....") Ilindi 1.0] 1.49 2. Hindi 9.01 ~.45 J. S;tnLhali 0.25 0.26 3. Santhali 4.65 4.~9 4. Kurkh 'Oraon 0.11 0.25 4. Urdu 2.. 2() 2.39 5. Oriya 0.04 0.09 5. Punjabi 0.38 0.09 fi. 0.03 Munda 6. OriYl\ 0.29 0.56 TWl'nfyfour Pargaoas Blrbhum Bengali 91.60 91.27 I. 1. Bengali 91.02 90.45

") Hindi 5.50 5.03 2. Santhali 6.64 6.91

3. Urdu 1.88 2.04 3. Hindi 1.45 1.30 4. Oriya 0.]1 0.62 4. Urdu 0.60 0.81 5. Santhali 0.17 0.21 5. Kurukh/Oraon 0.15 0.01

6. Telugu 0.13 0.19 6. Koda/Kora 0.06 O. J I Howrah Banlwra I. Dengali 87.24 85.47 1. Bengali 90.73 93.60 ., ~. Hindi l'l.65 8.89 2. Santbali I ~.77 8.75 3. Urdu 2.61 3.09 3. Hindi 0.34 0.37 4. Oriya 0.66 1.27 4. Urdu 0.09 0.06 N S. TeJugu 0.30 0.7~ 5. MUDda 0.02 0.30 6. G orkhali/Nepali 0.09 9.17 6. Gorkhali/Nepali 0.01 244

STATEMENT VlI.. CODcld.

I 2 3 1 2 3 ._------.---- ._------_.-.-- -_. ------Mldllapore Purulia

I. BeOCali 90.70 90.05 I. Bengali 82.96 83.26

2. SanthaJi 5.18 5 .29 2. Santhali 12.41 10.00

3. Urdu 1.17 104M 3. Hindi 3.20 2.44

4. Hindi 0.96 1.04 4. Urdu 0.75 1.45

S. Telulu 0.79 0.74 5. Oriya 0.12 0.11 6. Onya O.Sl 0.48 6. G od,haJj, Nepali 0.04 0.05_-_-- Except for DarjeeJir g, Bengali i~ the first language: to 2 FCf cent sreak Janguag( s other than tl~e first in an the other districts including the city of Calcutta. thn t. Tt.e fourth) fifth and sixth lan~uagc~ cJeim The second mother-tongue in terms of proportion (f the foJ]owing of infinitesimal percenta~e of the popu· speakers to total population cf the districts is I Hirdi lation. 1 he four North Bengul distr:cts of Darjee­ in JaJraiguli, Cooch B1 .1Ild 1971. The Nadia and Hooghly; lcpcl-!a in DarjeeJing; Ncra]j in perccr:tllf'c of Nepali specJ,crs in Darjee1illg has C(l(l(h Behar; 1< urukh/Oraon in West Dil1ajpur, declined frern 59.G9 to 57. 13 ~o of tre total popu. Malda, MUHhidarad ard Bilbhlm; Santhali in laticT'. Jalr ai~uri is ttlC only otl~er distIict in \\hich Twentyfour Parganas; Punjabi in Burdftan; Munda GOJkllu]i/J\cr a1i is nllrnerically :mpcrlant Here, 100, in B~1I11\l.lra and Gujrati in Caklltta. TeJugu "as tbe pwpC'J1ion rf the ~P' akers of the language has rdurned 8S the sixth mother-tongue in Twtnt)f01:r cerne d(\\-\n from 8'04°1t, to 7.36/~ durillg the Parganas and Booghly; Rurukh/Oraon ;n C(lech decade. This is due D1ainl) to in-migration of spea­ Behar; Santali in DarjeeJing and ]alpaiguri; Mur,da kus of ether Jan£uages in the se distritts. Jalpniguri in Nadia, Maida and West Dinajpur; Koda/Kora in is 8{ain the only district in whi(.h Kurukh/Oraon Birbhum; Oriya in Midnspore and Burdwan; Punjabi is an important language. 1 he proportion of in Calcutta; and Gorkhali/NepaJi in Murshidabad, l UJlJ:kll/0rBon speakers too had declined from Howrah, Bankura and Purulis. 11.87~'~) to 8.23% in 1971 in the district. Tic number of Urdu speakers in West Dinajpur bas In most districts the first three languages account declined sharply from ]34, 234 to 112, 4]3 and tbe for almost the entire population and the remaining I proportion to total population has come down to 245

6.04~~ in 1971 from 10.14% in 1961. The pro­ in 1961 to 15.55 % in 1971. The proportion of portions of Bengali speakers have increased in all Oriya speakers, has dropped sharply in Calcutta districts except Purulia and Calcutta. In PurnliR the from 2.1 O~/~ to 1. 34(~/~. In absolute numbers there has decline is only marginal from 83. 26~) to 82.96 %. been a decline from 6 1.352 persons in ) 961 to But in Calcutta Bengali· speakers have come down 42,246 persons in 1971. The number of Oriya very sharply from 63.84<;;) to 59.94~{ In absolute speakers in Midnapore. on the other hand. has gone numbers 1,887,464 persons were reCOl ded in the city up from 21.02 i to 25,856; although the percentage as speaking Bengali as against] ,868,855 persons in has remained roughly the same in the district. As 1961, that is, the Bengali-speaking people added only already mentioned the complaint that Oriya-speaking 18,000 to their numbers in the city in ten years. persons were recorded as Bengali speaking in Midna" This is a striking fact indeed, since nowhere else has pore may therefore be said to be unfounded. Simi­ the language declined in such a manner. There were larly, the compJaint regarding under-enumt"ration of certainly a number of factors which may explain why Lepcha speakers is also seen to be unfounded from this could have happened. It is fairly well kl10wn th(' figures : Darjeeling. where the compJain wa~ that, while migrant have come to Calcutta from made. has recorded 10,821 speakers of Lepcha as outside the state there has been practically no migra­ against 8,171 in 1961. Punjabi has recorded a tion from within the state itself. People are, on the phenomenal increase in numbers in the district of whole, less mobile in the far-flung districts and those Burdwan. There were 2,850 speakers of Punjabi in in the nearby districts come to Cakutta when 1961; in 1971 the number has shot up to 12,402. necessary and return home. Again, the emergence The emergence of Durgapur and the tremendous of Durgapur has drawn away numerous skilled increase in the transportation trade where Punjabi­ workers and their families from the city. A third ~peakers predominate are the obvious reasons. factor which has to be mentioned is the violence and terror that prevailed in 1971 as a result of which a The number of Munda speakers has declined in number of enumerators reported tbat some of the Jalpaiguri but increased sharply in West Dinajpur households refused to give details regarding young from 6 to 4,100 and from not a single speaker in men in their families. Those were almost all Bengali­ 196 t to 672 in Nadia district. As the sixth mother­ speking families The uncertain conditions in Cal­ tongue, Punjabi emerges with far larger Dum ber of cutta in fact affected mostly the Bengali-speaking speakers in Calcutta than in 1961. The increase is areas. That enumeration may not have been as from 6,036 to 25,574 which is again owing to the comprehensive in these areas as in other places cannot expansion of economic activity ill the early years of be ruled out. Another important fact which has a the last decade. bearing on the issue is the pattern of growth of the city: the lower middle c1ass Bengali families are Distribution of mother tongues in rural aDd urban moving away from the city proper to the suburbs areas in the wake of the staggering increase in the price of homestead 1and, prohibitive costs of living, high The distribution of speakers of different mother~ rental of residential accommodation etc. Extension tongues in the rural and urban areas serves to of commutational facilities, though extremely inade­ indicate the extent to which languages can be consi­ quate, has alr,o been an added factor. The process dered -'native" to the s.tate. There are some languages is yet to be studied in depth but it is apparent that which will occur in substantial proportions in rural whatever movement away from the city has taken aq well as urban areas, or mostly in rural art"as. place has affected mostly the Bengali-speaking '1 hese can be taken to be languages spoken by people people. who form the native population as against those who have come from other regions and settled in the In contrast there has been a sharp rise in the state. By and large, the settlers mostly reside in the percentage of Hindi speakers in Calcutta city-from urhan areas, which is where persons are drawn by 19.34% to 23 24~<) during the same period. There is the na(ure of the economic activity in those areas. also a fairly noticeable rise in the percentage of The rural population Jives off the land and may be

Hindi-speakers persons in Darjeeling district, from considered to be the "natives' I of the areas. A 7.66 in 1961 to 12.71 in 1971. But the increase in groupin, of mother-tongues On this basis may be tte Hind i-speaking population has been even more made from Statement VII. 5, which shows the distri­ spectacular in Jalpaiguri where their rroportions have bution of speakers of 25 major mother-tongues in the more than doubled during the decade-from 6.99% rural and urban areas of the state. 246

STATEMF.NT VIJ. 5

Dlltrlbutlon of speakers or 25 major mother.tongues In rural and urban of West Benpl, 1971.

SI. Mother-tongues Total Rural Percentage Urban Percenta,e No. speakers to total to total

1. 2 3 4 5 6 7 1. Bengali 37,805,905 29,939,593 79 7,866.312 21 2. OUjarati 34,030 1,457 4 32.573 96 3. Hindi 2,715,384 822,084 30 1,893,300 70 4. MalayaJam 14,155 1.953 14 12,202 86

.s. Marathi 7.,205 1,850 26 S,3SS 74

6. Oriya 152,010 42,139 28 109,871 72

7. Punjabi 66,031 7,639 12 58,392 88 8. Sindhi 5,093 82 2 5,011 98

9. Tn mil 21.454 2,039 10 19,415 90 10. Tclugu 84.492 5,105 6 79,387 94 11. Urdu 950,363 247,875 26 702,488 74

12. Bhotia 5,047 3.352 66 1,69S 34 J:l. Bodo/Boro 20,384 20,324 100 60 N 14. Chinese/Chini 7.873 623 8 7,250 92 15. English 27.204 1,084 4 26,129 96 16. Oorkhali/ Nepali 615,544 512.047 83 103.497 17

Ii. Kharia ) 5,207 t 5,196 100 11 N

18, Koda/K.ora 12,167 11,922 98 245 2

) 9. Kllfukb/Oraon 206,121 20,473J 99 1,390 1

20. Lepcha 11,028 10,674 97 354 3 21 Mund. 60,736 59,996 99 740 22. Mundari 9,589 9.496 99 93 23. Rabha 7,869 7,869 100

24. Santhali 1.408,362 1,385,248 98 23,114 2 25. Tibetan 5,123 2,022 39 3.101 61

I&. will be seen from the statement that Bengali consider the distribution of the other mother-tongues has a much larger number of speakers in rural areas to identify changes and characteristics. Among these than in the urban. It will also be seen from state­ SantaIi has a much larger number of speakers in ment VIl-6 that Bengali is numerically the first rural areas; the language is 10 fact confied almost I [mgnage in all the cities except one. Since it is the wholly to the rural areas. Out of a total of over major mother-tongne of the statc, this is only to be 1.4 m speakers of the language a handfull of 23,036 expected. It will be more profitable. however, to only are to be found in the urban areas. Nepali.. 247

also exhibits the same characteristics, there beina natives a8 well. These mothrr tongues are Urdul 511,795 speakers in ruralanasand 103,315 sp~akers Ori) 8. The former has 247,676 speakers in rural areas in urban areas. It is noteworthy, however, that the and the latter 42.139. As already observed, Urdu proportion of NepaJi"sptakers in the urban areas speakers of the rural areas will be found in predomi­ is much higher than in the case of SanthaJi. Similarly. nantly Muslim oreas adjoining Bihar or in the Kurukh/Oraoa, the sixth most numerous mother­ transferred territories of Purnea, now in West Dinaj­ ton~ue, is also conned with in the rural areas. pur. Oriya speakers in rural areas are concentrated There are a number of other mother-tongues which along the Midnapore-Oriya border. figure in rural areas b~t have prectically no speakers in urban areas; these are: Munda. Mech, Mother-tongues spoken by the scheduled tribes KodajKora, Lepcha Madhesi and Mundari. Speakers hardly occur in urban areas. KurukhjOraon hal of the languages like Tamil. Telugu. MaJayaJam, only 1,243 speakers in urban areas, Munda 740, Sindi, Punjabi, Hindi, Gujrati etc. are to he found Kharia 11, Mech 51, Koda/Kora 245; Lepcha 3S4; more in the urban areas than in the rural, and could Hnd Mundari 93. One could conclude from this that be said to jndicate, very broadly, the spectrum of speakers of tbese languages are still rooted to the recent "settlers" and migrants as opposed to natives. soil. and just a few have ventured beyond their Not all of them, however, can he said to have only villages and fields to seek their fortunes. a few speakers in rural area'}. A third group of mother tongues can be identified; 1110::;t of the speakers Mother tODaues in cities of these are in urban areas. but substantial numbers exist in rural area5 as well, which would tend to Statemeht VIJ.6 gives the mother-tongue show that the speakers arc not only IIsettlers" bllt characteristics of the cities in the state.

STATEMENT VIL6

FiVt.~ major languages of tbe cities, J971 (Number of speakers and percentage to total population)

- ---~--~ -.. ----.----.-" .. ,~---. -_------...... -----.------.------.•. - .. ,.. -----.-... ~.-.... Number of Percentage to Number of Percentage to speakers fotal Population speakers total Population

1 2 1 2 ------, .. --- _. - .. t. Calcutta (Total population 3,148,746) 3. South Suburban (Total Population 277,6(0)

Bengali 1,887,471 59.94 Bengali 257,540 94.48 Hindi 11,821 4.34 Hindi 731,853 23.24 Punjabi 807 Urdu 348.689 1 ].07 0.30 Oriya 42,252 1.34 Oriya 791 0.29 Gorkhali/NepaJi 392 0.14 Gujarati 26,939 0.86

4. Bhatpara (Total Population 204,750) 2. Howrah (Total Population 737.877)

Bengali 477,228 64.68 Hindi 100,868 49.26

Hindi 176,097 23.87 Bengali 73,349 35.82 Urdu 59,710 809 Urdu 26,695 13.04-

Oriya 9,5'84 l.~O Punjabi ),394 0.68

Teluge 6,088 0.83 Oriya ),284 '.63 248

STATEMENT VII.6-Concld.

1 2 2

S. South Dum Dum (Total Population 174,342) Urdu 266 0.25 154,357 Bengali 88.54 Gorkhali/NepaJi 203 0.19 Hindi 13,270 7 61 It. Serampore (Total POf'ulntion 102,02J) Urdu 1.S90 0.91 Bengali 77,063 75.53 Oriya 864 0.50 Hindi 17,881 17.53 Punjabi 765 0.44 Urdu 3,049 2.99 6. Kamuhati (Tota' P0puhtion 169.4(4) Oriya 2,029 1.99 Bengali ]15,10) 67.94 Te)ugu 1,246 1.22 Urdu 3(),2S5 17.86 12. ASaosol (Total Population 155,968) Hindi 20,215 'J .93

Oriya 2.412 1.42 Bengali 74,983 48.08

Punjabi 406 0.24 Hindi 42,915 27.52 Urdu 7. Garden Reach (fotal Population 154,913) 34.412 22.06 Punjabi 1,523 0.98 Bengali 76,048 49.09 GorkhaJi/NcpaJi 512 0.33 Urdu 53,944 34.82 13. Durgapur (Total Population 206.638) Hindi 20.859 13.46 Oriya 1,501 0.97 Bengali 168,559 81.57 Punjabi 1,386 0.89 Hindi 27.147 13.104 1l. Panihatl (Total Population 148,046) Punjabi 2,494 1.21 Bengali 132,554 89.54 Urdu 1,426 0.63 Hindi 1 1,250 7.60 Santali 1.265 0.61 Oriya 2,036 1.38 14. llurdwan (Total Population 143,3l8) Telugu 620 0.42 0.23 Urdu 335 Bengali 125,999 87.92 9. Baranagar (Totat Population 136,842) Hindi l3,772 9.61 Bengali 118.509 86.60 Urdu 1.232 0.86 Hindi 14,002 10.23 Santali 1,199 0.84 ;1.60 Urdu 2,194 Punjabi 589 0.41 Oriya 1,012 iO.74 15. Kharagpur (Total Population 161,257) Punjabi 289 0.21 10. Hooghly-Cblosurah (Total Popula tion 105,241) Bengali 63,J36 39.15 Telugu 41,987 26.04 Bengali 98031 93.15 Hindi 28,338 17.57 Hindi 5889 5.60 Oriya 10,167 6.30 Oriya 478 0.45 Urdu 6,907 4.28

~ .. -,,------~--.------249

It wiil be evident that the effect of migration on but the number of speakers is. as in the case of groups speaking mother-tongues other t:lan BengaJi Punjabi, very small in both the cities. is most marked in the~e cities, connected as tbey are with the well establi.,hed industrial region which has Oriya occurs very frequently as the fourth grown up in and around them. In fact, the first mother-tongue also. It occupies this position in 10 mother-tongue in Bhal para city is Hindi, with out of the J5 cities of the state. The numbers of 49. 26~/~ of the population speaking the language and Oriya-speakers cannot be said to be always insigni­ 35.82 per cent speaking Bengali. In all the other ficant. In Howrah, for instance, the number is ~ities. however. Bengali is the first mother-tongue, 9,584 and in Kharagpur 10,167. Telugu is the The proportion of Bengali speakers is not a) ways fourth mother-tongue in Panihati. Urdu in Hoogbly uniform )lor is it always overwhelmingly large. It Chinsurah and Durgapur, Punjabi in Asansol and undoubtedJy swamps other languages in South Santhali in Burdwan. Suburban. Hooghly-Chinsurah, South Dum Dum, Burdwan, Durgapur, Panihati, Serampere and The fifth mother-tongue in the cities bas, quite Baranagar, but in the other cities the percentage of naturaHy, comparatively fewer speakers but the Bengali speakers to the total population is compara­ number of mother-tongues for the position is larger. tively lower. Bengali speakers form 49.09% of the The fifth mother-tongue is Nepali in South Suburban, population of Garden Reach; 48.08% in Asansol; Hooghly-Chinsurah and Asansol, Santali in Durgapur, ~q.15% in Kharagpur; 64.68<% in Howrah and Punjabi in Garden Reach, Burdwlln. Kamarhati. 67.94 % in Kamarhati. South Dum Dum, and Baranagar, Telgu in Howrab and Seramporeo, Guajrati in Calcutta. Urdu in Kharag­ The second mother-tongue is pred ictably Hindi pur and Panihati and Oriya in Bhatpara. As the in most. but not all of 1ht:~c cities. Bengali is the fifth mother-tongue Gujarati (in Calcutta) has the second mother-tongue in Uhatpara. 35.82%> of the largest number of speakers (26,939). In Kharagpur population being recorded as Bengali-speakers In Urdu claims the sizeable figure of 6,907 speakers; so Kamargati, the second largest mother-tongue is Urdu does Telugu. the fifth largest language group in with 30,255 speakers forming 17.86<10 of the Howrah city---the language has 6,088 speakers. All population. In Kharagpur Telugu is the second the other languages occupying the fifth position an mother tongue with 41,987 speakers forming 26.040/0 the cities have only a handful of speakers each. of the population. Urdu is the second mother-tongue in Garden Reach as well with 53,944 speakers who Biliogulism io the state form 34.820/0 of the population. In all the other cltJes viz., South Suburban, South Du m Dum. Data on bilingualism are being collected in aU Baranagar, Panihati, Calcutta, Howrah, Hooghly­ Censuses since 1901. Till .1 921 information were Chillsurah, Serampore, Burdwan, Asansol and obtained about the knowJedge of the respondents of Durgapur the second mother-tongue is Hindi. only the official language of the time, namely, English. Since 1931, however, the question was There is more variety when we look at the third directed t('l ascertain any subsidiary la.nguage. There largest language groups in the cities. Punjabi is the was a stipulation, however, that only one subsidiary third mother-tongue in two cities, South Suburban language would be .recordl!d for a person. A and Durgapur, but in both of them the number of departure Was made in· 1961 that two subsidiary speakers is very small : in South Suburban it is 807 languages known to a respondent would be recorded. and in Durgapur 2494. Compa.re this with the In 1971 the question on subsidiary languages number of speakers of Urdu in the cities of Bhatpara, remained the same as in 1961. The instructions Howrah and Asansol, where that language is the to the enumeraton may be quoted here third moth.er-tongue; the figures are : Bhatpara 26,695, Howra 59,710 and Asanso1 34,412. Similarly Que!i1tioD 15 : Other languales Hindi, which is the third Jargest mother-tongue in Garden Reach, Kamarhati and Kbaragpur has a . 16. After recording the motber-tongue in substantial number of speakers in each of question 14 enquire whether the person knows any them. In Garden Reach the number of Hindi­ other language (8), Indian or foreign and record speakers is 20,859, in Kamarhati 20,215 and in language (s) retu rued by him against this question. Kharagpur 28,338. Oriya has featured as the third In case he does not know any langua,e apart (rom mother-tongue in Panihati and Hoogbly·Chinsurab his mother-tongue put 'X' against this question. 250

The number of languages recorded under tbis more tban one 1anguage aroups in near equal question need not be more than two. 'Ihese numbers in any particular area may also necessitate languages should be other than his mother-tongue bilingualir.m for facility of socio-economic intercourse. and tI ey should be recorded in the order in ~hich It will follow naturalJy that bilingualism wi1l obtain he ~pe8ks and understands test and can use with mOre among males than among females, for the understat'iding in communicating \\ith oH ers. He Jatter are generally less exposed to the outside needs not necessarily be able to read and write these influences. Jangu8!!fs. It is tnou£h if t.e hilS a working knowtedfe of these subsidiary languages to enable 1hc proportion of bilinguals will obviously be him to converse in that languaE-e with understanding. very high in u metropolitan city like Calcutta which if! truJy a polygJot district at~d al~o in cities and towr.s may likewj~e It is important to note that althouph tWO around Calcutta. Or.e expect subsidiary Janguages could rt re("orded iJl the good numbers of bilinguals in district~ like schedule at the time of enumeration only the: Darjecling, Julpaiguri and West Dinajpur '" hich are. hll1guBge first nana d was taken ;JJto ;1(:«illDt at the as alrelldy noted, less homogeneous Iin~uistically 5t~ge of compilati()n and the SCtOIld subsidiary tll~n the scutllcrn districts. The opposite picture will as was oh~en'cd in 1961. in lan~\Inge. jf any, fer an) person was ignored obtain, district! like Mur~hid8bad, Nadia. Bankura elc. where Bengal­ Limitation of tbe data is the mother tongue of 9C%) or more of the popus latio11. Data fln bilingualism have not been The data on bilingualism as compiled have their presented disfrictwise in J 971 The: exact nal ure Jim;tations. As Sri J. Dattagupta. Superintendent and c:-.tcnt of regional variation cannot, therefore, of Censlls Operations, West Bengal (1961) very be examined. aptly pointed out, "Data on subsidiary languages arc obviously less appropriate tor the ascertainment Generally speaking ttere is haldly any relationship of ethnic affinities than the data on mother tongues. between the ~,ize of the Janguage-groups and bilingua­ Even for a study of the process of linguistic assimi­ liSDl. But as a small number of speakers of any lation, thtse datu are of limjted value. for in the CDse p~rtj(ular hiflguD&e is plaled in the midst of a of multi-linguists. only are subsidiary language llas lar£cr language group the former cannot but pick up been recorded. It is not possible, for example, to find the lauer language out of necessity. Bilingualism out the number of BengaJi knowing persons amongst is least prevalent among the speakers of Bengali those who speak ,I dilTerent mother tongue, because whkh is only natural as Bengali is the main and if such a person knows Benga1i and anotLer subsidiary overwhelming mother tongue of the state. Only language, the table may have shown that other 9 out of 100 Bengali-speakers llse a subsidiary language and eKcluded Bengali. Besides. knowledge language. The relative position of 20 important and ability to use (not fluency of frequency of use) mother tongue is shown in the following statement being the prescribed criterion. languages like English, (VII. 7) . Arabic and Sanskrit have been freeJy returned, though it j~ certain that in many cases the respOD­ dent's acquaintance with such knowledge is only STATEMENT VIr. 7 formal, and tbat there are other languages which they Proportion of Population returniog at least one subsidiary know better and use oftener." [Part I-A General language West Bengal Report, Book (1) p. 200-West Bengal, ] 961}. Percentage of speakers using a sub­ Mother tongue sidiary Janguage to totaJ speakers of Bmngualism aod its extent in regions and among mother tongue language-groups Persons Male Ferniie-

J 2 3 4 Generally speaking. the more the lingujstic. 44.45 48.37 35.24 diversity of an area the more will be the prevalence· 1. Assamese of . bilingualism, for the urge for a subsidiary 2. Bengali 9.13 13.02 4.94 language mainly arises out or a necessi1y for a 3. English 45.40 46.32 45.06 mutually intelligible means of communication in the 4. Oorkhali/Nepali 16.22 21.83 10.08 lay to day affairs of men. Again, the presence of S. 'Gujllrati 47.50 52.32 41.74 2'1

STATEMENT Vll.7-Coneld. males and 38.55% among females. Among tbe .- Kurukh/Oraon !!Ipealeers also the men and women 2 3 4 are almost equaJly bilingual. The re&S()ftS are not far to seek -the females of both the language-groups 6. Hindi 19.37 21.97 14.61 are almost equally tJlposed to the socio-coonomic: 7. Kannada 33.24 45.36 17.95 environment as their males beCaulC of relatively larger participation of the womenfolk in economic 8. Kashmiri 30.58 45.16 12.20 activity away from their homes. Compared to all 9. Kurukh/Oraon 23.98 24.67 23.25 these language groups, incidence of bilingualism 10. Lepcha 76.22 88.84- 62.70 among speakers of Hindi is indeed low, less than a fifth of them using a subsidiary Janguage. One of 11. Malayalam 62.88 6Q.08 51.81 the reasons for the low proportions of bilinguals 12. Maralhi 46.77 ~2.93 35.84 among the Hindi-speaking people is that Hindi is 13. MllnJa 20.54 2549 15.20 understood relatively easily. though imperfectly, by man}' in the state and the compulsion for a 14. Or;,,;! 1.2.61 24.96 16.47 subsidiary language is not. therefore, too strong for J 5. Punjahi 37.S:! :W.77 13.82 the Hindi-speak~rs. The same observations are Hi. Santali 39.93 41.27 )t{ 55 valid more or Jess for UrdU-speakers too of whom 21.92%. afe bilinguals. 17. Silldhi 56.35 57.26 5527 Subsidiary languages afu' their relative pl)sitions 18. Tamil 61.41-1 M.3R 56.29 19. Tclugu 32.12 40.45 22.33 Statement VII-8 lists the languages which are ~O. \1 rUlI 21.72 2/l.01 14.97 spoken by 1,000 persons or more as their su~sidiary __H'-~_~'" language. If Bengali-speakers are the least bilingual. the speakers of Gorkha!i/Nepali are not much different. Being confined mostly ",ithin the hiJ1s subdivisions STATEMENT VIi.& of Darjeeling where they swamI' the other language l,an~uaKe., reported by 1000 or m lJre p~r8olls Il .. Huhlidlllf), to mother tOllgates: WeRt Rengal, 19'71 grl1ups the Nepali speaking people may do without a sub.;idiary language. Only a six.lh of them Name of language Number using as subsidiary % ( 16.22 ) hao; a.:tuaHy been returned al\ bilingual. language

