CENSUS OF INDIA 1981

SERIES-21

TRIPURA

Part-X C

VILLAGE RE-STUDY MONOGRAPH SURVEY REPORT ON VILLAGE

BIKRAMNAGAR (SEKERKOT)

Drafted and Edited by

P.D.JOSHI Deputy Director of Census Operations, Tripura~ Agartala

FOREWORJ)

The Indian Census has a long tradition of providing population figures separately for rural and urban areas. There has been a growing need for such a dichotomous date especially after independence to formulate different policies and programme for planned development especially in regard to rural areas. There has been, however, a dearth for data relating to the way of life of the rural masses for making cross-cultural and cross regional comp~sons to understand the imbalance in the level of socio-economic development achieved by the people living in Indian villages situated in different geographical areas. To bridge this gap a socio-economic survey of about 500 villages from different parts of the country was taken up for study by the Census organisation in connection with the 1961 Census.

The villages thus studied were selected on purposive sampling basis in order to give representation in the sample to villages with diverse socio-economic characteristics. These included multi-ethnic villages, tribal villages, villages inhabited by potters, fishermen, etc., villages situated near urban centres and those situated in remote areas where people had been living in a state of isolation and continued economic and educational backwardness. It was envisaged that this study would provide bench-mark data on the living conditions of the people inhabiting different geographical areas of the country under diverse socia-economic conditions.

Mter independence, the country pursued the path of planned development for improv­ing the quality of life of her citizens and this transformation was sought to be achieved through the implementation of Five Year Plans. Economic emancipation, the main thrust of Five Year Plans was to be realised by increasing agricultural and industrial outputs as well as by generating more employment opportunities. While enhanced irrigation facilities and improved methods of farming were introduced to boost up agricultural production, generatiQn of employment oPPQrtunities and increase in industrial output were to be realised largely through industrialisation. Besides, a number of other social welfare programme wen~ implemented to' provide additional facilities in the area of education, health. transport and cQmmunication, drinking water and power supply. Of late, family welfare programme was also introduced to check population explosion which had all along been nullifying the results of planned development.

By the time of 1971 Census, it was envisaged that the socio-economic life of the .. peQple especially of villages would show perceptible changes under the impact of Five

Year Plans. It was, therefore, decided to undertake a re-study of some of the villages which had been surveyed in connection with the 1961 Census to understand the manner and direction in which the Indian villages are changing under the influence of different development inputs. The main focus of this study, apart from probing deep into the patterns of change taking place in the life cycle events and economic pursuits, was to question pene­tratingly into matters relating to availability of amenities and services in the villages covered under these studies, attitude and opinion of the villagers in regard to education, health care activities and attitude, awareness and acceptance of family planning methods, in short, the study was aimed at to bring to relief the socia-economic processes taking place in the rural environment under the influence of planned development as well as industrialisation and urbanisation.

if

The villages selected for the study were those which are situated either near to an urban centre or away from any urban centre or those which are located in an already identified dry belt area or in areas covered by lptegr~ted Rural Development Programme and served by minor irrigation projects and rural electrification programme. Some of these criteria for the selection of villages for the study were adopted at the instance of the Planning Commission.

Although 78 villages were initially identified for the re-study, due to certain cons­traint this project could not make much headway. Therefore, it was decided to ~ontinue these studies as an adjunct to the 1981 Census.

The research design, tools for data collection and formats for tabulation of data re­quired for the conduct of the Socio-economic survey of villages taken up in connection with the 1961 Census were framed by Dr. B. K. Roy Burman, who was then heading the Social Studies Division, as Deputy Registrar General. His successor Dr. N. G. Nag, assisted by Dr. K. P. Ittaman, the present Deputy Registrar General, extended technical guidance to the Directorates of Census Operations for undertaking the re-study of the Villages. I take this opportunity to cqngratu late all of. them for organising these studies.

The work relating to the scrutiny of the draft reP9rts re~eived from the Directorate of Census Operations ~nd .communication of cqmments thereon was undertaken by Shri M. K. Jain, Senior Research Officer, Social Studies Division under the guidance of Dr. K. P. lttaman. Shri Jain was assisted in this task by Investigators Shri Sudesh Madan and Smt. V. Khanna. I am thankful to all of ~m. . . ,

The present report is based on a re-study conducted on the village Bikramnagar (Seker­kot) by the Directorate of Census Operations, Ttjpura. I take this opportunity to thank all of my colleagues in the Directorate for the efforts ta~en by them for bringing out this publication.

New Delhi, V. S. VERMA

Dated the 1st of June, 1988. Registrar General, I~di~

PRE"ACE

Socio-economic survey of villages was first taken up as an ancilliary project of 1961 Cens,us with a view to find out an idea of the impact of modern amenities on the social and ecollomic cO:Qditions of the rural people. Accoqlingly, four villages, viz. Sekerkot, Kamalghat, Dwarika Talukdar Para and Rudijala w~r~ studi~d and reports based on such studies were published by this Directorate.

TJ;le$e villages were selected on the basis of following criteria:

I. that the village settled in character, should be of fair size each having 500-700 persons.

II. that the village should have variegated occupations and mixed population and depend mainly on Agriculture.

III. Each village may represent a particular tribe. But the population should be of minimum 400 persons and the location of the villages should be away from the Sub-divisional headquarters and business centres.

After 1981 Census it was decided to conduct re-study of two villages namely Bikram­nagar (Sekerkot) and Fatikchhara (Kamalghat) in order to examine the changes during the last two decades. The programme of re-study of villages was therefore taken up to have a diachronic perspective of the changes taking place in the rural scene of the State and the country. During the last two decades there has been many changes in the jurisdiction of villages in Tripura after the finalisation of the cadestral survey of revenue villages. As a result the then notional village Sekerkot has become merged with the revenue village Bikrapmagar. Problems were therefore faced for identification of the earlier village for the

. purpose of re-study. However, the study has been attemped after getting guidance from social study division of Registrar General Office, New Delhi.

The schedules and tabulation plan were designed by the Social Study Division of the Registrar General India's Office, New Delhi. In -all there were five schedules viz., three household schedules and two village schedules which are given below :

A. Household Schedule:

Type A (i) : Composition and Social Linkage. Type A (ii) : Life Cycle and Material Equipment. Type B (ii) : Economic Life.

B. Village Scheduleg :

Type A

Type B

: Basic Schedules.

: Miscellaneous Special Items.

The schedules were canvassed in 100 households during 1986 in the approximate identical geographical area. However, it is not possible to have strict comparability in regard to growth.

tV

I am grateful to Shri D. K. Choudhury, Assistant Director of this Directorate for his guidance in collecting data. Shri P. K. De, Investigator canvassed the village schedules. My thanks are due to Sarbashri B. Sarkar, T. D. Sarkar, D. Bhattacharjee, R. L. Kundu, Statistical Assistants for canvassing the households schedules and preparation of tables. Shri K. R. Chakraborty, Senior Artist needs appreciation for preparing maps.

I would like to express my deep sense of gratitude to Shri V. S. Verma, Registrar General, India and Dr. K. P. Ittaman, Deputy Registrar General, India (Social Studies) for their constant encouragement for completing the study.

Agartala.

P. D. JOSHI

Deputy Director

VILLAGE AT A GLANCE

(BIKRAM NAGAR)

1. Population (1981 Census)

2. Decennial growth rate of population (1971-81)

3. Number of households

Total 4,605 Males 2,379 Fe1}1ales 2,226

22.~7 per cent

801

4. Number of occupied residential houses 798

5. Area

6. Density of population per Sq. Km.

7. Sex ratio (number of females per 1,000 males)

8. Literacy rate (percentage to total population)

9. Percentage of Scheduled Castes to total population

10. Percentage of Scheduled Tribes to total population

11. Percentage to total population of :

(i) Main workers (ii) Marginal workers

(iii) Non-workers

12. Crops:

(i) Main crops

(ii) Cash crops

13. Forest products collected by the villagers

14. Name and distance of:

(i) State headquarters

(ii) District and Sub-divisional headquart€rs

744.62 hectares

618

936

50.90

26.60

0.80

23.11 0.54

76.35

Paddy

Jute

Firewood, Bamboo

Agartala (13 Kms.)

Sadar (13 Kms.)

(iii) Railway Station

(iv) Nearest town/Police Station! H.Q.

(v) Tehsil

(vi) Community Development Block

15. Other facilities available in the village:

(i) Medical

(ii) Veterinary -. , ;

(iii) Secondary education

(iv) All weather Bus road

(v) Post Office

(vi) Telegraph Office

(vii) Telephone

(viii) Banking

(ix) Primary Agricultural Credit Society

(x) Marketing

vi

Pecharthal (195 Kms.)

Agartala (13 Kms.)

Bikramnagar (Local)

Bishalgarh (7 Kms.)

One Dispensary

One Veterinary Dispensary

One Higher Secondary Scl'idbl

Pucca Road

One

One

One at Post Office

Branch of-(i) Tripura State Cooperative Bank (ii) Tripura Gramin Bank

Ohe

Local market with permanent shops

FOREWARD

PREFACE

CONTENTS

VILLAGE AT A GLANCE-REPORT

• CHAPTER I Introduction

CHAPTER II

CHAPTER III

CHAPTER IV

CHAPTER V

PHOTOGRAPHS

6 Census/90

Social Demography and Vital Statistics

Economy

Social and Cultural Life

Conclusion

Pages

i-ii

iii-iv

v-vi

1-10

11-49

51-73

75-90

91-93

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION:

During the last two decad~s there has been m~ny changes in the jurisdiction of Villages after th~ finahs~­tion of the cadastral survey of revenue villages ill

Tripura.· As a result the then notion.al village :Seker­kot', which was studied as an ancillary proJect of 1961 Census with a view to find out an idea of the impact of modern amenities on the social. and eco­nomic conditions of the rural people of Tnpura, has been merged with revenue village 'Bikramnagar'.

LOCATION:

The village Bikramnagar is situated in Bishalgarh Block under the jurisdiction of Bikramnagar tehsil of Sadar sub~ivision of West Tripura district at a rus­tance of about 13 Kms. towards south from Agartala town, the State capital of Tripura.

The village is connected by a metalled road with Agartala town and is therefore not free from urban influence. The scenic beauty imparts a pleasing ap­pearance from the main road that runs through the village. A rivulet named 'Sanai' having its source in the adjoining hills pas~,es through the village flowing towards the north-west corner which serves the purpose of a canal. It becomes turbulent during heavy rains as is normally the case with all hill rivers. It remains almost dry through out the year except during rainy season and is not navigable even during the rainy season.

The village is famous for its market which is held on every Monday and Friday. Both retail and whole­sale purchasers visit the market for buying vegetables, rice, paddy, jute and firewood. Government offices, viz. Tehsil office, Panchayat office, Post office and Agriculture office, Dispensary and Veterinary centres, Tripura State Co-operative Bank, Tripura Gramin Bank, Co-operative Inspector's office also exist in the

village. There are two Juni?r Basic Schools, one Senior Basic School and one HIgher Secondary School for both boys and girls. All are Ioca.ted wit?in .a maximum distance of 3 Kms. The Pollee Statton IS at 'Amtali' which is about 4 Kms. from the village.

THE TERRAIN, CLIMATE AND RAIN FALL:

The village is situated mostly on a plain land surrounded by hillocks, although !here are some s.mall hillocks (tillas) followed by cultIVated plateau hither and thither. Longa or valley may also seen. The plai;I1 land falls under three different categories viz. high plain land, medium low land and low longa land. The soil is mostly alluvial and congenial for the growth of jackfruit, banana and pineapples which grow· abun­dantly in many part of Tripura. However, the land is enriched with soils of valley type, i.e., clay and loam type. Plain land is fairly fertile and suitable for both Rabi and Kharif crops. On the high plain land the Kharif crops incluce mesta, sesamum etc. and the Rabi crops include mustard, paddy, winter vegetables etc. On the medium low land and low lunga land kharif crops include 'Boro paddy' and a little 'Aman paddy', winter vegetables, mustard and pulses etc. are taken as rabi crops in low lunga land because of heavy rain­fall from the month of May to Octob r on account of south-west monsoon belt which is in favour for its typical characteristics.

The village enjoys a tropical climate and is gene­rail y warm and humid. The climate is woven with three distinct seasons, viz., summer, rains and winter. The high summer temperature is controlled and condi­tioned by the rainfall.

The climatic mean temperature generally ranges between lOoC. and 35°C. The monthwise mean tem­perature as recorded at Agartala is given below with the year of minimum or maximum as the case may be in brackets.

TABLE 1.1

Average montbly temperature during 1971·82 (at Agartala)

1971·77 1978·82

January February Nbrch

April

May June July

August. September

October. November

December

Month

(1)

Minimum

(2)

9.3°C(1975) 11.1°C(1974) 15.4DC(1972)

19.8DC(1971)

22.5'C(1971 ) 23.8°C(1971) 23.7°C(1971)

23.2°C(1971) 23.2°C(1971)

21°C(1977) 15°C(1971)

9.4°C(1971)

The region lies within the south·west monsoon belt and' the rainfall is heavy enough. The rainy season generally starts by about May, but the pre-monsoon thunder showers usually occur from about April with the break of the monsoon. The rainy season continues upto September. The dark clouds spread all over the sky and the grey veil formed by the heavy rainfall cast an amazing spell to an onlooker ano it is the common sight during the rainy season. The average annual rainfall was about 1886 m.m. between the years

TABLE 1.2

----., r-------" ------.., Maximum Minimum Maximum

(3) (4) (5)

27.0°C(1976) 8.0°C(1978) 27.1 °C(1979) 28.8°C(1976) 11SC(1980) 28.0°C(1978) 33.8DC(1975)

& (1977) 16.8°C(1978) 32.9°C(1979)

35.2°C(1973) 21.3°C(1978) 35.6°C(1979) & (1981) & (1985)9)

34.8°C(1972) 22.4°C(1980) 3S.69C(1979) 32.2°C(1975) 24.7'C(l975) 33.1°C(1979) 32.2DC(1973) 25.1°C(1978) 31.9°C(1979)

& (1981) . 32.1°C(1975) 17 .2°C(1980) 32. rC(l979) 32.3°C(1976) 24.4°C(1978) 32.0°C(1981)

& (1977) 31.6°C(1976) 21.1°C(1981) 32.7°C(1971) 30.9°C(1976) 15.8°C(1980) 30.7°C(1979)

26.9°C(19~1 ) & (1981)

10.3°C(1978) 27.4°C(1980) & (1976)

1978-82 against 2268 m.m. in 1971-77, 2284 m.m. in 1961-70 and 2313 m.m· in 1958-67. The year-wise rainfall is as under which shows a decreasing trend of annual rainfall during the years from 1978 to 1982. Still it is a common feature that sudden heavy rainfall causes flood almost every year bringing misery and hardship to the people of the state particularly in the lower reaches of the valleys having the major town­ships ano cultivated areas. Disruption in road com­munication is also common during the rains.

Number of rainy days and total annual'rainfall (in m.m.)

¥ear

--_ .. _-------(1)

1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982

Source: State Report of Agriculture Census (1980·81) of Tripura.

The maximum rainfall is usually recorded during the months of June-July. The highest rainfall in a day during the period from 1971 to 1984 was 232.2

TABLE 1.3

m.m. on the 8th June, 1976. The monthwise average rainfall of the years 1958-67, 1971-77 and of the year 1978-82 is shown in the following table.

Average monthly Rainfall (in m.m.) during 1971.82 (at Agartala)

------------------ -----

Month In 1958-67 average rainfall inm.m.

---- -_- _---

In 1971-77 No. of average

rainy days

In 1971·77 Average rainfall inm.m.

In 1978-82 average rainfalJ

inm.m.

---------- -----(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

January. 13.7 2 2.3 2.9

February. 28.0 5 24.0 16.9

March 74.3 7 37.4 42.0

April 138.4 16 262.7 178.6

May 303.6 21 352.0 359.9

June 458.8 25 461.7 281.8

July 417.9 27 383.9 350.8

August 346.2 27 357.2 314.0

September a 260.3 21 187.0 216.9

October. 227.1 13 137.0 91.1

November 36.2 6 45.5 18.5

December 8.4 16.9 13.0

-------------------Annual 2,312.9 171 2,267.6 1,886.4

An idea of rainfall over a period of time may be obtained from the statistics presented below for Agar~

tala, the nearest station from the village.

TABLE VI'

Rainfall (in-centimetres) at Agartala

Period 1<}79 1980 1981 1982 1983

Rainfall 236.2 161.6 173.3 156.8 262.6

Source: Statistics outline of Tripura: (1983), Government of Tripura.

4

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",I

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~ <') v v V) <')

V)

lrx;

('" V) I~ '" '" v V t- o M 0'1 N N V) ......

10

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.:::: l~ = Q

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r.ol .. 0"11-= N M ~ V)

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00

:! 0\ -..... ;§ 09 .. = 00 N N 0'1 t- ~ .. °a ~ q N

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~ 0

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l~ Z 00 ....; 0\ t- t- \0 "It t- oo Z :i ~ 0'1 00 M - N ..... N

'" .. ... j 0:1

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.. ~ ::I .s .. 0;:: >. .. >. 0 u d 0:1 c:>. 0:1 d '"3 ~

c:>.

8 0 .. ~ ~ ~ < ~ ::I ~ Z ~ .... ....

5

TABLE 1.6

Normal monthly rainfall and number of Rainy days at Agartala (the nearest station from the village) -_

Month

(1)

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

The cold weather usually extends from the begin­ing of November to the end of February. The winter is usually severe and is characterised by heavy fall of due. Due drops obey the rule of gravitation producing a pattering sound which mixed with the shrilling note of night-jhar ane silence of wood create a sylvan sym­phony yet to be composed by human being. Fog is not uncommon, but frost is rare.

--~---.- ----_--

Rainfall Days

(2) (3) ---

7.6 0.7

32.5 1.9

71.6 3.2

189.5 7.8

294.9 11.3

400.6 16.3

304.3 17.0

301.7 17.0

230.9 13.2

151.9 6.2

33.8 1.5

5.1 0.3

The humidity is maximum before and after the winter season which is between 85 to 90 per cent in the month of August-September and December-Janu-ary. It is minimum in April-May. Inter temporal variations in regard to temperature and humidity at Agartala the nearest station from the village may be seen in the following table :

TABLE 1.7

Temperature (In Degree Centigrade) and humidity at Agartala

Temperature

Period

(1)

1978

1979

1980

1981

1982

SOllrce : Statistics outline of Tripura, 1983, Government of Tripura,

Highest

(2)

30.4

40.2

38.5

35.2

37.2

Lowest

(3)

7.9

7.2

6.8

8.3

7.0

Relative humidity

(4)

86.10

76.81

80.59

79.38

79.15

The highest temperature is usually reached in April-May and the lowest in January. The highest temperature so far as recorded at Agartala is 41.1°C on the 25th May, 1962 anc the lowest is 3.9 Q C some­time within the period of 1948-52.

The mean relative humidity for the year generally varies between 0.70 per cent and 0.85 per cent. The maximum humidity is usually in the month of July and the minimum in the month of March. The maxi­mum and minimum mean relative humidity recorded at Agartala arc 0.89 per cent respcctively during thc period from 1978 to 1983 at 08.30 hours.

TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION:

There is no rail line as it exists only upto pecharthal which covers only a tiny part in North District of Tripura State, Public throughfare viz., Agartala-Udaipur-Sabroom road passes from North to South viz., Sekerkot, Charilam, Bi,~hramganj. At Bishramganj another road meets which proceeds to South i.e. Sonamura town. The village is therefore connected by an efficient public transport service with Agartala town. The road is metalled. Passengers are carried by Bus, Jeep, Taxi, etc. It takes half an hour to reach from Agartala town. In the village are mostly kutcha. During rainyseason it is very difficultly to go from one place to another, as they are to walk through mud and water with great troubles to reach the main road in the market.

6

DEMOGRAPHIC TREND:

Sekerkot was studied in 1961 on the basis of notional village having no well defined boundary. At that time it had an area of 424.92 hectares of land under the jurisdiction of Ishanchandrangar tehsil of sadar sub-division. After 1961 Census there were many remarkable changes in the administrative units of Tripura. During the interim period of cadastrally surveyd revenue mouja were clubed by the state machinery. As a result. the then village Sekerkot has been merged wi,th Bikramnagar revenue mouja. Othcr adjaccnt paras i.e. small hamlets outside the then Sekerkot village (Madhyermura­Jangalia, Chhankhola and Purangram) have also been included in the same revenue mouja i.e. Bikramnagar. The whole mouja, now covering an area 'of 744.62 hectares, falls under Bikramnagar tehsil as well as Goa Panchayat. As the area and population of the then village Sekerkot in 1961 study were 424.92 hectares and 1619 respectively, it is not possible to have a strict comparison which may throw same idea regrading the growth between the two surveys.

The following table gives the comparative popula­tion figures and the growth rate during 1961-71 and 1971-81 of village Bikramnagar and the rural areas of the State and the district in which the village Bikramnagar lies.

TABLE 1.8

Growth rate of population during 1961, 1971 and 1981 Censuses

State/District/Village Population Percentage increase

1961 1971 1981 1961-71 1971-81 1961-81

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)

State-Tripura (Rural)

District-West (Rural)

Village-Bikramnagar

1,039,008 1,393,982 1,827,490 34.17 31.10 75.89

62.04

48.07

510,333 682,642 826,964 33.76 21.14

3,110

The population of Bikramngar increased from 3.110 (1619 males and 1491 females) ~n 1961 to 3,748 (1925 males and 1823 females) in 1971 and further increased to 4,605 (2379 males and 2226 females) in 1981. The percentage increase experi­enced by the village during 1961-71 was 20.51. This increase in population was quite low as com­pared to the overall ircrease in the rural population of West Tripura District as well as the State. The

3,748 4,605 20.51 22.87

percentage increase experienced by the village during 1971-81 was 22.87 which was slightly more compared with the previous decade i.e. 1961-71 as well as wj~h the rural population of the West TrJpura District for the period 1971-81. However, the percentage in­crease in popUlation is much low when compared wi,th the rural popUlation of the State for the period 1971-81. If the growth of population is studied for the last 20 years from 1961 to 1981, it is

overall that while the percentage increase for the rural population of State as well as West Tripura District was more than six.ty I"crcent, the percentage for Bikramnagar village was only 48.07 percent. The high rate of growth of population may 'be attributed to heavy influx of people from the erstwhile East Pakistan.

LEVEL OF DEVELOPMENT:

A Samity named Bikramnagar Matsajib~ Samity has been formed by the fisherman of this village in 1980, which consists of President, Secretary and twentysix members, with the objective of storage of dry-fish, catching and selling of fish and making fishnets, etc. It is learnt that 25 Kg. nylon threads have been distributed so far to the members through this society for making fishnets. A godown for the said purpose has been constructed in 1982 in Sekerkot Bazar which has a flood space size 30"x20" with Galvanised Corrupated Iron sheet roofing.

Farmers, fisherman and professional weavers of this village get financial assistance from bank through Gao Panchayat for the purpose of their tools and implements.. Farmers also get both short and long term financial assistance, power subsidy, supply of improved tools and implements through Primary Agricultural Credit Society (PACS). The items prepared by the professional weavers of this village are mainly purchased by the villagers from the local market.

There is no significant industrial development in the area. However, industrial units are mostly con­centrated around Agartala town. The nearest Jute mill is at Hapania. Some saw mills are located at Amtali within a d4stance of 4 Kms. form this Village, The nearest Industrial Training Institute is at Arun­dhatinagar. The village is electrified on the main road and its adjacent areas since 1983. About 116 households have got electricity connections on the date of survey. About two-third area of the village is yet to be electrified.

There does not exist any office of political party. However, the local unit of the then ruling left front CPI (M) organised 'May Day' with the objective Q1

6 Census/90

7

drawing attention towards job opportunity to the local youths. The local 'Youth Congress Committee' also raised their voice to protest against anti-social elements, problem of law and order, terrorist activities in the State, etc. 'Tripura Bandh' was also observed by the then ruling left front on the issue of extending industries and railway lines upto Sabroom.

ETHNIC COMPOSITION AND SETTLEMENT PATTERN:

The village community in village Bikramnagar is multiethnic consisting of nineteen caste/communities according to the survey data. The persons belonging to these castes/communities now profess two religions, namely, Hinduism and Islam. While there are 18 castes among the Hindus, the muslims have only one caste. An important feature of the caste composi­tion in Bikramnagar village is that J alia Kaibarta: followed by Mahishyadas belonging to Scheduled Caste community from the predominant group. In the earlier study 'Laskar' constituted the main bulk of the caste population of the total population and they were considered to be both numerically as well as economically dominant.

A change in this regard observed at the time of re-study is that none of the household was reported to belong to 'Garo Schduled tribe' who were in fact land less people migrated form the hills of Assam, though only one household was reported to belong to this category at the time of earlier study. It is said that there were originally about 140 such households who did not possess any land and they used to live in and around the undulating jungle and hilly tracts of then Sekerkot for 'thurn' cultivation but with the passage of time under the changed situation i.e. prevention of 'jhum' cultivation, not even a single household was reported at the time of re-study. The migration of the then single Garo household may also be attribu­ted to the occurance of a riot between tribes versus non-tribes during 1980's.

As per the survey data, 93% of the surveyed households belonged to Hindu of whom 45 % were 'Scheduled castes', 2 % Scheduled tribs' and remain­ing 53% in 'others' category. Taking the population as a whole, as per survey data 533 out of 564 persons w~re Hindus and 31 persons Were Muslims.

3

8

The number of households belonging to each persons, males and females therein is given in the religion and CastelCommunity and the number of following table :

TABLE 1.9

Number of selected households belonging to each religion and Castel Community and number of persons by sex (1986)

Religion Caste/Community

---._.-_ -----_.-----------_ --

(I) (2) _.------

HINDU

1. Laskar

2. Kayastha

3. Karmakar

4. Ghosh

5. Saha

6. Brahmin

7. Sutradhar

8. Baidya

9. Banik

10. Gowala

11. Acharjee

SCHEDULE CASTE .

12. Jalia Kaibarta

13. Mahisyadas

14. Namasudra

15. Muchi

16. Gur

17. Mali

SCHEDULE TRIBE

18. Munda

19. Seikh MUSLIM --------

TOTAL

It is said that about 100 years ago the village was full of forests and was the abode of wild animals with no communication facilities. Gradually some Muslims from the different places came to the area in quest of cultivable land and ultimately they settled there after

Number Persons Males Females of

households

(3) (4) (5) (6)

93 533 282 251

16 70 42 28

14 71 34 37

2 13 6 7

12 8 4

8 54 27 27

2 10 6 4

6 4 2

11 4 7

2 14 7 7

12 7 5

1

42 271 132 139

19 121 56 65

17 107 57 50

10 3 7

3 18 10 8

5 2 3

10 4 6

2 8 5 3

2 8 S 3

7 31 14 17

100 584 296 288

cleaning forest etc. under tough conditions. Muslims were caled by villagers as 'Seikh' or 'Shaikh' and the ward 'Kot' meaning 'Fort' or 'Area'. Hence the village was called by the name as 'Sekerkot' i.e. the fort of Muslims or Muslim area.

Gradually, the people of other communities also were attracted to the village. Now-a-days, the Mus­lims, who originally settled there, have become in minority and it is predominantly inhabitated by the then East Pakistan refugees, now Bangladesh. It is reported that there are only 42 Muslim families in the village. However, exchange of properties with the Muslim families at the time of settlement were also reported.

