FACTORS AFFECTING THE SOCIO-ECOMONIC DEVELOPMENT OF DHANGAR COMMUNITY IN AHMEDNAGAR DISTRICT- A GEOGRAPHICAL STUDY A thesis submitted to Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Pune For the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) In Geography Under the Faculty of Moral and Social Sciences Submitted By Popat Sawleram Kudnar Under the Guidance of Dr. Chandrashekhar M. Nikam June, 2016 CERTIFICATE This is to certify that the thesis entitled, Factors affecting the socio-economic development of Dhangar community in Ahmednagar district- A Geographical study. Which is being submitted herewith for the award of the Degree of Vidyavachaspati (Ph.D). in Geography of Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Pune is the result of original research work completed by Mr. Popat Sawleram Kudnar under my supervision and guidance. To the best of my knowledge and belief the work incorporated in this thesis has not formed the basis for the award of any Degree or similar title of this or any other University or examining body. Place: Pune Dr. Chandrashekhar.M. Nikam Date: /06/ 2016 (Research Guide) i DECLARATION I hereby declare that the thesis entitled Factors affecting the socio-economic development of Dhangar community in Ahmednagar district- A Geographical study completed and written by me has not previously formed the basis for the award of any degree or other similar title of this or any other University or examining body. Place: Pune Mr. Popat S. Kudnar Date: /06/2016 (Research Student) ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I express my deep sense of gratitude Dr. Chandrashekhar. M. Nikam, Head Department of Geography, Maharaja Sayajirao Gaikwad Mahavidyalaya, Malegaon, Dist. Nashik, for his valuable guidance., His patient perusal of my work and rich critical insights served as a great source of strength and inspiration for me. I am extremely thankful to him for the time he generously allotted to me. I am especially thankful to Smt. Nilimatai Vansantrao Pawar, Sarchitnis, Maratha Vidya Prasarak Samaj, Nashik, for permitting me to do the doctoral research. My heartfelt thanks go to Principal Dr. M. L. Sali for his constant moral support in this regard. I am indebted to the authorities of Jaykar Library, Savitibai Phule Pune University, Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Pune, Yashvantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University, Nashik, K.R.T. Arts and Commerce College Library, Vani, for providing me primary and secondary sources. I have also been benefited in more than one way from my friends. I must especially be grateful to Dr. Santosh Bhailume, Dr. Changdev Kudnar, Smt. Sunita Kudnar, Dr. Bharat Gadakh, Prof. Shailesh Nikam, Prof Babasaheb Wani, Dr. Vinayak Bhamare, Prof. Smt. Shaswati Nirbhavane for their valuable support throughout my research study. Similarly, I must express thanks to my colleagues Dr. R. D. Gholap, Dr. K. R. Adhav, Dr. Y. M. Salunke, Prof. K. R. Padvi, Prof. D. K. Nikam, Prof. V. B. Boraste, for their timely co-operation and academic support. I must express a deep sense of gratefulness to Smt. Suchita Nikam for her motherly care and hospitality during my visits to Malegaon. I always felt at home being amongst such a compassionate family. I express my immense indebtedness to my parent, Sawaleram and Raubai and brothers Sonyabapu, Bhausaheb and Shankar, who despite of utter iii poverty educated me and without whom I would not have been able to seek this path of progress. Likewise, I am also grateful to my in-laws, Bhaskararo Kalnar, Mirabai, Vinod, Yogesh, Prakash for their timely support. At the last but not least the moral support of my beloved wife Sau. Anita and my sons Abhinav and Yash were equally valuable and encouraging to complete this meticulous work. Popat Sawleram Kudnar iv CONTENTS Chapter No. Title Page No. Certificate i Declaration ii Acknowledgement iii Contents v List of Tables vi List of Figures ix List of Diagram x List of Appendix xiii List of Photographs xiv Abstract xv I Introduction 1 II Geographical Setup of the Study Region 13 III Socio-Economic Profile 32 IV Population of Dhangar Community 63 V Literacy of Dhangar Community 126 VI Village Case Study 147 VII Findings, Suggestion and Conclusion 186 References 197 Bibliography 204 Appendices Photographs V LIST OF TABLES Table No. TITLE Page No. 1.1 Selection method of Sample villages for the study 09 2.1 Average Rainfall of Ahmednagar District for the period of 1990-91 to 25 2012-13 2.2 Distribution of Tehsilwise average Rainfall and Average Rainfall in 2011 27 2.3 Maximum and Minimum Temperature in Ahmednagar District- 2011 29 3.1 Land use pattern in Ahmednagar District. 