Con:entrated as they are almost entirely in the 2 hilly areas of Darjeeling and being swamped by Ihe English 3,018,262 Nepalese·speakers, more than three fourths of the Lepchas have become bilingual. Even among their Bengali 1.061,383 women-folk bilingualism is prevalent more tllan in Hindi 829.132 any other language group. As much as 62.70% of Lepcha females have at least one subsidiary Urdu 63,455 language Incidence of bilingulism is understand­ Santhali 55.125 ably a quite high among the "settlers" speaking Gorkhali/Nepali 30.235 % % Gujarati (47.50 ), Malayalam (6288 ), Marathi (46.77%)' Punjabi (37 52°/~), Sindhi (56.35(10)' Arabic! Arbi 16,380 Tamil (6 I. 48

1he other prIncipal subsj(jory languages \\ith mere ho\\ c\ er, that a far larger number, 22,206 1 returned than lO,CCO speakers each are Vrdu (63)455), Arabic as tJiC subsidiary lan~lJage in J 961. Sanskrit, SantllaH (55,125), GorkhH]i/Nepali (30,235), the mother of the AJyan languages, on the other Arabic/ Arbi (16,3g0) and Ori)a (J 2,290). Urdu, hand, has been repolted as tt.e sutsidiary language as already menticned. may be liaid to be tlle "native" by a small group of 4,750 people only. language in some areas. But it is mainly the motber tontlle of settlers in CllJcUlta and lieighbcmir.g areas Important mother tongues and th c pattt>rn of where the speakers of the Janguage are largely subsidiary looguagfs. concentrated. Santhali and Gorkhali/NepaJi, how­ ever, are native to the state and it is only natural that they should be taken up as the subsidiary Statement VIl.9 which enurnerah s the subsidiary languages by a considerable number of people. lallguages returned hy the major language-groups of Oriya, )jke Urdu, is the nstive language in some the state will show that the common subsidiary areas of Midnapur bordering on Orissa; but it is languages are those which are common as mother he settlers' language in all other areas. That a tongues as weI}, English Hnd brabic, as already ctonsiderable number of people should return it as indicated, are two important exceptions. N I V\ I -o o

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._ I --~ - ~ II 254

~ 'Of" -"It "''''c:I • u Q 0 -N v... ~ rntr) ... 100 ~ ~ ~ ::: ..a 0 0- 00 N S 1",' ... ..". C"j C1S 0 0 0 0 l- .e 0 t::> 6 Q\ 0 r--. tr) .... tr) S ~ C1S 0 ..... I~ 00 .$r--. cu 0 .... CUOO :;..,0 :::Eo 8 v, 0 r--. I .-.'" .... I :.:l I t:J) :.:l or', tr) 100 I !""l .... -o ..".. I 1- 0 0 0 'n \0 0\ tr) I I ..". 1 100 I ..". -d 0 U I '"C~ C 0 f') U .... 0 N 0 I !""l Q\ N "'1" ~ .... \0 " - tr) 0\ 100 -.:t ,..-, v) tr\ ~ ~ Z tr\ I.I.l 0 tr) 0 0 tr)

tr) 0 0 0 (r, ~ 00 "", I r-:,' I

00 \l:) 100 tr) 0 \0 \0 .... 00 on 0\ \0 N OQ ci !""l ~ N d . ~ 11'\ \0 or) or) 0 0 or) (r, I""- N ~ N ~ M 00 0.:

!""l 11'\ !""l M N ~ \0 or) -i- 0\ !""l - r--. M r-! oo:t Q\

In ~ ~ ~ ~ .... ~ ~ Q'I vi ~, N -.:t

IV) 11'\ Sf N r--. IV) M ~ M ~ 00 ~ ,..:- 00• ~ ~ N - -~ ~ 00 \0 0\ 1". f"l GO ~ 00 II") ~ ~ ~ q r--. ...ft c 0\ i N i' -N

't: ~ II i' -0 - 'is i 1 1 S> 2 :.E .. ~ ~o. & ~ '0 2SS

It has already been n.:>ted that Bengali-speakers use Nepali as subsidiary to their mother tongue. In are the least bilingual of aU language groups in the fact, three-fourths of all Lepcha-speakers aDl: state. But 4 out of every 5 Bengali-speakers who bilingual of which. again, 93.87 returned Nepali as % are bilingual (79 69 ) returned English as their their s!cond language. Am Jng Kuruklt/Oraon subsidiary language. Hindi, too, claims the favour speakers. however, the Uie or Bengali a! the of a large group. 16.4C)°iu. a~ a !,ubsidiary language. secondary language is quite extensive, though not Santhali and Gorkhali/Nepali. which are also native a5 universal as among speakers of Santhali. 41.420/. to the state as mother tongues, have been retu rned of til! Kurukh/Oraon bilinguals returned Benlali as as subsidiary by small numbers, 48,065 or l. 39% subsidiary to their mother tongue. Hindi is also and 2,475 or 0.07%) only resp.:ctively of bilingual in use almost in equal proportions among them. Uengali-speakers. Urdu is at a par with a Santnali, 40.385 or 1. 1 7 (Yo of B;!ngali-speakers with a [t is interesting to note that go\)d proportions of subsidiary tongue having reported it as the second the sp~akers of Guj'lrati, M:dayalam. Mlratni. Tamil, tongue Among the speaker$ of Hindi whe use a Telugu, Punjabi etc. -Which are all languages of tile second language 64 390,;, IBve reported B~ngali as "settlers" -are bilingual, but very few of them u~e a sub.;idiary. English hu') the flatr\)lllge of the n~xt Bengali as a sub3idiary Jarnu 19~. The percentage highest pr,lportion (28. 70(~{-,) of Hindi-sp.!aking retllrning B:lllluli as the second language is only bilinguals. Among the mlin native languag,~·grollps, 9.77 at tile highe,t which i~ re:.:orj"d by bilingaals 'S:t.ntha'i-~pcakers ar~ tilt! most numerou'i ne){t to among GJj,lrati-speilkers. English and Hllldi arc Bengali. Alm:lSt all the bilingllal Santhali-speakers the mOlt common subsidiary )anguage~ among tnele (<)7.60q·~) have udollted R;!ngati a~ \ll~Hidjary tl.) languag! gr~)\Jp3. Bengali is. how~ver, uied quite their mother tongue. A small prur )rtion or eden'iively as the suhsidiary language by sp~akers or 2.07 r)~ of them returned Hindi aha. Hindi and Urdu. A'i already mentioned, 64.39% of the bilingu tIs among Hindi-speakers have adopted The speakers of Gorkhlli/Nepali. the third Bengali ali the second language. Among Urdu- largest native language present a dilTerent picture. speakers the proportion using Bengali is :; 2.501%. As already noted, only a sixth of them are bilingual. Of the bilingual N :l'ali-s;Jeake~, again, only I 5.82 % Bilingualism is prevalent in good proportions speik Henglli as the subsidiary Jangcluge. Confined among the sr.!akers· of tribal language!J like Munda as Ihey a Ie mostly in the isolation of their and Mundari also. Mention hal) b!ea made already Himllayan habitat, they hlve 1ittle need for a second of the prill,;ipal triblliangua.~es of the state, nameJy, language and even tlH>se who have picked up one Santhali and KUfukh/Oraon among whom bHingua­ % have largely o,)ted for Hindi (63.03 ), English. )jc;m is prevalent more widely. About a lifth of too, has been returned as th~ subsidiary language by th! M~nda-sp.!lk!rs is biting III of w:lich 43.33 % a good number of N !pali-speakers. 1 7,620, costitut­ returned Bengali ac; the subsidiary tongue against ing 1 7.65% of the bilinguals among them. 55.51 %) returning Hindi, Among Mundar; .. speakers Mention has to b.! mide here of Lepcha, another bilingualism is more exten,ive, about a third of their native language of the hilly areas where the N"palese total numb.!r uiing a second language. But unliko are concentrated and predominate. Only 784 the Mundas, almost all the Mundari·speakina Nepali-speakers returned Lepcha as the second bilinguals (as much as 92.62(10) use Bengali as die language while 7,890 out of 11,028 Lepcha-speakers subsidiary languale.

Chapter VIII

RELIGION

I DtrmjuetioD which led to any excitement in the sate when the consus was taken in J 971. A representation was In the pre-Independence period religion had been received -the only one of tbe kind-on the eve of the basis of classification of the p..,ople in all censuses the census claiming that the people of Santhal and most of the census data used to be collected and origin had been indiscriminately recorded as Hindus presented communitywise. The emphasis shifted to in the preceding census and that this should not economic classification since 1951 when the first happen again in 1971. Considering the sizeable census was taken afler independence. Data on number of persons who were returned as professing religion are nevertheless collected and presented as Saridharma in 1961 and the fact that the number religion continues to be a very important aspect of of such perons went up further in 1971 it may be the life of tile people. said that there were no reasons for complaint about 1961 or for apprebension in 1971. In fact~ a larger In 1971 information on religion was collected in proportion of people returned themselves as the individual slips against questi(ID number 10. The professing Saridbarma in 1971,t he number having question as it was framed and explained raised no gone up about 5 times during the last ten years. controvusies. As with all other items in the census questionnaire the answers to the question relating to Six major religioDs of aU·lndla importance religious faiths were also to be recorded as were returned by the respondents. If anybody said that Table C-VII which is reproduced below lives he did not follow or practise any religion the the number of followen of the six major religions in enumerator was to record the fact as reported. The the state and its districts by sex and with rural-urban enumerators were also told to make sure that caste break-up. The other religions have been combined was not mistaken for religion. togetber and shown separately under the omnibus heading "Other religions and persuasions." Those West Bengal has had its sbare of communal who did not return any relision have also been shown troubles in the past, but religion was not an issue separately in the Jast two columns. 258

TABLE-C VII

-~-.. ,.~, ''"'''-,,~-, .. ,..., ~ ...... ".. ---- ._ "_ _ __ .. __ Name .of reli_ions arranged Tolal 1 2 State; District/Police Rural Total Buddhism Christianity 0' • ____ • ______- .. _._._-... _---.---_.- ..... _---_._ .. _---- "" .... --.. - ... ~.-, .. Station/City / Town Urban Persons Males l<'emaJes Males Females Males Females'

--..... -~ ... -----,-- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

WEST BENGAL T 44,312,011 23,435.987 20,876.024 62,837 58,667 130,888 120,864 R 33,344,97~ 17,173,552 16,171,426 47,835 46,382 90,768 84,586 U 10,967,033 6,262,435 4,704.598 15.002 12,285 40,120 36,278

Jalpaiguri Oi v. T 7.418,663 3,876,723 3.541,940 54,436 52,817 55,292 50,770 R 6.732,003 3,502,556 3,229,447 46.977 45.710 53.197 48,839 U 686,660 374,167 312,493 7.459 7,)07 2,095 1,931

Oarjcelinl T 781,777 415.442 366.335 46,234 45.124 14,380 13,657 R 601,565 314,934 2!o!6,63I 39.057 38,246 ) 2.939 12,135 U 180,212 100, 50S 79,504 7,177 6,878 1.441 J.422

Jalpaiguri T 1,750,159 927,707 H22,452 8.068 7,560 29,361 26,346 R 1.582,079 R35,802 746,277 7,836 7,365 29.200 26.223 U 168,OSO 91,905 76,175 232 195 J61 123

Coach Behar T 1.414,183 737,931 676,252 27 22 556 520 R 1,317,531 685.303 632,228 1 I 12 537 506 U 96,652 t 52,628 44,024 16 10 19 14

West Dioajpur T 1,859,887 967,937 891,950 90 77 9.321 8,429 U 1,686.197 874,687 811,510 59 57 8,861 8,069 R 173,690 93,250 80,440 31 20 460 360

Maida T 1,612,657 827.706 784.951 17 34 1674 1818 R 1,544,631 791.830 752,801 14 30 1660 1806

U 68,026 35,876 32,150 3 4 14 12

Presidency Div. T 19,185,988 )0,380,065 8.805,923 7,599 5,285 56,862 52,556 R 11.386,905 8,588,017 5.528.888 510 440 26,717 25,303 U 7,799,083 4,522,048 3,277,035 7,089 4,845 30,145 27,253

Murshidabad T 2,940,204 1,503,427 1,436,777 23 19 1.538 1,475 R 2,691.779 1.374,877 1,316,902 18 14 1,287 1,214 U 248,425 ]28,550 119,875 5 5 251 261 259

RELIGION

------_...... , " ..... --._ ...... " -----,_._._----- in alphabetical order ... ---._. __ .__ . .--_...... _- __ ...... -~-.-----~---- 3 4 5 ~ Other religions Religion Hinduism Islam Jain;sm Sikhism and persuations not stated

Males Females Males Females Males Females Males Females Males Females Males Females

10 II 12 13 J4 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

,___ ."'''.,.~ .. ___L._' __ ._._. _____ ------.... ~--.,,-~ ...... ------18,341.,033 16,270,831 4,763,571 4,300.71\7 18,354 13,849 20,811 14.273 97,916 96.210 577 563

12,926,086 12,121,708 4,004,089 3,816.9~4 3.183 2.612 3,848 3,014 97.209 95,577 534 563

5,414,947 4.149.123 759.482 483.783 15,171 11,237 16,963 11,,259 707 633 43

2,808.343 2,S44X!9 954,042 89,1,020 2,758 1,896 1,627 1,403 220 205 5 2,464.023 2,256.646 935.660 H75.999 1,374 1.047 1.102 1,001 219 205 4 344,320 288,183 18.3H2 14,O:n I ,384 fWJ 525 402

340,233 296.508 13,502 10,021 330 2h7 750 754 9 4 4

252,26H 227,442 10,055 ~.061 248 195 354 448 9 4 4 87,965 69,066 3,447 82 72 396 306

805,56R 713.633 X3.195 73,7% 835 537 674 579 5

7J7,166 639,874 ~O,520 71.956 46~ 321) 60f; 530 4 88.402 73,759 2,675 I,M41 367 208 6(l 49

580,839 530,178 155,552 144,944 942 582 15 532,254 489,321 152,243 142,205 256 184 2 48,585 40.857 3,309 1,739 686 398 13 6

612.727 560.203 344,971 322.576 55! 418 70 46 206 201 524,534 483,648 340,668 319,262 331 266 28 7 206 201 88,193 76,555 4,303 3,314 221 152 42 3')

468,9;6 444,307 356.822 338,682 99 92 118 18 437,801 416,361 352,174 334,515 71 73 110 16 31,175 27,946 4.648 4.167 28 19 8 2

7,598,443 6.363.832 2,692,544 2J67,40N 1.2831 9,571 11,053 6,619 692 652 41 3,749,053 3.507,884 2,080,840 t ,994,61 ~ 336 228 304 17\ 257 244 3,849.390 2,8SS,948 61 t ,70. 372,790 \2,495 9,343 10,749 6,448 435 408 41 • 654,884 622,989 846,392 811,014 1,334 1._t3H lOR 97 ~ 558.973 533.624 814.276 781,869 192 In 93 34 38 3S 95.911 89,365 31,116 29.145 1.142 1.026 115 63 10 JO 260 TABLE-C vn

., 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

24 31 8,062 8,275 Nadia T 2,230,270 1,144,977 1,085,293 R 1,812,211 928,278 883,933 10 8 6,027 6,021 U 418,056 216,699 201,360 14 23 2,035 2,254 23,102 20,928 Twentyfour J>arganas T N.449,4S2 4,488,441 3,961,041 1,950 1,457 19,229 17,943 R 5,479,162 2,831,628 2,647,534 478 414 2,985 U 2,970,320 1,656,813 1,313.507 J.472 1,643 3,873 1075 899 Howrah T 2,417,286 1,318,715 1,098,571 99 85 174 125 R 1,403,753 723,234 680,519 4 4 90] 774 U 1,013,533 595,481 4J8,052 95 81 3,6';.13 23,085 20.979 Calcutta T 3,1~,746 1,924,505 1,224,241 5503 R U 3,148,746 1,924,505 1.224.241 5503 3,693 23,085 20,979 565 18,734 17,538 Burdwan Div. T 17,707,360 9,179,199 8.528,J61 802 10,854 .10,444 U 15,226,070 7,812,979 7,413,091 348 232 II 2,481,290 1,366,220 1,115,070 454 333 7,880 .7,094 119 1,421 J,111 Hooghly T 2,872,116 1,514,874 1,357,242 125 R 2,111,846 1,088,619 1,023,227 60 70 679 534 742 577 U 760,270 426,255 334,015 65 49 178 5667 4742 Burdwan T 3,916,174 2,076,210 1,839,964 227 2,426 R 3,024184 1,576,425 1,447,759 65 49 3,036 2,316 U 891,990 499,785 392,205 162 129 2,631 1,631 1,633 Birbhum T 1,715,909 902,441 873,468 50 42 1,515 R 1,651,137 836,543 814,594 32 29 1,471 118 U 124,772 65.898 58.874 18 13 160 1,253 Bankura T 2,031,039 1,037,267 993,772 19 2 1,115 k ) ,879,304 958,256 921,048 7 1 836 930 U 15],735 79,01.1 72,724 12 1 279 323 6,385 Midadapur T 5,509,247 2,831.863 2,677,384 364 208 6,291 R 5,089,091 2,606,610 2,482,481 180 77 3,638 3,884 U 420.156 225,253 194.903 184 131 2,653 2,50]

Plll'Ulia 'f 1.602,875 816,544 786,331 17 16 2,609 2,414 R 1,470,508 746,526 723,982 4 6 1,194 1,15S U 132,367 70,018 62,349 13 10 1,415 1,259 261

RELlQION- Concld.

10 11 12 13 14 ]5 ]6 17 18 19 20 21

870,929 822,077 265,797 254,774 93 75 42 J5 30 26 664,254 630,318 257,891 247,516 66 47 5 2 25 21 206,675 191.759 7,906 7.258 27 28 37 33 5 5 3.415,366 2,980,890 1,045,004 955,840 172 140 2,628 1,575 219 211 1,952,279 1,806,703 859,195 422,104 55 48 198 J34 194 188 1,463,087 1,174,187 185,809 153,736 117 92 2.430 1,441 25 23

1,083.462 894,089 232,661 202,538 267 246 1,093 671 58 43 573,547 537,239 149,478 143,129 23 21 8 1 509,915 356,850 83,183 59,409 244 225 1.085 670 58 43

1,573.802 1,043.787 303}69O 143,242 10,965 7.972 7,082 4,241 337 327 41

1,573,802 1,043,787 303,690 143,242 10,965 7,972 7,082 4,241 337 327 41 7,934,247 7,362,170 1,116,985 1,()43,33'J 2,765 2,382 8,13 I 6,251 97,004 95,353 531 563 6,713,010 6,357,178 987,589 946,367 1,473 1,337 2,442 1,842 96.733 95,128 530 563 1,221,237 1,004.992 129,396 96,972 1,292 1,045 5.689 4,409 271 225

1,315,837 1.179.610 195,614 174,740 322 254 659 484 ~96 924 930.438 871,230 156,195 150,136 165 128 186 206 896 923 385,399 308,380 39,419 24,604 157 126 473 278 1 1,712,014 1,507,628 350,787 321,440 493 434 5,946 4,497 9S5 957 121 88 1,276.305 1,164,865 293,753 277,780 307 277 1,888 J ,318 950 956 121 88 435,709 342,763 57,034 43,660 186 157 4,058 3,179 5

637.795 615,322 262,384 255,997 520 424 56 47 4 3 J 581,835 565,425 253,056 247,533 126 74 22 18 - 1 55,960 49,897 6,328 8,464 394 350 34 29 4 3

942,641 902,627 50,794 47,695 298 284 85 .65 4,1927 41,408 388 438 866,463 832,453 48,383 45,591 288 276 61 56 41,830 41,303 388 438 76,178 70,174 2,411 2,104 10 8 24 9 97 105 - 2,567,684 2,426,408 218,995 207,468 350 230 1,149 1,002 37,009 35,646 21 37 2.362,295 2,248,609 203,431 194,158 26 18 167 167 36,853 35,531 20 37 205,389 177,799 15,564 13,310 324 212 682 835 156 115

758,276 730,S75 38,411 35,999 782 756 236 156 16,213 J6,415 695,674 674,596 32,771 31,169 561 S64 118 77 16,204 16,415 62,602 S5,979 5,640 4,830 221 192 118 79 9 262

APPENDIX TO TABLE C--VII

Oetails of comhinl.'d entril's in columns 18 & 19 under other reli~ious. persuation of table c-vn

- .. -_ ----~~--- "'''' ,,-.. -.-~.~ ... --.,-...... ~.--- Totul Total Statc/Distrkt Rural Persons Males Females State/District Rural Persons Males Females Urban UrbHfl --'-'---"'~~ ... _-- ,.~------, 2 3 4 S 2 3 4 5

------._.. _. J ••••• ~ __...... "v.-·--__.-··~~ ""--_'""'-- 1. AtheIst Burtlwan T 4 4 WEST BENGAL T 6 5 R R U 3 3 U (, 5

Twcntyfollr Birbhum T 6 3 3 Parganas T 3 2 R R U 6 3 3 U 3 2 Midnaporc T 91 55 36 Calcutta T 3 3 R R 50 26 24 U 3 3 U 41 29 12

3 ..Jl·~S 2. Brahmo West Bengal T 48 26 22 West Bengal T 251 142 109 R R 63 37 26 U 48 26 22 U ]81'1 105 83 Calcutta T 45 26 19 Darjecling T 8 6 2 R R 8 6 2 U 4S 26 19

U Hooghl)' T

Jalapiguri 1.' 4 4 R R 4 4 U U Bankura T 2 2 R Mmshidabnd T 20 10 10 R U 2 2

U 20 10 10 4. Marang 8oro Twentyfoul' T 38 20 18 Wesr Bengal T 4495 2278 2217 Pnrganas R R 4495 2278 2217 U 38 20 18 U Howrah T 17 10 7 Hooahly T 1546 772 774 R R 1546 772 774 U 17 10 7 U

Calcutta T 63 30 33 Burdwan T 50S 229 276 R R 505 229 276 U 63 30 33 U -- 263

APPENDIX TO TABLE C-VII Contd.

1 2 ~ 4 5 1 2 3 4 S

__·"_~"""""'_~~~""' _____'~""' ______"""""_'."_'''hn_ -~ ... -~.-----~.---~.-

Bankura T 1.923 981 942 Midnapore T 192 91 101 R 1,923 981 942 R 192 91 10J U lJ

91 Midnapore T 240 149 PuruJia T 1069 352 717 R 240 149 9) R 11169 352 717 U LJ Purulia T 281 147 134 7. Saridharma R 281 147 134 West Bengal T J61,942 81,867 80,075 U R 161.430 81,594 79,836 S. Paharaia IT 5J2 273 239

West Bengal. T 69 34 35 Jalpaiguri T

i~ 69 34 35 R U U 1

Murshidabad T 69 34 35 Howrah T 84 48 36 R R 69 34 35 U U Sf 48 36

6. Santa. Burdwan T 91 45 46 R 91 45 46 West Bengal T 2,503 1,046 1,457 II R 2.488 1,035 J.453 U IS II 4 Birbhum T 1 R West Dinajpore T 407 206 201 U 1 R 407 206 201 U Bankura T 75,700 3~,033 37,667 R 75,500 37,936 37,564 Nadia T 45 2~ 21 U 200 97 103 R 45 24 21 U Midnapore T SS,55L 28,407 27,144 R 55,334 2",290 27,(144- Calcutta r 15 J1 4 U 217 J 17 100 R f·_- U 15 II 4 PUfulia T 30,514 15,332 15,182 R 30.505 1 S.323 J 5,182 BurdwllD T 189 96 93 U 9 9 R 189 96 93 U 8, Silty a Dharma

BaDkura T 586 266 320 West Bengal T 193 99 94 It 586 266 320 R 193 99 91 U U - 264

APPENDIX To TABLE C-VU-Concld. ,._-----.,..-- .. , 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5

- -.~------,---.- .-"--'-~" '-'--"'---'~'" ~""""~"" .... ,... ,~ ... -~ ..... ---."...... __----~--- "-+"~' . ------Purulia T 193 99 94 Plirulia T 571 283 288 R J93 99 94 R 571 283 288 U U 9. S"arna 10. Zoroastrians

West Bengal T 24034 12125 11909 West BCDJ~al T 585 294 291 R 24018 12115 11903 R 30 J7 13 U 16 10 6 U 555 277 278

Mlirshidabad T 3 3 Darjeeling T 5 3 2 R 3 3 R 5 3 2 Li U

Twcntyfour T 359 IS2 177 MUl'shid"lhHd T }>arganas R 359 182 177 R t; U

Calcutta T 16 10 6 Nadia 'r 11 6 5 R R l' 16 10 6 tt 10 5 5

Houghty T 273 124 149 TwcnlyJ'our T 30 15 J5 R 273 124 149 Pargana" R 23 12 11 l; U 7 3 4 Burc.lwan 'I' 1120 579 541 Calcutta T 522 :1.57 265 R 1120 579 541 R lJ V 522 257 265

Bankuru T 5124 2647 2477 Burdwtlll T 3 2 R 5124 2(~47 2477 R U lJ 3 2

Midnaporc T 16568 8297 8271 Midnaporc T 13 10 3 n 16568 8297 8271 R U U 13 10 3 ANNEXURE TO TABLE C-VII

Details of religious clubbed with another rellrioo which Js shown at .be bead of the table In capitaJ 'etter•.