The development which has taken place in this area include the establishment of two banks, primary agri­cultural credit society (PACS), dispensary, veterinary centre, Agricultural Sector office, Higher Secondary School, Senior Basic School, supply of drinking water, electricity, irrigational facilities, ecc.

REASON FOR SELECTION:

The village Sekerkot was selected for its socio­economic study in 1961 because that it was an old village, settled in character with mixed population and the vilagers have variegated occupation. Moreover, exis­tence of Post Office, Senior Basic School, Bazar and easy means of transport and communication facilities were also the factors for its selection. Its selection for 1981 study was based on the criterian of nearness from effective urban centre and multiethnic popula­tion with cultivation as the main occupation of the villagers.

RESIDENTIAL PATTERN:

The residential pattern of the village is cluster type viz. Sekerkot uttar-purba para, Sekerkot Tea garden (Malabati tea garden), Sekerkot paschi!ill­dakshin para, Madhyer-Mura, Jangalia, Chhankhola (Rajeswaripur) and Purnagram. The village is boun­deq in the north by Madhuban, in the east by Dakshin Champamura and Kanchanmala, in the west by Pandabpur and in the south by Gakulnagar. The type of houses in each cluster are same wi/th minor distinc­tion in one or two clusters where as few better type of houses are visible belonging to the persons of higher socio-ecomic status· Most of the houses in the village are located on small hillocks. Although some houses are located on plain lands, they are re­ctangular in shape with a courtyard. -

Hindu inhabitants belong to several caste and community groups. Important among them include 'Laskar' who mainly reside in the south western si4e alongwith others. J alia Kaibarta, Mahishyadas and Namasudra reside in the east and western side of the main road. Muslims mostly Uve in Madhyermura­Jangalia. Further they were residing in the central area of the village. Others including Manipuri, Saha, Debnath, Jalia Kai~arta, Namasudra, Kayastha Shil and Muslim, forming as a mixed ethnic group also reside in the central area of the village. However, Munda, Gout, Gar, Goala are mainly concentrated

9

in the tea garden area where they work as tea garden labourers.

Most of the settler in the village are engaged jill agriculture. Some are in business, s~rvice, fishing and daily wage workers. The Brahmm also work as priests-

RELIGIOUS PLACES:

TEMPLE:

Raj Rajeswari Kali Mandir :-It .is sit~ated in the centre of the village. It was established m 1960 and reconstructed in 1985. There is a deity of Goddess Kali in the temple. The physical structure of the temple is rectangular in shape having mud wall and roof of Galvanised Corrugated iron sheet. The floor temple is about 8'X5' and the height is a~out 12 feet. Daily puja is not performed by the prIest.. Only special puja is held once in a year on '~ag~ Amabasya' in the month of January. Durga pUJa J~ also observed in the temple in the month of October. These are performed by the local priest. The templ~ is under the management and control of local coomml~ ttee. At present Shri Rakhal Dey a cultivator of. Kayastha community. is the Secretary and. S~n Jyotindra Das, a cult1lvator of Laskar commuruty IS the President of the committee. There are seven other members in he local committee. Thousands of devotees belonging to different castes congregate dur­ing this festival and offer puja to Goddess Kali. The expenses on t_?e. same are borne through the collec­tion of subscnptIon from the local persons.

Mahadev Mandir :-There is a Mahadev Mandir in the premis.es of tea garden area. It is rectaJ?gul~r in shape havmg thatched wall and roof of l?lam t~n sheet. It is an old temple and was establ!¢>hed 10 1950 by the then tea estate authority. There is a small 'Shivalinga' within the temple. The floor of the temple is about 5'x 4' and the height is about 6 feet. Daily puja is perfornled by an aged female of the locali)ty. Special puja is held once in a year on 'Shivaratri' in the month of February and it is per­formed by the' local priest. The management and control of this temple is governed by the tea estate authority. Hnudreds of devotees assemble there and offer puja to 'Lord Shiva' on this occasion.

Nat Mandir and Jagannath Temple :-There are two 'Natmandir' at Chhankhola where a considerable number of Manipuri comm.unity assemble during evening hours. Both the temples are rectangular in shape covered with sungrass roof. The images of Balaram, Jaganath and Subhadra are placed insi4e these temples. These are made of Neem wood. one of them was established in 1960 and the other in 1985. Most of the Manipuris participate in songs and music with 'KhoI' (Drum) and 'Kartal' (cymbal).

Mosque :-It iii said that there was a mosque with Katcha structure which was constructed in 1900. At present it has no physical structure· The muddy

structure has been completely damaged due to its noo­maintenance. There is a pucca floor near the old mosque of size 2S'x 10'. It is commonly known as 'Idga Maidan'. It is l<x:ated on the eastern side of the maijll road. Many Muslim go there during the morning and evening hours for prayer and namaj.

PUBLIC PLACES:

Post Office, Banks, Primary Agricultural Credit Society, market, dispensary, veterinary center, Higher Secondary School, Junior Basic School, Tehsil Office, Agricultural Sector Office, Panchayat Office are all located at Sekerkot within a distance of 1-2 Kms.

One Senior Basic School is located at purnanagar within a distance of 2-3 Kms. from Sekerkot. The Police station is located within a dist~nce of 4 Kms. from the village.

There is only one temple named 'Raj Rajeswari Kali temple' in the village located in a structure of mud wall with corrugated iron sheet roof and an open compound in front of the temple.

There does not exist any mosque having perma­nent structure. However, an open space on the eastern side of the market known as 'ldga Maidan' is used by the Muslim community for 'Namaj'.

Two cemented small tombs are built up by the Indian soldiers in the memory of those who had lost their lives during the liberation war of Bangladesh. Of these two, one is located at the extreme south of the village near main road and the other is located at Chhankhola.

The market place in the village also serves as cultural and recreational centre. Many of the villagers assemble there in the evening and discuss among themselves various matters viz., political, social, cultural etc. Some of them keep themselves busy in gossiping and playing cards.

There is a cremation ghat for Hindus on the southern bank of the river 'Senai'. The graveyard for Muslims is situated on the eastern side of the main road.

10

FLORA AND FAUNA:

There is no reserved area for forest. Bushes and jungles on tilla: land are cut and used as firewood. Different varieties of bamboo, long grass commonly known as chana grass, jackfruits are mostly found. The common trees which are seen here include mango, black berry, guava, plantain, lichi, neem data, plum, papaya, pine apple, coconut and betel nut.

About 100 years back .the village was. conn~cted with other areas only by hill tracts ~d wild arumaIs were there. But with the fast growmg settlement m that area by cutting jungles and develoPPIent efforts, the risky wild animals have moved from tha~ area. However, only jackles are frequently f?und :m and around the. village. Squirrels, rats, illlce are also seen. Among the birds, ducks and hens are most common. The other birds viz., salik, charai, bulbul, maina, dove, pegeon, kingcr~w, woo~ peekers, machrangi, owl are also seen l~ the villag~ area. Among the. r.eptiles, tortoise,. lIzards . of different varieties. POlSlOnous snakes lIke khana (Kobra) shakhamuti are also seen. The other snakes includ~ Athalkuccha Mova! Dumkhi, Dhanua and Motuh. Different type of fishes viz., R:ohit, Katal, Mrigal, Boal, Soul, Puti, lcha, Singi, Ma¥ur are also found in this area. Among the pet anlIllals, cows, goats, sheeps, dogs and cats are common.

GENERAL FEEL OF THE VILLAGE:

The village is not free from urban influeI?ce as it is very near to Agartala: town, the state capltal ?f Tripura. There is no problem regarding the avail­ability of transport and commuication. Newspapers are available to the villagers. It has market, schools, temple, place for offering 'Namaj' scenetic bea~ty with full of plants and trees, banks, post office, facility for short and long term loan and irrigational facilities. The production of rabi and khariff .crops, vegetab~es and fruits is good enough. The villagers are qUIte aware of the development taking place in and around the village and are politically conscious. The experi· ence shows that not much importance has been give:l for encouraging the industrial development.

CHAPTER II

SOCIAL DEMOGRAPHY AND VITAL STATISTICS: '

Village Bikramnagar is one of the 67 villages (65 inhabitated and 2 uninhabitated) in Bishalgarh Deve­lopment Block of West Tripura district comprising of 278 villages. Its position in the block and rural areas of West Tripura district with reference to distance

ranges from nearest town Agartala, the state capital of Tripura and the size class of population may be seen in Table II.I.

The Table II.t presents the distribution of in­habitated villages in five distance ranges . that fall within the influence of the nearest town, i.e., Agartala.

TABLE·ILI

Distribution of villages by distance ranges from Agartala town in Bishalgarb Development Block and West Trlpura district

Distance rang<'s (in Kms.)

(1)

0- 5 6-10

11-15 16-25 26 & above

Total

·Distance of three villages from Agartala town not available.

Number of villages ~ ~-----

Bishalgarh Block West Tripura

(2)

5 5 3

14 35

62*

district

(3)

9 14 14 26 73

136 ----------- ---------

The distribution of villages according to their size class of population is presented in Table II.2.

TABLE-D. 2

Distribution of villages ill size class of population ill Bisbalgarb Development Block and West Tripura district

Number of villages ~ ....

Size class of population Bishalgarh Block West Tripura district

(1) (2) (3)

Less than 500 2 24

500-999 7 28

1000-1999 14 78

2600-2999 11 47

3000-5000 16 59

5000 and above 15 42

Total: 6S 278

We now ana1yse and compare the social and demographic data relating to village Bikramnagar with that of Bishalgarh Development Block, West Tripura district (Rural), Tripura (Rural) and also the surrounding villages of different sizes that fall within the influence of the nearest town in the block, i.e., Agartala, the state capital of Tripura.

12

HOUSES AND HOUSEHOLDS:

The following table gives the figures of households per 100 houses, population per 100 houses and house­holds in Bikramnagar, the rural areas of the State and the district according to 1981 Census.

TABLE-fl.3

Households per 100 houses, population per 100 houses and household according to 1981 Census

State/District/Village

(1)

State-Tripura (Rural)

District-West (Rural)

Bikramnagar

Households per 100 houses

(2)

101

101

100

Population Population per 100 ! per 100 houses households

(3) (4)

549 543

557 552

577 575

-------_------

The tables reveals that whereas in the rural areas of the State and the district, households outnumber !be residential houses, the village has comfortable_ position by having a separate census house for each household to live in. However, there is more conges~ tion (577 persons per 100 houses) in the village as compared to that in the rural sector of the State (549 persons per 100 houses) and the district (557 persons per 100 houses). The average size of household is

greater in the village (575 persons per 100 house­holds) in comparison to that in the rural sector of the State and the district with 543 and 552 persons per 100 households, respectively.

Table IIA gives the comparative figures of house~ holds per 100 houses, population per 100 houses and households in respect of selected neighbouring villages of Bishalgarh Block.

TABLE-n.4

Households per 100 houses. population per 100 houses and households in respect of selected villages, Bikramnagar and Bisbalgarb Block for 1981 Census

Serial No.

Name of village Distance (in Kms.) from the nearest town (Agartala)

Household per 100 house"

Population per 100 houses

Population per 100 households

--------~--------- --------- -------------------------------------------(1) (2)

1. Pandabpur . 2. Dakshin Champamura 3. Madhuban 4. Gakulnagar 5. Madhupur 6. Kanchanmala . 7. Ishanchandranagar 8. Nehalchandranagar 9. Bishalgarh .

10. Badharghat (Part) 11. Uttar Charilam . 12. Bikramnagar 13. Bishalgarh Block

(3)

25 8 7

15 24 17 9

31 23

5 30 15 20

(4)

100 100 100 100 101 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100

(5)

598 571 544 592 513 608 596 578 555 522 548 577 556

(6)

598 571 541 592 506 608 594 578 554 521 544 575 553

It reveals that like other villages in the block, the village Bikramnagar almost has comfortable position by having a separate census house for each household to live in. However, there _ appears to be more congestion (577 persons per 100 houses) in the village as compared to that of Bishalgarh Block (556). The average size of the household is also more in Bikram­nagar village (575 persons per 100 households) in

13

comparison to the average size of the household in the block (553 persons per 100 households).

The number of household per 100 houses, popula­tion per 100 houses and households in the villages belonging to Bishalgarh block classified by distance ranges from the nearest town, Agartala the state capital of Tripura is presented in Table II.5.

TABLE-n.s

Distance ranges

(1)

0- 5

6-10

11-15

16-25

25 and above

Households per 100 houses. population per 100 houses and households in the Villages classified by distance ranges from Agartala town.

No. of villages

Household per 100

houses

Population per 100 houses

-----------------------(2)

5

5

3

14

35

(3)

101

101

100

101

100

(4)

537

542

571

571

562

-----------All villages (Bishalgarh) 62 101 556

Population per 100 households

(5)

533

539

570

563

561

553

The table reveals that congestion is more in Bikramnagar village compared to the villages falling under the distance range of 11-15 kms. from Agartala town which is also established from the fact that the average size of household in village Bikrarnnagar is

also more compared to the villages falling under distance range of 11-15 kms. from Agartala town.

Table II.6 presents the number of households per 100 houses and households in the villages belonging to Bishalgarh block classified by size class of popula­tion.

TABLE-n.6

Households Per 100 houses, population per 100 houses and households in the villages classified by size class of population

----Size class of population No. of Households Population Population

villages per 100 per 100 per 100 houses houses households

----------- --_ .. _-(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

Less than 500 2 100 5~3 553

500-999 . 7 100 555 555

1000-1999 14 100 570 569

2000-2999 11 100 574 572

3000-4999 16 101 571 564

5000 and above 5 101 544 541

All villages (Bishalgarh Block) 65 101 556 558

The table reveals that congestion is more in Bikramnagar village (577 persons per 100 houses) compared to the villages in the size class of popula­tion 3,000-4,999 where it is 571 persons per 100 houses. The average size of the household, being more in Bikramnagar village 5.75 per person com­pared to other villages 5.64 per person also established confirms the fact of congestion in Bikramnagar village.

DENSITY OF POPULATION:

In the absence of data relating to area of different villages (village being notional) for the period 1961

14

and 1971, it is not possible to have a comparative picture in regard to density of population in the village over three different time period. The table presented below gives the comparative figures of the density of population per square kilometre in the village, the rural areas of the State and the district in which the village Bikramnagar lies according to 1981 Census.

TABLE-D.'

Density of population according to 1981 Census

State/District/Village

(1)

State-Tripura (Rural)

District-West (Rural)

Bikramnagar

It is interesting to see that the village Bikramnagar has very high population de.nsity in comparison to the corresponding rural density of population in the State and the district.

Area Population Density (Sq. Km.) popUlation

per Sq. Km

(2) (3) (4)

1,0431.6 1,827,490 175

3009.4 826,964 275

7.4 4,605 618

Table II.8 shows the density of population per square km. in respect of selected neighbouring villages of Bishalgarh development block :

TABLE-D.S

Density of population in respect of selected villages, Bikramnagar and Bishalgarh Block

Serial Name of Village/Block No.

(I) (2)

1. Pandabpur . 2. Dakshin Champamura 3. Madhuban 4. Gakulnagar 5. Madhupur. 6. Kanchanmala . 7. Ishanchandranagar 8. Nehalchandranagar 9. Bishalgarh. .

10. *Badharghat (Part) II. Uttar ChariJam . 12. Bikramnagar 13. Bishalgarh Block

---------~ ~--.-.. ~.--.

·part included in the Agartala Municipality.

-~.---~-~- ._-

Distance Area of Total Density from the village population nearest (in hectares) (Sq. Km.) town (Agartala) (in Kms.)

(3) (4) (5) (6)

25 904.67 4,233 468 8 819.97 2,324 283 7 1477.35 5,712 387

15 1054.60 4,194 398 24 1050.16 5,773 550 17 716.16 2,257 315 9 612.38 2,704 442

31 1170.02 3,882 332 23 1139.93 14,267 1251

5 1251.21 22.596 1806 30 1970.15 3,678 187 IS 744.62 4,605 618 20 67.043.25 2,49.435 372

.~ --------~.-~-- --_._ .----~ .. ----

The high density of population is specially reflected in villages Badharghat (part) and Bishalgarh (1251 per square Km. ) . Uttar Charilam village occupies the longest area (1970.15 hectares) but less population density (187 per Sq. Km.) when compared with the other villages. The reason for

15

the low rate of density of population may be attributed to large forest area in the aforesaid villages.

The density of popUlation, in the villages belong­ing to Bishalgarh block classified by distance ranges from the nearest town AgartaJa, the state capital of Tripura, is presented in Table II.9.

TABLE·n.9

Density of population in villages classified by distance ranges from Agartala town in Bishalgarh Block

Distance range (in Kms.)

(1)

0-5

6-10

11-15

16-25

25 and above

-----------------All villages (Bishalgarh Block)

The village Bikramnagar is among the three villages in the distance range of 11-15 Kms. from Agartala town. The Table H.9 reveals that the density of population in village Bikramnagar is comparatively be compared to the other two villages of the same

No. of D.;nsity villages (per Sq. Km.)

~------~-

(2) (3)

5 185

5 543

3 463

14 205

35 205

62 372 ----------------------------

distance range which may be attributed to large forest area in this village.

The density of popUlation in the villages belong­ing to Bishalgarh development block classified by size class of population is presented in Table n.IO.

TABLE-II.20

Density of population in villages classified by class of population in Bishalagarh lllock

Size class of population

(1)

Less than 500

500-999 .

1000-1999

2000-2999

3000-4999

5000 and above

All villageS (Bishalgarh Block)

Number of Density villages (per Sq. Km.)

(2) (3) ----~---------------------------.---

2

7

14

11

16

15

65

56

76

122

248

444

777

372 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ---- -..-------__,---~----.--~----.. ------------------------~-----~ Censusf9Q 4

The village Bikramnagar is among the sixteen villages in the size class of population 3000-4999. The table n.lO. reveals that the density of population in village Bikramnagar is comparatively less compared to the density of the corresponding size class of popUlation which may be attributed to big forest area in the village.

16

Sex Ratio:

The sex ratio (number of females per 1000 males) in Bikramnagar vii age, rural sector of West Tripura district and State for 1961) 1971 and 1981, are presented in Table 11.11.

TABLE-II.ll

Changes in Sex ratio from 1961 to 1981

State/District/Village

(I)

State-Tripura (Rural) District-West (Rural) Village-Bikramnagar

Number of females per 1,000 males in the Census year

r--------...... ----- -. 19M 1~1 1~1

--------.-----.. ----- -----(2)

936 944 920

(3)

944 947 947

(4)

945 952 936

-- ----------- ------- - -----------_._--_- ----.------- ----------_---

The table reveals that the sex ratio i.e. the number of females per 1,000 males in the village has increased from 920 in 1961 to 947 in 1971 but decreased in 1981. However, the same has been found to follow an increasing trend in the district as well as in the State, The table also reveals that the sex ratio in

the village in all the three censuses i.e. 1961, 1971 and ] 98] was less compared to the sex ratio for the rural population in the district as well as the State.

Table n. 12 depicts ·the sex ratio in neighbollring villages of Bikramnagar in Bishalgarh block :-

TABLE-II, 12

Sex ratio in neighbouring villages of Bikramnagar and Bishalgarh Block, 1981

~~---- -~ ---_------_._----- -~---_

Serial Name of Village Distance Total population Sex No. from nearest ,- J.-. --, ratio

town P M F (Agartala)

---~--

(I) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) ---------

1. Pandabpur 25 4,233 2,152 2,081 967

2. Dakshin Champamura 8 2,324 1.205 1.119 929

3. Madhuban 7 5,712 2,869 2,843 991

4. Gakulnagar 15 4,194 2,486 1,708 687

5. Madhupur 24 5,773 2,858 2,915 1,020

6. Kanchanmala 17 2,257 1,206 1,051, 871

7. Ishanchandranagar 9 2,704 1,387 1,317 950

8. Nehalchandranagllr 31 3,882 1,998 1,884 943

9. Bishalgarh 23 - 14,267 7,330 6,937 946

10. Badharghat (Part) 5 22,596 11,880 10,716 9Q2

Ii. Uttar CharHam 30 3,678 1,886 1.792 950

12. Bikramnagar 15 4,605 2,379 2,226 936 . --------- ---_

Bishalgarh Block 20 249,435 117,720 121,715 953 --~---~---

The sex ratio in the villages belonging to Bishalgarb' block classified by distance ranges from the nearest

l7

town, Agartala, the state capital of Tripura is presen­ted in table II.13.

TABLE-II.13

Sex ratio in villages classified by distance ranges from Agartala town in Bisbalgarh Block ._-------

Distance ranges (Kms.)

(I)

0- 5

6-10

11-15

16-25

25 and above

AI! villages (Bishalgarh Block)

The table rcveals that the sex ratio in the distance range of 11-15 Kms. from Agartala town where the village Bikramnagar lies, is much less (870) compared to the sex ratio in Bikramnagar village (936). The sex ratio in village Bikramnagar is therefore., titled in favour of females when compared with the villages

No. of Sex villages ratio

(2) (3)

5 937

5 986

3 870

14 959

35 964

62 953

coming under the same distance ranges of Bishalgarh Block.

Table II. 14 presents the sex ratio in the villages belonging to Bishalgarh block classified by size class of population.

TABLE-II. 14

Sex ratio in tbe vilhlges classified by size class of population

Size class of population

(1) -----------------------~----

Less than 500

500-999

1000-1999 .

2000-2999 .

3000-4999 .

5000 and above

All villages (Bishalgarh Block)

Castewise population:-

Table ll. 15 presented below gives the propor­tions of scheduled caste and scheduled tribe popula-

No. of Sex vilfages ratio

(2) (3)

2 952

7 1,018

14 971

11 947

16 939

5 956

65 853

tion in village Bikramnagar, rural areas of West Tripura district and State based on 1961, 1971 and 1981 Census data.

18

TABLE-U.1S .. Percentage of Schedule(Caste and Scheduled Tribe population

State/District/Village

(1)

Census year

(2)

Scheduled Caste

p M

(3) (4)

Scheduled Tribe ~ r·--------~--------·~

F p M F

(5) (6) (7) (8) --~ ----- ---~----

State-Tripura (Rural)

District-West Tripura (RuTal)

Village-Bikramnagar .

1961 1971 1981

1961 1971 1981

1961 1971 1981

The table reveals that over a period of time the the percentage of scheduled casle pQpulation in respect of males and females has increased in Bikramnagar Village. The percentage of scheduled tribe popula­tion has suddenly ceClined to a great extent from 10.49 percent to 0.80 percent in 1981. The reason for which may be attributed to exclusion of Laskar

10.87 10.90 10.84 13.10 13.12 13.09 15.92 15.93 15.91

12.73 12.75 12.71 14.47 14.47 14.46 18.53 18.57 18.50

16.72 17.60 15.76 19.42 19.74 19.09 26.60 26.82 26.37

34.30 31.93 31.53

31.50 30.19 28.73

8.26 10.49 0.80

33.95 31.73 31.23

31.09 29.90 28.32

9.08 10.55 0.92

34.67 32.13 31.84

31.93 30.51 29.16

7.38 10.42 0.67

caste from the category of scheduled tribe community in 1981 Census.

The proportion of scheduled caste and scheduled tribe population in Bikramnagar village compared with other villages of different size class of population in Bishalgarh block is shown in table II. 16.

TABLE-II.16

Percentage of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe population by size class of population in Bishalgarb EI(){k, 1981

Size class of population

(1)

Less than 500

500-999

1000-1999

2000-2999

3000-5000

5000 and above .

All classes (Bishalgarh Block)

Number of

village

(2)

2

7

14

11

16

15

6S

The tabk reveals that the proportion of scheduled caste population in Bikramnagar compared to villages in size class of popUlation 3000-5000 and at the block level is much more in respect of both males and females. However, the population of scheduled tribe population in the respective size class of popula­tion and the block is much less. This shows a typical characteristics of Bikrahnagar village in regard to caste composition particularly the high concentration

Scheduled Caste r- -'-----,

P M F

(3)

2.30

8.87

9.15

23.86

18.09

(4)

0.17

8.81

9.20

23.86

18.05

(5)

2.90

8.93

9.10

23.88

18.14

Scheduled Tribe , p M F

-~-----.----

(6) (7) (8)

99.26 98.55 100.00

90.39 90.10 90.68

63.40 63.33 63.48

38.61 38.21 39.01

7.59 7.61 7.58

22.27 22.05 22.50

of laskar community in this village which was ex­cluded from the category of scheduled tribe communit:y during 1981 Census.

Table II. 17 presents the proportion of scheduled caste and scheduled tribe population in the villages of Bishalgarh block classified by distance ranges from nearest town Agartala, the state capital of Tripura.

.5

~ r" i1:E ~

~

I..

r

~ g . s; ._ 0 ... ~ Z

";. '~i CIJ

6' .... '-'

N-'-'

i,..., Ie

:; 0.

.D oj

'" c:: oj

Q.

....;

a--.... -- g . -

00

oj ... ::I 8 oj

o. 8 oj ... ..<:: u c: oj

oj bI) c: .Q oj

:.a ::I c: ..<:: "3 '" -g "'" ~ oj

Q :E " N ..; -<i

00

'" 00

c-i

... ::I 0. ::I

..<:: .., oj

:E .,;

19

oj

"; 8 c: o:l -e c: oj

.<: ~

>C

r­oo "'.. -

~ bI) oj c: oj ... '" c: o:l

..<:: u c:: '" ~ ....

r..:

N 00 00 ..;

... oj

:'Jl c: oj ... '" c: oj

..<:: u 0; ..<::

Z 00

t oj

Q. '-'

OJ ..<:: ... -E1 as bI) .... 0; oj

..<:: ..<:: -g <II

iXi ~

oi ~

o ..,

8 ~ ·c oj

.Q

U ~ g

....;

G-o 2,

.... oj

:'Jl C E oj ... ~

iXi N -

I", It:: ,­·N -

,11 0

iii oS oj flO "; ..<::

l~ I

I

20

TABLE-II. IS

Percentage of sclteduled caste and scheduled ·tribe population in the villages classified by distaace ranges from Agartala Town: 1981

Scheduled Caste Scheduled Tribe Distance range No. of ,-

(Km.) villages

(1) (2)

0- 5 5

6-10 5

11-15 3

16-25 14

25 and above 35

All classes (Bishalgarh Block) 62

The table reveals that the proportion of scheduled caste population in Bikramnagar village is much more for both males and females compared to the villages falling under the distance range of 11-15 Kms. from Agartala town. However, the proportion of scheduled tribe popUlation in the distance range of 11-15 Kms. is much less. This again establishes the typical characteristics of village Bikramnagar in regard to caste composition and may be attributed to high concentration of Laskar caste in this villgae and the reasons stated above.

p

(3)

27.69

29.96

22.85

16.36

7.69

18.09

,- ,- .... -, M F P M F

(4) (5) (6) (7) (8)

27.33 28.08 0.92 1.39 0.41

30.38 29.53 2.92 2.76 3.08

22.18 23.61 21.52 20.48 22.83

14.88 17.90 13.86 13.60 14.13

8.90 6.44 51.03 50.63 51,43

18.05 18.14 22.27 22.05 22.50

Literacy:-

Literacy and educated persons include there who can read and write with understanding in any languge irrespective of having passed any educational standard or not.

