GENERAL ECONOMIC SURVEY

INTRODUCTION

IN THE CHAPTERS THAT FOLLOW AN ATTEMPT IS MADE TO GIVE A FAIRLY DETAILED ACCOUNT of the main features of economic life in Ratnagiri district. Subjects that have assumed importance in the context of modern development like agriculture, large-scale enterprise, labour and capital relations, transport and communications, trade and commerce, other miscellaneous occupations, and finance, are discussed at length. An attempt is also made to outline the standard of life that is enjoyed by the people in both the rural and urban areas of the district. Economic potentialities of the district in the light of its natural resources and advantages are briefly indicated in the concluding chapter of the section. This chapter would serve as an introduction to the more detailed study which follows in subsequent chapters.

The 1951 census was the first census operation after Independence. An outstanding difference between this census and the previous ones was the shift of emphasis from the earlier classification of population based on religion, castes and communities to functional categories. The total population of Ratnagiri district was 17,11,964 in 1951, as compared to 9,97,090 in 1891 which shows 72 per cent, increase over the period of 70 years. Of this total number, 15,53,858, are the residents of rural areas while 1,58,106 constitute the urban populace. Of the total number of occupied persons, viz. 3,86,451, more than 2,71,000 followed agriculture as then-main occupation. This clearly brings out the predominantly rural pattern of the district economy. Another note-worthy feature having a sociological significance is the numerical superiority of the female over the male population.

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