SI No.& Number SI. No. & Number Name of --_...... _--- Name of -_ .. , .. ,_,... Religion State! Distric t Males Females Religion State/District Males Females

1 2 3 4 2 3 4

CHRISTIANITY Sana tan Dharma West Dinajpur ]4 IS

Maida 6 2 J. Catholic West Bengal 66 64 Murshidabad 9 8 T~entyfour It 7 Nadia 6 5 Parganas .Burdwan 4 3 Balcuttll 40 49 Midnapor\! 5 4

C..trdwan 6 (, PUTutia 21 20

MidnapoTe ., 9 '"" 4. 5haivl:iite West Bengal 3 1

2. Orthodox West Bengal 2 Coach Behar ., Hooghly Calcutta - 2

3. Protestant West Bengal 12 16 5. Vuishnllvu West Bengal 350 287

Calcutta 12 16 Cooch Behar 8 2 West Dinajpur 5 3 HlNDUISM Murshidabad 7 3 I. Adi Dharmu West Bengal SO 49 Nadia Bankura 50 49 Hoolhly 8 6 2. K.abir Panthi West Bengal 59 42 Burdwan 20 17 Darjeeling 7 J J Birbhum 25 II Jalpaiguri SO 26 Bankura 92 90 West Dinajpu r 2 5 Midnaporc JS3 128 3. Sana tan Dharma PuruUa 31 27

West Beosal 102 84 6. Vedic Dharma West BePlul 12 23 JaJpai8uri 6 Calcutta 12 J5 Coach Behar 27 25 Midnapore 8

---,------~~- 266

As the annexure to the table shows, the returns Two major religions In West BeDlal: Hinduism on religion were anything but comple~ and it was and [slam never difficult to identify and classify the uncommon and not too-familiar names of religiou'i faiths by As in the country as a whole, Hinduism and clubbing some of tbem. when~ necessary, under one Islam are the two main religions practised by the or the other main r;!ligil}n The names of r~ligi()ns people of the state. Between them they account,., by some of the tribal pc )ple did, of C\lUrse, returned for 98,51 per cent of the total population. The raise some doubts For c:xample, 'SanthaJ', the Chri'\tians are the third most numerous religious name of a tribe was returne,j by so ne people as the community and constitute O.57

8 <:) ...... - o -o - - -o o c:i d c:i

00 II') -M' -VOl

II') o o - z -Q o ~

M M VI N N 8 - ~.. ~.. ;. - - - -o - -N

00 ~I \C) -o z z z z -0, o o o :Ell I"'i o - - - z :gl - - o o o d ~I I I I

~ ~I y .... 'S- 81 z z :z z ~ ,S cui Q :§I - 1 =t ~I I o

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The two main religions, Hinduism and Islam, same, but in terms of numbers most of them are to constitute the bulk of the population in aU district' be found in the rural areas. and the other religions claim the following of only minute percentages of the people. The proportions Sik,hism and Iainism have roughly the same claimed by the two main religions together range number of followers in the state, viz., 35,014 and between 99.81% in CODch Behar and Howrah and 32,203 respectively. They form a minute portion 84.46% in Oarjeeling. In the district of Darjeeling, ! of the total population; but it is interesting to note however, Buddhism has a sizeabll! folJowing~ second that the majority of the Iains and Sikhs are in urban only after Hinduism. The Buddhists constitute as areas unlike the other communities. much as 11.68 per cent of the population. Darjeeling is again the only district in which Islam has a small The first five religions, viz.~ Hinduism, Islam, number of followers accounting for less than 4 % of Christianity, Saridharma and Buddhism may in a the total population. sense be said to be "native" to the state, since they are professed by the people who live off land within Hinduism is the reJi&ion of the overwhelming the state, unlike Sikhism and Jainism which could majority of the population both in the rural and be said to be the religions of settlers. This, of urban areas of the state in all districts except course, is being mentioned merely for the sake of Murshidabad where the Muslims are the majority point ing to a difference between the two groups of communilY. The percentage of Hindus in urban religions; it is not necessarily true that all of them areas is, however, higher than in rural areas in all are migrants or that aU the Hindus are native to districts including Murshidabad. West Bengal. The characteristics are merely being shown up. Unlike Hinduism, Islam bas a larger percentage of followers in the rural areas, 23.46 (/~t as against Distribution of tbe major reJigions in the districts 11.34% in urban areas· This is a rather interest­ ing fact. for one could make out a case that the As already stated, the Hindus form the over­ two are, in fact, complementary to each otller; whelming majority and constitute 78.11 % of the tbere are reJatively more Muslims in rural areas population of the state as a whole. It will be seen, owing to their ties witb the land and to the fact however, that the three westernmost districts of that the effects of partition resulting in movements Purulia~ Bankura and ~idnapur have the highest of Muslims away from West Bengal towards what proportions of Hindus in their population, tbe is now Bangladesh occurred mainly in the urban percentages being 92.89, 90.85 and 90.65 respective­ areas. Added to this is the fact that the urban ly. The followers of IsJam account for 4.64%, areas attract migrants, especially the huge urban 4.85% and 7.74% only in these district•. complex around Calcutta, w~ich accounts for over three-fourths of the urban population of the state In Howrah, Calcutta, Burdwan, Hoogbly, and these migrants are mostly Hindus with only a Jalpaiguri and Darjleling the proportions of Hindus few professing other flliths. This is not to say to the total population vary between 80% and 90%. that Muslims in rural areas did not leave West In the remaining districts the percentage of Hindus Bengal after partition; they left. but in much lesser is less than the state average. numbers than from the urban areas. Murshidabad is the only district in the state in Christianity is tbe third largest religion account­ which Muslims are in the majority, comprising ing for 251,752 persons or 0.57 of the % S6.34~~ of the population against 43.46% of population. Most of these people are in rural areas, Hindus. The only other districts which have 30 although percentagewise there is a larger percentage per cent or more of Muslims in the population are of Christians in urban areas than in rural. MaIda (43 J 3%) and West Dinajpur (35.89%). Saridharma comes next with 161,942 followers, almost all of whom are in rural areas. The percen­ It bas already been mentioned that DarjeeJing is tage in urban areas is negligible. the only di~trict which prescnts a somewhat different pattern or distribution of the religions with Buddhism Buddhism ranks after Saridharrna with 121 ,504 claiming the second largest following ( 11. 68X) in tbe followers. The percentage of Buddists to the total population after Hinduis~ (81. 45%). Dar.jeelin, i. population in I11ral and. urban areas is rollghly tile again the only distriQt in which the M'IIlima are .

"'''' 269

negligible in number constituting iust a little over 3 % areasf 56.30(10 and, in the urban areas, 24.26% are of the population. Christianity has the third largest followers of the religion. In the urban areas, as in .. namber or followers in the di$trict, the proportion of the district Malda, tbe buJk of the population are the Christians to the population being 3.59%. But Hindus and they constitute 74.58 %of the urban we may have a closer look at all the districts at this population. lainism has more followers in the urban stage. In Darjeeliog all three major religions areas of this district than in the rural areas which is have a much laraer number of followers in the rural unlike the pattern noticed in Darjeeling and areas than in urban. The same pattern is found in Jalpaiguri. I' case of Islam which ranks fourth. An interesting feature about th~ district is that lainism has more In Nadia, except for the fact that the majority of followers in the rural areas (443) than in the urban the population are Hindus, the other characteristics areas (154). This is also true of Sikhism which has are the same as in MurshlClabad. The proportion of 802 followers in rural areas and 702 in the urban Hindu• .in urban areas is greater than in the district area!;. This may be attributed to the rather distinc­ as a whole- Among the Muslims, who constitute tive patttems of settlement in this district, which hal 23.34% of the population of the district only it. small a large number of tea gardens and commercial centres number live in urban areas. The district ha, also a which have not yet become full-fledged urban areas. sjzeable number of Christians (16,337), the bulk of whom are in rural areas. The Christians account In Jalpaiguri. Buddhism has a much smaller num­ for 0.73 per cent of the total popUlation. ber of followers compared to Darjeeling, while Christianity has more than double the number of followers. The number of Muslims is also consider­ Twentyfour Parganas exhibits the same able. Even so, the percentage of Muslims to the characteristics as Nadia except tbat Sikhism has total population is not as hiBh as in other districts. more followers (4,203). The bulk of the Sikhs are lainism and Sikhism exhibit the same charcteristics in urban areas. There are also a fair number of as in Darjeelinl, owing, again, to the same reason, Buddhists (3,407), most of whom are to be found viz. the existence of tea gardens and the resultant in urban areas. The followers of Sikhism and commercial activity in areas not yet considered to be Buddhism from a negligible percentage of the ~otal population. The Christians number 44,030 consti­ urban. tuting 0.52% of the people and live mostly in the Hinduism and Islam are the two main religions rural areas. in Cooch Behar. The other religions have very few followers. In West Dinajpur the pattern is the same In Howrah the disparity 'between Hindus and as in Cooch Behar. The number of Christians is, Muslims is sharper than in the border districts, however, far areater, there being 17,750 Christians 81.8 I % of the population beiDa Hindus and in Weat Dinajpur as against 1,076 in Cooch Behar. 18 00 % being Muslims. The characteristics are, Most of them are, of course, in the rural areas in again. the same, viz. that Muslims are found in both the districts. In MaIda the religious composi­ comparatively lesser Dumbers in urban areal unlike tion of the population is roughly the same as in West Hindus who constitute the bulk of the population in the urban areas. The nuatber of Christians is much Dinajpur. I except that the percentage of Muslims to the total population is greater (43.13). The percen­ less in this district compared to Twentyfour tage of Hindus is oplya little above SO in the dis­ Parganas. trict as a whole (56.63) but in the urban areas the percentace is 86.91 as against 12.96 of Maslims. The. same pattea) is repeated in HoopJy district, This wO'II'd indicate that the Muslims of this district but in .. Bur'dwan thefe are a few noticeable dift'errDces. have, by and large, not .yet moved to urban areas and One is that Christians form a fair number in this have remained tied to the land. dis~rict '(10,409) ; so, too, Sikhs (}0.443). Among these'.two reli~jons, however, the difference is that Murahidabad is, as already noted, the only dis­ wbiJe 'Ute, fo]Jowers of Christianity are distribUled trict where Muslims form the majority of the popu­ almost evenly in the rural and urban areas, most lation. While in the district as a whole ~6. 3 4 % of the Sikhs are in the· urban areas. Burdwan hu of tho population are Muslims, ill the rural also a few followers of Saridharma. 270

In Birbhum the number of Christians is again The pOiJulation of the city of Calcutta reveals. small, but more than the folJowers of Jainism, its cosmopolitan nature in its religious composition Sikbism and Buddhism put together. In fact, only also. Although Hindus form the bulk of the .. Hindus and Muslims outnumber the Christians; the difference in numbers is, of course, enormous. population (83.13 %) there are a large number of Muslims (l4.20~{,) and considerable numbers of Bankura has a large number of followers of Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists. The number of Saridharma (75,700 ) almost all of whom live in Christians exceeds the total number of Sikhs (11,323), rural areas. The percentage of Hindus in this Jains (18,937) and Buddhists (9,196), there being district (90. 85) is far higher than in the district' discussed so far. This is also true of Midnapore 44,064 Christians in the city. except that here Christianity bas again a fair number of followers (12,676), spread evenly in the rural and Seven major religions in West Dena_I-19ll-'l urban areas. The followers of Saridbarma are also considerable in Purulia as much as 30,5 14 and all of Statement VlII.2 shows the distribution of seven them except only 9 Jive in rural areas. major religions from 1911 to 1971. 271

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In tbe state as a whole the percentage of Hindqs reflected in the percentage for 1951 when the percen­ to the total population has descrea5ed slightly over tage of Hindus shot up sharply. The decline in the the 1961 percentage where as the percentage of proportion of Muslims was, however, slightly less, Muslims has increased only slightly. The percentage and not as sharp as in Nadia. The decrease in the of Christians, Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs have also percentage of Muslims continued in the decade decreased slightly, but the followers of Saridharma 1951 and 1961. In the last decade, i. e. 1961-1971 form a larger percentage of the population in 1971 the proportions of the two major religious commu­ compared to 1961. nities have remained stable. The Muslims have increased imperceptibly in terms of percentage Coming to the districts the percentage of while the Hindus have recorded a decline of almost Buddhists in Darjeeling has dropped noticeably from the same order. It will also be seen that the 13.13 in 1961 to 11.68 in 1971. This is also true percentage of Christians which rose from 19t1 to of Muslims in this district, the decline being from 1931 has been on the decline since 1951. 3.08% to 3.01 % of the population. The proportion of Hindus, on the other hand, has gone up, though Howrah and Hooghly shows the same characteris­ marginally, from 80.27% to 81.45% of the popu]a­ tics, more or less, in the increase and decrease in tion during the decade. The percentage of" Hindus the proportion of Hindus and Muslims since 191 I. is seen to be increasing in this district steadily since Both districts show an increase in the percentage of 1911, though the rates of growth have varied. Muslims in the last decade. The percentage of Muslims in Howrah increased very slightly between In Jalpaiguri the proportion", of Hindus has 1951 and 1961; the increase is more noticeable in intreased, where as that of Christians and Muslims the decade 1961-71. In Hooghly, however, the have decreased slightly. The trends are the ~ame percentage of Muslims declined in the decade 1951- among the followers of Hinduism and Islam in I 96 J and has registered a very slight increase in Cooch Behar, Malda and West Dinajpur. In West the decade 1961-1971. The percentage of Dinajpur and MaIda the percentage of Christians Hindus in the two districts has, on the bas increased very marginaJly. other hand, declined. The decline is little more noticeable in Howrah than jn Hooghly. In Howrah The percentale of Hindus has declined in the percentage of Christians fell sharply between Murshidabad whereas that of followers of IsJam has 1931 and 1951 and the decrease has been steady increased, though both the decrease and increase are through the decades. There was a slight increase in very slight. The Christians have also registered a the percentage of Christians between 1951 and very 81 ight rise in terms of percentage to total 196 I, but it has again declined since then. population. The trend in tbis district as far as the two major religions are concerned have been more The percentage of Hindus in Burdwan district or less the some 8 inee 1911 except that t he percentage increased sharply between 193 1 and 195 1, and of Hindus dropped noticeably between 1911 and continued to increase, though at a much lesser rate, 1931 wheras the percentale of Muslims increased up to 1961; it has now not only not increased. but appreciably 4urinl the same period. declined fairly noticeably. There was a noticeable faU in the percentage of Muslims between 1931 and In Nadia the sharp increase in the percentage 1951 in this distr ict. But, since 1961 the percentage of Hindus between 1931 and 1951 is clearly the result has improved. Sikhism has the same percentage in of partition. It will be seen that there is a correspond. the district as Christians and both the religions have inaly sharp decrease in the proportion of Muslims in registered slight increases in percentage over the last the same period. The percentage of Christians which decade. had increased slightly from 19J 1 to ) 93 J and then declined in 1951, increased imperceptibly by 1961. In Birdhum an interesting feature emerges: the A similar slight increase bas been lecordcd during the percentage of Hindus fell noticeably from 191 1 and last decade. 1931, then picked up sharply by 1951, Since then the growth rate was stagnant up to 1961, and In Twcntyfour Paraanas Hinduism realstered a between then and 1971 it has declined noticeably. noticeable increase in percentage between 1911 Opposite characteristics has been exbibited by Islam. and 1931 whereas Islam decreased in percentage in The pelCentqe of Muslims rOle noticeably from 1911 the same period. The effects of partition are and 1931, remaining mOre or leIS same 'up'to 1951, 275

(a fact which would reveal that partition did not percentage has grown from 0.50% in 1961 to 1.90% reaU)' affect the local people very much) was more or in 197 1 in PuruHa. In both tbese districts· the pro- t less the same between 1951-61 and, in the last decade, portion of Christians in the total· popUlation went up i. e. 1961-7 1, the percentage has risen again fairly noticeably during the period between 1931 and 1951. noticeably. The percentage of Christians bas increa­ In Bankura the Christians increased sharply in Dumber sed very very marginally since 1561 but· had fallen again during the decade ) 951-6J, their percenta,e oftcn between 1911 and 1931 and again bel ween coming to 0.13 in 1961 from 0.10 in 1951. The 1931-51. The sharpest increase was between 1951- decade saw as almost imperceptible decJine in the 61. The growth of Christianity which is often linked percentage again. In Midnapore the percentaae of with the period of British Rule would seem in Christians to the total population came down Iharply tbis district to have characteristics which do not during 19S1-61-from 0.27 in 1951 to 0.08: in 1961 support the fact that these religions grew only under but it recovered equally quickly to reach 0.23 in BritiSh protection. 1971. This in an interesting development indeed. In the neighbouring district of Purulia, however, the In Bankura the percentage of Hindus is over­ decUne in tbe proportions of the Christians has con­ whelming. Saridharma emerged with a significant tinued from O.5S%in 1951 to 0.32% in 1961 and number of followers in 1961 which has increased a,ain to 0.031 % in 1971. sharply during the last decade. Christianity has in­ creased noticeably in Midnapore. In this district, Major religions iD the cities of West BeDlal: 1911-71 and also as in Purulia and Bankura, the followers of Islam form a small percentage. These two districts have also sizeable numbers of Saridharma. Statement VIII. (3) presents :the percetaae distri­ In Midnapore 1.00% of the population profess thi~ bution of these major religions since 1911 in the religion now as against none previously. Their cities of West Ben,aJ. 276

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,. Cities' are more cosmopolitan than districts, Jast decade. The Hindus have again increased in since the population gathered in these area! are· from numbers and proportiOD. forming 84.85% of tho different places and pu.rsue vocations not necessarily population and, as if as a counterbalance, the tied to the land. One can expect, therefore, a proportion of Muslims has come down again reasonable amount of variety in the religions to 14.53~o. professed. A reading of the statement will confirm this. Most of the cities, especially those around Calcutta and on the western bank of the HooghJy South Suburban Municipality shows that the show the effects of partition as far the religious major religion is Hinduism and the percentage of composition of the population is concerned. During Hindus has been increasing steadily over the years. the period 1931-51 the percentage of Muslims Muslims declined sharply in percentage between dropped over sharply and the percentage of Hindus 1931 and 1951, obviously as a result of partition. went up. It has to be noted that such sharp and since then have been decreasing .teadily but variations are not noticeable when the district is t'ather slowly. On the other hand, Garden Reach considered as a whole. The general mobility of which was a Muslim majority city in 1911, when the urban population is demonstrated by this; 57.32% were followers of Islam, became a Hindu ultimately it is the economic factors that influence a majority city in 1951 with 53.41 % of the population pIerson's life most, though the political or other recorded as Hindus. In the decade 1951-61, how· forces may seem to predominate at any point of time . . ever, the percentage of Hindus decline to 50.08 and One must qualify this statement by saying that they that of Muslims once again increased to 49.35. In weigh more when the means of livelihood are tied 1971 the relative positions of the two communities to the soil. A tailor in a city will think of moving have reversed, tbe Muslims forming 60.49 per cent of on, should the situation warrant, politicaUy or the population and Hindus 39.23 per cent. The per­ otherwise; a cultivator will not. or courle, the centage of Christians in the city has also declined reason for movement is not always entirely economic; steadily; it is only 0.10%) in 1971. Similarly, one cannot escape the fact, however, that the econo­ Sikhs who formed 0.2 per cent of the population in mic characteristics influence the way of thinking of 195 I constitute 0.15 per cent only in 1 971. a person in a very significant manner. The quietness of the countryside and the slow pace of life in the Baranagar is a predominantly Hindu city, only villages are in sharp contrast to the urban ways of 2.03 per cent of the population being Muslims. The living in our cities. It is almost inevitable, therefore, percentage of Muslims in 1971 was a little higber that population movement wiU be more pronounced than recorded in the previous census. 'in the urban areas whatever the reasons.

I The percentage of Muslims bas declined over Burdwan city shows a sharp decline in the the last decade in Panihati, whereas in Kamarhati, percentage of Muslims between 1951-61. Christians just next door, it bas increased slightly. Sikhism seem to be practically Don-existent in the city but it claimed 0.12 per cent of the population in 1971 is not 80 in Asansol. Here, there has been also a· which is an increase over the percentages recorded decline in the proportion of Muslims, but tbi. has previously, been steady, since 1911: '·Since the setting up of Durlapur the percentage of Muslims has declined. In Dum Dum, as in Panihati, the population is This may be due to the fact that the local inhabitants predominantly Hindu and the proportion of Muslims of the _reas were Muslims and with the construction has declined steadily over the last 20 years. The of the city the workers flowing into the various percentage of Sikhs, on the other hand. has increased industrial units have been mostly Hindus, thus over the last 10 years as has that of the Christians. making for the decline in the percentage.

One notices a sharp decline in the percentage of . 'KhiRagpur exhibits the same decline in the Muslims in Bhatpara. There is .a similar drop in ptor!n~·tion. of Muslims over the last decade and also the proportions of ChristilUlS and Sikh.. The between 19 31-S 1. The percentage of Christians percentaae of Hindus had dropped from 84.42% in . 195 1 to 79.41 % in 1961. This was when the Wellt down very sharply .mce 1911 j but it has apia proportion of Ma.lims increased aflDificantly in the recovered noticeabJy after 1961. 280

Decadal growth of religions followers of different religious persuasions in West Bengal during the last two decades, 1951 to Statement VIII.4 shows the growth rates of the 1971.

STATEMENT VllI.4

Gro,.th of seven major religions ~-West Bengal: 1951·1971 ------,._------Population Decadal percentage arowth Name of religion 1951 t961 1971 1951-61 1961-71 \ ------,--_._- -'------'_._-'---'----'---_.. -.--_.. _------., _- 3 4 5 6

-- .. +---, -~--- Hinduism 20,751.412 27,523,358 :14,6(1,864 32.63 25.75

balm 5,( 18,269 6,9R5,287 9,064,33R 36.48 26.76

Christianit'i 181,775 204,530 251,752 12.52 23.09

Saridhanna 35,921-: 161,942 350.74

Buddhi~m 31,Mi,; 112,253 121,504 37.46 8.24

Sikhislll 30,623 34.1R4 35,084 ll.f)]

Jainism 26,940 32,203 :n.40 19,54

It ,is interesting to note that during the decade STATF;Ml~NT VIll.5 1961-71 the followers of all the major religions in I)e(.·ennisl growth of Hindusim and Islam since 1951 in the state except Islam recorded growth rates which West Ben~al and Districts _'_' __ ._'.,,_.-.,._._- --,.--~ ... _ .... --...... _ are lower tlMtl that of total population. Again~t Growth Rate the total growth of 26 87 per cent the Hindus and 1961-71 1951---61 Christians increased by 25,75 and 23,09 per cent Slate, District Hindu Muslim Hindu MusllDl- _..... _ ---'--"''''~-' .. _... _------,--- _ -_- respestively during the period while the Muslims 2 3 4 5 have grown fastt!r at 29. 7(). 010 Sikhism and Jainism which are largely the religions of the settlers have WEST BENGAL 25,75 29.76 32.63 36.4~ grown by 2.63%) and 19.54%). respectively. Darjeeling :noo 22.43 37.80 Saridharma which clai ms the fourth largest following Jalpaiguri 30.86 20.98 50.80 45.65 among religious has grown almost five times in Cooch Behar 43.26 23.98 62,9H 24.79 West Dinajpur n'lmbers during the decade; hut this is) as will be 48.00 27.94 Maida 39.34 2324 11.1I 62.80 discussed later, a ~peci8) case 'J\T urshldab-ad 26.59 29.48 31.92 34.97 Nadia 31.78 24.69 45.61 63.16 Higber growth ratel'Jl of Muslims Twentyfour Parganas 34.08 36.J\J 40.05 25.71 Howrah 16.44 30,50 26.30 27.57 A look at the growth rates districtwise may Calcutta 6.53 19.46 15,58 22.29 throw some light on the factors which may explain Hooahly 28.41 31.02 44.54 36.94 the high growth rate of the Muslims. Statement Burdwan 23.89 43.75 41.62 36.79 VIII.S presents the gro\\th of the followers of the Birbhunl 20.07 29.75 34.75 39.44 two main religjons in the- state and its districts Bankura 18.33 34.90 29.66 25.65 during the last two decades .. Midnapore 24.67 29.23 29.94 37.02 ---8.72 _PUJ'ulia ... - 17.55 281

The followers of Islam grew consider.bly faster As against such bi, increases in Muslim popu­ than Hindus not only in 19h1-71 but during 195.1-61 lation in Twentyfour Patganas, Burdwan etc. a as well. For the state as a whole Muslims registered contrast is presented by the district~ of North a big increase of 3648% as against 32 63% Bengal. All of them, including MaIda and West recorded by Hindus in the decade 1951-6 L that is, Dinajpur in which Muslims constitute as much as in spite of all the continuous and huge influx of 43.13 and 35.89 per cent of the population Hindus from across the borders the growth of the respectively, have recorded growth of 20 to 28 per Muslims exceeded tbat of the former during 1951-61. cent only in the numbers of Muslims during 1961-71. In the districts of Nadia and Maida their growth The rates are below the state average for Muslims had reached the staggering rates of 63.16 and and are nearer to the growth rate of total population 62 80 per cent respectively. Mu~lims have again (26.87%). In Murshidabad also, where the Muslims i~creased in numbers particularly fast in the districts ar~ in the majority, the growth of the community of Burdwan, Twentyfour Parganas and Bankura has been relatively smaller at 29.48 %. during 1961-7I. The growth in BUldwan is as high as 43.75(Yo while Twentyfour Parganas and Bankura have not also lagged far behind with big Purulia in the western extremity of tbe state is increase of 36.190/~ and 34.900;0 respectively. the only district which recorded a fall in the number of Muslims. The followers of Islam totalled 74,410 It is a general observation that Muslims have a in 1971 against 81,521 in 1961 in the district due, higher rate of fertility. The prevalence of widow­ probably, to the outmigration to the neighbouring remarriages adding to the numbers of couples in the industrial belt of Bihar. reproductive age-group, universal marriage, the predominantly rural base of the community, aversion Two "Dew" religions -Saridbarma and Swam. to family planning methods because of religious and other inhibitions and other socio-economic factors Two of the rel igions as returned in the census have all contributed to a faster rate of growth of deserve special mention. One of them is Saridharma the Muslims. The employment opportunities offered which has a sizeable number of followers totalling by the mining-industrial belt of Burdwan-Asansol 161,942. As already noted, the religion claims the and the jute mills, tanneries and other industrial fifth largest following among aU religions in the state, units of Twentyfour Parganas, Calcutta etc., are after Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism and Christianity nd known to have attracted in-migration to these is professed mainly by the tribal people. It is, in districts. The higher proportion of Muslims among fact, the name given to the traditional religion of the the immigrant labour in jute tannery etc. may also tribes and appeared in ensus returns as a separate be a factor which has to be taken into account religious faith only recently.in J 961 due, partJy, to while considering the higher growth rate of the a conscious attempt to establish tribal identity. It Muslims. Yet another important fact is the long wm be borne out by the fact that Saridharma border which the districts of Twentyfour Parganas registered an increase of as much as 350 per eent in has with erstwhile East Pakistan now Bangladesh. the number of its followers since 1961. The religion The return flow of Muslim migrants from across has the largest following in Bankura, Midnapore and the borders and fresh immigration from the Purulia. neighbouring states as well have played a part in the big increase in the numbers of the followers of While Saridharma made its first appearance in Islam. It has also to be borne in mind that the censUS records in 1961, the census or 1971 has also census of 1971 was taken at a time when the added a new name to the list of religions ptactiled Bangladesh turmoil was on and there was an influx in West Bengal. The religion is "Swarna" claiming of Muslim refugees into the district of Twentyfour . 24,034 followers. Like Saridharma, Swarna is also Parganas etc. It will, of course, require detailed th'e rc:ligion of the tribal people, mainJy SanthaJs and studies to ascertain how far such in-migration, albeit ·Oraons, and has been returned from the westernmost temporary, was responsible for the big increase in the districts of Bankura, Midnapore and Purulia as well numbers of Muslims as revealed by the ctnsus of , as ,trom the central districts ofTwentyfour Parganas, 1971. Hoo&h~y and Burdwan. Chapter IX