Table n. 19 presented below gives the compara­tive literacy rates in village Bikramnagar, rural areas of West Tripura district and .state based on 1961, 1971 and 1981 census data :-

TABLE-ll.19

Literacy rate by Sex

StateJDistrict/VilIage Census Number of literates Literacy rate Year r- ,-

p M F P M F

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)

State-Tripura (Rural) 1961 177.491 141,538 35,953 17.08 26.38 7.16

1971 378,149 261,261 116,885 27.13 36.43 17.27

1981 698,643 453,232 245,411 38.22 48.24 27.64

District-West Tripura (Rural)* 1971 173,268 118,549 54,719 26.99 35.95 17.52

1981 339,661 218,961 120,650 41.07 51.68 29.92

ViJlage-Bikramnagar 1961 693 522 171 22.28 32.24 11.47

1971 1,515 1,011 504 4Q.42 52.52 27.65

1981 2,344 1,470 874 50.90 61.79 39.26

*District West-Tripura was formed in 1971 therefore complete literacy data for 1961 is not available

The table reveals that over a period of time the literacy rate for males and females has considerably increased. Moreover, in 1981 the overall literacy rate in Bikramnagar village is much more compared to the rural area of the West Tripura district and

21

State. This is equally true in respect of both males and females.

The literacy rate in Bikramnagar village compared with other villages of different size class of population in Bishalgarh Block is shown in table II. 20.

TABLE·II.lO

Literacy rate by size class of population

Number of literates Literacy rate Size class of population Number r- ,A, r- ,A. ..,

of P M F P M F villages

~------

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) ----------~------ ----~ -------_

Less than 500 2 58 53 5 14.36 25.60 2.54

500-999 . 7 1,110 802 608 23.81 33.80 12.75

1000-1999 14 7,042 4,989 2,053 32.04 44.73 18.96

2000-2999 11 9,313 6,308 3,005 35.21 46.43 23.36

3000-5000. 16 26,886 17,809 9,077 42.49 54.59 29.62

5000 and above 15 65,336 40,066 25,270 49.30 59.12 39.02

All classes (Bishalgarh Block) 65 109,745 70,027 39,718 44.00 54.83 32.63

-----

Village Bikramnagar falls under the size class 3000-5000. The table reveals that the literacy rates for male and females the more in Bikramnagar village compared with the village in size class of population 3000-5000. The possible reason may be attribute to its nearness from Agartala town, the state capital of Tripura resulting in better awareness towards literacy. However, the literacy rate for males and females in

Bikramnagar village is more (61.79 percent for males 39.26 percent for females) when compared with the block as a whole (54.93 percent for males and 32.63 percent for females).

Table II. 21 pressents the literacy rates in five distance ranges that fall within the influence of Agartala town :-

Distance ranges (km.)

0- 5

6-10

11-15

16-25

(1)

26 and above

TABLE·n.ll

Literacy rate by distance ranges from Agartala

Number of literatures Number r---____"_"

of P M villages

(2)

5

5

3

14

35

(3)

33,276

13,285

5,870

29,075

28,239

(4)

19,903

8,122

3,971

18,417

19,614

F

(5)

13,373

5.163

1,899

10.658

8,625

-~~----------------- --------------

All classes (Bishalgarh Block) 62 109.745 70,027 39,718 ---~----~--~--- -- -~ ----_-----------

Dlatances of three villages from Agartala town not avai lable.

Literacy rates ,- ,A. ..

P M F

(6) (7) (8)

55.78 64.64 46.34

47.52 57.69 37.20

41.81 52.88 29.08

44.55 55.27 33.36

34.22 46.68 21.30

44.00 54.83 32.63

Village Bikramnagar falls under the distance range of 11-15 Kms. and the villages under this class have accounted for 41.81 per cent literacy with 52.82 percent males literates and 29.08 percent females literates, whereas village Bikramnagar has accounted for 50.90 percent of literacy with 61.79 percent male literates and 39.26 percent females literate. This established the fact that the people of Bikramnagar

22

village arc more concious in regard to literacy with the available educational facilities in the village.

A comparison of literacy rate of Bikramnagar village with neighbouring villages is presented in Table-II. 22. The table reveals that the literacy rates for males and females are highest in Madhupur village and the lowest in Kanchanmala village.

TABLE-IT.22

PopUlation of literates in selected villages : 1981

Total population Literate Name of village

Distance from the

nearest town

(Agartala) (in Kms.)

- __ 0.. ____ --, r------~'------,

P M F p M F

(1) (2) (3)

1. Pandabpur 25 4,233

2. Dakshin Chanparura 8 2,324

3. Madhuban 7 5,712

4. Sakulnagar J5 4,194-

5. Madhupur 24 5,773

6. Kanchanmala 17 2,257

7. Ishanchandranagar 9 2,704

8. Nehalchandranagar 31 3,882

9. Bishalgarh 23 14,267

10. Badharghat (Part) 5 22,596

11. Uttar Charilam 30 3,678

12. Bikramnagar • 15 4,605

Bishalgarh Block. 249,435

N.B.-Bracketed figures are the percentage.

Workers and non-workers:

Work is defined in the Census as participation in any economically activity. Such participation may

(4) (5) (6) (7) (8)

2,152 2,081 2,062 1,280 782 (48.71) (59.48) (37.58)

1,205 1,119 1,278 801 477 (54.99) (66.47) (42.63)

2,869 2,843 2.750 1,690 1,060 (48.14) (58.91) (37.28)

2,486 1.708 2,309 1,642 667 (55.06) (66.05) (39.05)

2,858 2,915 3,528 2,029 1.499 (61.11) (70.99) (51.42)

1.206 1,051 771 523 248 (34.16) (43.37) (33.60)

1,387 1.317 1,305 787 518 (48.26) (56.74) (39.33)

1,998 1,884 1,754 1,152 602 (45.18) (57.66) (31.95)

7,330 6.937 7.937 4,686 3,251 (55.63) (63.93) (46.86)

11,880 10,716 13.694 8,272 5.422 (60.60) (69.63) (50.60)

1,886 1,792 1,726 1,107 619 (46.93) (58.70) (34.54)

2,379 2,226 2,344 1,470 874 (50.90) (61.79) (39.26) --~~- ---_

127.720 121,715 109.745 70,027 39,718 (44.00) (54.83) (32.63)

be physical or mental in nature. Work involves not only actual work but also effective supervision and direction of work. Workers are mainly considered on the basis of work as main workers and marginal

workers. Main workers are those who have worked for major part of the preceding year i.e. for six months or 183 days or more in one or more activity. Marginal workers are those who have not worked for major part of the preceding y;.ar b,:t, Il~"crthckss, have done some work deriving any time in the last year. Total workers include main workers plus maginal workers. On the other hand a non-workel is a person who is not engaged in any economically productive work throughout the year but is basically non working. Persons engaged in household duties,

23

students, retired persons or rentiers, dependents, beggars, inmates of institutions and persons in search of work are including in the group of non-workers.

Table II. 23 gives the percentage distribution 01 total, male and female population into total workers, main workers, marginal workers and non-workers of Bikramnagar village Bishalgarh Block and of the rural areas of the district and the State, according t-J 1981 Census.

TABLE.-Il. 23

Percantage distribution of total male and female population into total workers, main workers, marginal workers and non-workers according to 1981 Census.

State/District/Block/Village Persons/ Total Total Main Marginal Non-workers Males/ population workers workers workers Females

2 3 4 5 6 7

Tripura - Rural P 18,27,490 6,00,198 5,48,066 52,132 12,27,292 (100.00) (32.84) (29.99) (2.85) (67.16)

M 9,39,558 4,82,292 4,67,866 14,426 457,266 (100.00) (51.34) (49.80) (1.54) (48.66)

F 8,87,932 1,17,906 80,200 3,77,06 7,70,026 (100.00) (l3.28) (9.03) (4,25) (86.72)

West Tripura District CRural) . P 8,26,964 2,62,348 2,40,062 2,2286 5,64,616 (100.00) (31.72) (29.03) (2.69) (68.28)

M 4,23,671 2,10,597 2,03,365 6,962 21,30,74 (100.00) (49.71) (48.07) (1.64) (50.29)

F 4,03,293 5,1751 36,427 15,324 3,51,542 (100.00) (12.83) (9.03) (3.80) (87.17)

Bishalgarh Block. P 2,49,435 72,243 66,970 5,273 1,77,192 (100.00) (28.96) (26.85) (2.11) (71.04)

M 1,27,720 61.611 59,995 1,616 66,109 (100.00) (48,24) (46.97) (1.27) (51.76)

F 1,21,715 10,63Z 6,975 3,657 1,11,083 (100.00) (8.73) (5.73) (5.00) (91.27)

Bikrammagar Village. p 4,605 1,089 1,064 25 3,516 (100.00) (23.65) (23.11) (0.54) (76.35)

M 2,379 1,017 9,999 IS 1,362 (100.00) ( 42.75) (41.99) (0.76) (57.25)

F 2,226 72 65 7 2,154 (100.00) (3.23) (2.92) (0.31) (96.77)

Note: Figures in brackets indicate percentages 6 Census/90 5

The proportion of total workers to total popula­tion ill, villa~e Bikramnagar according to 1981 Census data is 23.65 percent. The proportion for males is 42.75 percent and for females, it is only 3.23 percent. As already mentioned total workers include main workers and marginal workers. It will be seen from table Jr.3 that the male work participation rate for Bikramnagal village is lower than the corresponding rates for Bishalgarh block the rural parts of the district as well as the State .This shows that the male work participa­tion rate in village Bikramnagar is lower as compared with most other villages in the State. The same is found for females too. It is infact less than fOUl percent. Further 18 male wrokers in the village out of 10 17 male workers have been recorded as marginaJ

24

workers. Among 72 female workers only 7 females have been recorded as marginal workers clearly show that the woman folk in village Bikramnagar are not still allowed to participate in the economically productive jobs and are generally confined to house­hold duties only. Accordingly, the percentage of non-workers among females in village Bikramnagat is as high as 96.77 percent. These nonworkers include small dependent children, girls attending schools OJ

helping in household duties and old woman who are unable to do any work besides the ladies performing their own household duties even though they are engaged in such work for major part of the day and year.

TABLE-II.24

Proportion of workers by sex in selected villages -1981.

Name of viII age

------

1. Pandabpur.

2. Dakshin Champamura.

3. Madhuban.

4. Gakulnagar.

5. Madhupur.

6. Kanchanmala ..

7. Ishanchandranagar ..

8. Nehalchandranagar..

9. Bishalgarh.

10. Bndharghat (Part) .

11. Uttar ChadIan

12. Bikramagar

Distance from the Nearest town (Agartala) (in Kms.)

2

25

8

7

15

24

17

9

31

23

5

30

15

Total population

P M F

3 4 5

4,233 2,152 2,081

2,324 1,205 1,119

5,712 2,869 2,843

4,194 2,486 1,708

5,773 2,858 2,915

2,257 1,206 1,051

2,704 1,387 1,317

3,882 1,998 1,884

14,267 7,330 6,937

22.,596 11,880 10,716

3,678 1,886 1,792

4,605 2,379 2,226

---------------------------------BISHALGARH BLOCK 20 249,435 127,720 121,715

N.B. : Brack0tel figures are the p'"rcentages.

Workers population

P M F

6 7 8

990 953 37 (23.39) (44.28) (1.78)

613 593 20 (26.38) (49.21) (1.79)

1,285 1,211 74 (22.50) (42.21) (2.60)

1,563 1,512 51 (37.27) (60.82) (2.99)

1,402 1,230 172 (24.29) (43.04) (5.90)

544 517 27 (24.10) (42.87) (2.57)

633 611 22 (23.41) (44.05) (1.67)

998 894 104 (25.71) (44.74) (5.52)

3,619 3.332 287 (25.37) (45.46) (4.14)

6,189 5,765 (27.39) (48.~3) 424

(3.96)

908 863 46 (24.69) (45.71) (2.57)

1,064 999 65 (23.11) (41.99) (2.9Z)

66,970 59.995 6,975 (26.85) (46.97) (5.73)

tv orkers by industrial categories:

With a view to know the nature of working force, it will be worthwhile to have a look into the figures

25

for the workers participation in different industrial categories. Table I1.25 gives distribution of main workers by sex and industrial categories in the village Bikramnagar, Bishalgarh Block, the rural sector of West Tripura district and the State :-

TABLE-IUS

Distribution of total workers by sex and broad industrial categories as per 1981 Census.

State/District/Block/VilIage Persons Males Females

2

Total Cultivators Agricultural main labourer. workers.

3 4 5

House­hold industry.

6

Others

7 ~~--------------

Tripura-Rural P

M

F

West Tripura district (Rural). • p

M

F

Bishalgarh Block. p

M

F

Bikramnagar village. p

M

F

Note :-Figures in brackets indicate percentages.

Since agriculture is the main source of livelihood of majority of the people in most of the villages in Tripura, village Bikramnagar is no exception. How­ever, the percentage of workers recorded as cultivators to total main workers in Bikramnagar village is less than that for the rural sector of the State as a whole as well as those for the district but slightly more comparee to Bishalgarh Block as a whole. The per­centage for Bikramnagar villag_e,Ts.-~Q.hly 35.90 as

5,48,066 (100.00)

467,866 (100.00)

~ 80,200

(100.00)

240,062 (100.00)

203,635 (100.00)

36,427 (100.00)

66,970 (100.00)

59,995 (100.00)

6,975 (100.00)

[1,064 (1{)().00)

999 (100.00)

65 (100.00)

261,483 (47.71)

227,352 (48.59)

34,131

(42.56)

99,640 (41.51)

86,354 (42.41)

13,286 (36.47)

22,422 (33.48)

20,393 (33.99)

2,029 (29.09)

382 (35.90)

370 (37.04)

12 (18.46)

440,084 (26.29)

1,155,593 (24.71)

28,494

(35.53)

67,516 (28.12)

52,481 (25.77)

15,035 (41.27)

16,248 (24.26)

13,651 (22.75)

2,597 (37.23)

78 (7.33)

73 (7.31)

5 (7.69)

7,954 (1.45)

5,910 (1.26)

2,044

(2.55)

4,968 (2.07)

3,791 (1.86)

1,177 (3.23)

1,777 (2.65)

1,371 (2.29)

406 (5.82)

30 (2.82)

(2.40)

6 (9.23)

134,542 (24.55)

119,011 (25.44)

15,531

(19.36)

67,938 (28.30)

61,009 (29.96)

6,929 (19.02)

26,523 (39.61)

124,580 (40.97)

1,943 (27.86)

574 (53-95)

532 (53.25)

42 (64.62)

compared with the corresponding percentage for the rural sector of the State (47.71), the district (41.41) and thc block (33.48). This low percentage of culti­vators engaged in agriculture in village Bikramnagar is also not compensated by the agricultural labourers in the village is only 7.33 per cent. This is not so at the block level, rural areas of the district and the State as a whole. The percentages of agricultural labourers at the block level, the rural areas of the district and

the State are 24.26, 28.17 and 26.29 respectively. Thus the village is typical in this regarc!:. In the case of household industry, the percentage of workers engaged therein in Bikramnagar (2.82) is very low. However it is slightly more compared to Bishalgarh block (2.29), rural areas of district (2.07) and the State (1.45).

The proportions of workers by sector of economy in Bikramnagar and its selected surrounding villages in comparison with that of Bishalgarh Development Block are shown in Table II. The primary sector consists of cultivators, agricultural labourers, livestock, forestry, fishing, hunting and plantation, orchards ane allied activities and mining and quarrying. The secon­dary sector consists of workers engaged in industry and construction and the Tertiary sector that of trade anc!: commerce, transport, storage and communication and other services.

It may be seen from Table II that the working force at the block level in primary sector is 57.74 per cent with male, female break up of 56.75 and 66.32 per cent respectively. The corresponding pro­portion in Bikrarnnagar village are 43.23, 44.35 and 26.15 per cents which are considerably lower than the block average. However, reverse is the case in the tertiary sector where the proportion of workers both male and female in Bikramnagar village is rela­tively more i.e. 53.95 per cent with male, female break up of 53.25 and 64.62 per cents compared to 39.61, 40.97 and 27.86 per cent respectively at the block level. There is not much difference in regard to proportion of workers in seconc!:ary sector in Bikramnagar village when compared at the block level. However, the said proportion is very thin i.e. 2.82

26

per cent in Bikramnagar and 2.65 per cent in Bishal­garh Development Block.

The female working force in this sector is much more i.e. 9.23 per cent compared to 5.82 per cent in Bishalgarh Development Block.

Proportion of workers by industrial categories in Bikramnagar and its surrounding villages in com­parison with Bishalgarh Development Block has also been presented in Table II. 26. The table reveals that the female working force in the categories of cultivator i.e. 18.46 per cent and agricultural labourer Le. 7.69 per cent in Bikramnagar village is less when compared at the block level where it is 29.09 and 37.23 per cents respectively. However, the reverse is the case in the category of household industry and other workers where the proportion of female workers in Bikramnagar village is more when compared at the block level.

The position obtained in the villages in the size of population 3000-5000 and the villages within distance ranges 11-15 krns. from Agartala town wherein the village Bikramnagar falls, has been shown in Table II. 8. It reveals that the proportions are significantly different with that of Bikramnagar village. This shows a unique position of village Bikramnagar among the villages of some population group and distance ranges from Agartala town.

The porportion of male workers in Bikramnagar village as obtained in 1981 census presents a .different picture. The working force has decreased from 51.20 per cent in 1961 to 45.09 per cent in 1971 anc!: 41.99 per cent in 1981. It is however of interest to note that the female working force is higher (2.82 per cent) in 1981 compared to 1971 i.e. 1.54 per cent.

\~

--o -

00

l <'I

I

08 0\.

O\§ '-'

...;

-r=:--8

~8 8 -._,

-8 ..... 8 c

27

-s r-e

"'8 00.

~§ ._,

coG=:' or­-....:

'-'

~8 ~§

'-' ,-._

",0 "'0 l;;§

._,

ci .... ... -

1/"\8 r- . $8 ...

'-'

28

TABLE IT.27

Number and proportion of workers in industrial categorIes by size class of population 3000·50()O a!1d by distance range 11-15 kni3, from Agartala town with reference to villages of Blshalgarh Development Block :-

Size class of popul ation 3000-5000 Distance range 11-15 kms. Categories r------~-------~ r------~--------~

Persons

2

Total main workers. 16,604 (100.00)

I. Cultivators. . 7,678 (46.24)

4,549 (27.40)

n. Agricultural labourers.

565 (3.40)

III. Household Industry.

IV. Other workers. 3,812 (22.96)

N.B.-Bracketed figures are the percentages.

Distribution of population by age and sex:

The village Bikramnagar has a population of 4,605 persons with 2,379 males and 2,226 females in 1981 Census. During the restudy in (1986) of Sekerkot village which is now only a part of Bikram­nagar village, 100 households consisting of 586

Male Female Persons Male Female

3 4 5 6 7

14,680 1,924 4,388 3,873 515 (100.00) (100.00) (100.00) (100.00) (100.00)

6,971 707 1,267 1,130 137 (47.49) (36.74) (28.87) (29.18) (26.60)

3,664 885 1,219 940 279 (24.96) (46.00) (27.78) (24.27) (54.18)

455 110 115 101 14 (3.10) (5.72) (2.62) (2.61) (2.72)

3,590 222 1,787 1,702 85 (24.45) (11.54) (40.73) (43.94) (16.50)

persons (296 males and 290 females) were restudied as against 308 households studied in earlier survey of 1961 on the basis of approximate geographical area. The distribution of population by age and sex covered during the earlier survey and that covered during the present survey is given in Table 11.28.

TABLE-IT.1S

Distribution of population by age and sex.

In 1961 Survey (308 households) I

Age-group ~ In 1986 Survey (100 households)

r ____ -A... ______ -r---------M F P I M F P

2 3 4 I 5 6 7

0--4 140 131 271 23 35 58

5~ 142 122 264 30 33 63

10-14 103 86 189 43 38 81

15 -19 61 40 101 42 37 79

20-24 56 48 104 29 19 48

25-29 55 73 128 26 29 55

30-34 52 45 97 19 17 36

35-44 84 95 . 179 28 28 56

" 45-54 75 66 141 19 22 41

55-69 56 45 101 23 26 49 70 and over. 24 20 44 14 6 20

All ages .. 848 771 1619 296 290 586

It may be seen that during 1961 survey the maximum number of son was found in the age-group 5-9 (142) followed by the age-group 0-4 (140) whereas during 1986 survey (restudy) the maximum number of persons is found in the age group 10-14 closely followed by age-group 15-19. The maximum

29

TABLE-ll.29

number of males and females belong to age-group 10-14 closely followed by age group 15-19.

The percentage distribution of population by broad age-group and by sex during the two points of tilm is presented in Table II.29.

Percentage Distribution of Population by broad age-group and sex

1961 Survey 1986 Survey Age-group

Males Females P.:rsons Males Females Persons

0-14

15-54

·55 and over.

All ages: .

2

45.40

45.17

9.43

100.00

The table reveals that the proportion of popula­tion in age-group 0-14 in 1961 and 1986 are 44.72 and 34.47 per cent. This gives an indication of high birth rate in 1961 as compared to 1986. A reduction in the proportion in respect of males in age group 0-14 and an increase in the age-group 15-54 in 1986 in respect of both males and females is noteworthy.

A verage size 0/ household:

Table II.30 shows the number of households selected by religion, community and caste and the average size of households. The average size of household of all the selected households works out to 5.86 which is more compared to the earlier survey conducted in 1961 when it was 5.25. However, the average size of the household belonging to Jalia

3

43.97

47.60

8.43

100.00

4 5 6 7

44.72 32.43 36.55 34.47

46.32 55.07 52.41 53.75

8.96 12.50 11.04 11.78

100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00

Kaibarta (SC) and Mahishyadas (SC) is more com­pared to households of other castes, i.e., Laskar and Kayastha.

Table II.31 shows the distribution of households' with reference to the number of member in the household and age of head of household. It reveals that size of the household varies widely in the village from single member household to more than 10 member household. However, 11 households are having much a larger size of 10 or more and households having 6-7 members are relatively large in number followed by 8-9 members and 4 members respectively. Further 28 per cent of households are head in the age-group of 60 and above. Only 1 household was seen as head in the age of below 20 years.

TABLE-U.30

Distribution of households by sex, caste and average size of househlolds (1986 survey)

Number of Population. Average size of household household

Religion/Community/Caste

')

p M F

2 3 4 5 6

A. Hindu. 49 274 145 129 5.6

1. Laskar. 16 70 42 28 4.4

2. Kayastha. 14 11 34 37 5.1

3. Karmakar . 2 13 6 7 6.5

30

TABLE-II.30--comd.

Religion/Community/C,ste Number of household

P0pJlatio,

p M

2 3 4

4. Ghosh 12 8

5. Saha. 8 54 27

6. Brahmin. 2 10 6

7. Sutradhar .. 6 4

8. Baidya. 11 4

9. Banik. 2 14 7

10. Gwala .. 12 7

11. Aeharjee.

Scheduled Castes 42 271 132

12. JaJia Kaibarta 19 121 56

13. Mahishyadas. 17 107 57

14. Namasudra. 10 3

15. Muehi. . 3 18 10

16. Gor .. 5 2

17. Mali. 10 6

Scheduled Tribes

18. Munda. 2 8 5

B. Muslim. 7 31 14

Total 100 584 296

TABLE-11.31

Distribution of households by size of household and Age of Head of household.

Age of Head of household

Below 20. 20-29 . 30-39 . 40---49 • 50-59. . 60 and above. .

Total.

r-----2

2 3

3

2 1 2

2 8

HOUSE HOLD SIZE __ -.Jo--

3 4 5 6-7 8-9

4 5 6 7 8

3 2 2 3 3 6 6 1 1 5 4 7 3 1 4 1 4 4

2 3 7 6

8 16 16 25 14

Average size of household

F

5 6

4 12.0

27 6_8

4 5.0

2 6.0

7 11.0

7 7.0

5 12.0

1.0

139 6.5

65 6.4

50 6.3

7 10.0

8 6.0

3 5.0

6 10.0

3 4.0

17 4.4

288 5.8

~

10-1213 & above Total

9 10 11

1 10

1 21 1 23 1 17 7 28

10 100 ~------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------

31

Sex ratio: The following Tables II.32 & II.33 shows the

differentials in sex ratio by caste and age-group in 1961 and 1986 survey.

TABLE·II.32

Sex ratio by religion and caste in 1961 and 1986 survey.

Hindu Muslim Total Survey Period

r _______ ._..)I..., __ ....-___ -_~

S.C. S.T. Others Total ----_.------------_._---------------

2

1986 .

1961

1,053

821

The table reveals that the sex ratio in Muslim community is more compared to Hindu community in 1986. Among Hindus sex ratio is more in Scheduled Caste compared to Scheduled Tribe and other caste group in 1986. However, there is a

3

600

688

4

752

965

5 6 7 -----------------

890

916

1,214

880

980

909

slight vanatlOn in sex ratio in general when com­pared with the earlier survey of 1961 but significant increase have been noticed in Scheduled Caste and Muslim community. The reverse trend may be seen for Scheduled Tribes and other castes when the sex ratio shows a declining trend.

TABLE-H.33

Sex ratio by broad age-group in 1961 and 1986 survey.

Age group Survey period r~------""_--_.I-_ -------. All ages

55-69 70 & above 0-4 5-14 15--54

2 3 4 5 6 7 ._-----_. __ . ___ ._--_._----

1986 .

1961 •

1,522

936

The table reveals that the sex ratio in 1986 for the older and younger population, i.e., in the age group of 70 and above and 0-4 is much lower and higher compared to other age-groups indicating that the longivity of males is more in 70 and above but less in 0-4 age-group compared to females. The table also reveals that compared to 1961 the sex ratio in 1986 has increased in age-group 0-4, 5-14, 55-69 but decreased in ag~-group 15-54 and 70 and above.

Literacy and Education:

During the resurvey of 100 sample households it was found that 22 per cent of households as head are illiterate and 8 per cent of households as head are literate without educational level. Among 528 persons of age 5 and above, 22.3 per cent of the village population was illiterate. However, as ex­pected under Indian Rural Scheme. the illiteracv rate in respect of male ( 15 70 ) is less compar;d to

6 Census!90

973

849

933

958

1,130

804

429

833

980

909

female (30.0%), i.e., half of the female illiteracy rate. Attention for sending school to children of age-group 5-9 is less. This is more so in respect of female child as may be seen from Table II.35. About 4.4 per cent of males aged 5 and above and 5.9 pcr cent of females aged 5 and above are literate without any formal education.

Table II.36 presents the distribution of house­holds by type of household and education level of head of household. The table reveals that among the category of illiterate heads which arc 22 in number 9 belong to nuclear type of household. However, the percentage of illiteracy in the nuclear type of households is 19 per cent. Thc percentage is more or less same at the below primary level, primary level and middle level with slight variation. Similar trend but with higher percentage is seen in respect of supplemented nuclear type of family except at below primary level. Howev~r, the per­centage of literate without educational level is marc (46 %) in lineal type of households.

32

I ~ !:;f ..... a-, .., ...., 0 0\ ... .,., ..... 00 ,...., II"> ..... .,., '" \

"a "0 ~ '" :;; '" ~ '" <=> '" S:l M ..... r... .-< or.

