Sanjay
Biswas
*Research
scholar, Department of Geography and Applied Geography, University of North
Bengal
Abstract:
Nagrakata is a northern foothill block of Jalpaiguri district adjacent to Bhutan
Himalaya. Dinhata-II is a southern plainly block of Coochbehar district of West Bengal
adjacent to Bangladesh. Both Jalpaiguri and Coochbehar is two neck to neck district of
West Bengal. There is a vast difference of physical factors between two blocks. There are
also some differences in political condition with two different countries. I want to find out
their effects on socio-economic condition of two blocks.
KEYWORDS -
Physical differences, socio-economic effects.
INTRODUCTION
Jalpaiguri and Coochbehar are two northern most district of West Bengal. The Nagrakata block is
situated at northern part of Jalpaiguri District adjacent to Bhutan. Northern parts of Jalpaiguri district are
called Duars major parts of Duars are covered with tea gardens and forest. Nagrakata is also covered with
lots tea garden. Nagrakata is mainly foothill area with gentle slope. Two main rivers of the area are river
Jaldakha at western part and river Daina in the eastern part. NH 34 and a railway line passes through the
area. Some doors of Bhutan are also situated in this area. Dinhata-II block is a southern most block of
Coochbehar district adjacent to Bengladesh. Physically the area is a plain area with lots of agricultural
lands. Some state way and a railway line passes through this area. Both Nagrakata and Dinhata-II blocks are
frontier area of two separate adjecent countries of India. But there is a difference in physical characteristics
of two blocks. Nagrakata is foothill block of Bhutan Himalaya and Dinhata-II is a plain area. Both,
Nagrakata and Dinhata-II are situated in the same climatic condition. Political and physical factors affect on
their socio-economic condition.
METHODOLOGY:
Whole research work mainly based on Secondary and primary data. Secondary data collected
from statistical hand books of both districts. Some sample survey has been done differently in different
places of both blocks. Sample survey of Nagrakata block has been done in November 2011 and at Dinhata
–II in June 2012. Primary data collected through random sampling method. Sample survey is done on 497
populations of 94 families of Nagrakata block and 675 populations of 163 families of Dinhata-II block. To
determine locations of house hold survey area GPS locator software has used.
OBJECTIVES:
There are some objectives associated with this study-
1.To find out the basic differences of socio-economic condition of two study area.
2.To analysis the factors responsible for differences.
3.To know how physical condition effects on socio-economic condition of study area.
4.To know is there any effects of political situation on socio-economic condition.
STUDYAREA:
Nagrakata is a northern foothill block of Jalpaiguri district adjacent to Bhutan Himalaya.
Nagrakata block is located between 26048' to 27000'N parallels of latitude and between 88o48' to 89o00'E
longitude. But house hold survey area of Nagrakata block is situated between 26053'03” to 26053'12”N
latitude and between 88054'34” to 88054'49”E longitude. Main two village of Nagrakata block is Subash
pally and Sulkapara. Dinhata-II is a southern block of Coochbehar district of West Bengal adjacent to
Bangladesh. Dinhata-II block is located between 25057' to 26014'N parallels of latitude and between
89o28' to 89o40'E longitude. House hold survey area of Dinhata-II block is situated between 26007'03” to
26007'14”N latitude and between 89034'32” to 89035'57”E longitude. Main two village of Dinhata-II
block is Kharubhanj and Sahebganj.
DEMOGRAPHIC CONDITION:
Total population of Nagrakata block was 115907 in 2001 with 292 population density. Male
population was 58790 and female population was 57117. Nagrakata covered 3.41 % population of
Jalpaiguri district. Sex ratio of Nagrakata is 971 female/ 1000 male with male-female ratio of 50.72% and
49.28%. Sample survey population was 497 with 262 male and 235 female. Sex ratio was 896 female/ 1000
male. Male- female ratio is 52.71% and 47. 27%. Other hand total population of Dinhata-II was 205546 in
2001 with 832 population density. This block shears 8.29% population of Coochbehar district. Sex ratio of
Dinhata-II is 964 female /1000 male. Male population was 104627 and female population was 100919 with
50.9% and 49.1% respectively. Total sample population was 675. Male population was 359 and female
population was 316 with 53.19% and 46.81% respectively. Sex ratio of this block is 880 female /1000
male.