SCHEDULED CASTE AND SCHEDULED TRIBE POPULATION

IDtroductloD J aJia Kaibartta Jhalo Malo or Malo The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Lists Kadar Modification Order, 1956 clas~ified 63 castes as Kami (Nepali) scheduled castes and 41 tribes as scheduled tribes in Kandra West Bengal. Some of the castes and tribes are Kaora scheduled for the entire state while others are treated Karenga or Koranga as scheduled for parts of the state only as are shown Kaur below: Keot or Keyot Khaira Sdledaled Castes Khatik Koch 1. Throughout the state : Konai Konwar Bauri Kotal Chamar, Charmokar, Mocbi, Muchi, Rabidas, Lohar Ruidas or Rishi Mahar Dhoba or Dhabi Mal Dom or Dhangad Mallah Dosadh or Dusadh including Dhari or Dharhi Methor Ohasi Namasudra Lalbegi Nuniya Musabar Paliya Pan or Sowasi Patui Pasi Pod or Poundra Rajwar Rajbanshi Turi Sarki (Nepali) 2. Throughout the state except in the Purulia Suuri excludinl Saha district and the territories transferred from the Tiyar Purnea district of Bihar : Baldi or Duley 3. In the Purulia district and the territories Bahelia transferred from the Pumea district of Bihar : Baiti Dedi)'. Bantar Beldar Bholta BhuimaJi Chaupal Bhui),' DabPI' Bind HaIalkhor Damai (Nepali) Hati, Methor or Bhqi Doai J(aDjar Oonrhi Kurariar Hali Nat· 283

Meduled Trtbtl E••• eratloD .r scheduled eat. aad ldaed.led tribes

1. Throughout the state Before independence there were DO "scbeduled castes" or "scheduled tribes", b~t information on Ho hundreds of castes and sub·castes, septa and sub­ Kora septs, tribes and sub-tribes were used to be collected at Lodha, Kheria or Kharia the censuses. The census personnel must have had a Mal Pahariya hard time than in classifying and tabulating tbe Munda complex and huge data. The collection and tabulation Oraon of information on the castes and tribes of the Santa1 Hschedules", though limited in number, have not been less difficult. While census tabulaticn is in itself a 2. Throughout the state except the territories painstaking job, that of scheduled castes and tribes transferred from the Purnea district of Bihar : is still more so. This is due partly. to the difficulties inherent in the system of census enumeration and Bhumij partly to the lack of proper awareness amongst the concerned people about the i mportancc of census in 3. Throughout the state except in the Purulia general and enumeration of scheduled castes and district and the territories transferred from the tribes in particular. Purnea district of Bihar: InstructioDs to EDumerators Bhutia including Sherpa, Toto, Dukpa, Kagatay, Tibetan and Yolmo Chakma The information whether an individual belonged Garo to any of the scheduled castes or tribes was obtained against question 11 of the individual slip of 1971. Hajang The enu merators were furnished with a list of Lepcha scheduled castes and tribes and asked to follow it Magh strictly. The instructions to the enumerators to Mahali elicit and record the answer against the question are Mech reproduc;ed below: Mru Nagesia Rabha "64. Ascertain if the person enumerated belongs to a scheduled caste or scheduled tribe and it he 4. In the Purulia district and the territories does, then record the name of the scheduled caste or transferred from the Purnea district of Bihar: scheduled tribe which should fi.nd place in the Jist furnished to you. The answer should be recorded Asur against the correct rectangle provided for the purpose Baiga against this question. For a person who is not a Banjara member of any scheduled caste or scheduled tribe Bathudi write 'X' in both tho rectangles. Bedia Binjhia 65. If the person belonging to a scheduled c.st~ Birbor or scheduled tribe return his caste or tribe by a Birjia synODy'm or generic Dame of a caSte Qr a tribe it Chero shOUld be entered only if it finds a place in tho list Chit Barait furnished to you. Do not wl-ite ~e names of Gond scheduled castes in 'general term. as 'Harijan' or Gorait 'Achliut'. You should ~scertain tb.e. name of the Karmali ea$tc' when it is ,etu~ed sn,l' wiite .i~ in the rectaqle Khuwar pt(,videl for recor~iDj the D~.,.· :'S~lily~ d~ Ilot KhOildK_ write the Dame ol._utecl .~ri~' 'i~ ·:·.aenerIJ ...... ''. Y9P f)lould ___ill. ~~.a&JIl' "... ,,"- ,Ii- I ". ,.., '~., " ,. .,'" ~' • or.dr'·., • 284 tribe when it is returned and write it in the Attitude of respftndents : to eensul aDd eDumer.tloa rectangle with broken lines provided for recording of eastes/tribes the same. If a person is negligent and insists on calling himself merely 'Harijan' or 'Achhut' or The instructions being as they were, the task of 'Adivasi' as tbe case may be, tell him that this the enumerators was made all the more difficult on description is not adequate for census purposes and the question of caste names because of the attitude persuade him to give out the actual name of the of many a respondent at the time of census enumera­ caste or tribe. You should make all efforts to tion. It is well known that there is a general lack ascertain t11e correct name of the scheduled caste of proper awareness of the importance of census or scheduled tribes as found in the notified list. If enumeration in the country and most people respond the person merely claims to be a scheduled caste or to the census only casually. There are many who scheduled tribe but says that he does not belong to are just apathetic about the census, and there are any of the notified communities applicabJe to the others who consider the census questionnaire as an area, he will not be entered as a scheduled caste or exercise of doubtful utility and tolerates it only scheduled tribe. because it bears the stamp of State sanction. The enumerators, therefore, consider themselves lucky 66. Scheduled castes can belong only to the only if the respondents just condescend to spare a Hindu or Sikh religions. If a person belongs to few minutes for them to answer the questionnaire scheduled caste, there will be either 'HI or'S' in the and the time schedule is maintained. The scope answer to question .t o. Scheduled tribes may for any interrogation by an enumerator regarding belong to any religion". the act ual name of the caste or tribe (or any other questions requiring clarification or elucidation) DUBeultles of accurate enumeration of elstes aDd becomts limited indeed in the circumstances. trib" In the 196 I census, a person who gave out his The instructions are clear and unambiguous and caste or tribe by any syneny m or generic name or there was hardly any scope for further elaboration a local name known to the enumerator was recorded that might improve the results. Questioning on castes as scheduled caste or scheduled tribe, as the case has been a difficult and delicate part of the job of may be, irrespective of whether or not the synonym enumerators eyer since the ethnographic enquiries or generic name found a place in the notified were first attempted in the late eighties of the last schedule. The enumerators were, in fact, provided century. It still remains to be so although the task with a list of the synonyms and generic names for the is far more simpler now. The enumerators were purpose which was prepared in consultation with not and cannot, be expected to be anthropologists or District Officers and other authorities. In addition ethnologists. nor was there any large scope for special instructions were issued to enumerators to making detailed enquiries about the answers provided hold enquiries in respect of castes and tribes like by the respondents. The enumerators were to record Bhakat, Dhibar, Buna or Buno etc., to find out if the answers as were received from the respondents they belonged to any of the scheduled castes or tribes and had but little option or scope to cross-question in order to record them as belonging to such the respondents to test the veracity of the statements. scheduled caste/scheduled tribe. Inspite of all the As Sri Asok Mitra as the Superintendent of Census precautions taken in 1961 returns in such general Operations, West Bengal in J 951 has observed "A terms as 'Harijan' or • Adibasi' etc. were not too fundamental point to remember about a census is small and had to be treated as unspecified scheduled that the enumerator is obliged to record whatever is caste or scheduled tribe. Consequent on a Supreme tendered. He may challenge what be recognizes as Court Judgement, however, the notified list of a deliberate lie, and report it to his superior, but is scheduled castes and scheduled tribes only was to be not at hberty to record a person's information followed strictly this time (in J 971) and the generic accordina to his best knowledge and information or local names or synonyms were to be ignored. althou&h -he, the enumerator, may have lived with the person at next door nei.bbours for years.'· There has Dot, however, been much improvement this il a fundamental point, and also an important in 1971 althouah' the instructions were, as already lknitatioll, or the censuses which has to be borne in stated e.r1ier, clear, precise and unambiauou.l. It mind while examirlina the censul data. bas .,ain been the experience of mlllY aD enumerator 285 and other census penonnel that a large number of belongina to a scheduled caste or tribe. The respondents were reluctant to'give out the specified net resu1t is that there is a large number of names of the castes or tribes. Some others again unspecified scheduled castes at well as scheduled were really ignorant of the actual caste/tribe names; tribet in almost aU the districts. AI the tables still some more preferred to call themselves simply below will show, about 9 % of scheduled 'Harijans' or 'Adibasis' or 'Achhuts' and would not castel and about 7 '>fa of the scheduled tribes had to disclose their caste/tribe identity. Bu' the enumera­ be classified as "unspecified" in 1971. tors are enumerators and were not much different in 1971 from what they were in 1961. So confronted Scbetllted cadet alld scheduled tribes in India, West with such returns in general terms many of them Bensal and the states appear to have followed the "easiest" course of r~cording, faithfully, "Scheduled Caste" or Out of a total population of 44,312,011 in West "Scheduled Tribe" or "Harijan" as was returned by Bengal 8,816,028 or 19.90% belong to the scheduled the respondents. Others might have followed the castes and 2,532,969 or 5.72% to the scheduled instructions strictly and those who had returned their tribes. Between them the scheduled castes and tribes caste/tribe by any generic or local name were not constitute 25.62 % of the total population of the enumerated as scheduled caste or scheduled tribe. state as against the proportion of 21.54% in the While processing the enumeration slips such vague and whole of India. Statement IX.l shows the number. incomplete returns were treated as unspecified of the scheduled ca.tes and tribes in India and the scheduled caste or scheduled tribe wherever states and union territories and their proportions to they could be identified otherwise as the total population.

STATBMbNT IX.1

India/States/ Union Total Scheduled caste Scheduled tribe Percentage of PercentalO of PerceDtage Terri tories population population population S.C. to total S.T. to total of S.C & S.T. population population to total populatioll

2 3 4 5 6 7

--,---.--.--~. INDIA 548,159,652 80,005,398 38,015,162 14.60 6.94 21.54 States

1. Andhra Pradesh 43,502,708 5,774,548 1,657,657 13.27 3.81 17.08 2. Assam· 14,957,542 912,639 1,919,947 6.10 12.84 18.94

3. Bihar 56,353,369 7.950,652 4,932,767 14.11 S.7! 22.86

4. Oujarat 26,697,475 1.825,432 3,734.422 6.84 13.99 20.83 5. Haryana 10,036,808 1,895,933 ... 18.89 18.89 6. Hjmachal Pradesh 3,460,434 769,572 141,610 22.24 4.09 26.33

7. Jammu" Kashmir 4,616,632 381,277 8.26 8.26 8. Kerala 21,347,375 1,772,168 269,356 8.30 1.26 9.56

9 •. Madhya Pradesh 41,654,119 5,453,690 8,387,403 13.09 20.14 33.23

10. Maharashtra 50,412,235 3,025,761 2,9';4,249 6.00 5.86 11.86

11. Manipur 1,072,753 16,376 33,4,466 1.~3 31.18 32.71 12. Meabala,a 1,011,699 3,887 814,230 0.38 80.48 80.86 13.MJIOl'I 29,299.014 3,850,034 231,268 13.14 0.79 13.93 1•. Nualand .516.449 ... 457,102 81.6J 88.61 216

STATEMENT IX.l-Concld.

1 2 3 4 5 7

15. Orissa· 21,944,615 3,310,854 5,071,937 15.09 23.11 38.20 16. Punjab J3,551,()6() 3,348,217 24.71 ... 24.71

17. Rajasthan 25,765,806 4,075,580 3,125,506 15.82 12.13 27.95 18. Sikldm 209,843 9,502 4.53 4.53

19. Tamil Nadu 41,199,168 7,315,595 311,515 17.76 0.76 18.52

20. Tripura 1,556,342 192,860 450,544 12.39 28.95 41.34 21. Uttar Pradesh 88,341,144 18,548,916 198.565 21.00 0.22 21.22

22. WEST BBNGAL 44,312,011 8,816,028 2,532,969 19.90 5.72 25.62

U nloD Territories 1. Andaman & Nicobar 115,133 18.102 1'.72 15.72 Islands 2. Arunachal Pradesh 467,511 339 369,408 0.07 79.02 79.09

3. Chandigarh 257,251 29,073 11.30 11.30

4. Dadra & Napr Haveli 74,170 1,332 64.445 1.80 86.89 88.69

S. Delhi 4,065,698 635,698 15.64 15.64

6 Goa, Daman & Diu 857.771 16,514 7,654 1.93 0.89 2.82 7. Laceadive, Minicoy & 31,810 29,540 92.86 92.86 Amindivi Island

8. Pondicherry 471.707 72,921 15.46 15.46

• Includes Mizo district, now constituted as Union Territory of Mizoram.

Among the major states Orissa (38.20%) Meghalaya (80.86) and Arunachal Pradesh (79.09) and Madhya Pradesh (33.23 %) have the highest which are practically all-tribal territories. proportions of scheduled caste and scheduled tribe . population. Bihar (22.86), Himachal Pradesh (26.33), Rajasthan (27.95) and Punjab (24.71) also Distribution of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes have high proportions of the castes and tribes. The In West Bengal proportions are higher than the aU-India average in each of them. The highest percentages are, of course, Statement IX.2 gives the distribution of the found in the smaller states and union territories like scheduled caste and scheduled tribe population and Laccadive, Minicoy & Amindivi Islands (92.86), their combined proportion to total, rural and urban Dadra aDd Nagar Haveli (88.69), Nagaland (88.61), population of the state and its districts 217

STATEMENT IX.2

DlstributiOll of scheduled castel and scheduled tribe. POpUlatJoo aad their proportloa to tbe to~1 ' ....11011 ." State aDd Dlstricts-U'11

Total S.C. population S. T. populatiou Percellt8le of ,cboduJecl State/Districts Rural Urban Popula- Percontage Popula- Percent:r castas '" scheduled tribea tiou to total tion to tota to total pOpulation population population (Col. 4 &; S) -_ 1 2 3 4 S (; 7

WEST BENGAL T 8,816,028 19.90 2,532,969 5.72 25.62 R 8,093,232 24.27 2,475,625 7.42 U 722,796 6.59 57,344 0.52

1. DarjceJing T 98,277 12.57 108,586 13.89 26.46 R 83,459 13.87 97,169 16.15 U 14,818 8.22 11,417 6.34

2. Jalpaiguri T 595,424 34.02 428,595 24.49 58.51 R 569,881 36.02 427,173 27.00 U 25.543 15.20 1,422 0.85

3. Cooch Behar T 665,020 47.03 10,611 0.75 47.78 R 656,394 49.82 10,454 0.79 U 8,626 8.92 157 0.16

4. West Dinajpu r T 429,578 23.10 221,317 11.90 35.00 R 417,508 24.76 218,872 12.98 ,"', U 12,070 6.95 2,445 1.41

5. Maida T 265,697 16.48 130,715 8.11 24.59 R 261,938 16.96 130,658 8.46 U 3,759 5.53 57 0.08

6. Murshidabad T 357,417 12.16 38,947 1.32 13.48 R 332,697 12.36 38,065 1.41 U 24,720 9.95 882 0.36

7. Nadia T 475,489 21.32 31,799 1.43 22.75 R 435,972 24.06 29,509 1.63 U 39,517 9.45 2,290 0.S5

8. Twentyfour Pa'18oas T 1,910,807 22.6J 137,197 ' 1.62 24.23 R 1,733,512" 31.64 128,S2' 1.35 U 177,295 5.97 8,~71 0.29

9. Howrah T 297,571 12.31 3,3,64 ' 0.14 12.45 " " ' 0.14 Il 253.270 18.04 1,938", , U 44,301 4.37 17426 0.14 liS

STATEMENT IX. 2 Concld. ---_.- '" 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

)0. Calcutta T 118,967 3.78 2,408 0.08 3.86 R ... U 118,967 3.78 2,408 0.08

11 Hooghly T 548,080 19.08 100,084 3.48 22.56 R 499,336 23.64 95,712 4.53 U 48.744 6.41 4,372 058

12. Burdwan T 959,994 24.SJ 228,605 5.84 30.35 R 870.818 28.80 218.493 7.22 U 89,176 10.00 10,112 1.13

13. Birbbum T 532.697 30.00 125,250 7.0S 37.05 R 506,076 30.65 123,735 7.49 U 26.621 21.34 1,515 1.21

14. Bankura T 573,162 28,22 208,735 11).28 38.50 R 543.740 28.93 207,849 11.06 U 29,422 19.39 886 0.58

]!. Midnapore T 747,497 13.S7 442.963 8.04 21.61 R 711,374 13.98 436.025 8.57 U 36,123 8.60 6,938 1.65

16. Purutia T 240,351 14.99 313,793 19.58 34.57 R 217,257 14.77 311,448 2) .18

U 23,094 17.45 2,345 1.77

The distribution of the scheduled castes and Coach Behar is an exception. A unique feature scheduled tribes is uneven in the districts. but the bulk about the district is that the scheduled castes alone of he population is concentrated in the rural areas comprise 47.03 % of its population while the in a\l the districts, only 722,796 of the 8,816.028 scheduled tribes account for an insignificant 0.'15 %. of the schedu1ed caste population and 51,344 out of a total scheduled tribe population of 2,532,969 being The proportion of tbe combined scheduled caste counted in the urban areas. and scheduled tribe population to the total popula­ tion is the lowest in Calcutta (3.86 'Yo). It is quite Districtwise, the proportions of the scheduled low in Howrah (12.45

(1,910,807) which is followed by Burdwan (959,994), scheduled caste population of the state while tlle Midnapore (747,497)1 Coach Behar (665,020) and latter account for 19.16% only. The distribution lalJ)aiauri (595,424), in this order. AmOD,st them of scbeduled caste population in t~e remainins these five districts contain more than half the districts is uneven, the proportions to the total popu­ scheduled caste population of the state, the exact lation varying between a low figure of 3,78% in percentage being 55.33. Darjeeling (98,277) and Calcutta and hiSh percentages of 22.61 and, 21.32 Calcutta (J 18,967) are two districts with the smallest in Twentyfour Parganas and its northern neighbour, numbers of the scheduled castes which account for Nadia. the reasons for this peculiar spatial distri­ 1.12%, and 1.35% respectively of the total. Twenty­ bution may be trated partly in history. How far four Parganas has a huge scheduled caste population other factors like migration etc., are responsible may of 19.1 million which is twice as big as Burdwan's. be determined only through and detailed study. It has to be mentioned however that there has not been A closer look at the foregoing statements will any movement of scheduled castes on any appreciable reveal some special features about the regional dis­ scale in recent history that might have brought about tribution of the scheduled castes in the state. As the present pattern of distribution. It is also to be stated earlier, the five North Bengal districts have a noted that the scheduled castes must have constituted high concentration of scheduled castes and scheduled the bulk of the in-migrants who had come from tribes. Of them the three districts lying just below across the international borders and settled in the the foot hills of the Himalayas, namely, Darjeeling, l'lorth Bengal districts swelling their total popUlation Cooch Behar and West Dinajpur, taken together and also raising tbe proportion of the scheduled have the highest proportion of the scheduled caste& castes to the total population. in the total population. The sched uled castes actually constitute one third of the total population Distribution of scheduled castes in police stations of the three districts. A second area of such concentration is the three Rarh districts of BankuraJ Statement 'lX.4 shows the police stationwise Birbhum and Burdwan to the west of the Ganga. Of distribution of the scheduled castes and scheduled the total population of the districts as much as tribes in the state. The proportion of the scheduled 26.75 per cent belong to the scheduled castes. In castes in the rural and urban areas in the police absolute numbers. however, the three Rarh districts stations has also been indicated in the statement. are clearly ahead of the sub· Himalayan districts The former have between tbem 23.4 3 °l

STATEMENT IX. ,

Distribution of Ichedult'd castes aud scheduled tribes and their proportions In the total population in police stations, 1971

T Scheduled Castes P02ulation Scheduled Tribes Population District Police Station R Popuiation Proportion -PopuJa t-fon Proportion u .. _-_ .... _-_. __ .__ .• 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Darjeellng

1. Sukhipokri (R) only 3,008 10.32 1,838 6.31 2. Pulbazar (R) only 2,338 ~.68 4,819 11.71 3. Darjeeling T 8,790 10.72 7,820 9.54 R 3,175 8.11 937 2.39 U 5,6-1 S .3.10 6,883 16.05 4. RaDlli R.angliot (R) only . 4,121 7.95 4,069 7.85 ,. lore Bunlalow (R) only 3,131 7.62 2.446 $.95 291

STAT£MBNT lX.4-Contd.

1 2 . 3 4 S 6 7

Darjeelllll 6. Kalimpong T 9,043 8.85 19,088 1'8,67 R 5,859 7.43 lS,542 19.72 U 3.184 13.59 3~546 . 15.13 7. Oarubathan (R) oaly 2,558 7.92 3,793 11.74

8. Kurseong T 8,794 12.26 3,991 5.57 R 7,054 12.76 3,169 5.73 U 1,740 10.59 822 5.00 9. Mirik (R) only 2,286 8.02 791 2.77

10. Naxalbari (R) only 11,278 22.20 13,286 26.15 ) 1. SiIiguri T 13,484 10.03 11,838 8.81 R 9.205 24.94 11,672 31.62 U 4,279 4.39 16f) 0.17

12. Phansidewa (R) only 16.!68 23.05 2J ,228 29.53 13. Kharibari (R) only 12.878 28.80 13.579 30.36

JalpaigurJ

1. Rajaanj (R) only 55,687 43.25 7.451 5.79 2. laipaiguri T 98,393 45.26 10,465 4.8J

R 92,914 57.27 10,170 6.27 U 5,479 9.93 2?S' 0.53 3. Mal T 33,952 20.44 . 69,567 41.87 R 33,231 21.41 69,247 <44.62 U 721 6.58 320 2.92 4. Mitiali (R) only 7,024 11.51 32,667 53.S1

5. May08guri T 103,000 64.47 4,865 3.05 R 95,212 69.88 4,499 3.30 U 7,788 33.12 366 1.56 6. Nagrakata (R) ooly 11,387 17.25 33,752 51.14

7. Dhubguri T 91,698 42.39 ~,453 23.32 R. 86,384 43.30 ,~.~97,· 25.26 U 5,314 31.62 56 0.33 8. Birpara (R) only 4,978 8.59 24,560 42.39 9. FaJakata T '" 48,776 37.37 29,,~8 22.45 R: 41,858 38.80 29,207 23.68 U 918 12.76 91 1.26 It. t4-"arihat (R)only 6,352 14.M ..,6,309 38.10 11. Alipur Duan T 93,343 34.35 49,970 18.39 R 88,010 40.50 ,.,616· 22.86 ,

U 5,32.3 " 9.78 :. 294 0.54 , ',' " ~c 12. lCaIchiai (.R) only 12,617 9.38 62,052 46.15

13. lCumararam C (R) only ,28,211 29.03 37.186 38.15 292

STATSMENT IX.I-Contd.

4 S t 2 3 7

Coocb Bebar 1. Haldibari T 30,388 53.76 9 0.02 R 29,481 57.34 ... U 907 17.79 9 0.18

2. Meklil8Dj T 56,911 70.20 747 0.92 R 55,673 72.03 746 0.97 U 1,238 32.78 1 0.03

3. Mathabhana8 T 137,933 6O.S2 2,299 1.01 R 137.292 63.09 2,288 1.05 U 641 6.99 11 0.12 4. Sital Kuchi (R) ollly 52,787 55.49 87 0.09

S. Co~h Behar T 136,133 36.55 3,271 0,88 R 131,374 42.40 3,163 1.02 lJ 4,759 7.59 lOS 0.17

6. Tufan,lIlj T 98,231 40.65 2,927 1.21 R 97,854 41.21 2,919 1.23 U 377 8.96 8 0.19

7. Dlnhat8 T 116,885 40.47 1,268 0.44 R 116,181 41.85 1.248 . 0.45 U 704 6.00 20 0.17

8. Sitll (R) only 35,752 69.08 3 0.01

Wilt DlDaJpur

1. Chopra (R) only 10,927 10.76 5,821 5.73

2. Islampur T 8,804 6.57 3,717 2.77 R 8,333 7.05 3,652 3.09 U 471 3.00 65 0.41 3. Goalpokhar (R) only 5,532 4.74 6,825 5.8S

4. Chakalia (R) only 12,271 12.62 7.173 7.38

5. KaraDdi,hi T 11;632 9.52 13,855 11.34 Il 10.757 9.22 13.854 11.88 U 875 15.56 J 0.02

6. Rltaanj T 67,~S 32.29 J4,1" 6.'9 R 65,336 39.S8 13,847 8.39 U 1.919 4.44 f'293 0.68

7. Hemtabad (R) oll)y 23,R70 38.'0 4,087 659

8. X.,liapnj T 63.0U 51.50 5,451 4.4S R 60,298 59.56 5.306 5.2,4 u 2.736 12.92 145 0.68 293

STATBMENT JX.4-Coptd.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Wat DIDllpar. 9. Kushmandi (R) only 43,l~ 4534 8,927 '.H 10. ltahar (R) only 38,053 26.64 14,2" 9.99

11. Banshibari (R) ~Iy 22,412 22.14 22.874 22.60

12. Oanla Rampur T 25,OSO 21.62 lO,IS8 17._ R 23,077 22.84 19,361 19.16 U 1,973 13.32 797 5.38

13. Kumlrpnj (R) only 21,046 24.41 18,203 21.11 14. Tapln (R) only 34,106 28.06 31,3'8 2S.7S 1S. BaJurghat T 33,834 17.89 35,751 18.91 R 30,626 25.09 34,711 28.44 U 3,208 4.78 1,047 1.56 16. Hili T 8,602 19.75 8,75$ 20.JO R 7,714 20.59 8,658 23.11 U 888 14.57 97 1.59 MaJda

1. Harishchandrapur (R) only 22.798 12.86 4,370 2.46 2. Kharba (R) only 21,220 11.93 7,250 4.08 3. Ratua (R) only 20,600 10.56 1,535 '.79

4. Oajole (R) only 42,930 29.93 40.987 28.58

S. BamlDgola (R) only 32,166 48.17 18,109 27.12

6. Habibpur (R) only 46,057 40.70 42,460 37.'2

7. Maida T 20,745 29.19 12,886 18.13 R 20,179 3l.34 12,886 20.01 u 566 8.46 ... 8. Englilh Bazar T 21,211 11.59 3,052 1.67 R 18,018 14.81 2,995 2.~ U 3,193 5.21 57 0.09

9. Maaik Cbak (R) only 16,111 12.71 64 0.05

10. Kaliachak (R) only 21,159 6.10 2 0 .•

Ma ......