'" \.0 ...... .... f'-.... '"

~ ~ II"> 0 '<I'" '<I'" '<I'" ..... ,...., <'1

"T 0 ~

~ 'g ~ 0 '" ..... a- Ir> M ..... 'D

,...., .... 't" <d

<=> .,., !l. .... r- 0\ VI 0\

~ ,...., -

~ I ';!1 M M \0 ..... 0\ ...., ~

0 .,., .... ..... "¢ '<t" ..,

~ - 0- on ,.., 00 I/) M - - M

""" '<t"

..... .; ~

, ~ S r-- "" II"> r- ~ I/)

II"> - cr> v ,12 ~ .,.,

~ M

0

~ p:: M

VI ,.., 0\ 0 !l. ""

on ffl

..... os 'Z """ ~ J ~ M M "1' ..... M M

00 Il'l 00 ..... M M ~

0 N

51

1 ..... ~ <: Il.. e- ..... "1' N ..... ;: ..... ..... .... 0\ ~ ....

j I :21 'C> I v 00 .,., ...., ~ 01 ~ C\I

"" ~ ia =,l Itl

~ ." <"l 00

~ 1 V> M ::: .... os :!

~ ~ ~ V M '" '" <'> .... r... ....., v i

'0 ... .... 00 M "" .... 8 M .., :

i .. ~

.Q N M .... ~ 0 j tn ...... ,...., ....

0)

"0 (Q

"t;> <.>

U I:::: 'Q -- ~ <> ..<: ., ';d 2 ~ ;::

<1> U

e;. ;.a u

~ I'l <1> .. o:!

'" S 0 ... -5 '0 ~ '" u .... c:: ;:: a .... .. 0 0 ..<: u - .2~ d 0 'l.) >; 8 tI') .... .9- bh 'l.) <3

'" '0., 0"; ., ~~ -v !;i,

;>-

'" 0;'0 0.. .... ~ g ._ OIl .. ca 0'.15 uo ~o "" 0; 'od 0 ....

]~ -"<:I 8 ., ., II> c:: .... >. .; :; <.I).::::

U ::I .~B d ~ ~ ~ ~ '5 .... '" 30" ::I ' ::a 0::1 .Eo; ~~ 0; '" § c:: .§ '0 _.::, ';'0) <.) 0

~ '" bI>" o~ ~::I ~~ '0 ::l Q

~ ~ ._ ~ ....

zg f-oiir "<:I J.J.. z ~p.., ()", f-o Il'l

ca c::

0 4) "4;:!.2-"t;> ~Od~ ...

:E tl£ g~ _._""=' ~ :..::l:::1.4

33

TABLE·II.36

Distribution of households by type of household and Edocatiollal Level of head of hOllsellOld.

Type of household

Nuclear. • . Supplemented Nuclear Sub Nuclear . Single perosns. . Supplemented Sub nuclear CollateralJoint. Supplemented collateral

joint .. Linealjoint. Supplemented lineal joint. Lineal collateral joint Supplemented lineal

collateraljoint.

Total

Course/level class.

lifiterate

2

9 4 3

1 1

2

2

22

Literate without educati· onal level.

3

1 1

6

8

Below primary

4

9 1

1

3

14

Educational level of head of household

Primary

5

10 4 1

2

19

Middle

6

8 5 2

2

18

TABLE-II.37

Matricu· Non· lation or technical higher diploma secondary or certi-

7

4 I 3 1

2

12

ficate not equal to degree

8

Technical diploma or c.;rti­ficate notcqual to degree

9

Degree and above

10

5

5

Total

11

47 15 9 2 8

2

13

4

100

Distribution of Students by level of Education and Age.

Age group Number of students ~.A,

Total Male Female -------------~~-- --~--- ----------_.

K.G./Primary .

Primarv/Jr. Basic.

Hiddle/Sr. Basic.

Seconciary.

Post secondary.

Arts .•

Science.

Total.

2

2

5-9 10-14 5-9

10-14 15-19 10-14 15-19 20-24 10-14 15-19 20-24 15-19 20-24 25+ 15-19 20-24 25+ 15-19 20-24 25+

5-9 10-14 15-19 20-14 25+

3

2

43 40

1 30 18 1 6

33 9 5 6 1 5 5 1

1

45 76 62 22 2

4

18 18

19 6 1 3

22 5 3 5 1 3 4 1

19 34 40 16 2

S

1

25 22 1

11 12

3 11 4 2 1

2 1

26 36 28 6

34

The distribution of students by level of education and age is presented in table II. 37. The table ie­veals that number of male students ( 111) is more compared to female students (96). This is more so in the age group of 10-14 and 15 -19 at the level of education middle and secondary.

table II. 38. The table reveals that among 52$ per­sons (273 males and 255 females), 195 persons (102 males and 93 females) are currently studying. The proportion of Hindu studens is more compared to Muslim students. ThlTe does not exist any diffemce !(!] Hindu community regarding preference for male or a female child from the point of schooling. A comparison with 1961 survey reveals that the overall proportion of students in 1986 has decreased but the proportion of female students has increased.

The distribution of currently studying and not studying students by sex and caste is persentcd in

TABLE-II.3S

Educational attaini ment by Cll!ite and Sex

Educational attainment r __ ~~-_ - ____________ ....A.. _____________ ...

Religion/Caste Total Studying Not studying ,- ___ -'- ____ -, ,- ____ -A. ____ --. ,- ___ .A. ____ __

PM F PM F PM F

--------2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

----------_. ----------------A. Hindu

Schedule Caste

Jalia Kaibarta

Mahishyadas

Muchi

Namasudra

Mali

Gor

Schedule Tribe

Munda .

Others •

Laskar

Kayastha

Saha

Bral\min

Ghose •

BaBik

Baidya

Karmakar

Goal a

Acharjee

Sutradhar

B. Muslim

TOTAl.

1%1 Surver

•

502

249

112

97

17

10

10

3

7

246

66

60

lit

9

9

12

9

13

10

1

6

26

528

453

260

125

53

53

10

3

4

2

4

242

124

59

44

7

7

6

3

131 115

40 26

30 30

26, 2S

4

6

6

2

6

6

4

13

273

264

4

3

6

7

7

4

1

2

13

255

189

191

110

47

44

7

6

6

81

24

20

24

1

4

4

4

4

195

202

99

,57

20

28

6

1

2

42

18

8

11

1

2

3

102

143

92

53

27

16

5

4

39

6

12

13

3

3

2

93

59

311 161

1.19 68

65 33

53 25

10

4

4

3

7

165

42

40

27

8

9

8

5

9

10

1

6

22

333

251

4

2

2

2

4

89

22

22

15

4

6

5

1

4

6

4

10

171

121

150

71

32

28

6

2

2

1

3

76

20

18

12

4

3

3

4

5

4

1

g

12

162

130

tn order to have some idea on the effect of occupa­tion of head of household in. regard to schooli~g of children, data has been tabulated and presented in Table II. 39. The table reveals that the proportion of students is nil where the head of household belongs

to the category of bricklayers and construction workers, capcntcrs, agricultural labourers, paper pro­duct makers. High proportion of students may be seen for households belonging to the category of clerical, supervisor and other related categories.

TABLE 11.39

Occupation of head of household

Number of persons studying and not studying by occupation

No. of house holds

2

Studying r _ ..A.. __ --'\

P M F

3 4 5

Not Studying r-- _..A.._~

P M F

6 7 8

Total r- __ .A. ___ .,

P M F

3 10 11 -------------------

Non-worker.

Labourers

Teachers

Cultivators

Food and Beverage processors

Clerical and related worker .

Clerical and other supervisors

Salesman/Shop attendant

Fisherman and related worker

Printing and related matter .

Nursing and other health technicians

Merchants, Shopkeepers

Machinery fitters and reI ated workers

Sales Supervisors/Sel.ing Agent

Tailors and Dress Makers

Electrical fitters and reJated workers

Protective service worker

Village offici als

Shoe Makers , Bricklayers and construction workers

Carpenters .

Agricultural labourers.

Accountant .

Paper product maker.

Jewllers and Goldsmith

Composers and performing artists .

Plantation workers.

Religion workers .

Physicians, surgeons, pharmacists

Total .

(99)

(15)

(61)

(77)

(35)

(30)

(43)

(68)

(92)

(08)

(40)

(84)

(41)

(79)

(85)

(57)

(31)

(80)

(95)

(81)

(63)

(12)

(91)

(88)

(18)

(64)

(19)

(07)

10

6

4

29

5

3

2

2

2

2

8

2

3

3

2

1

1

4

1

100

20 9 11

16 8 8

4 3

68 37 31

936

633

10 6 4

4 3

2

5

1

4

7

2

3

17

2

3

3

6

2 2

1

7 6

4 2

..... .. 4

• 0 o •

1

195 101

10

5

'f

2

3

94

29 14 15

22 13 9

10 5 5

109 56 53

19 10 9

844

422

743

6

3

4

21

3

2

2

6

2

2

10

11

9

3

5

4

3

3

2

11

2

3

4

5

6

2

2

2

3

2

2

10

1

3

1

6

'6

3

2

3

2

20 12 8

633

2

333 172 161

N.B.-Bracketed figures in Col. 1 denotes code number in regard to occupation of head of household.

49 23 26

38 21 17

14 6 8

177 93 84

28 13 15

14 7 7

14 8 6

11 5 6

8

8

5

38

5

5

5

12

4

3

4

5

3

18

3

3

4

4

3

2

17 10

11 5

9 6

3 1

9 4

4 2 7 3

1

20 12

7 4

2

4

3

2

20

2

2

1

8

1

7

6

3

2

5

2

4

1

8

3

1

528 273 255

Educational score:

Table 11. 40 shows the distribution of households by caste and average educational score (Age 5+). j he average educational score per head and per house­hold was calculated by giving poi)llts as under to each individual with reference to their educational levels :

Illiterate = 0

Literate without educational level = 1

Primary or Junior Basic and middle = 2

Matriculation = 3

It may be seen that the average educational score per head is very low (0.3) among scheduled tribes and low (1.3) among scheduled castes compared to other caste group. The pattern of average educatipnal score per household is similar to that of the educational score per head.

36

Table H.41 shows the distribution of household by migration status and average educational score (5+). The table reveals that for both male and female the average educational score per head is high among migrants by place of last residence compared to non­migrants. Among the migrants the average edu­cational score per head is much more for the migrants of South Tripura difStrict. The pattern of average educational score per household is similar to that of the educational score per head.

Table II. 42 shows the distribution of household by occupation of head of household and average edu­cational score (age 5+). The highest average edu­cational score per head may be seen ~n the category of physicians/surgeons/pharmacists (3.0) followed by village officials (2.8). However, the highest ave­rage educational score per household may be seen in the category of accountant (18.0) followed by clerical and other supervisors ( 17.0) .

TABLE II 40

Distribution or Households Classified by Caste/Tribe/ Community of Head of Househol d and average Educational Score

Caste/Tribe/Community

HINDU

Scheduled Caste 1. Jalia Kaibarta 2. Mahishyadas 3. Muchi 4. Namasudra 5. Mali 6. Gar.

Scheduled Tribe : 7. Munda

Others : 8. Laskar 9. Kaya.~tha.

10. Saha 11. Banik 12. Brahmin 13. Gbose 14. Karmakar. 15. Goala 16. Sutradhar 17. Baidya 18. Acharjee .

MUSLIM All Groups

No. of House hold

2

93

42 19 17

3 1 1 1

Z

16 14 8 2 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 7

100

Population r------~~-------~

Person Male Female

3

502

249 lIZ 97 17 10 10 3

7

66 60 51 12 9 9

13 10

6 9

26 528

4

260

125 53 53 10 3 4 2

4

40 30

26 6 5 6 6 6 4 2

13 273

5

242

124 59 44

7

7 6

3

26 30 25 6 4 3 7 4 2 7 1

13 255

Average Educational Score r-------.--------~~---------------~

Per Head

Person Male Female

6

1.5

1.3 1.3 1.6 0.8 0.9 I.Z o

0.3

2.0 1.8 1.4 1.5 2.0 0.4 1.9 0.3 1.3 1.8 1.0 0.6 1.4

7

1.7

1.6 1.5 1.9 1.1 1.3 1.5 o

0.5

2.3 2.0 1.5

1.5 2.4 0.3 2.2 0.3 1.7 2.0

0.8 1.7

8

1.1

1.0 1.1 1.2 0.3 0.7 1.0 o

o

1.5 1.5 1.2 1.5 1.5 0.7 1.7 o

0.5 1.7 1.0 0.3

1.1

Per Household r-----~~-------~ Person Male Female

9

7.5

7.8

7.5 9.1 4.3 9.0

12.0 o

1.0

8.1 7.5 8.9 9.0 9.0 4.0 1Z.5 3.0 8.0

16.0 1.0 2.1 7.5

10

4.6

4.8 4.2 6.1 3.7 4.0 6.0 o

1.0

5.8 4.3 5.0 4.5 6.0 2.0 6.5 3.0 7.0 4.0

1.6 4.6

11

2.9

3.0 3.3 3.0 0.6 5.0 6.0 o

o

2.3 3.2 3.9 4.5 3.0

2.0 6.0 o

1.0 12.0 1.0 0.5

2.9

37

TABLE-n.41

Distributioo of Households Classified by Migration Status by Place of Last Residence of Head of Household and Average Educational Score

of 8ikramnagar

----------Average Educational Score

No. of Population J....

Migration status by place of la~t Residence House Per head Per households

holds ,------0---, A. __ ...... , __ .A.~

P M F P M F P M F

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

A. Non-Migrant (Born in the village induding those who 15 60 28 32 1.1 1.3 0.9 4.0 1.9 2.1

does not have place of last residence.)

B. Migrant 85 468 245 223 I.S 1.7 1.2 8.0 5.0 3.0

J Last residence outside the village but in the T 21 103 54 49 1.4 1.5 1.3 7.0 4.0, 3.0

same sub-division.

R 14 63 37 26 1.2 1.3 1.0 5.2 3.4 1.8

U 7 40 17 2~ 1.8 2.1 1.7 lOA 5.0 5.4

II. Other Sub-division of the district T 16 9 6 1.6 2.0 1.1 8.7 6.0 2.7

R 3 16 9 7 1.6 2.0 1.1 8.7 7.0 2.6

U

III. Other district of the state 4 17 11 3 2.5 2.9 1.8 10.8 8.0 2.8

North District T

R

U

South District T 4 17 11 6 2.5 2.9 1.8 10.8 8.0 2.8

R 3 14 9 5 2.5 2.9 1.8 11.7 8.7 3.0

U 3 2 2.7 3.0 2.0 8.0 6.0 2.0

IV. Other State 7 3 4 1.1 1.7 0.8 8.0 5.0 3.0

Assam. 7 3 4 1.1 1.7 0.8 8.0 5.0 3.0

V. Other COllntrie~ 5 56 325 168 157 1.4 1.7 1.1 8.2 5.1 3.1

----~--------~~--.--~. _-----Total )00 528 273 255 1.4 1.7 1.1 7.6 4.6 2.9

-~- ---------- -._-- --~----------.~-

38

TABLE-II. 42

Distribution of Households by Occllpatioo of Head of Household and Average Educational score of Bikramnagar

Occupation of Head of Household

Non-workers

Workers :

(07) Physicians and Surgeous, Pharmacists

(08) Nursing and other medical and health Tedmician

(12) Accountants

(15) Teachers

(18) Composers and performing Artist

(19) Religious Worker

(30) Clerical and other Supervisors

(31) Village officials

(35) Clerical and related workers

(40) Marchants, Shop keepers, Wholesale, Retail Trade

(41) Sales Supervision an~ Selling agents.

(43) Salesman, Shop assistant and related workers

(57) Protective service workers

(61) Cultivators

(63) Agricultural Labourer

(64) Plantation labourers

(68) Fisherman and related workers .

(77) Food and Beverages processors

(79) Tailors and Dress makers .

(80) Shoe makcrs

(81) Carpenters

(84) M'lchinery Fitters and related workers

(85) Electrical fitters and related workers

(88) Jewellers and Goldsmiths .

(89) Paper products makers

(92) Printing and related workers

(95) Bricklay.:rs and con:rtruction workers

(99) Labourers n.e.c.

All Groups

No. of house­holds

2

10

2

4

2

3

8

2

29

4

2

S

3

2

2

3

6

100

Population r---,A.---....., P M F

3 4 5

4'1 23 26

2

5

9

14

7

14

3

14

38

5

1

3

4

8

4

8

2

7

18

3

1

2

S

6

3

6

1

7

20

2

11 5 6

431

177 91 86

3

20 12

8 4

28 13

5 4

17 10

<} 6

5

12

7

4

8

3

4

3

2

5

2

8

4

15

7

3

2

8

4

2

3

11 5 6

38 21 17

528 213 255

Average Educational score r--------~--------.....,

Per head Per household r---~---""" ,---~-~

P M F P M F

6 7 8 9 10 11

1.4 2.0 1.0 7.1 4.6 2.5

3.0 4.0 2.0 6.0 4.0 2.0

1.6 2.0 1.0 4.0 3.0 1.0

2.0 2.5 1.8 18.0 9.0 9.0

2.4 2.8 1.8 8.3 5.5 2.8

1.0 o 1.0

1.7 2.0 1.3

2.4 2.9 1.8

2.8 3.0 2.0

1.7 2.0 1.4

2.0 2.1 1.8

1.6 2.0 1.0

2.0 2.2 1.8

1.5 1.3 2.0

1.4 1.7 1.1

0.3 1.0 o 0.3 0.4 0

0.6 0.8 0.5

1.0 1.0 1.0

1.0 1.3 0

0.8 1.1 0.3

0.9 1.2 0.3

2.2 2.0 2.5

1.1 1.5 0.9

1.7 1.7 1.7

1.8 2.0 1.5

1.6 2.0 1.0

0.7 1.2 0.3

1.1 1.2 1.0

1.4 1.7 1.1

1.0 o 1.0

12.0 8.0 4.0

17.0 11.5 5.5

8.0 6.0 Z.O

8.0 4.7 3.3

9,3 4.9 4.4

8.0 6.0 2.0

10.5 5.5 5.0

6.0 4.0 2.0

8.5 5.2 3.3

1.0 1.0 o

1.2 1.2 0

2.5 1.5 1.0

5.8 2.6 3.2

5.0 5.0 0

4.3 3.7 0.6

4.0 3.5 0.5

11.0 6.0 5.0

6.5 3.0 3.5

12.0 5.0 7.0

7.0 4.0 3.0

13.0 10.0 3.0

2.7 2.0 0.7

7.2 4.4 2.8

7.5 4.6 2.9

Marital status and age at marriage.

Table II.43 presents the distribution of popula­tion by age, sex and marital status. Table shows that out of 584 persons as many as 337 persons (57.7 percent) were never married, 213 persons (36.5 percent) were currently married, 30 persons (5.1 percent) were widowiwidower, 4 persons (0.68 percent) were divorced or separated. Out of 247 ever married persons (110 males and 137 females) bdong to scheduled caste community, 4 persons (2 males and 2 females) belong to scheduled _ tribe community and 138 persons (69 males and 69 fe­males) belong to other community. The other community includes 16 ever married persons (5 males and 11 females). Among the persons of age-group 15-29, the percentage of unmarried males is more compared to females. Ever married males are of age 25 and above whereas ever married females are of age 15 and above which may be attributed to differences in regard to age at marriage of males and females. Divorce has been reported in 4 cases only. Widow population is more in higher age-group i.e. 55 to 69 and the same has been observed in respect of widows too. A comparison with 1961 survey reveals that the proportion of never married

39

males as well as females has increased. The pro­portion of married persons in respect of male" and females has decreased. The incidence of window­hood has declined but the incidence of divorce and separation have also been found in 1986 survey against within 1961 survey.

The distribution of ever married males and fe­males by marriage duration and caste group has been presented in Table II.44. The average age al marriage for male and female is 25 and 17 respec­tively. However, the average marriage of male and female in muslim community (22 years for male and 15 years for female) is less compared to Hindus. However, in Hindus, the average age at marriage in scheduled tribe community is much low for males i.e. 18 years, though not much variation in regard to females age at marriage has been noticed in this community. The table further reveals that age al marriage of female has increased over a period 01 time. For the marriages with marriage duration of 30 years and above, the average at marriage as worked out was 14.67 which increased (16.10 years) for the marriages with marriage duration 15-29 ·years. However, the average at marriage for marriages with­in 15 years is 19 years.

TABLE-ll-43

Distribution of persons by marital status by sex and age

Age-Group Never Married Married Widowed Divorced Total or separated

,---~ ...... ~ ,----,....__----, ,-----...... _-----, ,------....... ----, ,-----_ ...... -----, M F M F M F M F M F

(1) 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

0- 4 23 33 23 33

5- 9 30 33 30 33

10-14 43 38 43 38

15-19 42 32 4 42 37

20-24 29 11 7 1 29 19

25-29 15 2 11 27 26 1.)

30-34 4 15 14 2 19 17

35-44 2 28 25 28 28

45-54 18 17 4 1 19 22

55-69 20 13 3 13 23 26

70+ 11 3 3 3 14 6

Aae not stated

Total 186 15l 103 110 7 23 4 296 288 (62.84) (52.43) (34.80) (38.19) .. (2.38) (7.99) (1.38) (100.00) (100.00

1961 Survey 511 345 313 323 24 103 848 771 (60.26) (44.75) (36.91) (41.89) (2.83) (13.36) (100.00) (100.00)

6 Census/90 7

40

Table-II,44

Distribution of ever married males/females by marriage duration and Caste

Caste Ever marred males Marriage Ever married feamles Marriage duration duration

r----____,.._ r- ,.;...

Total 30 years 15-29 years Total 15-29 years below and above 15 years.

--------2 3 4 5 6 7

~-----

Jalia kaibarta . 21 20 23 15 8

Mahishyadas. 21 21 24 20 4

Muchi 3 2 3 3

Gar

Mali 2 2 2

Namasudra 1 2 2

Munda 2 2 2 2

Laskar 17 5 12 19 15 4

Kayastha 13 2 11 16 14 2

Saha 8 7 10 8 2

Brahmin 4 5 4 1

Banik 2 2 3 2

Karmakar 2 2 3 2

Sutradhar 2 2 2 1 1

AcherJee

Baidya 2 2

Ghosh 3 3 5 2 3

Goala 2 2 2

Muslim 5 5 11 7 4

Total 110 15 95 136 103 33 --- ----~---

TABLE-II,4S

Distribuion of ever married males and females by duration of marriage and average age at marriage by easie group

Duraton of Marriage Scheduled Scheduled Others Muslim Total Caste Tribe

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Within 15 years 24.42 16.00 27.86 21.75 25.60 . (19) (1) (21) (4) (45)

15-29 Years 23.00 22.83 22.93 (I5) (12) (27)

30 years and above 25.20 20.00 24.40 25.00 24.62 (15) (7) (20) (1) (37)

~---.

Total 24.22 18.00 25.42 22.40 24.61 (49) (2) (53) (5) (109)

------

41

TABLE-II 45-contd,

Dunton of M,miage Scheduled Scheduled Others Caste Tribe

Muslim Totll

1 2 3 4 5 6

EVER MARRIED FEMALE

Wthin 15 years

15-29 years

30 years and above

Total

18.52 (21)

15.82 (17)

14.44 (18)

16.39 (56)

14.00 (1)

18.00 (1)

16.00 (2)

19.62 (26)

16.50 (12)

15.04 (27)

17.14 (65)

16.83 (6)

12.80 (5)

15.00 (11)

18.78 (54)

16.10 (29)

14.67 (51)

16.63 (134)

N. B. - Brackated figures denote the number of ever marred female.

Population control measures, attitude and practice .'

There is a outdoor government dispensary located in the south west corner of the village. Contracep­tore facilities viz., Nirodh, tablets etc. are made

available to its USers from this dispensary. At the time of field survey the information relating to know­ledge, attitude and practice towards family planning were collected which is as under :

TABLE-IJ,46

Awareness towards Family Planning by Caste and level of education

Level of education Scheduled

Caste

(1) 2

1. Illiterate 5

2. Literate and below Matric 29

3. Matric and above 5

All levels 39

Out of 100 households only 31 household reported that they were aware with the family plan­ning including 4 muslim households, 39 scheduled caste households, 1 scheduled tribe hous~hold and 37 households belonging to other community. In the earlier survey of 1961 only 3 households (out of 82) with no specific reason reported for largeness of their family size.

An idea about the aspiration for children on the basis of surveyed information may be gathered from

HINDU Muslim Total

Scheduled Others Total Trbe

3 4 5 6 7

6 11 2 13

21 51 2 53

10 15 15

37 77 4 81

Table II.47. The table ,reveals that the desired number of children is 2 (1 son and 1 daughter) as expressed by 4 informants out of 78. Further 18 households out of 77 expressed the desired number of children as 3 (2 sons and 1 daughter). The percentage of this response was mere in muslim in­formants (3 out of 4). Two sons and 2 daughters have also been reported by 13 informants. More­over, it is seen that the response is not linked with the educational status of the head of households.

42

TABLE-IIA7

Attitude towards desirable family size

Number reportng desireale number to be ,----__________ .Ao

~

Religion/Caste Educational Total 0 One One son Two son Three son Two son status No. of son one and One and and two

house daughter daughter three daughter

daughter

holds reporting

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Hindusim 77 3 2 43 15 1 13

J alia Kaibarta Illiterate 4 1 1 1 1

Below matrie 11 5 4 1 1

MatTie and above

Mahishyadas Illiterate 2

Literate 1

Below matrie 10 1 4 3 2

Matrie and above 4 3

Laskar Illiterate 1 Below matrie 8 1 5 2 Matrie and above 5 5

Kayastha. Illiterate 3 3 Literate 2 1 Below matrie 2 2 Matric and above 3 2

Saha 2 Below matric 5 2 1 1

Gar Z Illiterate 1

Munda Below matrie 1

Brahmin Z Matric and above

Goala Below matrie 1

Sutradhar Below matric 1

Banik below matrie 2 1

Karmakar Matrie and above

Baidya Below matric

Ghosh Below matrie 1

Mali Below matrie

Namasudra Below matric 1

Muehi Below matrie 3 2

Muslim Illiterate 2 2

Below matric 2

TOTAL. 81 3 2 44 18 1 13

Health and Sanitation :

The sanitation and the hygcnc condirion within the surveyed area is not satisfactory. Proper sani­tation system does not exist. Ditches arc made for using them at the time of nature's call. Wooden or cemented platforms are made over the ditches. Although tap water for drinking purpose is intro­duced in the village but it is available only on the main road side of the village. There is no residen­tial connection. However, hydrants which are 38 in number are used by the villagers. Scarcity of drink­ing water is being faced by villagers particularly in summer season when the tube wells get dried, Generally, villagers fetch drinking water from the nearly road side hvdrants. The villagers are co­dous of public health needs and take adequate care of personal hygcne also. The houses are generally clean.

Diseases and treatment:

Against the back ground of the unsati.sfactory enviromented sanitation and water facilities, it is not surprising that the people are generally suffering from infectious and parasitic diseases causing ailment of digestive disorder. The villagers also suffer from diseases of respiratory system and nutritional deficiencies.

The government medical dispensary provides treatment and medicines for outdoor patients. Th.;: information collected from dispensary for thc pcriod 1986-87 reveal that about 5 thousand persons wer<: treated from various diseases including those of adjacent villages.

Migration:

The village under study is very near to inter­national boundary of Bangladesh. There has becn a continuous 'a-migration from Bangladesh, parti­cularly after the formation o~ B.angladesh in 1971, for want of better means of lIvehhood. InformatlOn on inmigration and out migration is collected from the elderly persons and Gram Panchayat of the village. It was reported that altogether 25 house­holds in-migrated during last 20 years. Among these 25 households 5 belong to Namasudra, 10 Jalia Kaibarta and the rest 10 belong to other caste. There has been an out migration, 80 muslim bouse­holds to Bangladesh during last 30 years.

