THE PEOPLE

POPULATION

[A part of the material for this chapter has been supplied by Shri T. V. Parvate, Bombay.]

ACCORDING TO 1971 CENSUS, BULDHANA DISTRICT accommodates 1.262,978 persons (m. 646,303; f. 616,675) as spread over its five tahsils. The following table gives the tahsil-wise population of Buldhana district in 1971:—

TABLE No. 1

TAHSIL-WISE POPULATION OF BULDHANA DISTRICT, 1971

The table given above shows that the population of 1,262,978 is spread over the district area of 9,753.9 km³ which works out at about 129 persons to a km². Of this 1,041,170 persons or 82.44 per cent are distributed over the rural area of 9,696.4 km² and the remaining 221,808 or 17.56 per cent over the urban area of 57.5 km². This shows a very low percentage of urbanisation in the district.

Variation in population 1901—1971.—The population of the district and decade variation rates since 1901 are given in the following statement. The figures for the earlier Censuses are however, adjusted to the present boundaries of the district. The statement, therefore, contains comparable figures for a study of growth of population during the last 70 years.

The district population had increased comparatively with a very low rate varying between 4.44 per cent in 1911—21 and 9.01 per cent in 1901—11. It has been so in the neighbouring districts of Nagpur Division also. But there has been a radical change and the population in 1951—61 had increased by 21.78 per cent which is not only the highest rate of growth observed for the district so far but the absolute growth in the decade is also larger than the total growth of population in the earlier 30 years, i.e., from 1921 to 1951. Though the rate of growth of the district population in 1961—71 is slightly lower than in 1951—61, the absolute growth of population in the decade is quite larger.

The high increase in the population during the decades 1951—61 and 1961—71 is the result of control of epidemics and other diseases since 1950. Malaria, which used to be a major public health problem in the district has been controlled by DDT spraying. Campaigns for B. C. G. and vaccination against small-pox also have their share in improving the survival rate. The death rate has thus been reduced and has resulted in higher growth rate although the birth rate may not have increased at all.

The 1951—61 decade variation for the district and each of the tahsils is as follows: —

The net percentage increase since 1901, 1921 and 1961 for the district and the State was as follows:—

Since 1901 the population of the district increased by 104.37 per cent against nearly 160 per cent for Maharashtra. During 1921—1961 the district population increased by 5060 per cent against 89.71 per cent for the State.

Density of population.—The density of population in Maharashtra and Buldhana district in 1961 and 1971 is given below:—

The density of population in the district increased from 187 persons per square mile in 1921 to 281 persons per square mile in 1961. Density in the district and the State was equal in 1901 (i.e. 164). It was higher for the district in 1921 than that of the State (182). The district density has however, heen lower than the State average since 1931.

Density of population in 1971 varies from 112 persons per square km in Mehkar tahsil to 159 persons per square km in Malkapur tahsil. These differences generally correspond to those of topography and land utilisation.

The concentration of population in 1971 is more in Mehkar and Chikhli tahsils. Rural density is higher in Malkapur and Chikhli tahsils while urban density is higher in Khamgaon and Jalgaon tahsils. Malkapur tahsil is known for rich black cotton soil, whereas Chikhli tahsil with medium black soil is well known for wheat crop.

Urban population.—The table overleaf gives the growth and percentage decade variation of urban population in the district since 1901.

The number of towns, the rate of decade variation in urban population and the percentage of urban population to total population at each Census since 1901 in the district and the State are as follows:—

TABLE No. 2

TOWNS CLASSIFIED BY POPULATION IN 1971 WITH VARIATIONS SINCE 1901, BULDHANA DISTRICT.

(M) = Municipality.

The net growth in urban population of the district in 1971 over that of 1901 is 166.23 per cent as against 388.35 per cent for the State.

The district is less urbanised than Maharashtra as a whole. The proportion of urban population decreased both for the district and the State in 1911. Since then it has gradually increased. The number of towns has remained constant at nine since 1901. The redefinition of urban areas in the 1961 Census had no effect on the number of towns in the district, though it made a significant change for the State as a whole.

The 1951—61 growth of urban population has been at a higher rate (22.17 per cent) than the State average. But in 1961—71, growth of urban population of the State has been at a higher rate than the district average.

Khamgaon is the most important commercial centre in the disirict. The population of this town increased by 192.74 per cent in 1971 over 1901 and by 168.97 per cent over 1921. Malkapur is another important commercial centre in the district. Its population increased by 170.56 per cent in 1971 over 1901 and by 137.34 per cent over 1921.

Rural population.— The following table shows, for the district and for each tahsil, the number of inhabited villages and their population for each class of villages:—

TABLE No. 3

VILLAGES CLASSIFIED BY POPULATION IN BULDHANA DISTRICT, 1971

The rates of variation in rural population arid the percentage of rural population to total population of the district and the State since 1901 are as follows:—

The net increase in rural population of the district has been 94.73 per cent in 1971 over that of 1901 and 69.42 per cent over that of 1921. The corresponding figures for the State are 114.54 per cent and 104.21 per cent, respectively.

The rates of variation in rural population have never followed any regular trend. Except for the decade 1901—11 the urban population had grown faster at the expense of rural population. As a result, the rural population increased at a lower rate than the total population. The percentage of rural population gradually decreased for the district since 1911.

Size of villages.—The distribution of population by size of villages for the district and the State in 1971 is as follows:—

Villages with less than 1,000 population are 73.46 per cent of the total number of villages in the district and account for 39.61 per cent of the district rural population. Villages with more than 1,000 population are 26.54 per cent of the total number of villages and account for 60.39 per cent of the district rural population. More than 55 per cent of the rural population of the district is concentrated in villages with population between 500 and 1,999.

The average population per village in 1961 was 722 in the district as against 792 in Maharashtra. An average village in the district thus had a little less population than the average in the State.

The area, number of inhabited villages, total rural population and average number of inhabited villages per tahsil in 1971 are shown below for the State and district separately:—

Migration.— According to 1961 Census []*, out of total population of 1,059,698 (m. 541,026; f. 518,672), 632,875 (m. 397,356; f. 235,519) or 59.81 per cent were enumerated at the places of birth. This percentage for males was 73.54 but for females it was only 45.48. The difference was due to women marrying outside their places of birth. This migration of females on marriage is revealed by a very high proportion of females among those born elsewhere in the district. The females have a preponderance over males even among the migrants from other districts of Maharashtra. The following statement gives proportions of population by places of birth.

Age and Marital Status.—The percentages of population for broad age-groups classified by marital status, as per 1961 Census [197l Census statistics are not available.] are shown in the statement overleaf.

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