J. Paraktl T 8,918 8.26 1,149 J.61 R 8,3-41 8.28 1,738 1.13 U 647 7.99 '11 0.14

2. Slafttb'fIIIlJ T 8~S60 1.17 , 0.14 a 7... .51 . 7.U (; t." U 1,410 6.39 ... •. • •• 294'"

S1' AtEMENT IX.4--Contd.

1 2 3 4 S 6 7.

Marlhl.. bad 3. Sud T 19,035 11.49 179 0.11 R 18,590 12.46 173 0.12 U 445 2.71 6 0.04

4. Raabunathganj T 26,726 13'.18 700 0.35 R 23,915 13.83 693 0.40 U 2,811 9.41 7 0.02 5. Saaardighi (R) only 27,167 20.55 10,565 7.99 6. LallOla T 11,084 9.21 164 0.14 R 9,281 8.68 164 0.15 U " J ,803 13.44 ...

7. Dhagwansola (ft) only 5,298 3.56 208 (1.14

8. Rlnmagar (R) only 3,538 2.28 152 0.]0 9. Munhidabad T 10,401 12.48 2,844 3.41 R 6,786 10.25 2,555 3.86 U 3,615 21.13 289 1.69

10. Jiaganj T 5,523 12.08 2,885 6.31 R 1,764 9.20 2,709 14.13 U 3,759 14.17 176 0.66

11. Nabagram (R) only 30,114 28.50 8,747 8.28

12. Kbargram (R) only 38,437 27.35 887 0·63

13. DurwaD (R) only 31,695 23.01 ],267 0.92

14. Kandi T 23,558 18.15 1,732 133 R 19,225 18.57 1,728 1.67 U 4,333 16.52 4 0.02 , . 15. Bharatpur (R) ~nJy 28,904 15.85 2S 0.01 16. Boldanga T 18,156 7.06 659 0.26 R 17.547 7.10 659 0.27 U 609 6.21 ... 17. Berhampur - T 28,248 11.90 3,927 1.65 R 22,960 14.48 3,538 2.23 U 5,288 6,70 389 0.49 18. Hariharpur (R) only 9.191 7.91 1,385 1.19 19. Nawada (R) only 8,496 8.18 514 0.50 20. Domkal (R) only '.285 4.21 296 0.20 21. Jatugi (R) ~Iy' 1,713 8.22 56 0.06 NadIa ;

1. ICarimJ)ur i (R) ooJ1 27,394 ~ 14.61 . , , ,1,,292', 0.64 2. Dbatta (R}ioafy 39.401 22.26 '~ ...... 716 0.40 '~.\. ,.l '.~' '~ .' 3. ICallpnJ (R) only 25.028 16.86 .30 O.B 295

STATBMENT IX.4~CoDtd.

1 2 3 4 , 6 7

Nadia 4. Nakasi para T 35,217 2t.98 1.. 223 0.76 R 34,140 22.41 1,096 0.72 U 1,077 13.61 127 1.60

S. Chapra (R) only 20,772 15.31 6. Krishnalanj (R) only 25,610 37.25 1,123 1.63 .. 7. Krishnasar T 47,665 17.46 4,965 1.82 R 40,880 21.86 4,116 2.20 T 6,785 7.90 849 0.99

8. Nab.dwip T 11,827 7.37 69 0.04 R 7.640 11.51 24 0.04 U 4,187 4.44 45 0.05

9. Santipur T 28,734 19.91 2,624 1.82 R 23,252 29.61 2,447 3.12 U 5,482 8.33 177 0.27 10. Hanlkhali T 46,927 41.09 2,128 1.86 R 42,722 39.78 2,126 1.98 U 4,205 61.85 2 0.03

11. Ranaghat T 82,498 26.52 4,556 1.46 R 76,697 32.02 4,399 1.84 U 5,801 8.12 157 0.22 12. Chakdah T 45,994 24.72 7,642 4.11 R 40.116 28.72 7,066 5.06 U 5,878 12.68 576 1.24 13. Kalyani T 17,455 25.68 865 1.27 R 11,353 40.01 508 1.79 U 6,102 15.41 357 . 0.90

14. Harighata (8) only 20,967 21.94 4,256 4.45

Twentyfouf Parganas

1. Bagdah (R) only 46,732 45.SS S,3SS 5.22

2. BongaoD T 73,250 34.69 5,110 2.42 R 6S,093 40.53 4;887 3.04 U 8,157 16.14 223 0.44 3. Gaighata (R) only 50,599 37.78 1,205 0.90 4. Habra T 35,986 . 13.01 3,623 1.31 R 26,804 ·16.43 2,831 1.74 U 9,182 ~.09 792 0.70 5. Deganaa (R);onJy 16,845 12.62 418 0.31

6. aaj.rbat T 44,411 " ·34.57 923 0.72 It 30,496 32.06 836 0.88 ,'J', • U 13,915 41.71 87 0.21 · 296

STAtEltmNT lX.4 -Coutd.

1 2 3 4 S 6 7

Twent,four Parganu 7. Barasat T 23,081 8.30 3,091 1.1.1 R 18,715 10.75 2,114 1.21 U 4,366 4.20 977 0.94 (R) only 13,292 8. Amdanaa 16.19 1.097 1.34 9. Bijpur T 18,052 10.30 397 0.23 R 5,137 18.60 335 1.21 U 12,915 8.75 62 0.04 10. Naihati T 13,677 10.S2 1,317 9.63 R 4,338 24.25 1,188 6.64 U 9,339 8.61 129 0.12 11. Ja,aldal T 18,748 7.26 8J2 0.31 R 7,460 22.81 589 1.80 U 11,288 5.01 223 0.]0 12. Noapara (U) only 13,284 10.02 537 0'41 13. Barrackpur (U) only 412 1.65 3 0.01 14. Titalarh T 12,383 6.04 ],660 0.81 R 2,733 13.78 489 2.47 U 9,650 5.21 1,171 0.63 15. K.hardaha T 10,626 4.26 1,638 0.66 R 2,732 11.39 440 1.83 U 7,894 3'50 1,198 0.53 16. Bel,horia (U) only 1,445 0.85 116 0.07 17. Baranagar (U) onJy 1,593 1.16 68 0.05 18. Dum Dum T 13,456 4.22 881 0.28 R 2,479 36.45 U 10,977 3.51 881 0.28 19. Garden Reach (U) onl, 4,192 2.71 69 0.04 20. Metiabruz {U) only 2,405 4.07 332 0.56 21. MahestoJa T 32,557 19.58 S44 0,33 R 24,989 27.40 SO 0.09 U 7,568 10.09 464 0.62 ...... 22. Bcbala T 20,495 6.83 979 0.33 R 14,635 53.13 . 264 0.96 U 5,860 2.15 715 0.26 23. Jadavpur T 33,027 17.43 S40 0.29 R 20.403 41.34- 527 1.07 U 12,624 9.01 13 0.01 24. Bhanaar (R) only 56.,(;18 28.09 2,792 1.39 25. Sonarpur T 68,163 36.01 2,294 1.21 R 66,702 43~06 2,287 1.48 U 1.461 4.25 7 0.02 297

STATEMENT IX.4- Conld.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 I ,,, ... "'",_,.. -.... -_. rwentyfour 26. Bishnupur T 87,980 36.47 27 0.ofu1'(tn'·ffT Plfl8nas R 87,745 37.24 27 O.Ol'''~RJ'nq

U 235 4.17 '0'

27. Bud,e Budge T 33.148 14.09 784 0.33 R 31,636 20.21 784 0.50 U 1,512 1.92 ... 28. Baroipur T 75,084 39.28 396 o.21dn1'Holt R 72,062 42.23 391 0.23 U 3,022 14.74 5 0.02

29. Canning T 86,262 44.29 6,171 3.17 R 77,229 43.87 6,101 3.47 U 9,033 48.29 70 0.37

30. Basanti (R) only 54,250 39.88 10,105 7.43 31. Joynagar T 88,621 40.88 34 0.02 R 86,931 43.13 15 0.01 U 1,690 11.11 19 0.12

32. Kultali (Rlonly 54,678 45.64 3,578 2.99 33. Magrahat (R) only 89,255 33.23 53 0.02 34. Falta (R) only 31,581 22.23 8 0.01

35. Diamond T 44,348 22.62 1 0.00 R 43,401 23.72 I 0.00 U 947 7.24 36. Kulpi (R) only 49,009 33.S3

37. Mandir Bazar (R) only 5',084 47.25 ..., 38. Malhurapur (R) only 67,939 32.60 2,102 1.01 39. Pathar Pratima (R) only 37,444 23.33 1,351 0.84 40. Kakdwjp (R) only 24,066 18.8S Sbt): . 1.06

4'. Sagore (R) only 24,824 27.21 ~~( I 0.28

42. Swarupnagar (R) only 38·749 31.81 27 0.02

" ;:!'i"H 43. Namkhana (R) only 11 ,5?8 20.30 325 0.57

44. Baduria T 24,611 15.58 I';';I~~~" . 0.59 R. 21.047 16.1S 938 0.7 ., .., '1n IWJ Ij .. U 3,564 12.89 ... , U'll ,'i:', 45. Basirhat T 19,503 8.43 2,S75 1.11 R 14,273 8.52 2,382 1.~dl4()uH U 5,230 . ·'Sl20 d~~,., 0.30

46. Maroa (R) only 32,491 ,31.93 d,ljdiA1JA 7.44 41. MiDakhall (I.) only 17,479 ~7.S8 2,S56 4.03 298

STATEMENT IX.4-Contd. -.-----.--- 1 2 3 4 S 6 7

Twentyfour 48. Hasnabad T 46,699 32.78 6,326 4.44 Parpnas R 43,164 35.51 6,1)(}8 4.94 U 3,535 16.89 318 1.52 49. Sandeshkhali (R) only 54,649 33.R7 37,459 23.22 50. Hingalganj (R) only 54,962 67.51 4,126 5.07

Sf. Gosaba (R) on1y 84,015 59.65 13,730 9.75 Howr.b

1. BaBy (U) only 938 2.41 64 0.16

2. LiJuah T lJ ,051 34.06 IH5 0.57 R 8,154 44.fJ2 23 0.12 U 2,897 20.80 162 1.16

3·8. Howrah City (U) only 9,056 1.23 983 (l.13 9. Do:ncjur T 26,992 17.03 741 (\.47 R 23,679 23.30 627 0.62 U 3,313 5.82 114 0.20

10. Sankrait T 36,226 25.94 142 (l, 10 R 21,182 29.57 111 O.S U 15,044 22.l1 31 0.05

11. Panchla T 14,957 12.96 13 ('.01 R 13,H03 12.77 4 0.00 U 1,154 15.77 9 0.12

12. Jagatballavpur (R) onlY 22,310 17.95 725 0.58

13. Udayannrayanpur (R) only 18,042 , 6.43 215 0.20

14 A mtn T 47,248 18J~4 ]21 0.05 R 43,392 IR.OI 121 0.05 V 3,856 39.44 ... 15. B

16. Ulubaria T 58,555 23.21 92 004 R 53,348 25.91 92 0.04 V 5,207 J 1.21 ] 7. BawrJa T 3,169 6.42 63 0.13 H. 333 2.22 V 2,:U(, 8.25 63 0.18 tR. Shampur (It) only 27,324 12.84 11 0.01 Calcutta

t. Calcutta City (U) only J18,967 3.78 2.408 0.08 Hooghl,

}. Goghat (U) only 52,630 31.65 6.677 4.02

2. Arambash T 54,335 30.64 2.854 1.61 R 47,093 31.04 .2,131 1.40 U 7,242 28.30 723 2.83 299

STATE MENT IX.4 - Contd...... -----,-.-.. ~-~-.... -,,--"--~-.. -...... , ..... -.'... ,_.-..... ------_ _- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

HoogbJy 3. Khanakul (R) only 53,494 22.78 576 0.25 4. Pursurah (R) only 17,484 18.06 1,019 LOS S. Dhaniakhali (R) only 41,R53 25.38 18,368 10.63

6. Panduah T 42,5~8 26'85 23,607 14.90 R 41.475 28.40 22,878 15.67 U 1,063 8.58 729 5.8~

7. Balal:tarh (R) only 36AI8 30.45 10,039 840 8. Mogra T )9,469 16.83 4,314 373 R 12,9R9 2409 3,221 5.97 U 6,480 10.49 1,093 1.77

9. Chinsurah T I J ,(169 8.09 749 0.55 R 4,R06 15.25 511 1.62 U 6,263 595 238 0.23 10. PoJba (R) only 20,138 26.76 6,0]9 8.00

11. Dadpur (R) only 24,233 35.65 6,275 9.23

12. Tarakeswar T 21,R 15 19.37 3,613 3.21 R 2(),OO7 19.87 3,6]0 3.59 U 1,808 J5.12 3 0.03

13. Haripal T 3 '1, ()59 21.60 7581 5.34 R 28,826 21.59 7,483 5.6J U 1.833 21.71 98 1.16

14. Singur T 22,200 J3.52 1,779 1.08 R 20,655 13.48 1,662 1.08 U J ,545 14.10 117 1.07

15. BhadrelJrar T 13,022 9.89 547 0.42 R 4,222 15.37 30S 1.11 U 8,8uO 8.45 242 0.23

16. Chandemaaar (U) 3,773 S.Ol 14 O.(J2

17. J angipura (R) only 28,S61 23.78 4,216 3.51

18. Chanditala (R) only 29,582 13.79 667 0.31

19. Serampur T 15,095 6.14 468 0.19 R 8.184 31.16 22 0.08 U 6,911 3·1S 446 0.20

20. U ttarpara T 7,712 S.3S 702 0.49 R 4,686 24.24 33 0.17 U 3,026 2.42 669 0.54 Bard .....

1. Chittaraujao T 2,851 6.64 963 2.24 It 608 27.28 594 26.65 U 2,243 S.!H 369 0.91 300 .,

STATEMENT IX.4-Contd.

1 2 3 4 S 6 1

Burdwan 2. Salanpur T 13,039 26.76 8,020 16.46 R 12,596 29.90 7,262 17.24 U 443 6.71 758 11.48 3. Kulti T 34,301 22.94 5,505 3.68 R 22,263 26.99 4,651 5.65 U 12,038 17.95 848 1.26 4. Hirapur T 12,334 11.50 4,665 4.35 R 6,315 29.53 3,115 14.57 U 6,019 7.01 1,550 1.81

5. Asanso! T 20,524 9.93 6,006 2.90 R 14,253 31.67 5,709 12.68 U 6,271 3.88 297 0.18

6. Barabllni (R) only 20,030 31.34 8,389 13.13

7. Jamuria T 4n,907 28.52 12,482 8.70 R 38,436 28.73 1 J ,627 8.69 U 2,47l 25.65 855 8.88

8. Raniganj T 28,623 23.65 7,()()2 5.78 R 22,259 29.88 6,675 8.96 U 6,364 13.68 327 0.70

9. Ondal T 36,224 28.90 6,237 4.98 R 31,161 33.55 5,943 6.40 U 5,063 15.59 294 0.91 10. Faridpur (R) only 26,691 32.2R 5,424 6,56

11. Durgapur T 23,755 11.26 2,744 1.30 R 1,013 23.22 162 3.71

U 22,742 11.01 2,582 1.25

]2. Kaksa (R) only 24,851 32.01 7,859 10.12 13. Budbud (R) only 20,889 35.77 2,537 4.34 14. Ausgram T 49,IOi 32.30 19,678 12.95 R 46,256 32.58 J9,445 13.70 IT 2,845 28.32 233 2.32 IS. Oalsi (R) only 48,033 31.91 8.740 5.81

16. K handaghosh (R) only 34,909 33.22 2,009 1.91

(It) only 17. Raina 62,464 31.87 8,488 4.33

18. Jamalpur (R) only 40,551 29.04 20,222 14.48

19. Memari T 56·106 25.75 3J,711 14.S6 R 54,184 26.20 31.240 JS.lJ 1,922 U 17.40 471 4.26 301

STATEMENT lX.4-Coatd.

1 2 3 4 5 6 1

Burdwan 20. Burdwan T 57,800 19.25 13,167 4.59 R 47,983 30.SS 12,474 7.95 U 9.817 6.85 1,293 0.90 21. Bhatar (R) only 42,621 27.69 11,077 7.20

22. Monaalkote (R) only 43,909 28.35 3,771 2.43

23. Ketugram (R) only 45,J82 27.90 304 0.19

24. Katwa T 53,694 24.90 682 0.32 R 46,702 26.85 530 0.30 U 6,992 16.75 152 0.36

25. Monteswar (R) only 28,616 21.30 2,946 I.4S 26. Purbasthali (R) only 41,654 22.85 3,917 2.1S

27. Kalna T 50.335 23.62 24,460 11.48 R 46,389 25.15 24,377 13.21 U 3,946 13.80 83 0.29

Birbhum 1. Muraroi (R) only 40,671 23.36 5,579 3.20

2. Nalhatl T 52,687 30.82 6,021 3.52 R 51,193 31.72 5,888 3.65 U 1,494 15.68 133 .1.40

3. Rampurhat T 66,359 30.55 14,975 6.89 R 61,138 31.61 14,807 7.65 U 5,221 21.96 . 168 0.71

4. Mayureshwar (R) orlly 50,406 31.49 9,896 6.18

5. Muhammad Bazar (R) only 23,401 29.21 14,514 18.12 6. Rajnagar CR.) only 16,019 32.90 7,451 15.31

7. Khoyrosole (R) only 30,658 34.22 1,434 1.60 8. Dubrajpur T 38,707 33.11 5,615 4.80 R 35,480 35.10 S,455 5.40 U 3,227 ~.43 160 1.01

9. Suri T 41,083 31.24 1~,884 8.28 R 36,011 35.52 10,455 )0.31 U 5,072 16.84 429 1.42 10. lllambazar Ca.) only 21,320 25.19 8,164 9.65 11. Saintbia T 42,328 ·33.14 12,855 10.06 R 38,109 34.09 12,757 11.41 U 4,219 26.49 98 0.62 12. Bolpur T 36,662 .26.. 85 21,084 15.44 R 29,274 27.38 20,557 19.23 "'.:, U 7,38.8 24.93 527 1.78 13. Labhpur (R) only 33,758 29.68 4,509 3.96 14. Na1'1OO1 (R) olll, 38,638 31.12 2.269 1.83 302

STATEMENT IX.4-Co... td.

1 2 3 4 S 6 7

Bauura 1. Sa)tora (H) only 24,757 29.45 15,729 18.71

2; Mejhia (R) only 15,180 30.06 899 1.78

3. BorjOla (R) only 33,434 29.29 J ,345 1.18 4. Gangajalgbati (R) only 35,577 33.23 3,630 3.39 5. Chhatna (R) only 31,563 26.30 26,292 21.9J 6. Bankura T 58,804 26.70 6,264 2.84 R 43,135 30.75 6,101 4.32 U 15,669 19.80 163 0.21

7.0nda (R) only 38,723 29.44 6,287 4.7S

8. Indpur (R) only 31,217 34.16 8,727 9.55

9. Khaira T 33,148 28.44 26,045 22.35 R 30,923 28.62 25,699 23.79 U 2,225 26.12 346 4.06

10. Raniband (R) only J 1,235 14.57 35,354 45.86 11. Raipur (R) only 35,447 21.75 40,377 2477

12. Simla pal (R) only 13,611 J 8.13 10,448 13.92 13. TaJdangra (It) only 19,462 25.37 10.502 13.69 14. Bishnupur T 32,128 27.88 6,251 5.43 R 25,064 32.51 5,972 7.75 U 7,064 18.52 279 0.73

15. Sonarnukhi T 33,876 31.99 2,641 2.50 R 31,402 36.13 2,552 2.94 U 2,474 13.04 95 0.50

16. Patrasair T 39.014 39.22 2,403 2.42 R 31,024 4002 2,400 2.59 U 1.990 28.52 3 0.04

17. Joypur (R) only 23,033 26.59 ],442 1.66 18. Indas (R) on1y 35,508 36.97 1,631 1.70 19. Khtalpur (R) only 27.445 27.33 2.463 2.45 Midnaptwe 1. Binpur (R) only 26,574 13.77 69,167 3584 2. Jambani (R) only 6,007 8.72 20,891 30.3>

3. Jhararam T 10,700 8.92 23,936 19.95 R 9,501 9.43 23,359 23.19 U 1,199 6.23 577 3.()() 4. Gopibnllavpur (R) only 20,214 15.99 31,788 25.14 S. Sank rail (R) only 8,712 12.89 16~3S8 24.19 6. Mayagram (R) only 9,458 ·'11.50 30,065 36.51 7. Moharpur (R) only 5,102 9.S7 2,014 ).78, 8. DantaD (R) only 19,413 11.47 19,717 11.65 301

STATEMENT IX.4-Contd.

1 2 3 4 S 6 7

(R) only 7,845 10.27 21,550 Mldnapore 9. Keshiari "f' 28.21

1O. Marayangarh (R) only 21,638 13.98 31,238 20.18 11. Sabang (R) only 16,474 12.45 7,034 5.32

12. Pingla (R) only 5,912 6.21 7,907 8.30 13. Kharagpur (R) only 26,596 J5.56 34,M2 20.26 14. Kharagpur (Town) (U) only 8,443 5.24 2,890 1.79 15. Debra T 13, J S8 8.76 26,408 17.54 R 13,092 9.]4 26,221 18.31 U 96 1.30 J87 2.54

16. Midnapur T 17,453 10.96 17,088 10.73 R 15,027 ]7.09 15,843 18.02 U 2,426 3.40 1,245 1.75

17. Koshpur (R) only 39,330 25.61 8,299 5.40

J8. Salbani (R) only 14,571 14.74 16,190 16.38

19. Garhheta T 45,657 17.73 34,713 13.48 R 41,500 17.18 34,137 14.13 U 4,157 26.22 576 3.63

20. Chandrakona T 38,658 24.65 4861 3.10 R 31,529 24.33 4,216 3.25 U 7,129 26.16 645 2.37 21. Ghatal T 36.293 24.30 1,755 U8 R 30,HIS 26.91 J,606 1.40 U 5,475 15.72 149 0.43

22. Daspur (R) only 33·427 14.05 2,081 0.87

23. Panskura T 23,470 7.55 6,149 1.98 R 22,2CJ2 7.50 6,059 2.04 U 1, t 78 8.81 90 0.67

24. Mayna (R) only 24,532 21.93 9 0.01

25. Tamluk T 13,791 5.83 406 0.17 R 12,689 5.93 362 0.17 U ] ,102 4.90 44· 0.20

26. Mahisadal T 24,788 11.06 296 0.13 R 24,167 1 ],28 293 0.14 U 621 6.30 3 0.03

27. Sutahata T 31,135 18.$2 853 0.52 R 28,464 18.31 329 0.21 U 2,671 26.80 524 5.26 2R. Mandigram (R) only 34.403 13.16 618 0.24 29. Bhagwanpur (R) only 28,480 l'3Jt 49 0.02

30. Pala.bur (R)oDly 20,214 11.69 933 0.54

31. Bigra (R) only 24,8J2 J 3.51 J,7SI O.9S 32. Ramnapr (R) only 13,448 8.97 615 0.41 304

STATEMENT IX.4 ..... COncJcl.