There is no seasonal migration of labour either from out side the village or from the village.

The study of the 100 households based on Bikramnagar reveals that 17 heads of households were born in the same village, 7 heads of households were borne outside the village but in t:le same sub­division, and a majority i.e. 76 outside the country i.e. Bangladesh. Household composition of those households may be seen in table 1I.48.

The migration by place of last residence has been presented in table II.50, It gives an idea on per­sons having another place of normal residence in respect of thc place of birth before he came to the present place where he is enumerated. It may be seen that out of 100 households 15 are non-migrants by place of last residence i.e. they were staying in that area continuously. Of the remaining 85 house­holds 21 of them had the last residence outside the village area but within the same sub-division, 3 households from other sub-divisions but within the same district, 4 households from other district of Tripura, 1 household from other state i.c. Assam and the remaining 56 households from Bangladesh.

TABLE-n,48

Distribution of Households by Migration status (Place of Birth) and Household composition,

Migration status of place of birth of head of household

(1)

A. Non-migrant (Born in the same village).

B. Migrant I. Born outside the village in the

Sub-division (a) Rural (b) Urban .

V. Born in other Countries .

TOTAL . ----------------

Household composition r-----.......:._--__ --..A.----__ _

Adult male and female and minor male/ female

(2)

11

65 5

4

60

76

Adult male and female

(3)

5

15

14

20

Adult male/ males only

(4)

1

2

Adult female/ females only

(5)

Adult male and minor male and female

(6)

Adult female and minor male and female

(7)

Total

(8)

17

83 7

6 1

76

100

44

TABLE-U.49

Distribution of households by migration status relation with head of household.

Relation with head of household Non- Migrant Migrant TOTAL

(I) (2) (3) (4)

1. Self 2

2. Self, spouse 3 3

3. Self, spouse, unmarried sons and daughters 6 37 43

4. Self, spouse, married son and son's wife with or without unmarried sons and daughters 3 3

5. Self, spouse, married brother, brother's wife, with or without unmarried sons and daughters.

6. Self, spouse, married brother, brother's wife, married son, son's wife with/without unmarried sons(daughters.

7. Self, (male), unmarried sons(daughters .

8. Self, (female), unmarried sons/daughters 5 5

9. Self, spouse with or without unmarried sons/daughters and widowed father

DO. Self, spouse with or without unmarried sons/daughters and widowed mother 3 7 10

11. Self (male) unmarried brother/sister

12. Self, spouse, with or without unmarried sons and daughters and father, mother and unmarried sister.

13. Self, spouse, with or without unmarried sons and daughters and otherrelatives 4 5

14. Self (male) unmarried brother/sister/widowed fathers/widowed mother/other relatives 4 7 11

p5. Self, spouse, married son, son's wife, unmarried son and son's daughter 12 13

116. Self, (female) widowed father and other relatives 2

TOTAL 17 83 100

TABLE-U.50

Distribution of households by Migration Status (Last residence) and size by household

Household size Migration status by Last

residence r-----------------------~--------------.------~

(1)

A. Non-migrant (Born in the village including those who does not have place of last residence).

8. Migrant

I. Last residence outside the village butin the same sub-division Rural. Urban

.... II. Other sub-division of the district Rural. Urban Rural. Urban

o 2-5

(2) (3)

10

2 38

14 10 4

1 1

6-10 11 and above Total

(4) (5) (6)

5 15

39 6 85

5 2 21 3 1 14 2 1 7

2 3 2

1

45

2 3 4 5 6

III. Other district of the state 2 1 4

Ca) North Tripura district

Rural.

Urban

(b) South Tripura district 1 2 1 4

Rural. 1 3

Urban 1

IV. Other States 1

Assam 1

V. Born in other Country . 21 30 4 56

Bangladesh 1 21 30 4 56

TOTAL 2 48 44 6 100

TABLE-U.S 1

Educational attainment by migration status. Age and Sex

Educational attaiment r- -.

Migration Status Age-group Total Number studying Number not studying r- r- r .,

p M F P M F P M F

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Total All ages 528 273 255 195 102 93 333 171 162 5- 9 63 30 33 45 19 26 18 11 7

10-14 81 43 38 76 40 36 5 3 2 15-19 79 42 37 57 31 26 22 11 11 20-24 48 29 19 16 11 5 32 18 14 25+ 257 129 128 1 1 256 128 128

Non-migrants All ages 250 152 98 161 84 77 89 68 21 5- 9 56 28 28 39 18 21 17 10 7

10-14 66 36 30 63 34 29 3 2 1 15-19 58 30 28 45 22 23 13 8 5 20-24 28 22 6 13 9 4 15 13 2 25+ 42 36 6 1 1 41 3S 6

Migrants. All ages 278 121 157 34 18 16 244 103 141 5- 9 7 2 5 6 1 5 1

10-14 15 7 8 13 6 7 2 1 15-19 21 12 9 12 9 3 9 3 6 20-24 20 7 13 3 2 1 17 5 12 25+ 215 93 122 215 93 122

The distribution of workers and non-workers for both males and females classified by migration status

46

is presented in table II.52.

TABLE-II.52

Distribution of workers and non-workers by sex and migration status

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Activity Status

(1)

Non-workers

Workers

Total

N.B.-Bracketed figures are the percentages.

The table reveals that there is a significant differ­ence in regard to proportion of workers between the migrant and non-migrant workers. The non-workers in the category of non-migrant is much more (81.14 percent) compared to migrants (61.67 percent). Further the proportion of females workers in the category of non-migrant is much less ('3.12 percen:) compared to migrants (13.75 percent).

The distribution of non-workers by sex, age group and caste is presented in table J1.53. The table reveals that among 418 non-workers, 396 be-

Sex Migrants Non-migrants Total

(2) (3) (4) (5)

M 39 (30.71) 117 (69.23) 156 (52.70)

F 138 (86.25) 124 (96.88) 26~ (90.97)

p 177 (61.67) 241 (81.14) 418 (71.57)

M 88 (69.29) 52 (30.77) 140 (47.30)

F 22 (13.75) 4 (3.12) 26 (9.03)

P 110 (38.33) 56 (18.86) 166 (28.43)

M 127 (100.0) 169 (100.0) 296 (100.0)

F 160 (100.0) 128 (100.0) 288 (100.0)

p 287 (100.0) 297 (100.0) 584 (100.0)

longed to Hindu community and 22 belonged to Muslim community. Among Hindus, 205 persons belonged to Scheduled Caste 2. Scheduled Tribe and the remaining 189 in others category. The pro­portion of non-workers scheduled caste popUlation works out to be 75.65 percent. This i') marc so in respect of females of scheduled caste community where the percentage is 95.68 per<::ent. The propor­tion of non-workers in scheduled tribe community is much more less (25 percent only) compared to othet caste groups (68.98 percent) as well as scheduled caste.

47

If~ M I' M N 00 00 I' ~ N M I' '<t "'" M I' '<t '" N N '" '" N '<t M ~ "'" .... N M N \0 N .... N

I ~i' N Q"I N I' M I' N N .... ~ M I' '" M V "'" M N If) t-- \0

I ~ ;!; I' N M t-- N '" 1==

..-<

1<

I ~ ~ If) Q"I ... on Q"I 00 N Q"I 0 -< Q"I \0 ~ 00 00 N V N 00 I r~

M 0 -< Q"I 0 0:> 00 ..... 00 on If) ..... ... .... N .....

1 l M N "'" 1

(

I~ ~ Q"I 00 N "'" ..... ..... M ..... ..... N ..... ..... ..... Q"I ..... .....

i{~ Q"I t-- t-- N N N ..... t--I

Go

I t; .. I~ u \0 00 N "'" .... 00 '" ""' .... N .... N \0

-.... 10:>

N N

= t:>. Q

I ::l L 0

~

lr--M ~

Go < .... 0:> M 0 \0 V .... N '" 00 00 N ..... V M "'" .... "<t" ..... Q"I

'" N ID ""' N \0 ..... .... ..... .... ""' c:i:

..... ..... 1:1

:II ~ <l'I Go .....

~ !>II I ~ \0 .... \0 0 ... .... .... ..... If) 00 V) V) .... .... .... ..... ""' N ""' .. V) N ..... N V)

~ >.

If)

.Q ....

'" .. Eo< ~

IS '" Q"I Q"I ~ '" '" N ""' 0 \0 M t-- N '" V '" I' ""' N

~ t-- 00 ..... '" N N .... ' ..... Q"I ll: ..... ..... ell Q l z ... ( Q

= \0 "'" ~ Q 0 N 0 00 v If) ""' N I' V) N ..... N

i ~ v 0 ID ... ..... ..... ..... .Q "C .i Q '<t ....

IJ ~ -< ~ I' 0 ~ ..... ..... .... ~ M 0 00 N .... M N N ..... V) \0

M

'" """ ..... N .... Q"I

I I 00 I' 0 \0 N -< 0\ If) '" N If) V N V .... '" 0

I 00

""" M

I~ N '" 0 v ""' ..... 00 ..... N ..... 0 ..... -< N

I L L

OJ t; os U ~ os

-= ~ '" '" '" os os ~ 0

I~ a .0 '0 .a ~~ ... ....

:§ ~ os OJ OJ oj OJ ::;; ,.J

"l::I ,...

::l "1::1'1: -5 c: .~ ,c "'" ..;

~ ~ ..:: en ... ·s OJ "0 OJ ::l ~ </) ;.a os ~S cO en ~

'0> >. ... oj E ... Q cO .f; OJ ~ 0

I {l .~ ;.a u 8 :a {l~ " ~ ;.., oj ,c ·a 0 00 .<:: (;j cF.l

Z <II ::l ... .... en ..:: OJ ,c .;; :; 0 ;; I:-<

'" -; .... OS OS '" OS OS OS ... OS u ~

j - '"'" ~ ~ z ~ 0 '" '"'" ...;! ~ cF.l ~ ~ 0 ~ < cF.l 0 ~ ::t;

....., ""'" :1 < r55 t)l C

G Census/90 S

M<?st of the non-working persons seeking employ­ment I.e. 23 out of 34 persons are in the age-group of 20-34.

Table II. 54 gives the distribution of non-workers by age-group and nature activity in 100 surveyed households. The table reveals that among 156 non­~vorking males, 101 are students followed by 32 mfants, II dependents, 9 unemployed, 2 retired and

48

1 disabled. In respect of female non-workers, as one would except the highest proportion i.e. 118 females out of 262 females, if of those engaged in household duties followed by students 88, infants 38, dependents 12 and unemployed (seeking for employment) 6.

The number of persons seeking employment where employment sought is in consonance and not in con­sonance with present employer may be seen from following table :-

TABLE-II. 54

Occ:upation consonance of persons seeking employment with present employment.

Nature of employment.

Peon .

Homeguard.

Teacher.

Clerk ..

P.W.D. Worker.

Business ..

Weaving (privately).

Nurse.

Demonstrator (School)

Agriculture Deptt.

Shop Assistant.

Accounts Clerk.

Total:

Age-group

~~------- -~--

----------~---------

TABE-Il.5S

Employment sought ~--------------~-------------~ Consonance with pre- Not in consonance

sent employees with present employees

2

3

8

3

7

2

2

2

2

1

18

Distribution of non- Workers by ago-group, sex and reasons.

Total Non- Full time Household Dependent workers student only ~_A-~ ~_~_~ ~_~ ~-A-~

M FM FM FM F

Infant Disabled Retired Seeking for employment

~_.A.-.---. ~--..A._--. ~_~_-. .--.A-~

M FM FM FM F

---------~-----------------------

f) -14 15-19 20--24 25-29 30-39 40-49 50--59 60+.

Total:

2

95 34 16

8

156

3

104 34 16 23 29 19 15 22

262

4 5 6 7 8 9

58 61 1 5 32 24 9 11 3 9

23 28 19 14 15 6

-----_- -~ ---"_- ~-----

101 88 118 11

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

4 32 38 2 5 4 1

1

1 7 2

-- - --~------~--

12 32 38 I - 2 9 6

Distribution of households by migration status and relation with head of household i;s presented in table II. 54. The table reveals that most of the migrant households i.e. 37 are related with head of household as self, spouse, unmarried son and daughter.

49

Table II.56 presents the distribution of persons staying outside by level of educatipn and relation with head of household. Majority of persons i.e. 20 out of 66 are illiterate followed by 17 persons with education level upto middle.

TABLE-II. 56

Distribution of persons staying outside by level of education and relationship with head of household.

- ------ .-----

Relationship with head of household Educational level r-

Father Mother Son Daughter Brother Sister Husband Total

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 ----------

Illiterate 6 7 3 3 20

Literate Non-formal. .

Literate Formal.. 2 3

Primary. 3 3 2 9

Middle 9 5 2 17

Matriculation/Secondary. 3 2 6

Higher Secondary /Intermediate/Pre-University. 2 4 7

Non-technical equal to degree.

diploma or certificate not

Technical diploma or certificate not equal to degree.

Graduate degree other than technical degree

Post Graduate degree other than technical degree

--------------------

Total: 10 9 20 2 18 3 4 66

--- -- ------------

51

CHAPTER III

Economy

This chapter presents the discussion on the vari­ous economic aspects of the village life with reference to the avai~able economic resources, the extent and manner of their utilisation, factors influencing the economic life of the village, the various economic activ~ties in the village and the nature of change in them. This will enable to assess the present economy of the village, the changes, if any, that have taken place and the trends of change for the future.

Economjc Resources:-

In the Indian rural scene, land is the principal economic asset of the people. According to 1981 census, out of the 1 064 total workers recorded in village Bikramnagar, 460 workers were engaged in agriculture. Of there 460 agricultural workers, 382 were cultivators and 78 were working as agricultural

labourers. Thus, the percentage of workers engaged in agriculture to total workers in 1981 was 43.23 per cent. The other economic .resources include fish­ing, trade and commerce and tea garden.

Land:-

The villagers consider land as the most valuable of all assets and is the principal source of employ­ment and livelihood in the village. On the social side, the size of land holding of a person or homehold decides and determines the social status to a certain extent.

Land utilisation:-

The total land of the village Bikramnagar as per revenue record is 744.62 hectares. As such the pattern of land utilisation as obtained in 1981 Census was as follows :-

TABLE-m.l

Pattern of land utilisation (in hectares).

Land use

1

Forest .•

Irrigated

Unirrigated

Cultivable waste.

Area not cultivable.

Total:. •

The above table reveals that about 78.01 percent of land is under cultivation including both irrigated and unirrigated land. There is no area under forest. However, 14.07 percent of the total area is not available for cultivation. The agricultural lands are mostly possessed by the villagers according to the tenural status. The area under culturable waste is mostly owned by the Government.

A comparative picture of the land use data of the village Bikramnagar alongwith other surrounding villages within the area of influence of the same town

Area (in hectares)

2

328.73

252.16

58.96

104.77

744.62

Percentage area

3

44.15

33.86

7.92

14.07

100.00

at di~erent distances and belonging to different size group of population may be seen in Table III. 2. The table reveals that the proportion of irrigated land in Bikramnagar (328.73 hectares) village is signifi­cantly high compared to other neighbouring villages except Bishalgarh where the area under cultivation is 521.17 hectares but the same is ~ot very much different in regard to the proportion of irrigated area. The proportion of cultij\'able waste area is also less (7.92 percent) compared to village Btshalgarh (11. 08 percent).

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52

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Land Reforms Act. etc.

Tripura Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act came into force in April, 1961. The act contained provisions for many socio-economk reforms like abolitoin of inter.mediarje~, giving security to the undertenants, puttmg, cellmg on land holdings etc. The act provided for lixation of ceiling at different lands varying between 2 and 7.20 hectares for families of different sizes. Ceiling has been fixed at 2 standard hectares for an adult unmarri~d person, 4 standard hectares for having a family consisting more than 5 members. Ceiling limit can be raised by 0.60 hectares for each additional member subject to a maximum of 7.20 standard hectares.

Size alld distribution of land ~oldings: The study of the size and distribution of land

holdings can be made from two angles, namely economic and social. On the economic side, the disparity in the distribution of land holdings as between different households as well as different caste refiects several features of power, prestige and leader­ship. Besides this the type and quantity of crops depend to a large extent upon the size of holdings of the various households. For example a household owning few hectares of land can ill-afford to grow

53

anything but food crops for ilts own consuptio~, while another household owning more land can, if other reasons are available, take to the raising _of cash crops too. On the social side, the leadershIp pattern m the village, broadly speakin&, i~ ~losely related to the size of land holding of the mdlVldual.

In 1986 survey, it was reported that among 100 surveyed households, 52 households. possessed land. However, the size of land holding lP respcet of 49 households was Jess than 1 hectare and in respect of remaining 3 households, it was in the range of 1 to 2 .. 4 hectares. The distribution of households by ethnic category of owners and average size of land possessed is presented in table II1.3. Among 52 households, 49 are Hindus and 3 Muslims. However, among the households possessing land 45 are Hidus and 1 house­hold is Muslim. There is no household belonging to Scheduled Tribe community. The percentage of such households belonging to scheduled caste communities is more compared to households belonging to other castes. A comparative picture of land possessed owned and leased in by religion and caste may be seen in table Ill. 4. The table reveals that the concentration of land is with households belonging to Mahishyadas (16) followed by Jalia Kaibarta (12) and Laskar (I 1) .

TABLE-III.3

Distribution of hguseholds by ethnic category of owner or land.

Caste

Jalia Kaibarta ..

Mahishyadas.

Mali.. .

Kayastha.

Laskar.

Saha ..

Baidya.

Muslim.

Total: .

The table reveals that the average size of land possessed is highest for Baidyas (1.26) followed by

Saba (1.04).

Number of Average size .of land households possessed per house­

hold (hectares).

2 3

12 0.46

16 0.56

0.96

7 0.58

11 0.63

1.04

1.26

3 0.49

52 0.58

54

TABLE-llI.4

Land possessed owned and leased in by religion, caste_

Religion/Ca~te

------~--------- ----- ---------

A. Hindu.

Scheduled Caste.

J alia Kaibart a

Mahishyadas.

Mali.

Scheduled Tribe.

Others.

Kayastha.

Laskar.

Saha.

Baidya.

B. Muslim.

Total. :

--------------~--

--~-~--~

------

Total Land possesd

(hectares)

2

28.83 (49)

15.47 (29)

5.54 (12)

8.97 (16)

0.96 (1)

13.36 (20)

4.04 (7)

7.00 (11)

1.04 (1)

1.28 (1)

1.48 (3)

30.31 (52)

Land owned (hectares)

3 --------------

26.19 (45)

12.83 (25)

5.30 (12)

6.57 (12)

0.96 (1)

13.36 (20)

4.04 (7)

7.00 (ll)

1.04 (1)

1.28 (1)

: 0.04 (1)

26.23 (46)

Land leased in (hectares)

4

.2.56 (6)

2.56 (6)

0.16 (1)

2.40 (5)

1.44 (3)

4.00 (9)

-.-

The earlier study conducted in 1961 reported that there were 6 t households out of 308 households who did not possess any land at all. This shows that over a period of about 20 years, percentage of household possessing no land has increased which may be attributed to disintegration or breakage in family structure vis-a-vis small holding size. Tt is true from the fact that in 1961 study, it is reported that there were 45 households possessing land less than one hectare of which 34 households did not utilise less than one hectare of land for cultivation.

Agriculture Soils:

The soils of the vlbge can I)e classified ;-IS loamv and the colour varies from dark brown to drak grevish. The texture of soils is medium to fine and soil is generally acidic.

Croping pattern :

The croping pattern nas not been changed in the village during the last 20 years. Agricultural land is mainly under two crops. Three crops are seldom grown by the cultivators. One crop is sown in July­August and harvested j,n October-November and an~ther is sown in March-April which is harvested in June-JUly. Cultivation of paddy (about 60 per cent of area under cultivation) is the main crop of the viHage. The output per kani has increased. The low land area is utilised for 'Aush' and 'Boro' cultiva­tion during rainy season. 'Arnan' also grown here in abundance. However, jute and wheat crop are not common. Pulses, Mustard, Sugarcane and winter vegetables are also produced. Based on survey information, yield consumptipn and marketing per cultiv:1tion household by castc has been presented in tahle TIT,). The table reveals that yield per cultiv:1-ting household in households belonging to Mahishya­das caste is much more compared to other households.

Tools and implements:

The tools and implements used by the farmers in the village are most common and traditional one. It include plough (Langal), harrow (Mai), spade (Kodali), Sickle (Kaste), khunti, yoke, etc. These are manufactured by the local artisans and are used by most of the villages. It was observed in the surveyed households that all the cultivating households were possessing plough, yoke, ladder, spade and sickle. Moreover the cultivating households also reported that pump machine, power tiller and spray machine were possessed by 3, 2 and 7 household respectively.

55

Bullock cart are not there in the village. However, the agriculture produce is carried out on head load, cycle and rickshaw. The local V.L.W. office helps in getting agricultural tools, chemical fertilisers, high yielding seeds, medicines, etc. from agriculture office on subsidised rate. Irrigational facilities are provided by the minor irrigation scheme. Presently 328.73 hectares of land are under minor irrigation wi~hin the village.

The agricultural produce viz., rice, jute, etc. is marketed in the local market which is an important trading centre in Tripura,

TABLE m.s Yield Consumption and Marketing per Cultivating Household by Caste.

Caste Crops cultivated

1 2

1. JaliaKaibarta Paddy

Wheat

Til

2. Mahishyadas Paddy

3. Mali . Paddy

4. Kayastha Paddy

5. Laskar. Paddy

Wheat

6. Saha • Paddy

7. Baidya. Paddy

8. Muslim Paddy

Animal Husbandry and poultry rearing:

Like land livestock constitutes one of the major economic resources of the viHagers. It is reported that the average yield of milk per day per cow is 5 litres and goat is 2 litres only. The production of milk in the village is about 300 litres per day. Abollt twenty per cent of the milk production is consumed in the producer household as hQusehold consumption 6 Ce"sllsj90

Yield per cultivating household

(in quintal)

3

21.77

3.00

0.10

34.01

25.00

31.82

23.60

0.75

44.00

20.00

24.06

Consumption per

cultivating household (in quintal)

4

18.49

18.01

25.00

27.25

12.19

0.37

20.00

20.00

14.06

Marketing per

cultivating household (in quintal)

5

3.28

3.00

,0.10

16.00

4.57

11.41

0.38

24.00

10.00

and the rest is sold in the local market as well as in other markets. It ill estimated that about 2500 cattle, including 1 000 goats and 1 0 sheeps and 2000 poultry are reared by the villagers. A comparison with 1961 study report as presented below reveals that much progress has been made in regard to deve­lopment of c~ttle ~nd poultry rearing. An important development In thIS regard may be attributed to the rearing of pigs which was not reported in the earlier study. '

9

56

TABLE llT.6

Cattle and Poultry !HlSSt''i5Cd hy the Hvusehold (1961 Survey).

Cattle

------------ --... --~--

1. Drought Bullock /Buffalows

2. Cows • 3. Goats • 4. Sheeps.

Total: ------------------

Pig rearing in the village is not much (40). How­ever, no sCil!ntific method of rearing is adopted for the purpose of rearing. Medical fa<;ilities are avail­able from the local veterinary dispensary.

Trade and Commerce:

There are 5 markets in the village including one main market known as 'Sekerket Bazar'. It is located on the main road side Agartala-Udaipur road and held every Monday and Friday. The 4 important markets are also within the radius of 8 kilometres. Kanchanmala Bazar which is located towards east at a distance of 4 kms. helds every Sunday and Thurs­day. Champamura Bazar is about 3 kms. towards South East helds every Wednesday and Saturday. Bishalgarh Bazar which is about 7 Kms. towards South helds every Saturday. Madhupur Bazar is at a distance of 5 kms. towards South-West helds every Tuesday and Thursday.

The local market has about 100 permanent shops, 25 temporary structures with katcha plinth and sungrass roof. All types of essential commodities viz.,

Number

2

246 367 141

10

764

Poultry

3

Duck Geese

Fowl

Total

Number

4

102

4 130

-------236

groceries, cereals, stationery articles, medicine, utensils, clothes, readymade garments etc. are sold in permanent shops. Rice, pulses, vegetables ctc. are sold in the temporary shops. The local Mahajans generally purchase the agricultural (viz. paddy, rice, jute, fried rice, chira, etc.) products of the village. Goats poultry are also sold i~ the market. The outside customers come regularly on hat days and purchase all these things. They have contact with other wholesellers of Agartala town. Rice, meat, fish vegetables, eggs, milk, fruits, etc. are obtained from the local village including adjacent villag-;;s situated at maximum distance of 5-7 Kms. The village weavers sell their products, viz., Sari, Dhuti, Lungi, Gamcha (Napkin) within the village market. Most of the production are meant for their own consumption and a small proportion (20%) of surplus articles are sold. They produce annually about 200 Dhuti and Saris, 1000 Lungi and Gamcha. There are also a good number of tea stalls, sweetmeat shops, saloons, tailor­ing shops, etc. at the village market.

The distribution of establishments by type and number of workers may be seen in table III.

TABLE III.7

Distribution of Differint Shops/Establishments in tbe Village Market with Number of Workers.

Serial No.

1

Number of Units

2 -------------~------

1. Paddy Husking Mill 2. Cycle Repairing . 3. Watch Repairing. . . . 4. Rodio/Transistor repairing including

electrical goods, amplifiers ,etc. S. Wooden Furniture . 6. Photo Framing and Studio 7. Tailoring . 8. Gold Silversmithy . . 9. Sweetmeat including Tea Stall

10. Making and Repairing of Shoes 11. Medicine 12. Cloth. . . . . . . . 13. Pan, Bidi Shop. . . . . . 14. Grocery, inc!uding Stationery Goods. Utensils, etc. 15. Drv fish

tli. L 1 lmdry 17. Rice shop. . 18. Hair Cutti ng Saloon

~-------- - --- - .­~--~-~ ~--~ - --- ~- - -- - - - -~----

Total: _----~-- _- ----- _---- -- --------

No. of ' Establishment

3

3 2 3 2

2 2

10 3

10 2 4 2

10 15

2 2 5 5

84

No. of Workers

4

7 4 3 2

4 2

25 6

30 4 7 4

10 30 10 2

10 10

170

It reveals from the statement above that the total number of shops ana workers in the market are 84 and 170 respectively. Of which grocery shops are 15 in number with workers (30). Next comes to sweetmeat and tailoring shop with 30 and 25 workers respectively. All types of shops I establishments are centrally located. Most of the shops remain open from 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

There is a market committee in the village. is headed by a Secretary, Shri Somendra Das, a dry fish merchant, who controls the m.arket with othel two members. All members are Jalia Kaibarta b~ caste.

Fishing:

Agiculturc and fishing go side by side in the village and most of the villagers have subsidiary occu­pation in fishing with their main occupation as agri­culture. The fishermen catch various kinds of fish such as Rohit, Katla, Mrigal, Curfew, Sole, Boal and other small fishes (Kai, Magur, Singi, Tengra, Pabda, Puti, Khalisha, etc.) from the river, ponds charas, etc. with the help of different types of fishing nets (viz., Bar, Konai, Kheya, Khara, etc.) about 25 kgs. is sold in daily market.