Sex-Ratio in Nagrakata
Sex-Ratio
in Dinhata-II
Caste
Distribution:
According to district
statistical hand book there are 13777 scheduled castes population found in 2001
census in Nagrakata which is 11.87%. Among them 7021 male population and 6756
female population which is 50.96% and 49.04% respectively. Through sample
survey 98 scheduled caste population found in 497 which is 19.71%. There is
92470 scheduled caste population found in Dinhata-II block in 2001 census which
is 44.99% of blocks among them 47116 male and 45354 female populations with
50.95% and 49.05% respectively. According to sample survey, there is 146
scheduled caste population found in 675 sample population which is
21.63%. Out of 205546
total populations 57325(49.47%) scheduled tribe population belongs in Nagrakata
block. There is 28914 male population and 28411 female population found in ST
population with 50.44% and 49.56% respectively. Other hand 126 scheduled tribe
population found in 497 sample population which is 25.35% of sampled
population. According to 2001 census 896 scheduled tribe population found in
Dinhata-II block which is only 0.44%. There are 473(52.79%) male and
423(47.21%) female population. According to sample survey, only 4 scheduled
tribe population found in 675 which is 0.59%. In district statistical hand book
only SC and ST population shown. If we add SC and ST population then may
calculate the General and OBC population. Through this, there are 44805 general
& OBG population belongs in Nakrakata block in 2001 which is 38.66% of
block’s population. According to sample survey there is 45(48.89%) General
population and 30(6.04%) OBC population in 497 sampled population. In
Dinhata-II block 112180 General and OBC population found in 2001 census which
is 54.58% of block’s population. Through sample survey, there are 173(25.63%)
General population and 352(52.15%) OBC population found in 675 sampled
population.
Religious
status:
According to census
report there is 83.30% Hindus, 10.85% Muslim and 4.34% Christian belongs in
Jalpaiguri district. Through the sample survey we have found 427 Hindus, 11
Muslims and 59 Christians in 497 sample population which is 85.92% Hindus, 2.2%
Muslim and 11.87% Christian in Nagrakata block. Other hand, in Coochbehar
district 75.5% Hindus, 24.24% Muslims and 0.9% Christians belongs. According to
sample survey there is 573 Hindus and 102 Muslim populations found in
Dinhata-II block which is 84.89% and 15.11% respectively.
Educational
status:
To observe about
education status, some secondary data from district statistical hand books and
some primary data collected by house hold survey are used. Following tables
shoes the educational status of both blocks.
Table: 1. Educational
status of Nagrakata Block
Source: District
Statistical Hand Book, Jalpaiguri 2004.
There are 53 primary
schools in Nagrakata block with 12887 students guided by 148 Teachers and 6
high schools, 1 higher secondary school with 5570 student and 1798 student
respectively guided by 78 and 22 teachers. According to sample survey, there
are 199 illiterate people and 298 literate people belong in Nagrakata block.
Among them, 129 is studying or passed primary, 75 M.P. passed, 51 H.S. passed,
37 Graduate passed and 6 post-graduate passed.
There are 168 primary
schools in Dinhata-II block with 28600 students guided by 528 Teacher and 9
high school, 5 higher secondary school with 10906 student and 11172 student
respectively guided by 105 and 94 teacher. According to sample survey, there
are 114 illiterate people and 561 literate people belong in Dinhata-II block.
Among them, 161 is studying or passed primary, 123 eight passed, 153 M.P.
passed, 76 H.S. passed, 36 Graduate passed and 12 post-graduate passed.
Family Size:
There is no available data about family size in
district statistical hand books. To find out family sizes of two blocks,
researcher has done a house hold survey. The data is given below -
Table:
3. Family Size in Nagrakata Block
Source: House hold survey, November 2011.
Table:
4. Family Size in Dinhat-II Block
Source: House hold survey, June 2012.
According to sample survey, there is 17 family
found in Nagrakata block below 3 member, 38 family between 4 to 5 member, 33
family between 6 to 7 member and 6 family found above 8 ,ember. Mean family
size in Nagrakata block is 5.29 members. Through sample survey, there is 45 family found in Nagrakata
block below 3 member, 95 family between 4 to 5 member, 15 family between 6 to 7
member and 8 family found above 8 ,ember. Mean family size in Dinhata-II block
is 4.14 members.
Work
Distribution:
Work distribution
pattern of both Nagrakata and Dinhata-II block is shown through secondary and
primary data. Both secondary and primary data given below-
Table:
5. Work distribution of Nagrakata Block
Source: District Statistical Hand Book, Jalpaiguri
2004.