6 7 1 2 3 4 5 56 0.36 Mldnapore 33. Digh. (R) only 2,623 17.03 34. Contai T 28,779 9.92 162 0.06 R 27,153 10.34 154 0.06 U 1,626 5.94 8 0.03 35. Khejri (R) only 45,357 33.67 474 0.35

Puralla 1. Jhalda T 14,985 9.21 19,292 11.86 R 12,391 8.21 18,949 12.55 U 2,594 22.08 343 2.92 2. Jaipur (R) only 7,097 ILlS 7·037 11.06

3. Arah. (R) only 8,266 10.48 16,772 21.26 4. Balhmundi (R):only 6,375 9.14 17.345 24.87 S. Balarampur T 5,329 7.24 24,278 32.97 R 4,113 6.78 23,479 38.69 U 1,216 9.38 799 6.17

6. Barabazar (R) only 5,709 5.93 18,807 19.53 7. Purulia MoC.asi) (R) only 29,591 18.76 11,793 7.48

8. Purulia Town (U) only 10,595 18.36 701 1.21 9. Para T 26,449 26.27 5,700 5.66 R 26,038 27.42 5,408 5.70 U 411 7.14 292 5.07 10. Raghunathpur T 38,189 27.95 11,660 8.53 R 32,193 28.93 1J ,570 10.40 U 5,996 23.64 90 0.35 11. Neturia (R) only 13,118 22.26 14,313 24.28 12. Santurl (R) only 7,756 17.08 15,090 33.24 13. Ka.hipur T 23.178 18.67 30,270 24.38 R 20,896 19.84 30.150 28.63 U 2,282 12.11 120 0.64 14. Mora (R) only 10,330 12.32 22,550 2689 15. Puncha (R) only 15,191 16.43 22,169 23.98 16. Manbazar (R) only 16,356 11.41 46,483 32.42 17. Banduan (R) only 1,837 3.23 29,533 51.86

There is not a single police station in the state in the rural areas the all· urban police stations of Bally t which does not have any scheduled caste population. BeJghoria and Baranasore all in Twent)four Parganas, The number and proportion of scheduled castes, of have very small numbers of the scheduled castes in course, very widely from police station to police their populations, the exact figures being 9,381,445 station. Barrackpore, the all-urban police station in and 1,593 respectively. Leaving aside tbese four police Twen~ur Parganas has the smallest number of ache-. stations, Banduan in Purulia bas the 8mallest aChe­ duJed ~e po~ulatioa~f 412 only •. Followins the ~uled caste populatio.Q of 1,837 only, the proportion aeneral pattern of laraer proportions of scheduled castes s:f{l:beduled caste to the total papulation in the polico a{>o r~\.r 1~.r.I

,(Ino C'I) . ,~ .. ". I~.O 305 station bein.g as low as 3.230/0' It haa to be mentioned, It i.s interesting to observe that five out of the incidentally, that the proportion of the bcbeduled tribes eight police stations of Cooch Behar are in the list. in this very' police station is as high as 51. S 6 %, The three other police stations of the district also Chittaranjan in Burdwan and Bauria in district Howrah have high proportions of scheduled castes bet Ween are two police stations with small scheduled caste 3h.55 % (Cooch Behar) and 40.47% (Di.nhata). population of 3,169 and 2,851 respectively which are In terms of numerical strength of scheduled castes only higher than Banduan's, While Banduan is an they rank very high indeed but contain in the entirely rural police station Bauria and Chittaranjan proportiollS of s~beduled castes to the total popula­ have one thintz in common that the scheduled caste tion are relatively low in all the three of them. popUlations in both of them are concentrated mo~tly Cooch Behar is in fact the only district in which the in their urban and not in the rural areas - which is scheduled castes population is more or less evenly contrary to the usual pattern in the state. distributed among the police stations, both in numbers as well as in terms of proportion to total Numerically the largest concentrations of scheduled popUlation Twentyfour Parganas is another castes are to be found in the police stations of Matha­ district where there are large concentration of , bhanga (137 933), Cooch Behar (136,1 J3) and Dinhata scheduled castes in quite a number of police stations (116,885), all in Cooch Behar which happens to be the both in terms, of absolute numbers and in terms of district with the highest proporlion (47 03) of scheduled percentage to total population. These police stations castes in the total population. Tufanganj (98,231) also are, as already stated, mostly in the southern part in Cooch Dehar and Maynaguri ',1 0 ~,OOO), Jalpaiguri of the district. Sonarpur (scheduled caste popula­ (9o,39j), Alipurduar (93,34) and Dhupguri (91,698) tion 68,163, percentage'-36.01 (>~J)' Bishnupur all in district Jalpaiguri are some other police Hations (87,980-36.47%), Baruipur (75,084 -39.28(%), with large concentrations of scheduled castes Twemy­ Canning (86,262--44.29%). Basanti (54,250-- four Parganas which has the largest number of 39.88 0/0)' Joynagar (88,621-40.88 %), Kultali scheduled castes for a district bas also a number of (54,678-45(% ) I Magrahat (89,255 _'. 33.23%), police stations which have large scheduled caste popu­ Mandirbazar i51,084~ 41.25%), Kulpi (49009- lation each e.g. Jaynagar (88,621), Magrahat 3353%), Sandeshkhali (54,649--33.81%). Hingat­ (89.255), Canning (86,262), Bishnupur (81.980), ganj (54,962-61.51 %) and Gosaba (8~)01S-· Gosiba (84,015) and Baruipur (75.884) all of which 59.65 %) are police stations all wjth one third or incidentally, lie in the southern part of the district. more of their total population belonging to scheduled In terms of proportion of scheduled castes to the castes. It is also observed that scheduled caste total population Mekliganj (70. 20 ~~) and Sitai populations become thinner and thinner as we (6908 %) in Cooch Behar and Hingalganj (6 7.51 (~,;)) approach the core of the highly urbanised Calcutta in" Twentyfour Parganas lead the police stations The metropolitan district. Again, in Twentyfour police stations which have 50

scheduled castes constitute good proportions of 2S % DecenDia' growth of Schedulec1 castes or more, in their urban population as shown within brackets against them, are Maynaguri (33.12 Yo) During the last decade (1961-71) the scheduled and Dhupguri (3 ).62%) in district Jalpaiguri, castes have rcorded a growth of 27.95 % in their MekHganj (32.78%) i-" Cooch Behar, Rajarhat numbers. This is a little higber than th~ growth or (41. 71%) and Canning (48.29%) in Twentyfour 26.87% in the total population of the state. The Parganas, Amta (39.44'10) in Howrah, Arambagh rale of growth has not, however, been uniform and 0 (28.30 / 0 > in Hooghly. lamuria (25.65%) and has varied widely from distrk;t to district. The Ausgram (28.32%) in Burdwan, Sainthia (26.49%) statement below shows the variation of the scheduled in Birbhum. Patrasagar (28.52%) in Bankura. castes population in the districts and compares it Gorbeta (26.22%), Chandrakona (26.16%> and with the growth of the general population. Sutabata (26.80 I}/o> in Midnapore. (t is interesting that in many of these police stations namely, S fA TEMBNT IX.5

Rajarhat, Canning, Amta, Garbeta, Chandrakona ---"•.. ----".----.. --.--.-.. - ..- .. ---.~ ... -..- ..... ----- and Sutahata, the percentages of scheduled castes in State:District Decadal percentage Decadal percentage the urban population exceed those in their total growth of total growth of scheduled population. While in Rajarhat and in Canning the population caste population ----.. -_.--- share of scheduled castes in the total popula tion of 1 2 3 the police stations were pretty large \\ hich might have brought about the high proportion of scheduled WEST BENGAL 26.87 27.95 castes in the few small urban areas in the police 1. Darjeeling 25.16 19.30 stations the case of Amta is somewhat different. The scheduled castes constitute as much as two-fifths of 2. Jalpaiguri 28.76 42.22 the urban population Amta although their share in 3. Cooch Behar 38.67 39.03 the total population of the police station is less than a fifth only. The other cases may be explained by 4. West Dinajpur 40.50 49.96 the fact that the urban areas in these police stations 5. Malda 31.98 62.57 or but small settlements in the native of oversize 28.39 26.67 villages discharging some urban functions because 6. Murshidabad growth in size of population and the consequent 7. Nadia 30.14 35.79 increase in trading and allied activities. Speaking R. Twentyfour 34.53 25.31 generally, the low percentage of ~9heduled castes in Parganas the urban population is largely due to their lower 9. Howrah 18.58 --0.74 shares in the occupations which are considered as characteristic of urban areas and may also be treated 10. Calcutta 7.57 - 6.07 as an index of their backwardness. Tied as they II. Hooghly 28.72 23.11 are to the land mostl.Y as small cultivators or land­ less labourers and because of their economic, financial 12. Burdwan 27.04 27.34 and educational backwardness there is little scope B. Birbbum 22.80 26.43 for them to settle in the urban areas except as unskilled labourers in factories or construction sites. 14. Bankura 22.02 16.33 The relatively high percentages of scheduled castes 1S. Midnapore 26.89 32.67 in the urban areas of the above mentioned police 17.86 . 19.67 stations may be due to movement of the affluent 16. Purulia amongst them to the new small urban areas or may be due to accident of coincidence i.e. villages with In all the five North Bengal districts except large concentrations of scheduled castes may have Darjeeling the scheduled castes have registered ,rown into urban areas. The exact native of t~ese growth rates considerably higher than the state cases of deviation from tbe usual pattern may be average during the last decade. The decadal growth ascertained by special studies only. It is, however, was as high, as 62.570/0 in MaIda, 49.96% in West observed that by and large. the bigger the size of Dlnajpur, 42.220/0 in Jalpaiguri and 39.03% in the urban areas the smaller is the proportion of Coocb Behat. The gt'Owth was also highet than that scheduled castes in their population. of the total population in all these districts. In the 307

district of D41rjeelillg the decadal increase was indicated. surpassed by the scheduled castes. 19.30%. Incidentally it may be mentioned tbat the Beyond the northern region the decadal growth of scheduled tribes population also recorded bi, increases scheduled castes was higher than the state average in these districts, especially I in We!;t Dinajpur, in two other districts only, namely, Nadia (30.07 cYo) and MaIda (31.34 'Jo). (3579%) and Midnapore (32.670;0)' In both of them the gro\\ tb of scheduled castes was higher than the growt.h of the total population. It is also note­ The district of Nadia also presents an almost worthy that tbe growlh rates in the districts had similar development, the general population there hardly any correlation with the degree of concentra­ haVing grown by 30.14 {I'~ and the scheduled castes, tion of the scheduled castes except in the North 35.79%. Bengal region. The Rarh districts, the second region of concentration \)f scheduled castes for example, The question will naturally crop up: what has recorded only moderate increases during the decade. the higher growth rate of the scheduled ca~ttS in While in Burdwan the growth of the schedpled many of the districts been due to? Is the negative castes was practically equal to that of total popula­ growth in Calcutta and Howrah connected in any tion (27.34%) :27.04%) and the rate (26.43%) was way with the slump or stagnati"D in employment .. just a little higher than' that of total population opportunities in the two districts in the late sixties 'l (22.800/0) in Birbhum. the growth rate in Bankura Or, can this be due, partly at least, to any disinelina­ (16.33 %) fell short of the total growth (22.02%) tion on the part of urbanised population to disclose by 5.69 points. caste identity the newly in these two predominantly urban districts? One important factor that needs It is of significance that tbe rate of growth be mentioned here is the impact of the migration of of the scheduled castes has been higher, often by the Hindus from erstwhile East Pakistan to West considerable margins, than the growth of the total Benia). The proportion of scheduled castes among population in most districts, Darjeeling, Burdwan, the migrants has never been assessed but it must Hooghly, Twentyfour Parganas and Murshidabad have been very high indeed, the final impact being being the exceptions. On the other hand. Calcutta an explo&ive increase in their number~ in North and Howrah saw a decline in their Bengal and in districts like Nadia which have long scheduled caste population by-5.99%) and-O. 74 %) international borders with East Pakistan now BangIa respectively. It is also a significant coincidence Desh. Yet another point that ~ay have to be taken that the scheduled tribes have also recorded negative into consideration is whether caste-consciousness growth in these two districts by as much as 44 % amongst the., scheduled castes had any role behind and 4.44% respectively. the growth of their numbers.

A remarkable feature of the growth of popula­ Rel_ti,e stren&th of scheduled cutes tion in the North Bengal districts is that both the total population and the scheduled castes have grown The population of the. ind ividual Scheduled tremendously in tbe region in the last decade. The Castes is shown in statement IX.6 districtwise. The districts of West Dinajpur, MaIda, Cooch Behar and first 10 numerically strongest Scbeduled Castel and J aIpaiguri registered big gr owth rates as 40.50, 3 1. 98, their comparative strength in 1961 and 1971 are 38.67 and 28.76 per cent respectively in total popu­ shown in Statement IX.7 which is discussed in the lation. Even these high rates were, as already next section. 308

STATEMBNT Dittrlbution of scheduled

No. West Cooch West S). Name of Caste Bengal Darjeeling Jalpaiauri Bebar Dinajpur Maida Murshidabad

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

All Castes 8,816,028 98,277 595,424 665,020 429,578 265.697 357.417 1. Bagdi or Duley 1,291,127 330 3,326 4,689 33,601 1,509 54,558 2. Bahelia 2,189 4 37 8 143 3. Baiti 7,410 2 20 1 550 4. Bantar 637 S. Bauri 624,077 112 18 33 2,159 58 4,962 6. Bediya 7,471 6 31 1,116 8S 187 7. Beldar 1,682 42 20 22 555 510 52 8. Bhogta 333 3 202 2 9. Bhuimati 45,059 361 6,372 2,141 7,759 2,565 2,680 10. Bhuiya 58,453 119 3,453 486 J ,628 3,506 1,169 11. Bhumij 678 56 622 12. Bind 20,772 12 3 652 14,498 2,105 13. Mochi, Muchi, Rabidas, Ruidas or Rishi, Chamar, Charmakar 507,759 2,757 13,205 6,812 17·185 16,447 44,978 14. Chaupal 655 27 J5. Dabgar 93 16. Damai (Nepali) 11,553 8,544 2,624 10 1 17. Doba or Dhobi 19) ,063 1,217 9,297 2,887 2,267 7,695 3,110 18. Doai 4,770 1 61 463 137 19. Dom or Dhan$ad includin, Dhllri or Dharhi 174,367 223 2,995 791 1·466 2,484 7,415 20. Oosadh, Dlisadha 32.072 229 4,081 S9 6,759 6,281 1,566 21. Ghasi 16,494 199 2,729 4,075 52 31 22. Gonrhi 12,1 S3 150 27 5,028 2,617 2,077 23. Halalkhor 479 1 ... 24. Hari 161.357 6,530 1,088 12,907 6,092 8)62 25. Hari. Mehtar or Bhangi 17,470 ... 26. Jalia Kaibartta 204,679 656 19,181 9,770 11,750 11,660 8.348 27. Jhalo·Malo or Malo 89,918 7 5,950 2,919 3,618 86,878 16,638 28. Kadar 7,400 19 3,867 1,447 1 5 29. Kami (Nepali) 31,590 22,015 8,370 45 332 15 143 30. Kandra 42.294 70

31- Kanjar 1,219 ••• t •• 32. Kaora 145,442 2 16 27 41 1 89 33. Karenga or Koranga 12.388 130 t •• 1 34. Kaur 5,841 42 I,St3 1 51 91 79 35. Keot at Keyat 24.397 68 948 236 107 3,9JS 1,689 36. Khaira 63,513 2 7S tll 1~3 1,696 J9 309

lX.6 castet 'n distrlets, 1971

Nadia Twentyfour Howrah Calcutta Hooahly Burdwan Birbhum Bankura Midnaporc PuruJia Parpnas

10 11 12 13 14 IS 16 17 18 19

475,489 1,910,807 297 571 t18967 548,080 959,994 532,697 573.162 747.497 240,351 51,847 165.089 79,341 2,699 247,034 252.045 147,949 114,953 132,157 1, 105 52 IS6 602 5 77 ... 1,373 1,486 649 234 411 799 432 1,221 232 ... 631 2,548 12,129 1.232 594 49,830 166,210 53,042 194·818 15,496 120,836 380 3,688 18 337 10 193 317 489 614

56 139 1 187 15 78 5 126 2,471 3,815 196 388 11 316 5.917 ... 10,067 .1.071 1,800 127 1,036 2,029 16,829 2.388 4.862 17,950

1,210 114 21 658 700 313 30S 124 57

35,9]9 65,178 10,866 33.525 26.329 115.639 67,306 20,939 18.712 11,962 " 628 93 .5 21 67 100 2 179 9,926 36,671 11.503 12,932 6,355 12,943 3,494 9.232 47,677' 13,857 1·404 7 109 38 130 1.912 508

3.105 5,236 1.882 7,526 10,500 41,416 33,811 18,720 . 18,680 18,117 240 3,074 551 2,447 1,135 5,024 23 206 397 14 1,071 352 127 420 15 141 7,268 138 89 45 16. 734 85 522 625 ... 478 2,902 10,695 1,724 1,914 10,738 29,488 23,171 10.715 34,631 ... 17,470 14,380 28.907 13.457 5,657 18,025 17,137 2,174 5,635 37,942 ... "..,. .. 37,500 10,588 85 84 3,334 1,970 336 2 9 ... 985 116 29 ... 45 886 ••• 13 144 1 131 78 . 28~ 1 17 ... 196 6,659 471 57 82 ' 85 6 1 34,707 ... 1,219 659 101.326 15,809 , .321 17,537 1.474 664 1,669 4,807 2,572 2,574 223 .. '4 508 6.370 ... 44 3·276 60 .so 77 . 37 ... '20 ... 903 2,10.2 227 981 594 3,258 4072 2,474 2,823 ... ' ..... 100 412 3 51 7,1.55 8,596 466 41,393 3,281 310

STATEMENT

1 2 3 4 6 7 8

37. Khatik 1.425 8 4 188 120 38. Koch 17,257 551 , 9,572 719 1,587 3,561 39. Konai 59,223 2 12 24 98 31,805 40. Konwar 1,469 3 14 401 35 74 41. Kotal IS,S37 2 19 928 42. Kurariar 164 43. Lalbegi 1,384 44. Lohar 103,033 1,246 13,901 82 3,216 8,871 173 45. Mahar 12,221 136 157 106 3,523 1,368 46. Mal 158.419 10 2,600 562 715 2,191 27,889 47. Mallah 21,596 S6 4,359 205 2,428 4,195 1,324 48. Mehtor 47,005 2,522 3,714 1,536 583 759 3,003 49. Musahar 12.426 23 24 5,106 4,911 924 SO, Nama8udra 980,524 4,710 58,993 67,195 31,600 24,060 25,558 51. Nat 74 22

52. Nuni~a 21,531 199 2,567 449 3,369 6,738 1,805 53. Pallya 100,571 125 9,497 1,791 79,432 9,241 11 54. Pan or Swasi 3,690 2 1,091 6 14 17 5S. Pasi 20,478 5,152 9 1,226 241 51 56. Patni 12,781 23 2.149 427 832 1,354 J,845 57. Pod or Poundra 975.352 7 6 226 1,547 9,634 18,793 58. Rajbanshi 1,353,919 3.1,505 329.191 48,1304 134,976 50,693 38.373 59. Raj war 53,168 2 314 938 575 1,717 2,115 60. Sarki (Nepali) 5,337 3,846 1.003 1 63 11 2 61. Suon (excludina Saba) 166,418 43 2,665 1,079 539 2,359 2,627 62. Tiyar 79,786 64 3,427 380 3,295 20,221 3,982 63. Tori 23.190 242 2.709 234 3,993 4.844 1,194 Unspecified 749,196 15,951 47.440 75,636 38,151 17,206 31,952 311

~6-Concld.

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

, 181 15 556 27 71 254 .. 783 273 41 6S 38 67 ... 64 53 , 104 27,011 44 23 382 3 363 5 166 1,245 602 18 58 238 9,709 827 413 1,478 ••• ...... 164 24 235 16 962 4 14 90 39 2,796 899 262 581 3.151 7,595 6,874 44,635 8,751 338 470 7 133 lOS 1,375 2,200 301 2,002 1,936 4.152 741 727 5.465 7537 71.396 19,370 13,128 1,245 2808 15 351 815 1,916 142 1,650 87 1,489 5,333 2,195 9,996 4,485 3,424 719 2,765 4482 122 70 1 529 1 170 250 13 7 275 233,941 265.811 40,659 10.406 25,071 94,685 12,112 10,843 74,880 ,., ., 52 70S 1,080 159 969 500 2,746 26 218 30 242 7 6 188 1 ... 6 383 251 81 748 5 1,086 ... 287 3,778 1,551 1,696 775 4,726 170 269 311 236 3,042 1,031 16 25 122 126 660 1,]29 8,707 792,158 43,759 3,404 19,712 172 8,964 172 68,091 14,988 119,709 49,912 3,268 13,873 13,287 6,236 177 66,427 7,792 3,752 61 1,32t 688 2,502 439 868 9,191 20,190 12 93 9 233 12 ... 52 1,654 J3,001 4,348 1,857 2,908 29,948 3,8851 53,701 10,838 285 31,572 8,201 145 364 770 369 6,711 ... 230 1,012 78 1.297 917 3,475 2,172 629 1 163 26,421 192,495 3.959 5,907 66,3l5 99,375 5,085 8,806 89,053 25.,444 312

STATEMENT IX. 7 Twent) four Parganas, Howrah and Hooghly and Burdwan, Birbhum, BUIlkura and Midnapore contain First ten lCbedulecl castes of West Benlal, 1961" 1911 among them about 900/0 of the total number of the­ ------:-:-:-:.-:-:-~-=-==,--­ Bagdis. The North Bellgal districts have just a. Name of Scheduled Total Scheduled Casles popuJption Castes sprinkling of the caste, the largest numbers (33,601) 1971 1961 being found in West Dinajpur.

2 3 PaJiya is another major caste which confined ---.------".. _, .... ~ ..... ".,...... ".~-,,~ .... -.~.~ ..... ,.--,~" •. " .. -,.,-...... ,.-.... ,. .._._,---., --"-~".~---. entirely within the districts of North Bengal of which 1. Rajbanshi 1,353,919 1,201,717 0 West Dinajpur alone contain as much as 80 / 0 , 2. Bagdi or Duley 1,291,127 1,096,885 Evidently, Paliyas, like their ethnic brethren, the Raj­ 3, Namasudra 980,524 729,057 banshis or the Kocha are the natives of North Bengal. 4. Pod or Pnunora 975,352 875,525 Pod or Poundras, the fourth biggest scheduled caste are· likewise the natives of Twentyfour Parganas which 5. Mochi, Muchi, Chamar, account for about 80

1911 wbile the latter continue to bolJ the last places. 1951-61, the Namasudras by 124.47%, the Dhobas and Doms have interchanged their 1961 Sunris. by 136.30%) and 'alia·Kaibartt8s 39.38~~. ranking in 1971, the formtr being placed 8th and the latter. 9th. The changes in the ranking take us The two largest castes of Rajbanais and Bagdls, to a consideration of \b\! decadal growth of the on the other hand, have grown relatively slow, during communities. the last decade, the rates being only 12.67 and 17.71 per cent respectively. The growth of the Rajbanshis Decadal arowtb or the major scheduled caste 02.67) has been particularly low, absolutely as well eommunltles as relativc:ly, and is even below the natural growth of population. It is all the more remarkable as the Statement IX.S which presents the growth rates community grew at a tremendous rate of () 18% of the ten major scheduled castes during the last two per annum during the earlier decade J 951-61. It decades will show that the growth has varied widely is a ~ triking coincidence that like the largest of the and in an apparently erratic manner. scheduled castes I namely, the Rajbanshis the largest scheduled tribes that is, the Santals have also STATEMENT X1.8 regi.tered a small increase of 14.1% only during Docada1 growtb of ten scbeduled castel, 1951-1971 the same period. The Bagdis have fared a shade bitter and their growth in 1961 .. 71 (17.71%) just Decadal Decadal fell short of the 1951· (; 1 rate of 21. 14 °/0' The N;;.me of scheduled pe recen tag percentage smaJleat decadal growth among the major scheduled caste growth growth caste communities was recorded by the Pod or 1961-71 1951-61 Poundras ; it was a meagure 11.40% in 1971 which was le!'s than a fourth of the high rate of 47.62% 1 2 3 attained in the earlier decade.

1. Rajbanshi +12'67 +61.80 For reasons already mentioned, the unspecified +17.71 2. Bagdi or Duley +21.14 castes have recorded an increase of 141. 89% during 3. Namasudra +34.49 +124.47 the decennial period which is perhaps a reflection on 4. Pod or Poundra +11.40 +47.62 the quality of enumeration as well. S. Bauri +24.50 N.A. The wide variation in the growth of the ten 6. Mochi. Muchi, Chamar I Channakar, Rabidas or Rishi +28.03 N.A. communities during 1961-7 I as also the divergence 7. Jalla Kaibartta +74.37 +39.38 between the growth rates in the two successjve decades for some of these communities deserve some 8. Dhoba or Dhobi +23.43 N.A. closer examination. The unusually low growth of 9. Dom or Dhangad +14.85 N.A. tbe Poundras, Bagdis or Dorns or Rajbanshis may 10. Sunri excluding Saba +55.72 +136.30 perhaps be due to under-enumeration. It is not 11. Unclassified +141.89 unlikely that many of them failed to declare tbeir caste names and as a result were included in the The scheduled castes have grown 27.95% during category of the "unspecifieo" castes. The explana­ the last decade. As against this not too high rate tion seems pJausible in the back ground of the fact of growth the highest growth recorded for any of the that the inddence of the uns?ecified scheduled castel ten major communities was by the lalia-Kaibarttas has been pretty heavy in the North Bengal districts, (74.37%> which had a high growth rate of 39.38<}'o whicll . happen to be the strong-hold of the in 1951-61 also. The decadal growth has been Raj~nlhj8, and also in Twentyfour Parganas and very big among the SuariR and Namasudras also in Bwdwan etc , which are the areas of concentration 1961"71, the figures being 55.92 and 34.39 per cent of Pods and Bagdis respectively. If some ·of the respectively. As the statement shows, the growth major .. eastes have grown marginally some others rates of these castes have not been as widely have, 'l'egistered phenomenal increases durin, the diver,ent in 1971 a. they were in the inter-censa) la*t two decades. The Sunris, for example, increaaed period 1951"61. It i. noteworthy, however, that by 136;30% in 1951·61 and again by a huge per­ the three commu,Ditiet grew in aize tremendously in ceDille of 55.72. The ambiauity in tho description 314 of the community due to the redundant qualifying During the inter·censal decade 1961·71 the lex words ·'excluding Saha" in the schedule may have ratio among the scheduled castes WeQt up rrom 916 led to overestimation of their numbers many non .. to 927. The ratio recorded an increase almost the Sunri Sahas (especially among the in-migrants from same magnitude in the total population too as it Eastern Bengal) having perhaps been enumerated as rose from 878 in 1961 to 891 in 1971. This is a Sunris. The N amasudras have likewise recorded Significant development and follows the all India huge increased in 1951-61 to the extent of 124.47% pattern of a gently rising sex ratio. But it is hard and again by 34.49~~ in 1961-71. It is generally to find any ready explanation for the upward mOVe­ known that the Namasudras formed a bulk of the ment, nor can one say for certain what factors may Hindu population in some areas of East Pakistan have brought abou t the differential between the sex now Bangladesh. The presence of sizeable numbers ratios am :>ng tbe total population and the scheduled of the community among the in-migrants from across castes. the international borders may have swelled their strength in West Bengal in the fifties. The same The ratio varies widely among the individual factor have perhaps brought about a further growth castes and the decadal change in it has also been of the community, though of a much lesser order, quite marked in case of some of the major castes in 1961-71 also. It has to be mentioned that while there were just marginal changes in case of Nadia and Twentyfour Parganas as also four of others. The change has been the most pronounced the North Bengal districts, which have all absorbed in the case of the Rajbanshis. Bauries, Mochis and large numbers of the in-migrants from Eastern Sunris which have all recorded big incre~ses in their Bengal, have each a large concentration of the sex ratios during the decade. The biggest increase Namasudras, about 5 lakh of them being counted is registered by the Bauris who have reached a ratio in the first two districts only. of 972 in 1971 against 902 in 1961. The Rajbanshis Sex Rltlo -total populatioD aDd scheduled castes have likewise gained 50 points as their sex ratio Having examined the distribution and relative shot up to 950 in 1971 from 900 in 1961. For the Mochis also the gain in sex ratio was by 47 points strength of the scheduled castes and their decennial growth we may now turn to the important demogra­ as they reached 850 in 1971 against 803 in 1961. phic variable. the sex ratio. The Sunris had a sex ratio of 950 in 1961 which The sex ratio among the scheduled castes was went up to 989 in 1971. The Namasudra, Jalia­ 927 in 1971 which was appreciably higher than the Kaibartta and Dhobi communities, on the other hand, ratio (891) in the total population. Statement IX.9 recorded steep falls in their sex ratios The fall was gives the sex ratio for the ten major scheduled castes the most marked for the J alia-Kaibarttas as the ratio for 1961 and 1971. came down to 889 in 1971 from the high figure of 936 a decade back such big variations, positive STATEMENT JX.9 as well as negative, in the course of a single decade Sex ratio (Femalel per 1000 malea) among scheduled cast~8 are intriguing indeed as one views them against the bjg increase. in population recorded by most of these Name of caltes Sex ratio communities during the same decade. 1971 1961

1 2 3 Among the major castes the Sunris had the Total populatioo 891 878 highest sex ratio of 989. The Bagdis followed them closely with a ratio of 9 8 2. The Bauris are also 927 916 All scheduled ca.tet not far behind with 972 females per 1000 males. Rajbanshi 900 1. 9'0 . The mochis were at the other end of the list with 2. Bagdi or Duley 982 967 the lowest sex ratio of 850. 3. Namasudra 882 91S 4. Podor Poundra 942 921 5. Bauri 972 902 Literacy ••ODI scheduled tastes 6. Mochi. Mucbi, Chamalf, Charmakar, Rabidas. RDidaa or RaJhi 850 803 West Bengal had a total literacy of 33.200;0 only ,. laUa K.aibartta 889 936 8. ,Dhoba or Dhobi 904 922 ... in 1971. But the scbeduled castes had ,a. poorer 9. Dom or Dhallpd 928 902 litera,,), ach,ieyement, only ) 7.80% of them beiq 10. Sunri cxcJudiol Saha 989 950 liter'atc in 1971. A,ain, as with the total popula­ ,Uaspocillecl 917 964 tioll) literacy amoDl the scheduled caltes hu also 315 recorded only a nominal upward movement during STATEMENT 1X.1O-Concld. the last decade. Literacy among the total popula' tion bas gone up from 29.2S'Yo in 1961 to 33.20% 1 2 3 in 19 i 1 which is not a lood performance by any standard. But tho scheduled castes bave put up 13. Myson~ a worse show witb only 17.80% amongst them being 31.52 13.89 literate in 1971 II as against 13. S8 % in 1961. 14. Nagaland 27.40 Evidently, West Bengal can no longer boast of being 15. Orissa 26.18 15.61 one of the most advanced states educationally. Literacy rates in the total population and among the 16. Punjab 33.67 16.12 scheduled castes in the state are just above the All­ 17. Rajasthan 19.07 9.14 India average and cannot be regarded as remarkably high. 18. Sikkim 17.74 17.42 19. Tamil Nadu 39.46 21.82 The statement below which gives the literacy 20. Tripura 30.98 20.5J rates in the total popUlation and among the scheduled castes population in the states of India will indicate 21. Uttar Pradesh 21.70 10.20 clearly that West Bengal is lagging behind many 22. West Bengal 33.20 17.80 other state~ in the field of education of the scheduled castes. Union Territories

1. A ndaman and Nicobar Island. 43.59 .. , STATBMENT IX.tO 2. Arunachal Pradesh 11.29 36.28 Literacy amOftllCheduled castes-·lndla and states 3. Chandigarh 61.56 24.38 (ineJudiaaage group 0-4) 4. Dadra and Nasar Haveti 1497 33.18 5. Delhi 56.61 Percentaae of Percentage of ~. 28.15 literates amona literates among Units 6. Goa, Daman and Diu 44.75 26.14 total popula- soheduled caste lion population 7. Laccadivc, Miuieoy and Amindivi Islands 43.66 1 2 3 8 Pondicherry 46.02 18.70 INDIA 29.45 14.67 States -Includes Mizo district now conatituted as Union Territory of Mizoram. I. Andhra Pradesh 24.57 10.66 2. ASlam- 28.72 25.79 West Bengal occupies the sixth position amon, 3. Bihar 19.94 6.53 the states of India for total'· literacy but ranks only 9th for literacy amongst its scheduled castes even 4. Oujarat 35.79 27.74 stales like Assam, Meghalaya, Himachal Pradesh etc. 5. Haryana 26.89 12.60 which de? not excel in literacy amoq their total 6. Himachal Pradeah 31.96 18.82 population have hilher percent.se of literacy amoD, their ~eduled castel than West Bengal. 7. Jammu and Kashmir 18.58 11.91

8. Ketala 60.42 40.21 TumiD, to the districts of the state, &pin•• 9. Madhya Pradesb 22.14 12.49 widet!,varlatiOft is noticed 80 far as literacy amonpt 10. Maharaahtra 39.18 25.21 .cbtdllltd Castes is concerned. Statement IX.II U. Muipur 32.91 26.44 praent. the literacy of lCGeduled caates aDd the total 12. M..,. 29.49 20.38 population diatrictwile iD l' 71 and 1961. 316

STATEMENT IX. 11 averale in total literacy have the lewest literacy Ul Perceatalt of merates amoDi total POpuJatJOD aDd Kbeduled their scheduled caste populations aliO. In Hooghl y ea.tes by districts -1961 aDd 1971 and Burdwan, however, the situation i, anomalou•. The two districts rank hip in terms of total literacy State/District 1971 1961 1971 1961 but they are among the most backward 10 far as seheduled castes are concerned with such low fipres 1 2 3 4 5 as 13.21% and 11.35% respectively.