Industry:

There is only one major industry in the village which is known as 'Malabati, Tea Estate'. It is located on the Eastern side of the main road. It is an old tea garden which was established about 6:, years ago.. At present it is owend by Shri lyotilal BhattachafJee of Agartala who purchased this garden about 12 years ago. It has an area of 188 acres of whkh 112 are under plantation. About 13,950-Kgs. an~ 15,275 Kgs. of tea were produced jn the factory dunng 1985 and 1986 respectively. The garden is managed by a Manager with 4 other personnel. There are 28 permanent and 70 casual labourers in the garden. The rate of wage of the labour is Rs. 1.35 per day with ration at subsidy rate (i.e. Rs. 0.70 per Kg. rice and Rs. 0.60 per Kg. wheat) for adult male and female. The payment of wages is made at the end of each week. Every Tuesday is a weekly rest day for labourers. The workers get puja bonus from the management. It varies from Rs. 200 to Rs.. 30~ according to wages· Rent free katcha reSidentIal houses for labourers are provided by the authority. Medical expenses are also borne by the management. There is one Sardar who look after the garden including the all round development of the ~orker~. ~he gar?en has only one rolling maChljlle, . wlth~nng, rollmg and frying process of tea are practlsed III ~he factory. Tea is packed in the boxes and sent dIrect to Calcutta and Guwahati for

57

sale. Biswakarmapuja and Kalipuja are also held in the garden premises.

Other occupalion include goldsmith, carpenters blacksmith, casual labourers, labourers for house repairing, construction, tcachers or workers in services. The daily average wage rate of casual labourers, is from Rs. 25 to Rs.30 for carpenter Rs. 30 to Rs.35. All thes,e labourers belong to different community but most of them are Namasudra, Ka~barta and Muslims.

Economic activities and nature of changes:

Natural resources available in any region largely play a vital- role in the economip activities of the population residing in that region. As a matter of fact, village Bikramnagar may be treated as econo~ mically backward but soci~lly forward village. In­dustrialisation and trade and commerce are in the developing stage in Agartala, the State capital of Tripura which jp very close to the village resulting in changes in livelihood pattern over a period of time.

Livelihood classes:

In 1961 Census, a person was classified as worker, if engaged in seasonal work and worked for at least an hour a day throughout the greater part of the working season. If engaged in any trade, profession or service, the basis of work was satisfied, if the person was employed during any p~rt of the fifteen days preceeding the enumeration. Of course, the concept of work covered also supervision and direction of work.

At the time of 1971 Census, only three person who participated in any economically productive work as their main activity had been treated as workers. On the other hand, who for most of his time was engaged in any economically non productive work had from the point of view of main activity I been considered as a non worker.

The ~::I61 ,-,cnsus classified the population accord· ing to main workers, marginal workers and non­workers and the classification of main workers was restricted to only four categories viz., cultivators, agricultural labourers, workers engaged in household industry and other workers.

A comparison of the livelihood class structure returned during 1961, 1971 and 1981 Censuses enables to highlight the shift of population amongst the various livelihood classes in the village during the decades 1961-71 and 1971-81. Table IIl-8 shows the working population of village Bikramnagar according to main economic activities as in 1961, 1971 and 1981 censuses.

58 TABLE 111.8

Working Population of Village Bikrumnagar to Main Economic Activities as ill 1961, 1971 and 1981 Censuses. -~.- --.-.-------~~---.-- -~---.------~---- --_------ -~--.-- ..

1961 Census 1971 Census 1981 Census Economic Activites ,- _~_._..A. ___ --.. r- ____ ...A.. __ ----. ,- --_-"-------,

F P

2

I. Total Population 3110

(0) Total Main Worker 946

(i) Agriculture 543

(jj) Household Industry 72

(iii) Other Workers 331

(b) Marginal Workers

(c) Non-workers 2164

According to 1961 Census, out of a total popula­tion of 3110 persons, accounting for l619 males and 1491 females, 946 persons (30.42 per cent) compnsmg 829 males and 117 females were recorded as workers and 2164 persons (69.58 pcr cent) consisting of 790 males and 1374 females as non-workers. Among the workers, 543 persons were engaged in agriculture either as cultivator or as agriculture labourer, 72 persons (37 males and 35 females) were engaged in household industry and the remaining 331 persons (282 males and 42 females) were engaged in other activities, such as trade and commerce (91 males, 6 females), manufacturing other than household industry ( 12 males and 23 females), construction \ 3 males), livestock rearing (22 males and 7 females) including forestry, fishing, hunting and plantation, orchards and allied activities and other services (147 males and 13 females).

At the time of 1971 Census, the total population of village Bikramnagar was recorded as 3748 per­sons (1925 males and 1823 females) of whom 896 persons (868 males and 28 females) were recorded as workers and the remaining 2852 persons (1057 males and 1795 females) as non-workers, accounting for 23.91 per cent and 76.09 per cent., respectively. Among the workers, 709 males and 20 females were engaged in agriculture, 14 males in household industry and the remaining 153 in other activities which incl~ded trade and commerce (28 males), manufacturmg other than household industry (15· males), livestock rearing (17 males and 6 females) including forestry, fishing, hunting and plantation, orchards and allied activities, construction (1 male), transport and communication (3 males) and other services ( 81 males and 2 females) .

Thus there appears variation in the pattern of ,occupation structure between 1961 and 1971 parti­cularly for females as the work participation rate for females has abruptly declined.

M F P M F P M ;.-.--- ------_ ...

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

1619 1491 3748 1925 1823 4605 2379 2226

829 117 896 868 28 1064 999 65

510 33 729 709 20 460 443 17

37 35 14 14 30 24 6

232 49 153 145 8 574 532 42

25 18 7

790 1374 2352 1057 1795 3516 1362 2154

The total popUlation of village Bikramnagar in 1981 was 4605 persons (2379 males and 2226 females) comprising 1064 persons (999 males and 65 females) recorded as main workers, 3561 persons (1362 males and 2154 females), as non-worker and 25 persons (18 males and 7 females) as marginal workers. The main workers at the 1981 Census accounted for 23.10 per cent of the total population. Among the main workers, 460 person (443 males and 17 females) were engaged in agriculture, 30 persons (24 males and 6 females) were engaged in household industry and the remaining 574 persons (532 males and 42 females) were doing other work which included livestock rearing, trading, transport and other services both professional and personal services.

It will thus be seen that work participation rate received almost static between 1971 (23.91 per cent) and 1981 (23.10 per cent). In the case of workers engaged in agriculture (both as cultivator and as agriculture labourers), however, the work participa­tion rate showed a decline between 1961 and 1981. Another interesting feature to note here is that while 72 workers (37 males and 35 females) were engaged in household industry at the time of 1961 Census, 14 workers (all males) were reported to be engaged in this category at the 1971 Census which again increased to 30 (24 males and 6 females) in 1981 Census. Persons engaged in other \\lurk also showed a steep rise at the 1981 Census when 574 persons were recorded in this category as against 153 persons in 1971 Census.

The overall picture that emerges is the significant increase in the number of workers in household industry and other sectors of economy which is indi­cative of pressure on land and meagre agricultural resources in the village.

Another important feature of participation in work in village Bikramnagar is that role of women

in so far as the gainful work other than household work is concerned is almost negligible as per 1981 Census. They have been return(;d as non-workers. They are mostly confined to the household work and are not allowed to participate even in agricuIturHl activities.

Workers by age, sex and caste:

The participation of workers in ditIerent cccupa­tions or in other works the division of labour in the lndian rural scene is governed by many factors like caste, age, sex and social status. Monopoly of occu­pations by certain castes is common from times im­memorial not only in Tripura but in other slates too. One such example is the Jalia Kaibarta, a scheduled caste community in Tripura, mainly engaged in fishing industry.

In the past the potential contradiction between the interests of the agriculturist and non-agriculturists population in the village or the tribal and the non­tribal population in the villages of Tripura were held in check by the power of land holders and by the lack of alternatives for the weaker caste people. But now the system is weakening, primarily because of the increased of opportunities for employment in other fides, the non-agriculturist population in the village is beginning to take on aspects of proletariat with its own special problems and its own sense of

growing power. Furthermore, there are no restric~ tions that c~rl~lil1 traditional occupations practised by some castes should not be taken up by any other caste. However, some jobs are defined as 'masculine' and some other as 'feminine'. Social status also deter~ mines the type of work. A man of renowned social status may not work in the agricultural field or do any kind of physical labour. Age as criteria for divi­sion of labour is always there in any society.

The burden of maintaining the families on young and middle aged persons while the older generation acts in a supervising capacity. In the domestic sphere, it is the responsibility of a man to maintain the mem-

"pers of the household by his hand work. On the ~ther hand, the girls, particularly after the attainment of puberty, are trained in household duties and arts. The housewife is responsible for cooking, cleaning of the house and looking after the children, etc.

Table III.9 gives the distribution of workers by sex, caste and broad age-groups according to survey data of village Bikramnagar. Table shows that of the 166 workers reported in the 100 surveyed households, 140 were males and: only 26 were females. The total population in these surveyed households was 584 per­son:, (296 males and 288 females). . Thus while the overall work participation rate according to survey data was 28.42 per cent, it was 47.30 per cent in the case of males and only 6.95 per cent for females.

TABLE Ill.9

Religion/Caste

H1NDV Scheduled Caste Jalia Kaibarta Mahishyadas Muchi Namasudra Mali Gar

Scheduled Tribe Munda Others Laskar Kayastha Saha Brahmin Karrnakar • Banik Ghosh Baidya Acharjcc Sutradhar Goala Muslim

TOTAL

Distribution of Workers by Age-group. Sex, Religion and Caste.

---~---

Age-group r ~.----____________ ~

15-59 60 and above r--·..A..--_~ , ____ -"-___ _

P M F P M F .......

2 3

134 110 55 49 25 22 24 22 2 2 1 1 1 1 2 J

6 4 73 57 17 16 18 15 14 1l 2 1 3 1 3 3 3 3 2 1 3 3 7 4 8 6

142 115

4

24 6 3 2

2 16

1 3 3 1 2

2 1

3 2

26

5

23 11

7 2 1

12 3 2 I 2

1 1

1 1 I

24

6

23 11

7 2 I

12 3 2 1 2

J 1

1 1 1

24

7

--------_--_._- - ----.---~

Total r ~ ~

r-----.A.----~ p M F

R 9 10

157 133 24 66 60 6 32 29 3 26 24 2 3 3 1 1 2 2 2 1 1

6 4 2 85 69 16 20 19 1 20 17 3 15 12 3 4 3 1 3 1 2 3 3 4 4 3 1 2 1 1 4 4 8 5 3 9 7 2

166 140 26

The distribution of workers by caste engaged in cultivation and non-cultivation is presented in Table II. 10.10. The table reveals that the proportion of workers belonging to scheduled caste engaged in agricultural occupations IS high (26 out of 66) compared to workers belonging to scheduled tribe community where it is zero and the workers belonging to other caste

60

group (12 out of 75). However, the proportion of workers engaged in occupation other than agriculture is high (73 out of 85) person in other caste group compared to scheduled caste where it is 40 out of 66 persons. All the workers of scheduled tribe com­munity are engaged in occupation other than agri­culture.

TABLE I1I.I0

Distribution of Workers by Sex, Caste and broad occupation category: 1986 Survey.

Occupation Categ.s Agriculture

r- -"------, P M F

-------- - ---------------

Hindu

Sched/l/ed Caste

1. Jalia Kaibarta .

2. Mahishyadas

3. Muchi

4. Namasudra

5. Mali

6. Gor

Scheduled Tribe

7. Munda

Others •

8. Laskar

9. Kayastha

10. Saba

11. Banik

12. Brahmin

13. Ghosh

14. Karmakar

15. Goala

16. Sutradhar

17. Baidya

18. Acharjee

19. Muslim.

2

38

26

13

12

12

8

3

4

3

36

25

12

12

11

7

3

4

4

2

Others r---,----.A.----,

p

5

119

40

19

14

3

2

6

6

73

12

17

15

3

4

4

3

8

4

2

5

M

6

97

35

17

12

3

4

4

S8

12

14

12

3

3

4

1

5

4

3

F

7

22

5

2

2

2

2

15

3

3

2

3

2

2

------------------------

TOTAL 42 40 2 124 100 24

All workers ,- -"-----~

P M

8

157

66

32

26

3

2

2

6

6

85

20

20

15

3

4

4

3

8

4

3

9

166

9

133

60

29

24

3

2

4

4

69

19

17

12

3

3

4

1

5

4

1

7

140

F

10

24

6

3

2

1

2

2

16

1

3

3

2

3

2

1

2

26

Out of a total sample population of 586 persons in 1986 survey (296 males and 290 females) or a little over one-fourth (28.33 per cent) of the total population has been recorded as workers. The work participation rate is about 47 per cent among males and 9 per cent among females, indicating a big dis­parity between male and female participation rates. Lack of employment opportunities coupled with low degree of literacy are the major factors attributable to the low female participation rate in the village with the increase in population, the pressure on land is heavy and the women folk have been rendered un­employed. Among the ripe aged persons in the age group 60 and above, the work participation rate is about 75 per cent among males. No female has been reported as worker in this age-group.

, A comparison with 1961 study reveals that work

61

participation rate in 1986 has slightly decreased for males i.e. from 51.30 per cent in 1961 to 47.30 per cent in 1986. However, the female work participa­tion rate has almost double i.e. from 4.67 per cent in 1961 to 8.97 per cent in 1986. Consequently the proportion of non-working males and females show an increasing and decreasing trend respectively.

As mentioned earlier, the number of female wor­kers in village Bikramnagar engaged in economically productive work as main workers is very small (65 only) . Twelve of them work as agricultural labourer, six in household industry and the remaining fOItytwo in other category.

The comparative figures of work participation rates according to survey data of 1961 and 1986 are sum­marised in Table III.lI.

TABLE m.I1

Work participation rates (per cent) according to survey data.

Workers Non-workers r- >"-.-----, r-

Age-group Persons Males Females Persons Males Females

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)

1986 Survey

0-14 1 1 201 95 106 (0.50) (1.04) (-) (99.50) (98.96) (HX)'()O)

15-59 141 115 26 189 53 136 (42.73) (68.45) (16.05) (57.27) (31.55) (83.95)

60 and above 24 24 30 8 22 (44.44) (75.00) (-) (55.56) (25.00) (100.00)

All ages 166 140 26 420 156 264 (28.33) (47.30) (8.97) (71.67) (52.70) (91.03)

1961 SUNey

0-14 26 21 5 698 364 334 (3.59) (5.45) (1.47) (96.41) (94.55) (98.53)

15-59 404 374 30 385 31 354 (51.20) (92.35) (7.81) (48.80) (7.65) (92.19)

60 and above 41 40 1 65 18 47 (38.68) (68.97) (2.08) (61.32) (31.03) (97.92)

------

All ages 471 435 36 1148 413 735 (29.09) (51.30) (4.67) (70.91) ~(48.70) (95.33)

Note.-Bracketed figures are the percentage~.

Of the 26 female workers reported in the surveyed population 24 belonged to Hindu religion and 2 be­longed to Muslim religion. Among Hindus, 6 be­longed to scheduled caste community, 2 belonged to scheduled tribe community ana 16 belonged to the category of other caste group.

The table further reveals that of the 166 workers, 142 (116 males and 26 females) were in the age group 15-59 and 24 (all males) were ag;:;d 60 years and above. Among the workers aged 60 years and above, the highest number (7) belonged to Jalia Kaibarta followed by Laskar (3), Mahishyadas, Kayastha, Brahmin (2 each), and one each to Muchi,

62

Mali, Saha, Ghosh, Baidya, Sutradhar, Goala castes <lnd Muslim community.

Out of 26 persons seeking employment excluding non-workers engaged in household duties 8 persons are m;grants. Among them 2 persons ar~ seeking employment for more than 10 years, 3 from 6 to 9 years, 2 from 4 to 5 years and 1 person is seeking for less than 1 year.

Workers classified by sex and broad occupational category as obtained in 1961 and 1986 is presented in Table III. 12.

TABLE 1lI.12

Distribution of Womens by broad occupation Categories in 1986 Survey and 1961 Survey

1986 Survey 1961 Survey Occupation Category r- ..... r- ~

Persons Males Females Persons Males Females

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) -----

Cultivators 41 39 2 285 282 3 (24.70) (27.86) (7.69) (60.51) (64.83) (8.33)

Others 125 101 24 186 153 33 (75.30) (72.14) .. (92.31) (39.49) (35.17) (91.67)

---------

Total 166 140 26 471 435 36 (100.00) (100.00) (100.00) (100.00) (100.00) (100.00)

The table reveals that the proportion of workers in the category of cultivators has very much decreased from 60.51 in 1961 to 24.70 in 1986. This is more so for males as the proportion of female workers in the category of cultivators has remained more or Jess same i.e. 8.33 per cent in 1961 and 7.69 per cent in 1986. This shows that there is a remarkable shift

from agricultural occupation to non-agricultural occu­pations and may be attributed to high pressure or land.

The distribution of workers and non-workers fo] both males and females by level of education may bt seen in Table IU.13.

TABLE 1II.13

Distribution of workers and non-workers by level of education

Workers Non-workers Total Level of education r- ~ r- - r----.A--~

p M F P M F P M F

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

1. Illiterate 35 22 13 139 42 97 174 64 110 2. Literates

(a) Formal 10 7 3 15 5 10 25 12 13 (b) Non-formal 24 21 3 98 32 66 122 53 69

3. Primary 38 36 2 81 30 51 119 66 53 4. Middle 29 26 3 61 34 27 90 60 30 5. Matriculation/Secondary 8 7 1 16 8 8 24 15 9 6. Higher S~candary/lntermediate 11 10 1 5 2 3 16 12 4 7. Non-technical (Diploma) . 1 1 1 1 8. Technical (Diploma) 2 2 2 2 9. Graduate and above 9 9 2 2 11 11

---- ----.---------Total: 166 140 26 418 156 262 584 296 288

--- ----,_-------

The table reveals that among the workers, the pro­portion of workers with primary level of education is more compared to any other level of education. Non­workers include 156 males and 262 females. Further, the proportion of non-workers among the literate group is more with level of education upto middle.

63

Occupation distance and mode of transport to place of work:

The distribution of workers by distance from place of work is presented in Table III.14.

TABLE-III. 14

Distribution of workers by distance from place of work, 1986.

Distance (Km.)

Number of workers

----------------------------.----------.----_ (1)

Less than 1

1- 2

3- S

6-10

11-1S

16-25

26 and above

Total:

It may be seen that 103 out of 166 workers have their place of work less than within 1 Km· distance.

It is reported that the mode of transport to place of w?rk is mos~y on foot followed by cycle. For covenng lower dIstance, the mode of trans~rt is bus.

Employment depth and occupational diversity :

If different members of a household follow d~ffer~nt occupations, it is. termed as occupatipnal dIverSIty.. But before we discuss this aspect we may have an Idea of the employment depth i.e. the number of w()rkers in each household. Table III. 15 gi\ves the distribution of all the 100 surveyed househoJ8if'l

6 Census/90

(2)

103

8

10

12

29

3

166

by employment depth i.e. the number of workers in the household at the time of survey.

Table III. 15 reveals that i:n the case of 4 house­holds out of 100 surveyed households, there was no worker living with them in the village. Obviously the earinng members of these households were living outside the 'village and as such were not recorded as members of the households during the survey. In the case of 53 households i.e. more than one-half of the surveyed households, there was only one member each who was reported as worker. Another 26 households i.e. more than one-fourth of the surveyed households there were only two me:inbers each who reported as worker, 12 households three workers each, 4 households 4 workers each. One household reported as many as 8 workers.

10

64

TABLE-ID.IS

Distribution of Households by number of workers in the household and household size. --Number of workrs in the household

1 -~--..

o .

1 • '.

2 .

3 .

, ".' ,

Total .

r------1-3

2

3 (5)

12 (24)

3 (8)

(-)

18 (37)

3

4-6

1 (2)

29 (82)

13 (49)

4 (17)

,2 (10)

49 (160)

Household size .-A.

7-10

4

12 (75)

9 (SO)

5 (27)

1 (7)

27 (141)

11 and above

5

1 (7)

3 (22)

1 (8)

1 (1)

6 (38)

Total

6

4 (7)

53 (161)

26 (114)

12 (66)

4 (25)

1 (1)

100 (376)

""l

NJJ. :-Bracketed figures are the number oftotal adults in the household.

Table III. 16 shows the distribution of house­holds by occupation diversity on the basis of primary work of the main workers. The table reveals that occupational diversj~y have been observed in 24 households out of 100 surveyed households. Member of various communities are entering into new fields of their choice and there is no restriction in the change of occupation by a member in the changing envitronmeht. If fact, the pressure on land is forcing the members of cultivatiillg families to find other jobs. Likewise members of other communities find it difficult to make livelihood from their traditipnal occupations and do not mind the change in occupa­tion whenever and wherever they find an opportunity to earn.

Unemployment depth:

Non-availabHty of work is one of the major factors fQr~in~ me1l1b~rs of different ~mllnitie~ to

adopt different occupations, sometimes even an occupation which was considered below theiiI' caste status.

Table III. 16 gives the distribution of surveyed households according to the number of unemployed including those who are seeking work. The ipea of unemployment depth may be obtainC:(d on the basis of number of non-workers among the total number of adults. Accordingly, in the surveyed households it was found that 9 households out of 100 had one unemployed person and 3 households had two un­employed persons. Further among 383 adult persons. 15 persons were -seeking employment. The depth of unemployment therefore works to be 3.93 percent. ThiiB includes 11 persons who are students and are seeking employment. However, the number of persoJ1S seeking employment including. stucknts r~su1ts an un· e.nwloytn~Dt depth :6S ~.9.9 ,por<tent.

65

TABLE-m.16

Distrlbqtion or Households by mun occupational diversity (1986)

---.----~~-------------------------------------------

Description of occupational diversity

1

Cultavator, Hawker-Ringmeu (Petroleum). CultivatQf, Teacher-Nurse . Cultivator,Police Constable Cultivator, Business (retail) Cultivator, Agri Assistant . Cultivator, Jute mill maker Cultivator, Teacher . Cultivator, Owner Rice Mill Agri. Labourer, Flat Rice making Daily Labourer, Teacher . Daily Labourer, Driver Transport mason Daly labourer, Maid servant B\lSiuess (l:etail) Salesman . Business (retail) Eectrician Draughtsman. PoliC\l Constable Teacher, Nurse. Mechaaic (Motor) Owner. Rice Mill . Mason, Tailor . Paper Bag Maker-oommissitJn Agent Fisherman, Daily labourer Priest, Police Constable-Teacher. Hawker, Watchman Sweetmeat maker, Cleaner

Total

Co-Operative Society:-There is a Co-Operat~ve Society locality known

as 'Bikramnagar Matsajibi Samabaya Samity' in the market place. It was es,tablished in the year 1980. It has a pucca gooown with 30'X15' floor space built by the Voverlll1il.ent in the year 1982. The number 0{ total members of this soci,ety is 26 with one President and one Secretary. Most of the members are Jalia Kaibarta by Caste. Only 2 members are Namasudra by caste. The main function of the Soaiety all round development including distrihlltion of loans and nilon threads for making fishing nets to the members. It is learnt from the Society that Rs. 9,200 has been sanctioned so far by the Goernment. 25 Kg. nilon fishing threads were distributed to the members of the Society during 1986-87.

Bank :-

Bank: plays an ijlllportant part in helping the rural people. There are two ballks in the village. One

No. of households

2

No. c:A workers

3 -------------1 3 1 ;I

1 2 2 4 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 S 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2

2 1 2 1 2

1 2 1 2

1 3 1 2

1 2

24 52

is the branch of Tripura State Co.,()perative Ban~ and the other is Tripura Gramin Bank. Both are located on the eastern side of the main road which is very close to the market place.

Tdpura State Co-Operative Bank WaS established in the year 1977. The employees consist of one Branch Manager and other 3 subordinate staff. The Gramin Bank was established in 1980. There are 6 employees including one Manager in tbis BraI\Ch. The working hours of both the branches are from 10 a.m· to 5.p.m. on week days and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays.

Both the Banks provide facilities for current, fixed and savings account. They offer facilities of loan to the poor villagers viz., farmers, agricultural labourers, weavers, retail trader etc. on short and medium term with lower rate of interest eRs. 11 % per annum). Both the Banks have increased their volume of transactions during the last five years.

J.

~ 'a.~ .0

l or:. z~

.... ....

o ....

100

10

o

~ ....

r'l ....

~ .... ....

66

r o ....

10

00 10 -N

67

r~{" \ L~

r

.,., -

M -

o -

00

0.-<

0_-

0_-

-

68

~ 1+1· '" 1:1 """ oS Jon .c: ~ '''' u L~ '<t .... ~ "" It)

ij """

~ ~ , .£ "" ~

2 ;t !:to -il~ l~ .;: N

M '" '~

... 'CI f ~ .... 'd' 'd' III

-~ r .... e ~I!:to ... 0 I Ii 0

..... 'd' .,., ZL

.....

] l~ ~ L

~ u

~i~ ! 0'1 ..... ... ~I 'S I - ... .. 'd'

U l~ 00 .... ~ Q) - d 'IS

= ~ g. r H l"- N N .... ... .... ... -:r

~ .. -a 0 ",,!p. 111 ....

l~ ;:: ~ ~ ~

1 Q)

~ (~ .. ~ ID ... ..... N « ... Q\ ... 0

~ -13 '" M ...

.... '~ e :.. c 'CI

S a: e '"

.., "" .... .... '" ID I! ~ ~~. .. <II I

~ til '60 LA ~ .!! 4) 'f

p.o '$ ~l "" "¢ 'o:t M N ... « ... .., N '"

l """ ... '" g

i ,!:to i .., '" III "" "" .., 'd' .... ... ...

... Eo< )~ 0

tI N .., on 00 N M 'o:t 'o:t N ID .., 0'1 N

1 l N ... -:r

Z r; j ~ '" j t t

j 1 ! ~ i t ) ~ il

~

~ ~ ~ ~ . ~ d g ~ 3 ... = <il ~ <il

~ :3 ~ J ~ ~ ~ ~ $ ~ ~ 0

~ I-< ~ ~ ~ z

~ ;:j

~ ~ g,; B <I>

<il '0

'i i 0

~ ... <il ... g

J 0 1:1

j ... 0

j ~ s:I

;> 0:1

.!t ~ Do ~

,§ '0 :a cd

J ] "a "CI

~ .;0 ; '3

8 ~ ~ ~ .!! ~ ~

I'"'

"CI ~ t:l "CI g :i ~

.c: '0 &l

.~ ~ ~ .. =: 0

69

TABLE-m.20

Number of bollSebolcls witb at least one lIIlemployed person and number of persons seeking employment by age group.

No. of Household lS-19

Caste/Tribe/Community with at. __ .A.----, least one P M F lHlClDpl9yed

2 3 4

1. laliaKaibarta • 3

2. Mahishayadas s

3. Muchi

4. Namasudra

S. Gar

6. Mali.

7. Munda

8. Laskar 7

9. Kayastha 5 2

10. Saha 2 2

11. Brahmin 1

12. Baftik

13. Ghose

14. Sutradhar

IS. Baidya 1

16. Goala

17. Acharjee

18. Karmakar . 2

19. Muslim 1

Total: 28 7 4

F.<\:MILY BUDGET

lncome:

The nata on annual income and expenditure were G()~cted -fTom all tile selected 100 . households. It ma.y h.owever by,meDti\ln~aclwre that-the C-.ata collected

5

1

3

Person set:king !<mployment by age-groups A "'"\

20-34 3.5-44 Total - ___ .A._--., r--~A __ """ ,...-----.... ---, PM F PM F PM F

6

2

4

8

3

1

1

1

1

2

7

2

2

7

2

8

2

2

1

1

J

23 16 .8

9 10 11

1 1

1 1

2 1 1

12 13 14

3

S

8

3

3

7

2

1

6 3 1

3 1 2

1 1

1

2 2

3

32 21 11

can not be said to be very accurate for several reasons like recall period being one year, the villagers not maintaining accounts and many among them being illiterates, etc. Something the information view the enquires with suspicious also. It may also be mentioned here that the gross income only have been taken, into .1\~{)unt.