Table:
6. Work distribution of Dinhata-II Block
Source:
District Statistical Hand Book, Coochbehar 2004.
According to district statistical hand book total
population of Nagrakata block is 115907. Dependent population of this block is
69680 which are 60.1% of total population. Total worker of Nagrakata block is
46227 which are 39.9 % of total population of block. Among total workers 29.5 %
main and 10.4 % marginal worker is found in Nagrakata. In total workers 10.9%
cultivators, 11.8% agricultural labour, 0.8% household industry and 76.5%
others worker is found. Although there is no division in others workers, but their
major part of this is engaged in tea worker in Nagrakata block. Other hand,
total population of Dinhata-II block is 205546. Dependent population of this
block is 105922 which are 51.5% of total population. Total worker of Dinhata-II
block is 99624 which are 48.5 % of total population of block. Among total
workers 31.8 % main and 16.7 % marginal worker is found in Dinhata-II. In total
workers 37.6% cultivators, 39.6% agricultural labour, 4.3% household industry
and 18.5% others worker is found. In Dinhata-II block main occupation is
agriculture sharply found through this table. Physically Dinhata-II block is a
fertile plainly area.
Table:
7. Work distribution of Nagrakata Block
Source: Household survey, November 2011.
Table:
8. Work distribution of Dinhata-II Block
Source: House
hold survey, June 2012.
Per Capita Income:
Lack of
secondary data, income status of both blocks is shown through primary data.
Founded sample survey data is shown by table below-
Table: 9. Monthly income of
Families in Nagrakata
Source: Household survey, November 2011.
Table: 10. Monthly income of
Families in Dinhata-II
Source: House hold survey, June 2012.
According to sample
survey, there are 28 families belongs with monthly income of below 2000 which
is 29.79% of total families. 40 families are found whose monthly income is
between 2000 - 5000 which 42.55% of total families are. 17 families belong with
monthly income of 5000 to 10000. 9 families are found above 10000 monthly
incomes which is 9.57% of total families. Through the sample survey, there are
14 families belongs with monthly income of below 2000 which is 8.59% of total
families. 58 families are found whose monthly income is 2000 to 5000 which
35.58% of total families are. 56 families belong with monthly income of 5000 to
10000. 35 families are found above 10000 monthly incomes which is 21.47% of
total families.
conclusion:
Through this study,
there are lots of some socio-economic differences found. At first, sharp
differences found in population density of both places. It is mainly for their
physical situation. Nagrakata is a foothill block where agricultural land is
not available except tea cultivation. Physically plain area of Dinhata-II
affects on general cultivation and high population density also. Caste
distribution is also affected by physical factors. In Nagrakata block mainly ST
population dominated but in Dinhata-II block SC and OBC population dominated. Distribution
of religion in Nagrakata is vast differ from Dinhata-II block. Mainly Hindus
are majority in both blocks. Some parts of Nagrakata dominated by Christian
population. Because a part of ST population is attractive to Christian
religion. Other hand some parts of Dinhata-II block is Muslim population
dominated. Literacy rate of Dinhata-II is higher than Nagrakata block.
Institution and student- teacher ratio is also better in Dinhata-II block. Differences
found in work distribution patterns also. Mainly Dinhata-II is cultivator and
agricultural labour dominated block where Nagrakata block is Tea labour
dominated area. Through sample survey,
it is not clearly found. Because the places of house hold survey was near a
market area. After all discussion we may said that mainly physical factors of Nagrakata
and Dinhata-II affects on their socio-economic differences.
References
District
Statistical Handbook, West Bengal, 2008, pp. 18-19, 65.
District
Statistical Handbook, Jalpaiguri , 2004,pp. 2-14, 92-105.
District
Statistical Handbook, Coochbehar, 2004, pp. 2-14, 92-105,85-89.
West
Bengal Administrative atlas, Directorate of census operations, west Bengal,
census of india 2001, pp.24-33, 52-71.
Sarkar B.C., 2011: Nature and changes of agricultural practices & production in
Jalpaiguri district, West Bengal, Research Analysis and Evaluation, pp. 77.
Banerjee S.S., Saha M.,
Chakraborty S., Poddar B.C., 2003: Environmental
Hazard of Tea garden belt in Jalpaiguri district, West Bengal.