WEST BENGAL 33.20 29.28 11.80 13.58 Literacy among the scheduled castea is not only 33.01 28.70 24.11 22.24 Darjecling low in most districts, it has remained" almost 9.77 Jatpaiguri 24.01 19.22 16.86 stationary in a number of them during the last Cooch Bebar 21.92 21.00 18.28 17.18 decade. In Burdwan, for example, the percenta8e West Dinajpur 22.12 17.06 15.91 10.84 of literacy among scheduled castes gained a mete MaIda 17.61 13.79 13.49 10.51 1.58 per cent points although total literacy was up by about 5 per cent points from 1961 to 197 L Murshidabad 19.66 16.03 11.47 8.81 Hooghly is another district where the scheduled caste 31.31 27.25 21.27 16.76 Nadia literacy went up only nominally from 1 1.80<;0 in Twcntyfour Pargan8s 38.45 32.48 26.08 19.01 1961 to 13.21% in 1971. Cooch Behar is yet Howrab 40.59 36.91 25.67 16.22 another district with such nominal increase in Calcutta 60.32 59.29 31.64 26.49 scheduled caste literacy. In the neighbouring district of Jalpaiguri. however, education among the scheduled Hoogbly 38.82 34.65 13.21 11.80 castes appears to have made some spectacu1ar Burdwan 34.36 29.58 ) 1.35 9.77 progress during the sixties as literacy rates went up 26.S7 22.09 10.13 7.32 Blrbhum to 16.860/0 in 1971 from 9.77% in 1961, the Bankura 26.30 23.08 10.09 7.20 decadal gain being as big as 7.09 per cent points. Midnapore 32.87 27.28 19.50 14.90 The district of Howrah has, of course, stolen a march Purulia 21.50 17.79 10.41 7.05 over Cooch Behar as the scheduled caste literacy shot up to 25.67 percent in 1976 from 16.22% in 1961. While literacy among scl1eduled castes is far below The first three places in total literacy are occupied the total literacy in most districts the former is found by Calcutta. Howrah and Twentyfour Parganas, in to have moved up more rapidly than the latter in this order. For literacy among the scheduled castes some districts like Jalpaiguri, Howrah, Twent.yfour also Calcutta heads the list with a rate of 31.64 %; Parganas and Nadia. But in the western part of but the second and third positions are interchanged the state from Burdwan to Purulia, Birbhum, between Twentyfour Parganas (26.08 0/0) and Bankura and Midnapore literacy among the scheduled Howrah (25.67%)' At the bottom of the list is castes has failed to keep pace with the non-too-high Bankura which has a scheduled caste literacy percent­ rates attained by the total population. This points to age of 10.09 only. The districts of Birbhum and the inadequacies of the measures taken so far for the Purulia also no better with literacy rates of 10.13% upliftment of the weaker sections as also to the lack and 10.41% respectively. of enthusiasm among the scheduled caste population about formal education which is, again, due to It is only natural that the position of a metropo­ social and economic backwardness and poverty_ litan city like Calcutta should be different from the other districts in respect of literacy as in many other fields. But even in Calcutta the percentage of Literacy .moDI iDdlvlclual castes literates among the scheduled castes is a modest 31.64 against the total literacy of 60.320/0' It i~ If the rate of literacy is varying from district remarkable that the highest rates of literacy among to district within the state the same is widely diver­ the scheduled castes are observed in the district,s gent amongst the individual castes. The statement which have the highest literacy in the total poPllla­ IX. I 2 shows the literacy among individual castes tion. The western-most districts of Bankura. sex-wise in 1971 and also makes a comparison with Purulia and Birbhum which are well 'beJow the state 1961 for the ten numerically important caste,. 311

STATEMBNT 1X.12

Perc.tap of Ilterat ...... tIae IDI)or IClledultd cut.

Percentaae ot literatea ,.ii' ~~,

Name of castes 1971 1961 Persons Males Female. PeraoDs Males Femal.

._, 1 2 3 <4 5 6 7

All Castes 17.80 25.78 9.18 13.58 21.80 4.61 • 1. Rajbanshi 11.56 25.96 8.72 14.75 24·18 4.27 2. Baldi or Duley JO.79 17.26 4.20 8.74 15.18 2.0' 3. Namasudra 26.86 36.24 16.22 21.02 31.64 9.42 ... Pod or Poundra 27.31 39.99 13.85 21.68 35.31 6.'9 S. Bauri 10.11 15.49 4.58 5.47 9.47 1.04

6. Chamar, Charmakar, Muchi, Mechi, Rabidasf Ruidas. Rishi 12.00 17.13 5.96 8.34 13.2' 2.11 7. Jalia Kaibartta 20.47 28.49 11.45 17.95 25.70 9.67 24.28 33.84 13.69 18.93 28.33 8. Dhoba or Dhobi B.73 9. Dom or Dhangad 9.19 J5.17 4.19 7.06 11.55 2.08

10, Sunri excluding Saha 22.41 31.57 13.14 28.58 42.59 13.84

Among of the major castes literacy is the highest Jiteracy amongst the females of the ten major castel in the Pods (27.31 %), Namasudras (26.860/0) and is extremely poor ranging. between 4.19(~fo (among Dhobas (24.28 %) and compares not too unfavour· the Doms) and 16.22% (among the Namasu. ably with the level of literacy attainfd by the total dras). The only redeeming feature is tbat female population. The Sunris had the highest percentage literacy has gone up quite appreciably among all of literates amongst the scheduled castes in 1961. these major castes during the last decade, througb Not only have they yielded the pride of place to the Jevel of attainment is stiJI very very low. An excep. the Pods in 1971, the literacy amongst them has tion, however, is provided by the Sunris. The Sunrl actually come down from 28.S 8

STATEMBNT IX.13

perc_taae of workers AD aarlcultaral aDd neo ..grleulturalaecton-total populatfoD aad ICbecluled castel, 1971

Workers and (Non-workers Total Scheduled castes populatjon population 1971 1971 ------.. --.-----~.------,,_._------1 2 3

J. Percentage of workers to total persons 27.91 28.76 .; Percentage of cuJtivators to total worken 31.97 33.40

(d) Percentage of workers other than those at (a). (b) and (c) to total workers 38.63 20.38

11. Percentale of non4workers to total persons 72.09 11.24

While the percentage of workers in the total proportion is lower than the aU-India fjgure of 6.94 %. population and that amongst the scheduled caste. are In the smaHer states and union territories like almost tbe same-the proportion amongst the latter Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland. Dadra & was a little hisher by less than a point only-the distri­ NaJar Haveli and Laccadive, Minicoy & Amindivi bution of workers in the agricultural and non-agri­ Islands tbe scheduled tribes constitute the bulk of cultural sectors presents a revealing situation. In the the population: but the bigger states contain lesser, total population 58.42% of the workers are engaged though widely varying proportions of the tribes. in agriculture. As against this, the agri·sector c1aims In Orissa and Madhya Pradesh every fifth person as much as 75.97% of the scheduled castes workers belongs to a scheduled tribe as against one in twenty which points to the extreme dependence of the sche­ in West Bengal. Among the major states witll duled castes on tbe land. Another prominent point is a population of 10 miJIion and above each. Tbe the preponderance of agricultural labourers amongst proportion of scheduled tribes is the highest in the scheduled castes workers, the percentage being Orissa (23.110/0) which is followed by Madhya Pradesh 42.5'7 a8 against the figure of 26.45 only in the total (20.140/0), Gujarat (13.990/0)' Assam (12.84%) population which, again, highlights the poor econo­ and Rajasthan (12.13 %), in this order. At tho mic condition of the scheduled castes. To present it other end of the list are the states of Haryana, in another way, more than one-third of the total asri­ Punjab, Jammu &. Kashmir and Sikkim -wbich do not labourers are scheduled castes though the scheduled have any scheduled tribes at all in their territories. castes constitute only one-fifth of the total popu­ lation. Statement JX.14 shows the first ten states with Scheduled tribes in Welt BeDlal aDd IDdla the largest numbers of the scheduled tribes in 1971. AI already stated, the scheduled tribes constitute It also show. the contribution of the states to the 5.72% of the total population of West Benpl. The total scheduled tribe po~atjon of the country. 319

STATEMBNT. IX.I. STATBMENT IX.1S SeWuled tlibel populatJoa io dJatdctl theit ,ropordoa N.... leal .trenRtb of ICheduJecl tribes .. the .tates, 1971 .act to total population, 1911

Percentalo . distribution Scheduled Perc:entaae of Total District tribe schedulod tribel of, ~cbcduled Unit scheduled Population to total popu- tribe tribes amon. population states lation

1 2 3 1 2 3

100 IN1)IA 38,015,162 WEST BENGAL 2,532,769 5.72 1. Madbya Pradesh 8,387 •..03 22.06 1. Jalpalluri 428,59.5 24.49 2. Orissa 5,071,937 13.34 2. Purulia 313.793 19.58 3. Bihar 4.932,767 12.97 3. DarjceJing 108,586 13.89 4. Gujarat 3,734,422 9.82 4. West Dinajpur 221,317 11.90 S. Rajasthan 3,125,506 8.22 5. Bankura 208,735 10.21 6. Maharashtra 2,954,249 7.77 6. MaIda 130,715 8.11 7. WEST BENGAL 2,532,969 6.66 7. Midllapore 442,963 8.04 8. Assam· 1,919,947 5.05 Birbhum 9. Andhra Pradesh 1.657,657 4.36 8. 125,250 7.05 10. Meghalaya 814.230 2.14 9. Burdwan 228,605 5.84

~~-----.. ,.~~.-.~~, ,. 10. HooShJy 100,084 3.48 • Include~ Mizo diltrict, now consiituted .s Union Territory Twelltyfour PargaDls 137,197 of Mizoram. 11. 1.62 12. Nadia 31,799 1.43

The largest scheduled tribe population (8.4 mil­ t 3. Murshidabad 38,947 1.32 lion) is living in Madhya Prade5h : one out of every 5 scheduled tribe people of the country is to be 14. Coach Behar 10,611 0." found in the state. Next to 'tt:adbya Pradesh come 15. Howrah 3,364 0.14 Orissa with 5 million of the scheduled tribes and 16. Calcutta 2,408 0.08 Bihar with 4.9 million. The three states of Madhya Pradesh, Orissa and Bihar together with West Bengal, Nine out of sixteen districts of West Bengal have parts of which form a sort of "tribal belt", account higher proportions of schecluled tribes in their popu .. for 55. 04 per cent of the totallcheduled tribe popu- lation than the state average. Tho highest percen­ .!' - lation of India. The ten states listed above contain 0 tage is in Jalpaiguri (24.49) while Calcutta is at the 92.41 10 of the scheduled tribes, the remaining end of the list with an insignificant 0.08%. 7.59% being accounted for by the other .tates and union territories. The share of West Benpl is It ii interestinJ that as in case of scheduled 6.66%. castes all the North Bengal districts except Cooch Behar have quite high proportions of scheduled DiltrilMltloD of Ida•• led trib. ,. tile 6trIcti of tribes alio in their population. Only in Cooch Behar West Belapl the tcbeduled tribes constitute an insignificant·. part of the tot8.1population, the percentqe (0.75) beiDa Statement I X.IS .giYeI the di.tribution of the the lo.e!t after Calcutta (0.08) and Howrah (0.14). Icheduled tribes in the districts of West Bengal and On. ttl", pther hand, the proportion of scheduled a110 shows the proportions of IChcduled tribe, to the cas~e. ip ~tbe population of the district is as hip .. total population. The list is in. deIceQdiD, order 47 .O~ ···Per cent. of tb~ percentaae of IchedulecS . tribes in. total pop~. ... latioft. The other area of hiah proportion 01 sc1leduled 320 tribee is tho three western-most districts of Putulia, Midnapore, the second largest district in the state­ Bankura and Midnapore. Along with Birdhum and in terms of area as well as population has the lar­ Bardwan these districts comprise a solid block of gest scheduled tribe population (442,963) for any Jand. all to the west of the Booghly river. Out of district, its share in the total scheduled tribe popu­ • total population of 14,835.244 of these five lation being as big as 17.490/0' Jalpaiguri in the' distrjcts J ,3) 9.346 or 8.89% are members of northern region comes a close second with 4.29- scheduled tribes. lakh scheduled tribes constituting 16.92% of the total number. Culcutta has the smallest numbers. Purulia has a very high proportion (19.5 8 ~~) of of the scheduled people - a negligible figure the scheduled tribes in the total population. The of 2.408 only. Howrah does not fare better and has 3,364- percentage is actually the second higbest among dis­ persons only belonging to the schduled tribes. tricts. In Bankurs also the scheduled tribes consti­ % tute a good proportion (10.28 ) of the total popu­ lation. The proportions are below 10% each in The statement also brings out two distinct areas. the three other districts but in terms of absolute of concenttation of the scheduled tribes in the state­ numbers they are ahead of many of the districts. one in North Bengal and the other in the Wester'! part. Statement IX.16 sbows the districtwise distribu· tion of the scheduled tribes in terms of percentage of the total scheduled tribes in tbe state and will Not only is the percentage of scheduled tribes to bring to notice a few more salient features which will the total population quite high in the. North Ben­ engage the attention of all discerning readers. gal districts barring Cooch Behar the entire northern region has large numerical strengh of the scheduled STATEMENT IX.16 tribes, accounting for more than 35 per cent of the PereeDtap distribution of t lie scheduled tribes among the total scheduled tribes population of the state. dJstricts of West Bengal

Percentago Porcentago The three western districts of Bankura, Midna­ Unit distribution distribution pore and Purulia again contain among them more of scheduled of scheduled tribes-1971 tribes 1961 than 37 per cent of the total scheduled tribes popu­ lation. The sbare of the block of the 5 western dis­ 1 2 3 tricts, namely, Bankura, Purulia, Midnapore, Birbhum WEST BENGAL 100 100 and Burdwan comes to more than 50 per cent of the 1. Midnaporc 17.49 16.05 state total of scheduled tribes. The remaining 150/0 or 80 of the scheduled tribes are distributed over 2. IaJpaiauri 16.92 17.27 the six districts of the Gangetic plains. 3. Purulia 12.39 12.80 4. Burdwan 9.02 8.77 The peculiar spatial distribution may by ascribed S. Weat Dinajpur 8.74 8.28 to historical and geographical factors. The western 6. Bankura 8.24 8.44 tract comprising the three districts of Bankura, 7. Twentyfour Parganas 5.42 5.81 Purulia and Midnapore are contiguous to the Chbo· 8. Maida 5.16 4.84 tanagpur hills areas and forms an extension of the 9. Birbhum 4.94 S.20 tribal belt extending over the three states of Orissa, Bihar and eastern Madhya Pradesh. The eastward 10. Darjeclin. 4.29 4.70 movement of the tribaJs is but recent in history and It. Hooghly 3.95 4.39 has to be taken note of in this connection. Another 12. Murshidabad J.54 1.53 noteworthy fact is the industrial and mining acti­ 13. Nadia 1.25 1.07 vities in the districts of Burdwan and the employ­ 14. Cooch Behar 0.42 0.43 ment opportunities they offered to new settlers. So IS. Howrah 0.13 0.30 for as the northern disttict& are concemed, thb tet. tJement of the tribal. in and around the tea planta­ 16. Calcutta O.l() 0.12 - tiODS of Darj~elin. and Jalpai.uri ill the closing 321 decade. of the la8t century is only too recent and happen to be amon, the bipest in tbe state-16.05% well known to need aoy elabora ion. StiH one in police station Dlrjee1iol, 15.13 CYo in police sta­ more important fact which has left its impact on tion Kalimpong and S. 00% in police station the demographic picture of the area is the existence Kurseong. Only in the Jamuria, police station of the international boundal y with Eastern Pakistan in the colliary belt of Burdwan is the (now Bangladesh) all along the North Bengal ~is~ proportion of the scheduled tribes in the urban tricts. As is well known. the influx of displaced population dOlle to Darjeeling's. But there, too, the persons has played a crucial role in the growth of absolute number is only 855 although the percentage population of West Bengal since the partition of comes to 8.88. In the plain subdivision of Siliguri, Bengal. Migration of the scheduled cast~s and sche­ however. the scheduled tribe population is entirely duled tribes to North Bengal districts from across the rural. The up-and·coming town of Siliguri has only borders has swelled the general population as weII 116 persons belonging to the scheduled trit es altho­ as the numbers of the scheduled tribes and scheduled ugh in the rural areas of all tbe four police stations castes. But the exact extent of its influence on the of the subdivision the proportions of the sch(duled growth of the population is yet to be studied. tribes exceed 250/0' Coming to the neigbbouring district of Jalpaiguri which has the highest percentrgc Distribution of scheduled tribes in police stations of scheduled tribes in the total population and the second largest of their numbers the picture is found Statement lX.4 gives the distribution of the to be different. There all the tribals are living in scheduled tribes by police stations and also shows the rural area~ and only sprinkinJ8 of them in the the rural-urban break·up. The proportions of the towns The largest number of scheduled tribes in scheduled tribes to the total population have also the urban sector of any police station in the district been shown in the statement. is only 366 in Mal whereas in the rural part of the same police station the scheduled tribes count as The scheduled tribe population is almost entireJy many as 69,201. rural tlJroughout the state with only an infinitesimal fraction of them living in the urban areas. The The distribution of the scheduled tribes in the rural-urban distribution of the scheduled tribes is rural and urban sectors is almost similar to that of the same everywhere irrespective of their numerical the other weaker section ,of the community, the sche­ strength or proportion to total population or the duled castes. The very low and insignificant propor­ degree of urbanisation in any particular arta. Even in tions of the scheduled tribes in the urban popula­ districts like Midnapore, Jalpaiguri and Purulia etc. tion .. are also due to the same economic social and where the ~cheduled tribes are concentrated in huge cultural factors as have kept the scheduled ca~te8 numbers and constitute good proportions of the away from the towns. ' total population just a handful of them are to be bound in the towns., It is only in Darjeeling As StAtement IX.4 indicates, the distribution of that sizeable numbers of the tribes may be the scheduled tribes among the police stations in the met with in the ur~an areas too. Police districts is, by and large, extremely uneven. The station Darjeeling has the largest scheduled tribe scheduled tribes are found to be concentrated only population (6,883) in its urban areas (i.e, in in a few of the police stations in each district with Darjeeling town) for any police statj('D in t~e state. the solitaf'Y exceptiQD of ·''JaJpaiguri. All but 4 of In terms 'of proportion of sc~.('duJed tribes to the the 13 police stations of Jalpaiguri have 20% or total population also the police station leads the more each of scheduled tribes in their populations. 0 others with a figure of 16.0S ;{. It is also noteworthy Between them the nine police stations account for, that Darjeeling is the only police station in the 90 , per Ctnt of the total scheduled tribes of the dis­ state where the scheduled tribes in the urban areas triet~ 'In no other region in the state is the tcheduled exceed their numbers in the rural areas. There were tribe population so evenly distributed. Even in dis­ 6,883 of them in the urban area. of the police tlicts like Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura which station as apinst 9 J 7 only in the rural areas. 'are .:e

below that lists the police stations which have large 60 % of them are concentrated in eight police stati01ls numerical strength of the scheduled tribes as also only 5 of Jhargram Subdivision and 3 of Sadar. high scheduled tribe proportions of 25~~ or more in In Purulia also the distribution is uneven amona the total population. the police stations. The neighbouring district of Bankura, too, is no exception, mo.re than 60o/~ of ST ATEME NT IX.l7 th. scheduled tribe population being confined within _•.. _,.-_._---' ----'------the four police stations of Ranibund, Raipur, Khatra Scheduled Percentage . of Police tribe scheduled tribe and Chhatna. MaIda in North Bengal is another District station population t~ total popula­ district where about 80% of the tribals are concen­ tion trated in only 3 police stations, namely, Gajole, Ba­ Darjeeling Naxalbari 13,286 26.15 mango)a and Habibpur. Such patterns of distribu­ tion are the outcome of a historical process spread Phensidewa 21.228 29.53 over a few hundred years and have come to be part 30.36 Kharibari 13,579 of the demographic structure of the state. There JaJpaiguri Mal 69,567 41.87 has not been any change in a big way in the recent past, nor is there any likelihood of any big distur­ Mitiale 32,667 53.51 bance of the pattern in the foreseeable future. Nagrakata 33,752 51.14 Birpara 24,560 42.39 Katchini 62,052 46.15 The highest proportion of scheduled tribes in the total population in any district is, as already, Kumargoan 37,186 38.25 discussed, 24.49 ~.~ in Jalpaiguri. There are, three Madarihat 16,309 38.10 pol ice stations, however, in which the scheduled tribes constitute a majority in the popUlation. There West Dinajpur Tapan 31,308 25.75 are Mitiali (53.51 %) and Nagrakata (51.14o!~,) in Maida Gajole 40.987 28.58 JaJpaiguri and Banduan (51.86 in Midnapore Hura 22,550 26.89 and Kashipur (30,270;24.38%) in Purulia are some of them. It is worthwhile to mention bere Manbazar 46.483 32.42 that the police stations of Bankura, Midnapore and Bantillan 29.533 51.86 Purulia enumerated above form an almost compact block of land with an undulating terrain intersper­ In Midnapore which has the largest numerical sed with forests and hills and hillocks and is an strength of the scheduled tribes (442,963) about extension of the tribal belt to the west. 323

3'S tribes of the schedule "',ere enumerated in Jalpaiguri is mainly due to the tea gardens where J~971 in West Benlal. The numerical ~trength of they have settled in large numbers for generations. ,the tribes in the districts are shown in Statement For the same reason there is a sizeable number of IX. IS. the two .tribes in Darjeeling also. But unlike the Oraons who are confined mostly jn North Benga], The Santals are the most populous of the scheduled the Mundas have settled in the western districts also tribes in the state. numbering as many as 1,376,980 in not too small numbers, especialJy in Puru1;a and which constitute a little mOre than 56 % of all M idnapore. Among the major tribes the KOI as scheduled tribes. The second Jarge&l comm~nity are Lodbas and Mahalis (47,247) the Oraons who are just a fifth of the Santals in (93,5~6), (45,906) arc also dIspersed throughout the state. Distinct areas number. Bhumij is the only other tribe with a popu­ lation of more than a lakh. The unspecified tribes of concentration may nevertheless be demarcated aJso number more than a lakh, the exact figure being for them. Thus Midnapore in the western tract and Jalpaiguri in the Northern region are two districts 184,586 which is about7~!o of the total scheduled tribe population. Birjia is the smallest schedu'ed tribe arc the main habitats oft he Lodhasl accounting for with a llumencal strength of only 16 who were all about 70(jlo of their total number. Half of the Mahalis reside in Jalpaiguri alone and another 15°/ counted in the district of West Dinajpur Gond (46), - h /0 also found in West Dinajpur only and Karmali (94), m t e two northern districts of West Dinajpur and Maida. 1 he Koras have their main concentration found in West Dinajpur and PuruJia, are 1he two other 0 tribes with a population of less than a hundred tach. (about 70 / 0 ) in the five western districts although All these three minor tribes arc, of course, scheduled the three northern districts of Jalpaiguri, West for the territories transferred from Bihar which are Dinajpur and MaIda also contain about a fifth of forming part of West Dinajpur and the district of their number. The other major tribe with a Purulia. population of one Jakh plus. namely, Bhumjj, bas hung on to their original homes in the three western The Santals have spread over aU the districts mo!'t districts of Bankura. M idnapore and Purulia in large numbers except in Calcutta and the neigh. which still account for about four-fifths of the tribe, bouring district of Howrah and, of course, Cooch the other fifth having spread to the plantations of Behar. It is, however, in the five Western districts Jalpaiguri and the abads of Twentyfour Parganas. of Burdwan, Birbhum, PUfulia, Dankura and Midnapore that the largest concentration of the tribe Just like the Rajbanshis and Paliyas among the is found, each having more than a lakh of them. scheduled castes some of the tribes are distinctly Midnapore has the biggest number of Santals for any native to the North Bengal region. They are mostly district (286.010) and accounts foi about a fiftb of the tribes of the Tebeto-mongoloid origin- The the total of the tribe. The five districts toge'iher Bhutias (33,912), for example, are aU confined within contain about 70% of the Santals of the state. The the four coraers of Darjeeling with only about a three North Bengal districts of West Dinajpur tenth of them being counted in the neighbouring (130,473), MaIda (90,285) and Jalpaiguri (71,539) district of Jalpaiguri. The Lepchas (14,568) are the are the other area of their concentration. The other such tribe all but a hundred of whom are Or~ons, the second most numerous of the tribes, found in Darjeeling (13,536) and JaJpaiguri (901). have also spread to all parts of West Bengal. The bulk of them is however, stiB confined within the The north~m distric~, are the stronghold of yet another tribe Mal Pahariya (3),0 J 8), The Mech North Bengal districts of Jall'aiguri, West Dinajpur, MaIda and DarjeeJing, which have, between them, ( 10t862), yet another not too small tribe, are the natives of Jalpaiguri only. about four-fifths of the total number, the district of , Jalpaiguri alone accounting for about three-fifths. A similar pattern is observed in the case of the· , . Apart from the tribes which are scheduled for Mundas also. More than 50% of the Mundas of the whole of the state there are a few tribes which the state are concentrated in the same four districts' are restricted to the districts of West Dinajpur and of North Bengal. Again, the district of Jalpaiguri. .~rulia only as they contain territories transferred has more than 3S % of them. It may be mentionecl from Bihar. Their~wJlumben are small in the state here that the concentration of the two kinddrtd, (or most of their tirethren are living in the neiJh­ tribes of Mundas and Oraons in the district of bourin, state of Bihar. 324

STATEMENT.