70

Table III.21 gives the distribution of 100 sample households by annual income groups and caste ;-

TABLE-H.2t

Annual income per bousehold by caste, 1986 survey.

-----------------Annual income of the household in the range of

Caste ~--_---__ -----------A .------~."'"'\

Upto Rs. 5001 to 10001 to 15001 to 20000

20001 to 25000

Above 25000 5000 10000 15000

2 3

A.Hindu 5 5 25

Scheduled Caste • 1 13

JaliaKaibarta • 7

Mahisyadas 3

Mali

Namasudra

Gar •

Muchi 2

Scheduled tribe

Munda

Others 4 11

B. Muslim. 7

24

11

5

5

1

1

12

4

19

9

4

4

1

10

5 6 7

8 12

3 5

2

4

1

5 7

Total 5 32 24 19 8 12

Per cent of the total 5 Per cent 32 Per cent 24 Per cent 19 Per cent 8 Per cent 12 Per cent

This table shows that the largest single group of households accounting for 32 i.e. about one third of sample householO had annual income between Rs. 5001-10,000. These are followed by those in the income group of Rs. 10,001-15,000 who account for 24 per cent of the sample households. 19 per cent of the households were in the income group Rs. 15,001-20,000 while 12 per cent, 8 per cent and 5 per cent of households were in the income range of above Rs. 25,000, Rs. 20,001-25,000 and upto Rs. 5000 respectively.

All the muslim households (7) had an annual income of Rs. 5001-10,000. Among the schedule caste households who numbered 42 out of 100 sample household, 13 household had an annual income of Rs. 5001-10,000, 11 household had an annual income of Rs. 10,001-15,000, 9 household had an annual

income of Rs. 15,001-20,000 and 5 households had an annual income of Rs. 20,001-25,000. Moreover, 5 householc'S had an annual income .more than Rs. 25,000. Only one household of this community reported to have annual income below Rs. 5000 and belonged to Mahisryadas. Among the two scheduled tribe hOllseholds, one household had an annual income of Rs. 5001-10,000 and one household ill the Jncome group of Rs. 10,000 to 15,000. Both the households belonged to Munda caste. Among the households of other caste group accounting for 49 households i.e. about one half of the sample household, 12 households had an annual income in the range of Rs. 10,001-15,000 followed by 11 houesholcs in income group of Rs. 5001-10,000, 10 households in income group 15,001-20,000, 7 households in above Rs. 25,000, 5 households in income group 2('),001 to 25,000 respec­tively. 4 households reported to have annual income below Rs, 5,000.

71

The average monthly income per household and per person is as under ;-

TABLEm.22

Average monthly income

Caste group

Scheduled Caste .

Scheduled Tribe •

Other.

Total .

The table reveals that average annual income per household ano per person is Rs. 14,775.32 and Rs. 2530 respectively. The per person income in scheduled caste household is less (Rs. 2392.86) com­pared to scheduled tribe households (Rs. 2428.13) and other communities (Rs. 2654.54) respectively though the per household income in scheduled caste household (Rs. 15439.67) is much more compared to scheduled tribe households (Rs. 9712.50) and other commu­nities (Rs. 14457.88) respectively.

Expenditure:

Calculation of income as mentioned earlier, is a very difficult task. Various difficulti~s are involved in the assessment of expenditure. Important among them include non maintenance of accounts of ex­penditure made on agricultural operations. Further, informants tend to overstate their expenditure. However, the pattern of expenditure in percentages in respect of households falling in different income groups in respect of 100 sample households is given in table III. 23.

The table reveals that the per person expenditure is less (Rs. 2159.23) in Scheduled Caste households compared to Scheduled Tribe households (Rs. 2274. 50) and other conun~ties (~. 2554.99). HQwt;ver,

6 Census/90

Per household Per person

2 3

1286.63 199.41

809.3 202.34

1204.82 221.21

1231.2 210.84

per household expendiure in other communities (Rs. 15915.59) is more compared to Scheduled Caste (Rs. 13932.19) and Scheduled Tribe (Rs. 9098) respectively. Item-wise analysis on expen­diture reveal that a niajor proportion of expenditure ill spent on construction and improvement of build­ing by the household belonging to other caste group when compared with the households of Scheduled Caste community. Scheduled Tribe community who in fact did not spent any money on construction and repairing of their structure, as reported jn the field survey. Leaving this particular item of expenditure, it may be seen that the proportion of expenditure of food item ill relatively more compared to any other item in all the caste group.

In the surveyed households it was reported that among 100 households only 4 households are send­ing some amount to their close relatives, viz., 1 household reported for his mother, 1 for son, 1 for brother and 1 for daughter. Out of these 4 relatives 1 belong to the same village, 1 in the urban area of the same sub-division and 2 are in West Bengal. Close relatives (19) who are not staying with head of household (3) within the viUage and 16 outside the village are also sending money to the head of household which are 16 in number. Their relation­ship with head of household i~ Father (1), 8on(7), Husband (4) and brother (4).

VJ "0

.... 0 0'<: ..,

.VJ o ::l z,g

I I ('I ....

o

....

c:: o -....

o ci 0"1 ('I

00 10 N ....

o ci M M ....

a\ M

'" cO 00

o o ..... 'n

o o g M

~ .2 ;:; o '" .... .,; 1lI!.

o g 00

'" " 00 00

o

~ 10

00 N ....

o <::>

~

g ....

I .

72

0. ::l o t;o ., E g ...

' .... ('I

('I N

-N

o N

0"1 -co

r­-10

1-

Vl ....

Q

ci 00

<::> ci N

o ci -....

c:: '" r-....

8 o

..... «) 00 N

N I(i o ....

.... N -.:t -00

-a '" '"

M M 10 N -

o ci 8 -o on N

~

o ci ."

o o o '" M

~ .2

.... cO 00

o g <'>

o o ci o

o 00 ci

o 00

N ..... 10

o <')

• I N 00

~

o o ~

73

TABLEm.2S

Annual Expenditure on different items of Consumption per person and per household by Caste-group.

Scheduled Tribe Item

Scheduled Caste ,-------A __ , r------A..---,

Others r---__"__~

Total ,.....~---A..-_-.

1. Food

2. Pulses

3. Animal protien

4. Vegetables

5. Oil and condiment

6. Drinks

7. Fuel and light

8. Cloths

9. Ornaments

10. Travels

11. Recreation

12. Education

13. Other Misc. services

14. Houseremt and repair

15. Interest

16. Tax, cess, etc.

17. Hired labour

18. Purchase for production i.e. manure, seeds etc.

19. Remittance

20. Medical

21. Purchase of assets

22. Construction and Improvement of building and other structure.

23. Total Expenditure

Total income

Per Per person household

2 3

868.94 4432.38

70.19 452.88

207.64 1339.76

115.14 146.19

79.23 511.19

11.81 16.19

101.07 690.86

157.15 1011.86

68.15 439.76

14.58 94.05

118.86 766.90

104.83 616.43

34.58 223.10

97.05 626.19

61.61 379.50

83.19 536.79

20.85 134.52

119.19 769.05

2159.23 13932.19

2392.86 15439.67

Per Per Per Per Per Per person household person household person household

-------~---------------~--

4 567 8 9

915.00 3900.00 618.41 3368.11

137.50 550.00 57.15 311.27

332.50 1330.00 291.74 1588.93

181.25 125.00 169.34 925.00

98.75 395.00 112.72 613.93

100.00 400.00 1.97 10.71

62.00 248.00 126.30 1102.32

175.00 700.00 202.39 1102.32

3.93 21.43

50.00 200.00 93.21 507.68

62.50 250.00 16.89 91.96

188.10 643.21

87.50 350.00 125.15 681.61

72.46 394.64

0.26 1.43

56.23 306.25

22.13 120.54

32.79 1118.57

12.50 50.00 90.51 492.95

21.84 118.93

[ 20.98 1748.21

2274.50 19098.00 ! 2554.99 13915.59

2428.13 ~ 9712.50 2654.56 14457.88

655.09 3825.14

64.30 375.52

253.27 1419.10

144.89 846.15

96.99 566.40

7.88 46.00

116.50 680.35

181.30 1058.80

2.05 12.00

80.99 473.00

16.44 96.00

116.83 1683.30

115.21 672.80

53.89 314.70

0.14 0.80

74.40 434.50

40.15 234.45

17.12 100.00

86.04 502.50

21.08 [123.10

222.95 1302.00

2367.50 13826.21

2530.02 14775.32

---------------------

Indebtedness:

Households belonging to various occupation groups viz., cultivators, fishermen, agricultural labourers, daily labourers and small businessmen are iill debt. However, the households belonging to

service category and trading did not report any debt. Money lenders are there. Loans are generally in­curred for marriage, construction of houses, medical treatment. The average debt per household is Rs. 500. Value assers of the households are sold to repay the IO:ln.

CHAPTEIt tv SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE

House type:

Most of the houses are rectangular i.n shape with a courtyard. The materials of the houses are made of mud walls with sungrass roof. Houses with corrugated iron sheet roof and mud walls are less. A few of them are made of split bamboo (thached) walls with sungrass roof. Pucca' houses are very rare in the village. The survey data reveals that

only in 2 houses the floor was of brick and in 98 cases, it was of mud. The materials of the wall was mud (83), bamboo (14), brick (2) and tin (1). However, the roof was surgrass (61) Galvanised Corrugated sheet (39) , brick ( 1 ) and tin (l ) . Trees like mango, ja:ckiruit, blackberry, coconut, guava, betelnut etc. are also planted in the houses. An idea of amenities available may be obtained from Table IV. 1 :

TABLE-IV.1

Distriflutlon of households lIy .,&DabDlty of amenities

Amenities

1

1. Kitchen

2. Bathroom

3. Lavatory

4. Source of drinking water

S. Water for washing

6. Electricity .

N.~. -A : Not having, B: Having separately, C : Sharing.

The poor households have got one living room with a separate kitchen attached to it. In some cases a single room serves the purpose of both cook­ing and sleeping. Generally a separate house for household god is located in the eastern corner of the house. The middle and well-to-do farmilies have at least three to four rooms one for storing paddy, one for cow and poultry shed and the remaining two for

Availability ,... ...... A B C Total

2 3 4 S

3 97 100

97 93 100

13 7S 12 100

14 86 100

37 63 100

45 44 11 100

---

sleeping and other purposes with many of them a spacious verandah. The survey data presented in Table IV. 2 reveals "that out of 100 households, 39 households have one room, 40 households have two rooms, 18 households have 3 rooms, 1 household has 4 rooms and 2 households have 5 rooms. Thus the average number of room per household works out to 1.87, the average household size being 5.84.

76

TABLEIV.2

Distribution of ho~lds J)y ~ IV9UP and number of rooms.

Religion/Caste group

1

A. Hindu. . Scheduled Caste Schedpled Tribe Others

B. Islam Muslim

Total :

r-

2-

36 18 2

16

3 3

39

2

3

37 15

22

3 3

40

No. of rooms .A. • 3 4 5 & above Total

4 5 6 7

17 1 2 93 8 1 42

2 9 2 49

1 7 1 7

18 2 100

An idea of floor space may al$o be obt~e~ from Table IV.3. TABLE IV. 3

Distribution of households and population by floor space.

,Floor space (S~. metre)

Lessthan 1 2-3 4-5 6-9 10-15 • 16 and above

Total:

The survey data also reveals that out of the 100 houses, the houses with compound and without compound are 52 and 48 respectively. Among the 1 houses of Muslim, 6 houses are without compound. Among the 93 houses (S 1 with compound, 42 without compound), 22 houses' of Scheduled Caste community are not having any compound walls. Most of the dwelling houses are well ventilated and the surroundings are very clean but many of the houses of poor people are dark and unhygenic. The plinth level of the huts is 1 i' to 2' and the internal measurements of the living rooms are 18'X 12'. Kitchen and the cowsheds are of size 10'X8' and 12' X 8' respectively.

Dress and Qrnament: The dresses worn by the people of this village are

very simple and do not differ with other villages. The cultivators and fishermen generally wear coarse 'Dhoti' upto the knee when they are busy with their work. The poor people frequently keep their upper portion of the body bare. The dress on their body

Population No. of ,- ,.A. ..., households Number Percentage

2 3 4

15 93 15.92 13 94 16.10 34 211 36.13 15 85 14.55 23 101 17.30

100 584 100.00

differ with the change of weather. In summer, they use shirt, ganjee, etc. They also use gamcha (napkin) which they keep on their shoulders and often on their head. During winter, they use a cotton sheet 'Chadar' which keeps thei,r bodies warm. They do .not use any footwear during the workiJ}g hours. Generally adult male Mohammendans wear 'Lungi', shirt and ganjee. They use paijama, panjabi i.e. kurta and footwear while going outside thei.r house.· The businessmen and service holders wear dhoti, long pant, shirt, panjabi i.e. kurta, etc. They also use footwear. Teenagers and school going boys wear half shirt and half pant/long pant and girls wear frocks, underwear, sari, petticoat and blouse.

The aged females wear handloom or mill made cotton sari, patticoat and blouse. They never use footwears while performing their household duties. The ladies wear chappals or sandals. only on festive occa­sion and vi/iiting other houses. Ladies use both cotton and synthetic sari and blouse. Saya or semij is com­monly used as under-garment.

Manipuri women wear clothes which they produce in their traditional. handlooms. The clothes are of varigated colours specially for their own use.

Shirt, trousers, long and half pant, 61ouse, frock, school dresses, etc. are made by the village tailors. Different varieties of readymade garments and foot­wears like sandles, cbappals, shoes, etc. are available in the market.

The footwears that are commonly used by the villagers are made of rubber, plastic, leather etc. Most of these are procured from Agartala market. Local cobblers also make shoe/chappal.

Almost all women of different communities wear ornaments on their neck, ear, nose, arm and fingers. The~e are commonly known as chain har/necklace, dul, kanpasa, earring, nakful, churi, armlet, finget ring, etc. The earrings, chain har, nakful are very common in use. Most of the ornaments are made of silver except a few .of them are gold. Imitation jewel is also in use. The women of Munda, Gour, Gar, etc. wear silver ornaments viz.} bangles of conchshel with other churis made of silver, bronze or gold. Muslim women use plastic glass bangles and put silver orna­ments. .Male do not wear any ornaments except finger ring. Hindu married females use vermillion on thei)f

77

forehead to show respect towards their husbands as a sign of marital status. Houselwld goods:

The' common utensils which are found in almost all the households are 'Deckchi', 'Karai', 'Hata', 'Khunti', tub, pitcher, dishes, plates, glass, bati, sil, nura etc. Most of the utensils are made of aluminium. Some of these are made of iron (karai, khunti, kata, bati, da, etc.) and barss (dish, glass, bati, etc.). The poor people are generally Muslim use earthen cooking pots like 'Hari', 'PatH', 'Dish', 'Kalshi', etc. Stainless steel utensils are also in use by the middle and better of families. The survey data reveals that all the 93 Hindu households use aluminium utensils for cooking. However, 1 (out of 7) Muslim household reported the use of earthenware utensils for the purpose of cooking. The materials of utensils for the purpose of serving- food was aluminium in 58 cases, hin'dalium in 1 case, stainless steel in 34 cases, enamelcoa'ted tin in 1 case and earthenware in 2 cases (Muslim house­holds) . All types of utensils are available in the market.

'Chowki' a common wooden bed-steae is found in almost all the households. Stools, chairs, tables, cot, alna, almirah, etc. are also seen as is evident from Table IVA.

TABLE IV. 4

Number of households possesing furniture item by caste-group

Chair Table Cot

Items

Sofa . . . Cloth stand (wooden) Almirah . Dressing Table Bench . Rope Cot Mura . Jal Chowki

* Include 1 household of Scheduled Tribe community. ** One Muslim household does not possess any furniture.

Other articles which are commonly used by the villagers include wooden seats known as 'piri', 'hooka' made froni coconut shell/bamboo for smoking, spade, da, khanta, sickle, kural (axe), looking glass, lantern, lamp, boxes, suitcase, enamelled plates, baskets, etc.

The grains are generally storee in a vessel known as 'Dol'. It is about 3 to 5 feet in height with a radius of 4 to 5 feet. Besides there are 'Golas' for storing grains in some households. These are made of bam-

Hindu r-

Sch. Caste Others Total Muslim·· Total

2 3 4 5 6

35 43 78 2 80 29 43 72 2 74 37 47* 85 3 88

2 2 2 21 32 53 53 10 25 35 35 5 6 11 11 6 12 18 18 2 2 2 4 7 11 11 1 3 4 4

boo, plustered with the mixture of mud and cowdung and circular in shape.

There are different types of agricultural tools, fishings net, etc. in the houses of cultivators and fisher­men. Mosquito net is commonly used by the villagers.

The number of households possessing luxury and costly goods by caste group is presented in table IV. 5. The table reveals that 30 per cent of the household do not possess any costly goods.

78

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The proportion of households not possessing any costly goods is more in muslim households (5 out of 7) compared to Hindu households (25 out of 93). Wrist watch followed by radio/transistor, cycle are the most important items as they were possessed by 55.50 and 29 households respectively. 12 households also possessed fan, sewing machine, scooter and television was also there in three households. However, common musical instruments v;z., harmonium, tabla was report­ed by one household only. In one household, petro­max was also reporte~.

Food and drink:

Food and drink habits of the villagers arc almost same as found in other villages of Tripura. The main . diet of the viaagers is boiled rice, pulses, curryo, fish, dry fish, egg, milk, etc. The villagers take one item with boiled rice either pulses or vegetables curry mixed with dry fish. Occasionally they take fresh fish, meat, etc. The kaibarta community prefer to sell their catches of fresh fish because of good market price. Small quantity of fish for own consumption is kept. Better type of fishes are carried and sold in town market.

Ordinarily the villagers take two meals one at mid day and the other at night. However, three meals in a day arc also taken by few. The cultivators, fishermen and other labourers take some food soaked over night in cold water in the early morning before they start their outdoor work. They eat rice with salt, onion, chilly or sidal sutki (dry fish). At noon many of them return to their house for taking mid day meals. It consists of parched rice with dal, vegetables and dry fish. School going children including service holders and businessmen take their meals just before starting

79

their work. Economically better class of people some­times take chicken, meat, egg, curry and other good dishes. The tea garden labourers take fried rice ano tea in early moring before going out for work. They take boiled rice with pulses, curry or dry fish at noon and take the same diet at night.

There is a country liquor shop in the middle of the market. Some people including tea garden labourers are too much addicted to drink alcohol, specially at

. night and often quarrel among themselves.

Different varieties of puffed rice (commonly known as 'Chira', 'Muri', 'Khai') are prepared from specia1 quality of paddy. These are taken by the children and other members of the family as their tiffiin. A good number of Manipuri farnilie·s sell their surplus puffed rice in the market. All the widows of Hindu communities are vegetarian with a few exception of poor and labour class of people. Tea, bidi, cigarettes and tobacco are the common habits of the people. Some elderly persons are in habit of chewing betelnuts, betelleaves with lime. Milk is usually taken by the children and the aged person.

Household composition:

The survey data of 1986 presented in table IV. 6 reveals that the number of households occupied by persons occupying such household is 275. Next 6to 9 members is greater i.e. 39 and the number of comes the number of households occupied by the families having 4 to 5 members. The number of such households is 32 and the number of persons occupying such household is 144. The number of households in which 10 and above members live in 11 and the number of persons of these household is123.

TABLE IV. 6

Size and composition of households

-_----_--------_.-

Size of Household 1986 Survey

r----__.A.---- --., 1961 Survey

f ____ A~ ____ \

No. Persons No. Persons

2 3 4 5 ------------------- ---

Small (3 members or Jess)

Medium (4·5 members).

Large (6-9 members) ..

Very large(tO emembers and above)

Total.

N.H.-Medium is 4-6 members, and large is 7-9 members for 1961 survey. 6 Census/90

lR

32

39

11

100

42 76 178

144 150 749

'275 66 513

1'23 16 179

584 308 1619

12

A companslOn with 1961 data reveals that the percentage of households and population in small size of households has considerable decrease in 1986. Moreover, there is an increase in number of households and population in very large size of household.

Family and kin-comparision;

A family represents the basic unit of the village community. A family is generally synonymous of a household the term commonly used in census, which represents a group of persons living together and taking their meals from a common kitchen unless the exigencies of work present them from doing so. A family however strictly speaking refers to these people who share a cooking hearth, pool their incomes and have their expenses in common. The joint family system in the village though traditionally pre­valent, is slowly breaking away under the stresses of social and economic circumstances. Disregarding old values and customs family life is becoming more and more individualistic giving rise to nuclear families.

Description of the types of families is given as follows:

1. Nuclear family :-a couple with or without unmarried children.

2. Supplemented nuclear family:-a nuclear family plus one or more unmarried, separated or widowed relatives of the parents, other than their unmarried children.

3. Sub-nuclear family :-a fragment of a former nuclear family, such as, the widow with unmarried children, the widower with unmarried children or siblings-whether unmarried or widowed, sepa;ated or di,vorced-living together.

4. Single person householC.

80

5. Supplemented sub-nuclear familY:-3 group of relatives, members of a formerly complete nuclear family plus some other unmarried, divorced or wi­dowed relatives who were not a member of the nuclear family. For example, a widow and her unmarried children plus her wieowed !Il1other-in..J.aw.

6. ~ollateral joint family :-two or more married couples between whom there i~ sibling bond usually a brothr-brother relationship plus unmarried children,

7. Supplemented collateral joint family :-a collateral joint family plus unmarried, divorced or widowed relatives. TypitCally such supplemental relatives are the widowed mother of the married brother, or the widower father, or an unmarried sibl­ing.

8, Lineal joint family :-two couples between whom there is a lineal link-usually parents and married son.

9. Supplemented lineal joint family :-a lineal joint family plus unmarried, divorced, or widowed relatives who do not belong to either of the lijlleally linked nuclear families· For example, the father's widower brother or the son's wife's unmarried brother.

10. Lineal collateral joijllt family :-three or more couples linked li)l1eally and collaterally. Typical example is that of parents and their two or more married sons plus the unmarried children of such three or more couples living together.

11. Supplemented lineal collateral joint family :­a lineal collateral joijllt family plus unmarried, wid­owed, or separated relatives who belong to none of the nuclear families lineally and collaterally linked: for example, the father's widowed sister or brother, or an unmarried nephew of the father.

TABLE IV. 7

Distribution of bouseholds by type of household

---.----~--.. -.-----.--- ----Type of household

(1)

Nuclear . . Supplemented Nuclear Sub Nuclear Single persons . . Supplemented sub nuclear Collateral Joint. . Supplemented collateral joint Lineal joint. . . . Supplemented lineal joint Lineal collateral joint . . . Supplemented lineal collateral joint

---_------------_----_. Total

No, of household

(2)

47 15 9 2 8 2

13

4 1

100

81

TABLE IV. 8

Distribution of households by relation with head of hou§thoJd

-------------_-----_--_----_

Relation at the head of household

(I) --- ------_. ------ -----------

1. Self

2. Self, spouse .

3. Self, spouse,unmarried sons and daughters

4. Self, spouse, married son and son's wife with or without unmarried sons and daughters

5. Self, spouse, married brother, brother's wife, with or without unmarried sons and daughters

6. Self, spouse, married brother, brouther's wife, married son, son's wife with/without unmarried sons/daughters 7. Self, (male), unmarried sons/daughters 8. Self, (Female), unmarried sons/daughters 9. Self, spouse, with or without unmarried son/daughters and widowed father

10. Self, spouse, with or without unmarried sons/daughters and widowed mother 11. Self, (male), unmarried brother/sister 12. Self, spouse, with or without unmarried sons and daughters and father, mother and unmarried sister 13. Self, spouse, with or without unmarried sons and daughters and other relatives 14. Self, (male) unmarried brother/sister/widowed fathers/widowed mother/other relatives. 15 • Self, spouse, married son, son's wife, unmarried son and son's daughter . 16. Self, (female) widowed father and other relatives

Total

Relation

(1)

Wife Son Daughter Brother Sister Son's son Son's daughter Father. Mother Sister's son Son's wife Sister's daughter Daughter's son Brother's wife Brother's son Brother's daughter Daughter's daughter Sister's daughter Wife's brother

TABLE IV. 9

Distribution of relatives with head of household

No. of household

(2)

2

3

43

3

5

10

5

11 13 2

100

Number

(2)

81 162 114

9 8

23 29 3

18 - 1 24 1 3

1

1 2 1 2

Table IV. 9 shows the distributions of relationship by sex to the head of household. The relations in the households in the order of magnitude are sons (162), daughter (114), wives (81r, son's dauahter (29), son's wife (24), son's son (23), mother (18), brother (9), sister (8), daughter's son (3), daughter's d.aughter (2), wife's brother (2), sister's son (1), slster's daughter ( 1 ), brother's wiife (1), brother's daughter (1). It reveals the concentration of members in categeories wife, son, daughter, which implies that most of the households are nuclear households which is also iln conformity with the data presented in table IV. 9.

. Alt~oug~ .joint f~ll1ily . system is gradually dis· mtegratmg, Jomt faml~les sttll account for 19 per cent of the total surveyed households. On the other hand, the nuclear, supplemented nuclear, subnuclear, sup­plemented sub nuclear and single member famiJies account for 81 per cent of the surveyed household. Among the joint families, lineal joint families i.e. two couples between whom there is a lineal link usually the parents and a married son, were the principal type of families, accounting for 13 per cent of the surveyed !l~usehol~~. While there ,,:,ere only two collateral Jomt famIlIes, the number of lineal,colleateral joint family was four i·e. the double of collateral joint family.

In the single and intermediate type of families inter-family relationship is generally quite smooth a~ there is no internal friction among the members. Howe_ver, in. joint families, the intrafamily ties and cohesIon begms to losen as the head of the household advances in of.

Among agricultural families, in particular the family bond weakens after the death of the he'ad of household. Ihus results obviously in the division of the a~ees~ral land and property and disintegration of a famIly III to samaller and indepcndent units.

Beliefs and practices connected with birth, marriage and deaths:

. No sig':lificant changes regarding the rituals of bIrth, marnage and death in the ffamily during the last two survey periods have been noticed. However. the ~anners and customs being followed on the occaSlon or occurance of such events are as follows :_

8irth :

82'

HinduS observe a number of rituals from birth to death. The. ~irth of a child is always welcomed by all co~m.Untties. It is an o~casion of great rejoy in the famtlr In case o~ Htn.du community, it is observed ill the fOfm of vanous Ii\tuals which arc before and after the birth event. 'Sadhbhaksana' i~ celebrated on the fifth or the seventh month of pregnancy when a woman is fed with eatables accord­ing to her choice. It is conducted by the elderly won:an of ~he family a!ld l(lativ~s .. On the sixth day, after the bIrth of a child, SasthIpuJa' is conducted by

the family priest. The ritual impurity which is observed by the mother differs with the sex of the child. In case of a male child, the ritual impurity for twentyone days is observed by the mother and in case of a daughter the same is observed for thirty days. The last day of the impurity which is known as 'Surjyadarsan' is celebrated by ri,tuals and feasts, The Dai, barber and the washerman are rewarded on this occasion with cash and kind· Betel, betelnuts .md sweets are distributed among the friends, rela­tives and neighbours. The ceremony of 'Annaprasan' or feeding the cMd with rice for the first time, is performed when the baby attains the age of sixth month. It ends with a great feast.