34 3.2 Length of Roads in Ahmednagar District 2006 and 2012 42 3.3 Tehsilwise Density Distribution 45 3.4 Tehsil wise Density of Ahmednagar District since 1961 to 2011 46 3.5 Tehsilwise Population Distribution in Ahmednagar District 48 3.6 Growth of Population in Ahmednagar District 53 3.7 Decadal Growth in Percentage 54 3.8 Tehsil wise Literacy Distribution in Ahmednagar District 57 3.9 Tehsil wise Sex Ratio in Ahmednagar District. 59 4.1 List of Villages selected for study 69 4.2 Respondents Distribution in percent 72 4.3 Distribution of Respondents by Marriage Age 74 4.4 Distribution of Respondents by Land of ownership 76 4.5 Distribution of Respondents by Types of Agriculture 78 4.6 Distribution of Respondents by Types of Crops 80 4.7 Distribution of Respondents and their family by Age Group 81 4.8 Distribution of Respondents by Family Size 83 4.9 Distribution of Respondents by Family Types 85 4.10 Distribution of Respondents by Types of Houses 86 4.11 Annual Income of Respondents Families 88 4.12 Distribution of Respondents and his/her Family member by Occupation 90 4.13 Landholding of Respondents by Family 97 4.14 Dependency ratio of Respondent 99 4.15 Sex Ratio of Respondents 101 4.16 Distribution of Respondents by number of sheep 103 4.17 Distribution of Respondents by Migration Pattern 105 vi Table No. TITLE Page No. 4.18 Distribution of Respondents by Migration Time 108 4.19 Other community people think about your present occupation 110 4.20 Respondents thought about occupation change in developed better social 112 status 4.21 Respondents Membership of various Organizations 114 4.22 Respondents benefits derive from Grampanchayat Membership 116 4.23 Distribution of Respondents by Decision making process 118 4.24 Participation of other community member in Respondents' program 120 5.1 Respondents Literacy and Total Literacy 129 5.2 Tehsilwise Respondents and their family’s literates, illiterates persons and 130 Literacy 5.3 Tehsil wise comparative study of literacy in study region 133 5.4 Male Respondents and Total Male Literacy in the District 134 5.5 Tehsilwise Male Respondents’ Literacy 135 5.6 Female Respondents and General Female Literacy in the District 136 5.7 Tehsilwise Female Respondents Literacy 137 5.8 Tehsil wise disparities in Male and Female Respondents in Literacy 138 5.9 Correlation Matrix 143 6.1 Data of Shindodi village 150 6.2 Category wise Population distribution in Shindodi Village 154 6.3 Respondents Characteristics of Shindodi Village 156 6.4 Respondents Education 158 6.5 Male and Female Respondents Age composition 161 6.6 Distribution of Respondents by Family Size 162 6.7 Respondents family types 163 6.8 Distribution of Respondents by Types of Houses 164 6.9 Annual Income of Respondents Families 165 6.10 Distribution of Respondents and their Family members by Occupation 166 6.11 Landholding of Respondents by Family 167 6.12 Distribution of Respondents by number of sheep 168 6.13 Distribution of Respondents by Migration Pattern 169 6.14 Distribution of Respondents by Migration Time 170 vii Table No. TITLE Page No. 6.15 Literacy Distribution 172 6.16 Distribution of Age composition 173 6.17 Distribution of Dependency ratio 174 6.18 Distribution of Sex ratio 175 6.19 Distribution of Family Size 176 6.20 Distribution of Types of Family 177 6.21 Distribution of Houses Types 178 6.22 Distribution of Annual Income 179 6.23 Distribution of Occupational Structure 180 6.24 Distribution of Landholding Capacity 181 6.25 Distribution of Number of Sheep 182 6.26 Distribution of Migration Pattern 183 6.27 Distribution of Time of Migration 184 viii LIST OF FIGURES Figure No. TITLE Page No. 2.1 Location Map of Study Region 14 2.2 Relief Map of Ahmednagar District 16 2.3 Drainage Network of Ahmednagar District 21 2.4 Distribution of Soil Types 23 2.5 Rainfall Distribution in Ahmednagar District 26 3.1 Landuse Pattern-Forest 36 3.2 Landuse Pattern- Area not available for Cultivation 37 3.3 Landuse Pattern- Except fallow land area not available for 38 Cultivation. 3.4 Landuse Pattern-Fallow land. 39 3.5 Landuse Pattern-Cultivated land. 40 3.6 Landuse Pattern-Cultivable land. 41 3.7 Transportation in Ahmednagar District. 43 3.8 Population Distribution of Ahmednagar District. 50 3.9 Population Density in Ahmednagar District. 51 3.10 Decadal Growth of Ahmednagar District. 56 4.1 Location of Sample Villages. 71 4.2 Respondents Occupation-Agriculture. 91 4.3 Respondents Occupation-Sheepherding. 92 4.4 Respondents Occupation-Service. 93 4.5 Respondents Occupation-Others. 94 4.6 Flow of Shepherd Migration to other district. 107 5.1 Literacy of Respondents 131 5.2 Respondents Literacy and Disparities of Male and Female. 140 6.1 Case study village-Map 148 ix LIST OF DIAGRAMS Diagram No. TITLE Page No. 2.1 Tehsilwise average Rainfall in 2011 28 2.2 Distribution of Temperature in 2011 29 3.1 Percentage of land use pattern in Ahmednagar District 35 3.2 Length of Roads in 2006 and 2012 in KM 42 3.3 Tehsilwise Population Density