Distribution of IdIecbtIetI ,

SI. Name of tribes West Bengal Jalpaiguri No. Darjeelina Cooch Behar West Dinajpur MaIda Murshidabad

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

ALL TRIBES 2.532,969 108,586 428,595 10,611 221.317 130,715 38,947

1. Asur 611 611 2. Bedia 3,339 96 3. Bhumij 169.426 ... 6,181 10 706 142 4. Bhutia (including Sherpa, Toto, Dukpa, 33.912 30,442 3;244 40 7 .5 3 Yolmo, Kagatay, Tibetan 5. Birjia 16 ... 16 6. Chakma 2,927 59 ...... 2,828 7. Chero 175 ... 175 ... R. Chik Baraik 1,627 1,544 83 9. Garo 2,623 203 428 898 117 12 10. Good 46 46 ... tl .. Gorait 481 ... 22 12. Hajong 244 46 47 41 13. Ho 1.036 3 193 5 14. K.armali 94 - 41 15. Kharwar 134 134 16. J(isan 716 713 17. Kora 93.586 6,419 18 4,255 8,378 896 18. Korwa 3,222 2,778 ..,

19. Lepcba 14,568 13,536 901 fI 3 4 20. Lodha, Kheria, Kharia 45,906 1,744 14,120 248 153 1,567 93 21. Lohara or Lohra 2,388 1,257 22. Magh 3,257 41 80 121 ... 4 23. MahaU 47,247 647 24,320 12 4,870 2,757 370 24. Mahli 998 ... 25. Mal Phariya 31,018 2,443 10,SnS 6,435 4,654 3,354 26. Mech 10,862 253 10,387 68 12 ... 27. Mru 836 30 1 ••• ••• 28. Munda 198,701 6,894 71.685 943 19,864 5,264 837 29. Nagesia 2.516 855 1,530 22 ... 30. Oraon 291,173 26.682 159.619 2,514 33,755 10,325 3,371 3\. Parhaiya 1(18 106 ... 32. Rabha 2,466 343 ),891 6 ••• 33. Santai 1,376.0 10,335 71,539 2,880 130,473 90,285 28,220 f· 34. Souri a Paharia ISS I ••• 35. Savar 4,986 ... 501 ••• ... 36. U Dspecifled 184.586 12.149 47,214 1~086 14,420 4.510 1.118

326

latereeD ••1 ,arl.tion during the decade. Midaapore and Purulia are the only districts besides Nadia in which the growth rate During the intercensal decade the population of of the scheduled tribes has exceeded that of the the scheduJed tribes in West Bengal has gone up from general population. In M idnapore the growth or 2,054,08] in 1961 to 2,532,969 in 1971. 1he the scheduled tribes has been as much as 8 per cent increase works out to 23.31 per cent which faUs points above the growth of the total population. short of U e growth of 26.81 per cent in the total The two rates are not, however such divergent in population of the state. The decadal growth of the Purulia, the difference being less than 2 points scbeduled tribes in West Bengal is, however, below only. In all the other districts except Burdwan the aU-IndIa figure of 26.17%. The growth has the scheduled tribes have grown at rates which are been remarkably uneven in the districts, as will be appreciabl} below the rate of increa~e of the total evident from the Statement IX.19 which follows. population. Even in JaJpaiguri which has the highest percentage of the scheduled tribes in the population STATEMENT IX. 19 the growth rate bas been g points lower than that of J)ecadal grol'th rate of total population aDd sc:heduled tribes the general population. In Burdwan, however, the population (1961-71) in the district. total population and the scheduled tribes grew at Decadal growth Decadal growth almost the same rates! 27.04 and 26.90 per cent of total popula- of scheduled respectively. In MaIda also the tot 81 population State/District tion in percent· tribes in per.. ale (1961-1971) centage (1961" and the scheduled tribes registered almost 1971) identical rates of growth, the figures being 31.9S - 1 2 3 per cent and 31.34 per cent respectively.

WEST BENGAL 26.87 23.31 The growth of the scheduled tribes has been par­ DarjeeliDJ 25.16 12.S9 ticularly low in Darjeeling (12.59%). lwentyfour Par· Jalpaiguri 28.76 20.82 ganas (14.95%)' HooghJy (J 1.07%) and Birbbum Coocb Bebar 38.67 20.46 (17.21%)' While in the last named district the West Dioajpur 40.S0 30.07 growth of ~cheduled tribes is not far below that of MaIda 3J.98 31.34 the total population the two rates are wides apart in Murshidabad 28.39 23.83 the ~iltricts of Darjeding, Twentyfour Parganas and Booghly. Much of the relatively high growth of the Nadia 30.14 45.05 total population in the districts is due to in -migration 34.53 Twentyfour Pargaoas 14.98 from beyond the international borders as also from Howrah 18.58 -44.95 outside the districts and the state. Obviously the sche­ Calcutta 7.S7 -4.44 duled tribes were few among such in-migrants. On Hooghly 28.72 -11.07 the contrary, it is not unhkely that a good number Burdwan 27.04 26.90 of the scheduled tribes may have outmigrated from these districts, especially from their urban areas) Birbbum 22.80 17.21 consequent on the decline in industrial and other Bankura 22.02 20.39 employment in the late sixties. the net result has been Midnapore 26.89 34.34 that the scheduled tribes have grown only marginally Purulia 17.86 19.38 while the total population increased quite fast.

While the growth of the scheduled tribes during the decade has been as big as 45.05 per cent in It is also possible that strict adherence to the Nadia, the district of Howrah has registered a nega­ instructions regardinl vague or incomplete returns tive .rowth of an equally big size, -44.95 per cent. of caste/tribe names may have led to some under­ Calcutta is the other district in the state that has enumeration of the scheduled tribes. On the other registered a fall in the scheduled tribe popUlation hand, the fact that there has been a huge increase by-·4.44 per cent.' , in the number of the "unspecified" tribes will imply tbat $uch under-enumeration has been only matlinal. It is inter"tins to Dote that the scheduled tribes il there'· were any at all. A more mcaninaful grew slower than the total population in most districts interpretation w()uld have been possible if the 321-

data on migration were available separately for STATEMENT 1X.20B the scheduled tribes. Ten minor IeHduleci trJbet 'a Welt Bengal ucI their growdl, JJ61.1911' As regards the North Bengal districts, however, it may be noted that while the growth rate of the Name of Population Decadal scheduled tribe pereentqe scheduled tribes -has been relatively low compared 1971 1961 growth to that of the total population growth, which ranges 1961 .. 71 between 20.46 and 31.34 per cent, was quite sizeable. It is only because the total population in 1 2 3 4 the area has registered a big increase ranging from 1. Birjia 16 ... 28.76 per cent in Jalpaiguri to 40.50 per cent in 2. Good 46 735 -93.74 West Dinajpur the growth differential seems to be 3. Karmali 94 1,\)23 pretty large. - 9Q.81 4. Parbaiya 108 487 -77.82 If the growth rate of scheduled tribes population 5. Kharwar 134 1.142 -88.27 in the state showed some regional and other 6. Sauria Paharia 158 28 +464.29 aberrations as stated above, the decadal variation 7. Cbero 175 S59 -68.69 among the individual tribes has not been less 8. HajaDg 244 426 -42.72 interesting. Statements IX.20A and IX.20B show the population of the numerically largest and 9. Gorait 481 425 +13.18 smallest scheduled tribes (ten each) and their growth 10. Asur 611 rates.

The Santals were the most populous tribe in STATEMENT IX.20A West Bengal in 1961 and retained the pride of place Ten major scheduled tribes in Welt Bengal and their in 1971 also. As already indicated they constitute growth rate, 1961·1971 more than half of the total scheduled tribes in 1971. ---_ .. _------The Oraon, Munda, Bhumij and Kora have retained Name of Population Decadal the next 4 positions in this order; the Mahalis have scheduled tribe -1971 ------1961 percentage occupied the 6th place replacing the Lodhas and growth 1961-1971 pushing them down to the seventh place.

.. -' .. --~-~--.-~ ~.~ 1 2 3 4 The major tribes have, no doubt, maintained relative strength over the decade; -----,------,------... ~,~,,-- their numerical 1. Santa} 1,376,980 1,200,019 +14.75 but the rates at which they grew during the decade 2. Oraon 291,173 297,394 -2.09 present, at first sight, a perplexing picture which 3. Munda 198,701 160,245 +24.00 will call for a closer look. It is intriguing that two of the first ten numerically important tribes, namely, 4. Bhumij 169,426 91,289 +85.59 the Oraons and Lepchas have registered a fall in S. Kora 93,586 62,029 +50.87 their numbers by 2.09 per cent and 4.84 per cent 6. Maha.li 47,229 28,233 +67.28 respectively over the decade. Two others, namely, 7. Lodha, Kheria, Kharia 45,906 40,898 -t. ]2.25 the Santals and Lodhas have recorded small increases of 14.79 per cent and 12.25 per cent respectively. 8. Bhutia (including Sherpa, Toto. Dukpa. But the other six major tribes show enormous growth Kaaatay, Yolmo and ranging from 43.73 per cent (Bhutias) to 97.49 Tibetan 33,912 23,595 +43.73 per cent (Mal Pahariyas). 9. Mal Pahuriya 31,018 15,706 +97.49 'Incomplete or vague returns as elaborated in 10. Lepcha 14.568 15,309 -4.84 , ,the first few paragraphs may, at least partly, explain Unspecified 184,586 68,928 +167.80 die (a~l in the numbers of the Oraons and Lcpchas as also the small iocreases recorded by the Santall Uld Lodbu for such retums may have swelled the 328

Jlumber of the unclassifiable tribes at the coat of STATEMENT IX. 21 these communities. But there is hardly any such ready answer or explanation for the explosive Sex r.tlo .•"ODI the ten maJ(jr scheduled tribes Increases recorded by 'he other tribes. It is possible that these tribes were consciously returning Sex ratio Name of scheduled tribes the correct tribe-names at the time of enumeration 1971 1961 and hence the figures correctly reflected their 1 2 3 numbers in 1971. But~ then, the same factor, a consciousness about bibal identity, should have Total population 891 878 resulted in a higher rate of growth among the All Scheduled Tribes 955 969 Santals also. The low growth of 1.4 per cent for 1. Santal 975 981 the Santals and }. 2 per cent for the Lodhas can 2. Oraon 941 903 hardly be said to be the true growth rate of the 3. Munda 906 1041 communities in the perspective of the known data 4. Bhumij 950 942 on fertility and mortality and the absence of any S. Kora 940 923 largescale migration. It is the "unspecified" tribes 6. Mahali 975 1031 which appear to have brought about this incongruous 7. Lodha. Kheria. Kharia 945 1014 situation. 8. Bhutia (including Sherpa, Toto. Dukpa, Kagatey, Yolmo, Tibetan) 974 934 The growth ratel of the minor tribes as shown 9. Mal Paharia 919 850 in Statement IX.20B also make an interesting reading. 10. Lepcha 754 1020 All the minor tribes except Sauria Pahariya and Unspecified 928 10S7 Gorait have registered a steep faU in their numbers. They have 'not certainly been decimated during the last decade as the figures may suggest. As in case Against the uwpard trend in sex-ratio recorded of the major communities the unspecified tribes have by the total popUlation (from 878 to 891) the sex engulfed these minor tribes too leading to the big ratio among the scheduled tribes has come down negative growth for all of them. Birjia and Asur from 969 to 955 during the decade. This is an are two tribes which have figured in the state tables important development. Four of the ten major tribes, for the first time in 1 ~71. While Birjia has a small namely, Munda, MahaH, Lodha and Lepcba had in population of 16 only in the state the Asur are 611 1961 more females than males, the sex ratios being in number. The Sauria Pahariyas are another minor 1041, 1014, 1031 and 1020 respectively. They have tribe which has recorded a big increase in their num­ all now more males than females in their numbers. bers baving grown from 28 in 1961 to 158 in This sudden reversal of the sex ratio and that too by 1971. such big margin is hard to explain and will surely warrant a further !\tudy. In the other major tribes also the males outnumber the females in 1971 as they Sex ratio .moag the ten major tribes did in 1961.

There are 955 females per ),000 maJes in the During the intercensal decade, however, the scheduled tribes population of the state according to Oraons. Bhumijs, Koras, Bhutias and Mal Pahariyas 1971 census as against 891 females per 1,000 males have recorded some increase in the sex ratios, while ,of the total numerically important scheduled tribes the remaining five have registered and fall. The ia presented jn the Statement lX.2 J which also largest increase in the ratio is amongst the Mal Paba­ compare. the 1961 figures with those of 197J. riyas-919in 1971 against 850 in 1961. 129

~iteraey ...DI scheduled trtIttI ST ATEMBNT IX.22 -Coocld. 1 During the last de~e literacy rato in West 2 3 Bengal went up 29.28 1961 to 33.20 per ceillt in per 19. Tamil Nadu 39.46 9.02 cent in 1971 in the tots population. Literacy among. the scheduled tribes has also recorded a small 20. Tripura 30.98 15.03 nominal increase from 6.55 per cent in 1961 to 8.92 21. Vtt ar Pradesh 21.70 14.59 per cent in 1971. The performance lhe state is of 2:. WEST BENGAL 33.20 • ..,2 just above the all-India average (29.45 per cent) for the total population; but in case of the scheduled Union Terrltorlu 1ribes the record of West Bengal is poor indeed com­ 1. Andaman and N icobar Islands 43,S9 17.85 pared to many other states. Statement IX.l2 shows the percentage of literates among the scheduled 2. Arunachal Pradesh ll,29 S.20 tribes in the state and union territories. 3. Chandigarh 61.56 4. Dadra & Nalar Haveli 14,97 890 STATEMENT IX. 22 5. Delhi 56.61 Pucentale of literates in .otal population and scheduled tribes in states and union territories 6. Ooa, Daman & Diu 44.7S 12.73 7. Perce(ttage of p~rcenta.e of Laccadive, Minico)' " Amindivi Islands 43.66 Unit literates in total literates in 41.37 population scheduled tribes 8. Pondicherry 46.02 ...

1 2 3 Literacy among the scheduled tribes of West INDIA 29,45 11 30 Bengal (8.92 per cent) is not only lower than the all­ States India figure, it is in fact one of the lowest in the Andhra Pradesh 24.S7 1. 5.34 country. Only in three of the major states, namely, 2. Assam" 28.72 26.03 Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya pradesh is 3. Bihar 19.94 11.64 the literacy achievement of the scheduled tribes poorer 4. Oujarat 3S.79 1412 than in West Bengal. E,en the small states like 5. Haryana 26.89 Manipur, Tripura and Nagaland etc. have attained 6. Himachal Pradesh 31.96 15.89 a higher rate of literacy than West Bengal. It is a general observation that "literacy among the total 7. Jammu &. Kashmir 18.58 population is higher than among the scbeduled tribes 8. 60.42 25.72 Kerala in all the states. But the divergence between total 9. Madbya Pradesh 22.14 7.62 literacy and scheduled tribes literacy is vory marked JO. Maharashtra 39.18 11.74 in West Bengal. In this respect, of course, West 11. Manipur 32.91 28.71 Bengal has many other states in its company. Even 12. Meghalaya 29 49 26.4S in the advanced state of Kerala where total literacy exceeds 60 per cent the··scheduled tribes are laggiol 13. Mysore 31.52 14.8~ far behind with if rate of 25.72 per cent only. 14. Nagaland 27.40 24.01 Assam is one major state in which the rates of literacy 15. Orissa 26.18 9.46 in the total population (28.72 per cent) and among the'scheduled tribes (26.03 per cent) are almost equal. 16. Punjab 33.67 17. Rajasthan 19.07 6.47 " Statement IX.23 compares the literacy sex-wis'­ among the total and scheduled tribes population il 18. Sikkim 17.74 ... ",tb~ .districts of West Bengal in 1901 and 1971. 330

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- 331

In view of their general backwardness it is no STATBMBNT IX.2"-CoDcI4. wonder that the scheduled tribes should be educa­ tionally backward or literacy among them should be 1 2 3 .. S much lower than among the total population. What is important and worthy of notice is that excepting 5. Burdwan 34.36 5 4.23 J6 in Calcutta literacy among scheduled tribes does not 6. Darjeeling 33.07 6 1'.46 2 stand any comparison at al1 with total literacy in any 7. Midnapore 32.87 7 9.13 9 part of the state, not even in the district's where 8. Nadia 31.31 8 8.1S 10 literacy among the total popUlation is also very low. Even more disconcerting is the fact that the 9. Birbhum 26.57 9 4.49 IS growth of literacy among the tribes has been too 10. Bankura 26.30 10 10.26 6 slow and the gap between total literacy and scheduled 11. JaJpaiguri 24.01 11 10.29 5 tribe literacy . is widening from decade to decade 12. West Dinajpur 22.12 12 J 1.30 4 inspite of all the talks about their upliftment. The scheduled tribes as a whole registered a small 13. Cooch Bchar 21.92 13 9.20 8 increase of 1,37 per cent points only in literacy rate 14. Purulia 21.50 14 ' 9.22 7 during the decennial period in the ~tatc; some of the 15. Murshidbad 19.66 IS 5.22 14 districts present a more dismal picture. An extreme 16. Maida 17.61 16 7.58 12 case is the district of Cooch Behar. This small district ~"" ... -.,_~- .... ~ ...... ~-~.__,...... -- ..... -~--... -,.-----,------with a smaU scheduled tribe population has slided Even in districts like Twentyfour Parganas, Burd­ backward so far as literacy among the scheduled tribes wan, Howrah and Hoogbly which have high literacy is concerned. The percentage of literates among the among the total population compared to other districts, scheduled trihes l'a'l come down from 10.73 in 1961 the scheduled tribes have a very poor literacy rate. In to 9.20 in ) 971 in the district. fact, the district of Burdwan fn which the total Literacy among the scheduled tribes iJali remained literacy is 34.36 per cent has the lowest literacy almost stationary or increased only marginally in the (4.23 per cent only) among its tribals. In Hooghly district of Birbhum. Burdwan, Twentyfour Parganas also a mere 6.29 per cent of the scheduled tribes are and Darjeclin~. The triblls in the first three districts literates against 38.82 per cent in the total have actuaIJy the lowest literacy attainment in the population. state. MaIda, Murshidabad, Purulia and Cooch Behar are the four cducation:llly backward districts in the If the schedu.led tribes, have a poor literacy their state. Literacy among the scheduled tribes in the~e females are in a still more deplorable state. A mere districts is also very low. As the Statement IX.24 3.09 per cent of the scheduled tribes females below will show, there is, however, no correlation­ are literates against 14.49 per cent of their ship between literacy of the total population and that males. Leaving apart Calcutta the highest among the scheduled tribes in these districts except. females literacy among the scheduled tribes is in the district of Darjeeling with a figure of 11.00 per cent. STATEMENT rX.24 The picture is dismal but could not be otherwise. The traditional life style, tlfe occupational bondage, and Percentage of literacy among total p()p1l1atiQn and s~heduled tribes and rank corrdatloo between the total papulation social inhibitions and above a1l, poverty have kept and scheduled tribes, 1971 the tribals in general and the tribal women hi parti .. cular, away from formal education. A break through I)ercentage Rank .. Percentage Rank- of literates ing of literates ing in., tr~bal education, especiaHy amongst the females, Name of district among among .is' an ,up·hill task and only a superlative effort can total popu- scheduled lation tribes .achieve any result.

1 2 3 4 5 Coming to education among the individual tribes it.is se~n that tbe major tribes of the state show 1- Calcutta 60.32 1 49.04 1 hardly any superior achievement. The hills tribes 2. Howrah 4O.S9 2 13.97 3 or _tribal groups of Bhutw and Lepchas are, however, 3. Hooghty 38.82 3 6.29 13 the two exceptions. The Statement IX.2S gives the sex-wise literacy rateSt amona the ten major tribes 4. Twentyfour Paraanas 384S 4 7.60 11 in West Bensal in 1971 and 1961. 33J

STATEMENT 1X.2S

IJt...,. ..elll ten ....r aeWuled tr...

Percentalo of literate. amODa tOIl major scheduled tribes

Name of scheduled tribes ---1971 -- 1961 --- ...... ---~---_'-""~ --...---_ .. _------. --PcnOlls Malel Fema)es Perlons Males Fornale,

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

ALL SCHEDULED TRIBES 8.92 14.49 3.09 6.55 11.20 1.76

1. Santal 7.93 J3.66 2.06 5.56 10.00 1.03 2. Oraon 9.74 14.59 4.58 7.59 11.63 3.11 3. Munda 9.21 13.62 4.35 6.33 11.21 1.64 4. Bhumij 8.86 15.15 2.25 7.36 13 22 1.14

S. ~ora 8.43 13.77 2.75 512 8 93 0.99 6. Mahali 9.52 14.10 4.81 7.90 12.88 3.06 7. Lodha. Kheria, Khatra 6.21 10.38 1.79 5.13 8.41 1.89

8. Bhuti4l iQ<:ludil18 Sberpa. Toto Dukpa, Y01100, Kaptey, Tibetan 23.46 25.52 21.34 25.06 37.21 12.05 9. Mal Pabaria 7.29 10.30 4.02 3.57 5.97 0.73 10. Lepcha 25.90 34.38 14.66 24.66 37.39 12.18

There is hardly any significant variation in the 12.18 per cent of 1961) and in the process kept th literacy perfurmance of these tribes during the last balance in favour of the Lepchas as a community. decade except for the Bhutias. In 1961, tbe Bhutias ," had the highest literacy among all tribes. The Yet another noteworthy feature revealed b: Lepchas have now come up to occupy the first place the above statement is that the Santals, who ar relegating the Bhutias to the second position. While numerically the strongest tribe and are known tl the Lepchas returned a literacy rate of 25.90 per cent be conscious of their ethic identity and vocal abou iu 1971 which i~ just 1 per cent point higher than in their rights, had a very low literacy rate of 7.9, 1961 but compar"s ravour~bly with the total literacy per cent only in 1971. Further, literacy among thei in the state, tbe Bhutias have curiously enouah. re­ women was a poor 2.06 per cent only which wa corded a fall 25.06 per cent in 1961 to 23 4S per just higher than that of the Lodhas (1.79 per cent cent in 1971. This is a unique case of a major who atf' a poorer and comparatively more bacl tribe having a sml\lJer proportion of literates in 1971 ward tribe. compared to 1961. Another remarkable phenomenon is that although the percentage of literacy among the Economic c)assiflcatjoD of the scheduled tribes Bhutias has gone down during the last decade the On the basis of the main activity as returned b females amongst them have recorded a comparatively the respondents 37.56 per cent of the scheduJe high literacy of 21.34 per cent in 197 J against 12.02 tribes are workers and 62.44 cent, non-worke! per cent in 196 1. The males, on the other hand, per according to 1971 ' performed bad'y, having slumped to 25.52 per cent cen~u8. from the high percentage of 37.21 per cent in 1961 , Statement IX.26 classifits the workers amoll The Lepcha males also have now a lower percentage the scheduled tribes into the two main categorle., of literates (34.38 per cent in 1971 against 37.39 aaricultural tUld ,allied workers (a, b & c) and other per cent of 196'1); their females have, however, workers (d) and also makes a comparison with the recorded a slight increase (14.66 per cent aaainst total' populatiOD. 333

STATBM1!NT OC26 ,It is observed that the scheduled tribta have a hisher percODtalc of workers than the total pop.u· Perceo_e of work... aad 1l0000orken "ODI total population and scheduled tribe popul.tion-I971 lation, 37.56 per cent of the scheduled tribes beiDI workers as against 27.91 per cent workers in the Industrial category Total Scheduled total population. Of the scheduled tribe worJren, of workers population tribe population again, more than four· fifths are enl81ed in a.ri.. culture, the percentage being 80.1~; in the total 1 2 3 population the corresponding figure is only ~8.42 per cent. The al1ied industrial category of livestock. I WORKERS 27.91 37.S6 forestry etc. claims 10.88 per cent of the scheduled (a) Cultivator 31.97 31.18 tribes workers. This highlights the predominantly (b) Agricultural labourers 26.46 48.95 rural base of the schedul~d tribes and the extent to (c) Livestock, forestry, fishing, which they are tied to the: land. Another note" Jaunting and plantations, orchards worthy feature of the tribal workers in the aari­ and allied activities 2.94 10.8' cultural sector is the high proportion of aJricu)tural labourers amongst them. In 1971, as mucb as 48.95 (d) Workers other than at (a). (b) & (c) 38.63 8.99 per cent of the workers amoDg the scheduled tribes were agricultural Jabourers which is almost double II NON-WORKER.S a09 62.44 the percentaBc or agricultural labourers amoD, ithe total population.