The sacred thread ceremony is performed in case of Brahmin boys before they attain the age of fifteen. It is not possible within thi,s age limit, it may be celebrated after performing a special ceremony of 'Prayaschitta'. During this ceremony 'Pujas' (to appease the spirits of departed ancestors). Karnabed' (ear boring of the boy), shavi,ng of hairs from head are performed by the priest and barber respectively. During the period of seclusion, the boy wears yellow dhuti. chadar, cats only sunned rice with ghee, banana and milk except sugar and salt. He is asked to be in a separate room for three days and not allowed to see the face of non-brahmi,ns. After this ceremony, the boy becom.es a 'Dwija', i.e. born for the second time. T.his practice is followed in Nath and Manipuri boys whlch IS conducted by the household priest.

In case of birth of a Muslim, Namaj or Prayer is .obs~rved in the famil:>:. The head of newly born .:hild IS shaved on the SIxth day after the birth ant] sweets are distributed among the friends and neigh­bours. The ceremony of circumcision is performcd within the age of ten years. On this occasion rela­tives and neighbours are invited for feast.

The tribals of this village belong to Hindu com­munity. Their manners and customs are almost the same as those of other Bengalee Hindus.

Marriage .' Marriagt: COl~tract.s are gell~rally settled by

parents and relatIves III almost all the communities, ~arriage. between sam~ 'Gotra' is not in vauge with­m the Hmdu commumty. Intercaste maniage is not allowct!. T~e Hindu .marriages are performed by Brahmm prIest of theIr own community according to 'Vedic Sastras' and 'Mantras'. These are read out by the priest. The bridegroom recites 'Mantras' in the presence of the bride. Wedding is celebrated mostly in the house of the bride's parents. Barbers and priests in Hindu marriage and Mullah in Muslim marriages arc paid. The survey data reveals that out of. I~3 marria&es of Hindu community money :vas~ paid 1I1 40 marnages. Among Muslim marriages Il1 _, ca.,cs only out of 7 money was paid, Dowry sy.stem .lS more or less prevalent in the village. The bnde IS taken to her husband's house after the marirage ceremony is over. Marriage customs of the secheduled casteltribe community (Deshi Tripuri Laskar) arc almost the same as those of caste

hindus, but widow remarriages are in practice among them. Among the tribals like Tripuri, Munda, Gur, etc. a bride price is required to be paid to brides' father and bridegroom is required to serve in his father-in-law's house for 2-3 years. At present the duration of service may be exempted or it is for 1-2 years.

The marriages in Muslim commUltity are al&o settled by parents. It is conducted by 'Kazi' or 'Mulla' who reads out 'Kalma' i.e. the oath and settles the dowry, which is attested by a few witnesses. lbe ceremony ends with a grand feast to friends, relatives and neighbours.

Death:

The Hindu burn their dead bodi·:s except children below eighteen months of ag..:. They an.: burried. In Nath community dead bodies are burried.

The dead body of Hindu is placed on a bamboo stretcher / cot and is carried to the cremation place by four p.:rsous. Good number of friends and relatives join the procession. Before final burning, some rituals are observed in the burning-ghat. These arc mainly performed by the eldest heir of the deceased according to the instruction of the priest. The body is washed dressed in a new cloth. Then the body is placed on a pile of wood for final burning. The dead body of some well-to-do families is cre­mated within their homestead land also.

The 'Sradh' ceremony is observed by thL' dd~st he'ir of the deceased, which is conducted by the priest. In case of a Brahmin it is held on the 11 th day. Other castes includi;ng Scheduled Caste observed it on 13th day. On this occasion, a feast is arranged and the friends, relatives and neighbours arc invited. The priest and the barber are paid some cash and kind.

In case of death of a Muslim, the body is washed and dressed with new clothes and then it is carried to the burial ground. On the 40th day after the death a feast is arranged by the heirs of the deceased, which is attended friends and relatives.

Fairs and Festivals:

No important fair was held ill the village. How­eva, a good number of fairs are held in the neigh· bouring villages where a large number of people of this village participate. Among these fairs 'Baisakhi Mela' (the first day of the Bengali month Baisakh) is famous which is held at Bishalgarh located at a distance of 7 kms. from the village. There is a Kali temple in Bishalgarh market. Thousands of pcopk congregate on this festive occasion CNava­barsha') and oller pujet to the Goddess Kali. The fair lasts for a week. The shop keepers come from the nearby market places. Many temporary stalls) shops are constructed for this purpose. Different varieties of toys, luxuary goods, sweets, utensils, clothes,

readymade garments, wooden furniture, etc. are sold by the shop-keepers. The special features of the fair are 'Ramayan Song', 'Kali Kirtan', Magi,? Show, Jatra Gan, Puppet show, etc. wh~h are enjoyed by most of the inhabitants. Other fairs include Madhu­ban, Pandavpur and Kanehanmala which are withi.n a distance of 1-4 kms. from the village. The faIr of Narayan ~hamar (Madhuban) is held on the occasion of 'Saraswati Puja' and it lasts for five days. On the occa~ion of Rathajatra a fair is held at Pan­davpur. It lasts for only a day. Another fair is held on the occasion of 'Poush Sankranti' (the last day of Bengali mont~ ;P~:lUsh-) and it also l~sts ~or a day. People of thIS VIllage at~elld these faus 'Yith "reat enthusiasm. Thev buy mamly sweets, clothlllg, u,ys, luxary goods, utensils, etc. from these fairs.

The monotonous life of the people fino change on some social ceremonies, ~'iz., birth. marriage, dealh, I:tc. when they attend the same either in the same area or go out of their area. Lakshmi Puja, Manasa puia and Saraswati Puja arc held in almost all the hOllses of Hindu families. 'Lakshmi' (the Goddess of wealth) puja is held in the month of October on the full J1l{)on nigh 1. 'Mana sa' (the Goddess of snake) puja is held in the last day of Bengali mon$ 'Sravana' (the middle of August). 'Saraswati' (the Goddess of learning) puja is held in the month of 'Magh' (January-February). Besides these 'Janmas­thami (birth day of Lord Krishna) and 'Shivaratri' are observed in the month of 'Bhadra' (August) and Phalgun (February-March). The devotees observe fast on these two days. 'Kartick puja' (the God ol strength) is held in some households on the last day of Bengali month 'Karrick - (middle oi November). 'Holi,', 'Rathajatra', 'Jhulan' are also held in the localities and enjoyed by the people of all castes. A religious festival known as 'Bara Aolia Dibas (a great Monk) is observed by the Jalh Kaibarta com­munity on the seventh day of bright moon in the month of 'Magha'_ A feast is arranged on this occasion'. Sometimes Sit ala and Brahma puja are also held in the village.

Of the Muslim festivals, the Id-Uz-Zuha (Bakarid) is held in April. It is performed by

slaughtering of cows, bulls, goats, etc. and by commu­nity feast. lcl-Ul-Fetar is another festival "f the Muslim which is held on the occasion of breaking of the fast of one month duration after Ramjan in the month of February. During this month Muslim do not take water and meal from sunrise to sunset. 'Muharram' is also observed by the Muslim on the occasion of the death anniversary of their prophet Hasan and Hossain during the first week of Muhharam' month,

About 25 years ago a great religious festival was observed by the Muslim community in the village. It was known as 'Lalsa Fakir' Darga 'Utsav' which was held on the festive occasion of 'Muharram'. It is said that Lalsa Fakir who had faith in Goddess Kali came to this village about 65 years ago from East Bengal, now Bangladesh. At that time Cholera

epidemic was spread. The Fakir constructed a thatched hut under a banian tree and left it under the care of his female desciple ·Dakini Buri'. After her death one small tomb was constructed which is of size 3 X 3 X 5 feets having support only on four piJlars and a roof umberella shape. The tomb exist till today. At present the festive occasion is cele­brated only with colourful decoratilllls and distribu­tion of sweets among devotees.

Leisure and recreation:

It varies according to age, sex and status. There are number of religious and recreational centres in the village, viz., play groound, clubs and religious centres. The young engage themselves in different indoor and outcoor games. Very few of them utilise their leisure time in singing song, reading of story books, etc. A section of cultivators, businessmen, service­holders and labourer pass their leisure time either in playing cards or in gossiping on various matters like social, religious, political, etc. Some people pass their time on religious and household activities. There is no Cinema Hall or any public library in the village. The villagers attend the nearest Cinema Halls at Amtali and Agartala which are at a distance of 4 kms. and 13 kms. respectively. Sometimes cinema arc shown in the locality by the State Publicity Department.

The villagers are very much interested in cultural and religious functions in the locality. The local clubs organise various cultural functions, social and political dramas in the open stage on different occa­sions viz.,May Day, Birthday of Rabindranath Tagore, Bijoya Dasami, etc.

There are several 'Harisabhas' in certain houses of Hindus in the village. These are held regularly in different localities. Villagers of different com-

84

munities assemble there and participate to chorus songs i.e. 'Harinam Kirtan'. They offer puja and prayer. It starts generally at dusk and continues upto 9 p.m. Fruits and sweets are also distributed to the devotees at the end of the prayer.

The important community festivals which are observed in the village are 'Durga puja', 'Kali puja', 'Biswakarma puja', 'Sreechaityanna Mahaprabhu Utsav', etc· These are organised by collecting subs­cription from the villagers of different Hindu com­munities. The 'Mahotsab' is held once in a year in the month of 'Falgun' on the birthday of Mahaprabhu Sree Chaitannyadeb in Kirtan maidan. It lasts for a week with non-stop chorus songs (Nam Sankirtan) and ends with Mahaprasad' (the mixture of boiled rice, pulses and vegetables) which are distributed among the devotees. This festival is enjoycd by the people of all castes. The management and control of this festival is with the local market committee.

Clubs:

All the clubs are located in the central area of Sekerkot. Particulars of different clubs are as under:

(i) Stalin Unity: It was establisht'd in 1972 by a group of youngmen and is located on the eastcrn side of the main road. The main object of this club is to develop social, cultural, religious and atheletie activities within the locality. It has a house of split bamboo and changrass roof with a floor space 10' X 7'. There are 120 members in the club. Most of the members are associated with Marxism. They organise both indoor games like cards, earrom, etc. and outdoor games like football, cricket, etc. Religious festivals viz., Durga puja, Kalipuja, Saraswati puja are performed by the Club. They also observe the Republic Day, Independence Day, MayDay, Birthday of Rabindranath Tagore, etc.

The following table shows the particulars of the managing committee of the Club.

TABLE IV.IO

Particulars offunctioneries conneded with the management and control of Stalin Unity

Category of functionery

Name Age Caste Education Occupation

1 2 3 4 5 6

1. President. Shri Sankar Cakraborty. 24 Brahmin B. A. (appeared) Student

2. Vice-President Shri Ashish Deb 23 Kayastha B.Com. Unemployed 1

3. Secretary • Shri Anil D as 28 Mahisyadas H. S. plucked Cultivator

4. Asstt. Secretary Shri Sushil Sarkar 28 Laskar B.A. Unemployed

5. Treasurer. Shri Bimal Bhowmik 23 Kayastha B. Com. (appeared) Student

The table shows that all the members of the Managi_n,g Committee are in young group between 23 and 28 years. One of them is a cultivator, two are students and the rest two are unemployed. All are educated youngmen. Usually, persons of age above 15 are the members of the Club. The source of finance of the Club is collection of subscription from the members at the rate of Re. 1 per month. Their annual budget is Rs. 4,000 which is collected from the local public. The members of the club take pmt in voluntary social service and civil defence work. They also engage themselves in free coaching to the poor students upto Madhyamik standard. Cultural functions in the form of drama in the open stage on different festive occasions are staged. At the time of electioa they also take part in canvasing in favour of the associated party person.

85

(ii) New Club: It is situated near the Sekerkot market. It was established in 1971. The aim and object of this Club is also the same as that of the other club. The house is a katcha structure with thatched wall (split bamboo) and changrass roof. There are 60 members in the club. Shri Pradip Chowdhury, aged 28 years, a contingent worker 01 O.N.O.C. is the President of the Club and Shri Nepal Chandra Das, aged 27 years, a businessman of Kai­barta community is the General Secretary. There nrc two more office bearers including Cashier and Joint Cashier. All of them are between 23 and 28 years

of age. The membcrs take part in football, cricket and cultural functions. Reli~ous festivals, viz., Durga puja, Kali puja, Saraswati puja, etc. are also performed. Their source of finance is collection of subscription from the members and the local persons.

(iii) Eaikyatan Sangha: It was established in 1968 which is located on the Western side of the main road. Earlier there was a small katcha house of its own. At present it has no physical structure. There are 100 members in the Club. Shri Dilip Ghosh, aged 35 years, Higher Secondary qualification and businessman in profession is the President of the Club. Shri Badal Deb, aged 30 years and culti­vators is the General Secretary. Besides there are two other office bearers viz., Vice President and Cashier. All of them are of age 30-40 years. Their aim and activities are similar to the clubs as mentioned above.

Availability of Newspapers, Magazines:

There. is a local distributor of leading Bengali and English newspapers and magazines. These are usually distributed to the subscribers through hawkers. There is only one book stall in the market area where mainly text books, fictions and other story books are sold. An idea on different types of news­papers, magazines, etc. may be gathered from following tables:-

TABLE IY.n Newspapers, Magazines ete. by Type aBl' Number in Circillation

Type

Daily Daily Daily Daily Daily Daily Daily Daily Daily Fortnightly Fortnightly Monthly Quarterly

Name

2

Dainik Sambad . Daily Desher Katha Ajkal . Jugantar. . . The Anandabazar Patrika The Amritbazar Patrika The Telegraph . The Statesman . The Indian Express Anandaloka Ananda Mela Nabakollol Miscellaneous

--------~-- ~-~-- ~---~--

From the statement above it reveals that all types of leading newspapers and journals both in Bengali and English are widely circulated in the village. It is learnt from the distributor that most of the news­paper subscribers are service holders and businessmen.

Play ground: There is only one play ground in the village located at the western side of the main road. Normally students of different schools and local club players have their practice here, Football, Cri-

Language

3

Bengali Bengali Bengali Bengali Bengali English English English English Bengali Bengali Bengali Bengali

Place of No. of Publication Circulation

4

Agartala Agartala Calcutta Calcutta Calcutta Calcutta Calcutta Calcutta

Delhi Calcutta Calcutta CalCutta Calcutta

5

SO Copies. 30 Copies. 12 Copies. 20 Copies. 22 Copies.

1 Copy. 3 Copies. 5 Copies. 5 Copies. 3 Copies. 2 Copies. 2 Copies. 5 Copies.

~--------___:_---~ ----~~--

cket, Volley Ball, etc. are played regularly which are enjoyed by the local people.

Influential and Prestigious Persons in the Village;

Earlier power and prestige were mainly concen­trated amongst the rich and persons of higher caste. After partition of India this practice has been gradu­ally changing due to social, economic and political reasons. The influential and prestigious persons are those who generally lead the village in different context

86

of social, ritual <tnd political concern on account of their sincereity, honesty and economic status. During

TABLE

the survey tell per~ons, who were reported as leading persons of the village as listed in Table IV -12 :

IV.l2

Influential and Prestigious Persons in the Yillage

Serial Name No.

~--- -.----~-~.-- -~.- ---- -.- -_.

2

I. Shri Prafulla Dus

2. Shri Pabitra Majumder

3. Shri Sunil Chakraborty

4. Shri Sukhendu Nandi

5. Shri Gouranga D;j<;

6. Shri Joy Kr. Singh

7. Shri Bhnbau Da~

8. Shri Harendra Ghosh

9. Shri Sadhan Da5

10. Tamradhaj Singh

.. __ .-_._-_._- -.-" .--------.

The above table shows that no person has return­ed as influential and prestigious person from the illi­terate group. Out of I 0 persons, 1 person has the educational level upto graduation, 2 persons are Matric and above and 7 persons are of the level of below matriculation. Three of them belong to J alia Kaibarta community, two from Manipuri community, one each from Laskar, Brahmin, Kayastha, Goala and Mahisya-das community. Out of 3 persons in Kaibarta com­munity, 2 persons are engaged in cultivation and 1 is businessman. 1 each from Laskar, Brahmin and Kayastha community are engaged in teaching. 2 per­sons from Manipuri community are engaged in culti­vation. 1 person from Goala community has also social status as Ex-pradhan, I person from Mahisyadas community is engaged in Muhuri (Deed Writer). It appears, therefore, that middle and old persons are still the leaders of the village. All of them are within the age group 45-76. Out of 10, two are regarded as rich peasant and the remaining 8 middle class peasant. Nothing is reported regarding their membership in any political party. The village leaders play an impor­tant part in organising community festivals etc.

-

Age Castc! Community

Education Occupation

3 4 5 6

70 Kaibarta V Cultivator.

50 Laskar B . .A Teacher.

55 Brahmin Matric Teacher.

65 Kayastha l.A. Ex-teacher.

64 Kaibarta IV Cultivator.

55 Manipuri non-metric Culli. ator.

58 Kaibarta VlT Dry Fish and Grocery Shop.

62 Goala vn Ex-pradhan (Medicine Shop).

45 Mahisyadas VIII Muhuri

76 Manipuri VI Cultivator.

Flinctioning of the Administrative and Development Organisations including Traditional Panchayat, etc.:

All development and administrative activities within the village are usually controlled and organised by the statutory panchayat of the village. There is one statutory panchayat in the village. The Gram Pan­chayat Offiee is located at Sekerkot. It has a house of mud well with G.C.1. sheet. Generally one or more contiguous revenue villages are grouped together to constitute a Gaon Sabha. The entire Bikramnagar revenue mouza falls under this Gaon Panchayat. All persons upto head attained the age of 21 years and have permanent residence within the village are consi­dered as a voter of the Gaon Sabha. The memberii are elected by the voters. The members are to select the executi,ve body from among themselves. The mem­bers are to select the Upa-pradhan. The whole body is called Gram Panchayat. There are 9 members including one Pradhan and one Upa-pradhan in the village. The nUhlber of members is fixed by the State authority.

The following table shows the particulars of Bikramnagar Gaon-Sabha Committee :

87

TABLE-IV.13

Particulars of Functioneries counected witb the Biaramnagar Gao Pancbayat

Category of Functionery

1. Pradhan

2. Upa-pradhan

3. Member

4. Member

5. Member

6. Member

7. Member

8. Member

9. Member

Name

2

Shri Tapan Kumar Das

Shri Gouranga Das

Shti Dhabal Sirlgh

Shri Puma Ch. Sarkar

Shri Nanigopal Sen

Shri Chitta Sutradhar

Shri Raimohan Dhar

Shri Nibaran Sarkar (Ex-pradhan) .

Shri Narendra Podder •

It reveals from the above table that all the mem­bers of the Panchayat Committee have come from literate group. Out of 9 members 1 has the level of graduation, 1 is Higher Secondary and the rest 7 are of the level below matriculation. Tlu:ee of· them belong to Laskar community, one each from Kayastha, J alia Kaibarta, Manipuri, N amasudra, Sutradhar and Debnath community. 4 persons are engaged in culti­vation, 2 each are engaged in political work and daily labourer and 1 is engageG in business. All of them are within the age group 34-62. The main functions of the Gram Panchayat are establishment, construc­tion, repairing, cleaning, supervision of public streets, crematorium and other places of public utility, preven­tion of diseases, to assist in the development of agri­culture, maternity and child welfare etc. They have other discretionary functions which include planting and maintenance of social forestry on road sides, relief to the destitute and the sick and general relief against any calamity, village disputes, embankment, tank for fishery, cattle census, etc. The State Government has introduced several schemes for the upliftment of the rural people. There is one adult education centre located at Chhankhola. It was established in 1980. It starts at 6 p.m. and continue upto 8 p.m. There nre 40 stucents in this centre. Of which 26 are males and 14 are females. Shri Harendra Das, aged 40 years, a non-matric youngman of Dhoba community is a teacher. His monthly pay is Rs. 100 (fixed) which is borne by the State Government. The aims and objects of the institution is to remove illiteracy in the village particularly among the adult people. There is a Balwadi. Centre located at Purnagram. It was established in 1973. It has a house of mud wall with G.C.I. sheet. There arc two female teachers and 45 stucents in this Centre. Out of 45 students 15 are boys and 30 are girls. The School starts at 7 a.m.

6 CenslIs!90

Age Caste Education Occupation

3 4 s 6

37 Kayastha Higher Political Worker. Secondary

36 J alia Kaibarta N Business (Dry fish) .

42 Manipuri vrn Daily Labour.

62 Namasudra N Cultivator.

40 Laskar VIII Daily Labour.

34 Sutradhar B.A. Unemployed Political Worker.

62 Laskar VIII Cultivator.

60 Laskar IX Cultivator.

60 Debnath V Cultivator.

and breaks at 10 a.m. The aims and ideals of this centre is to impart education to the children in the Nursery stage. There are three monthly schemes in the village. 18 persons above the age of 60 get monthly old age pension of Rs. 75 each of which 10 are males and 8 are females. 6 persons get physically handicapped pension, of which 4 are males and 2 are females. Leprosy pensions are given to 2 persons. 1 each for male anc female. All these pensions are of equal value of Rs. 75 per month for every indivi­dual. These are distributed among the respective persons through Village Panehayat.

There is a women wool centre in the village. It is located at Sekerkot attached to Gram Panchayat Office. It was established in 1986. It has a house of mud wall with G.C.l. sheet. There are one trained female instructor and 20 workers in this centre. Of which 6 females have already trained from the State Industry Department. It starts at 11 a.m. and conti­nues uptD 4 p.m. Workers are engaged themselves in different activilies of knitting works. They prepare different varieties of woolen garments, viz., jumper, sweter (ladies and gents of different sizes), cardigan, blouse, cap, etc. which are sold to the wholesellersl hawkers in Agartala market.

The village panchayat has no source of income. Their annual budget is about Rs. 3 lakhs which is incurred by the State Government.

Any conflict or disputes of petty matters among the villagers are compromised and decided by the Gram Pradhan with the help of other members and irfluential persons of the village. It mainly occurs at the time of distribution of financial assistance, grants or reliefs etc. AU these type of relief measures

13

are distributed to the villagers through the Gram Panchayat. It is learnt from the Gram Pradhan that Rs. 1,06,800 have been distributed to 800 households under the S.R.E.P. and N.R.E.P. Scheme during the year 1986.

S8

There is a small library run by the local Panchayat which is meant for panchayat members only. The total collection of books is approximately 100. The books incluce story books, novel, religious, adven~ tures etc. The average number of readers in this library is 5. It plays a very significant part in the cultural life of the Village.

Political Parties and other Organisations: There are two political parties mainly in function

in the village. One is Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the other is Indian National Congress. Their divisional offices are located at Bishalgarh about 7 kms. from this village. Besides, thett) are Yuba Congress Committee, National Students Union of India, Krishan Sabha, Khet Majdur Union, Democratic Y O'llth Forum, etc. The number of active members of the Congress is about 250 and the munber of C.P.I.(M) members is about 500. The members are stated to be associated with all caste,-occupation and interest group. The general view of the villagers that the political workers along with their leaders appear in the village only before the time of election, with some good hope for the upliftment of the village in near future. As soon as the election is over they disappear with their future commitments and activities.

Rttnge oj contact with outside world:

Most of the poor villagers have very little physical contact with the outside world. It is lim...>ted within the sub-division, the district or in the State. A few better off households specially businessmen, service­holders, rich peasants have visited outside the State. Although all occupational groups visited regularly nearest capital town, Agartala in connection with their different types of business. Now-a-days villagers come in contact with the outside world by means of modem communication system e.g. radio, transistor, newspaper, magazines, etc. There are few television sets in the village. Many households have radio and transistor sets. About 150 households/shops are the regular subscriber of the newspaper in the village. Besides them some villagers are intereste4 to read newspaper regurarly in the nearby tea stall/sweet meat shops at

. Sekerkot market. They assemble there in the evening and discuss among themselves the current political activities, sports, cinema news ett:.

Travel Index:

The range of contacts with the outside world is dis.cussed below. It was reported that among 100 hQus.~holds under s.t\ldy there were 59 households where any member of the household visited distant places for diiferent reasons as is evident from Table IV.l4.

TABLE-IV .14

Distribution of Households where any member ,laW IIiHant pllIftS

Cause of Visit

1. To see Relatives

2. A.s Tourist

3. To see Holy Places

4. llilgrimage

S. Business •

6. Transfer of Service

7. To accompany Bridgegroom

8. As delegate to Political Conference

9. For Treatment

10. Interview

Total:

It reveals that mostly the visit was made to see their relatives followed by tourist.

The table presented below shows the travel index by sex and caste. It is hj~hest amon~ the kannakar

No.

37

6

4

3

3

2

1

59

males followed hy byastha and brahmin males. The index is. the lowest among the munda females followed by gur. It may be noted that the travel indices alllong the females are lower than among the m~es.

89

tABtE-tV.iS

Travel Index by Caste for Males and Females

Religion/Caste/Community

Hindu

Scheduled Caste .

1. J alia Kaibarta

2, M ahisy ad as

3. Muchi

4. Namasudra

5. Mali

6. Gur

Scheduled Tribe

7. Munda

Other Community

8. Laskar

9. Kayastha.

10. Saha

11. Banik

12. Brahmin

13. Ghose

14. Karmakar.

15. Goala

16. Sutradhar

17. Baidya

18. Acberjee

{slam

Muslim

All Communities

---_._--

In order to have some idea On awareness of social legislation in the village, information was collected on several legislation act viz., Hindu Marriage Act, Dowery Prohibition Act, Child Labour Act, Hindu Adaptation and Maintenance Act, un­tochability Offence Act, Hindu Succession Act, and Child Marriage Restraint Act. The response received

on any of these acts have been presented below. The table reveals that among the Hindu Community 36 households out of 93 households are aware on social legislation act. However, no household of Muslim Community reported awareness towards social legisla' tion act.

Religion/Casterrribe/Community

Hindu

Scheduled Caste

JaliaKaibarta

Mabisyadas

Namasudra

Gur

Mali

Muchi

Scheduled Tribe .'

Munda.

Others:

Kayastha

Laskar .

Saha

Sutradhar

Brahmin

Karmakar

Baidya.

Acbarjee

Banik

Goala

Muslim

Total:

Social Disability:

90

TABLE-IV.16

Awareness on Social Legislation by_Caste

-----

Total No. of

Informants

2

93

42

19

17

3

2

14

16

8

2

2

2

7

100

Total ,-----"------,

Aware Not

3

36

12

5

5

5

10

2

36

Aware

4

57

30

14

12

2

1

9

6

7

1

7

64

the caste system is still prevalent. People belonging to different caste have free and equal access in the

Orthodoxy and rigidity was not observed though village for their socio-cultural and religious aspects.

CHAPTER V

CONCLUSION

A part of present Bikramnagar village viz, Sekerkot was studied in 1966 taking the census village named as such as it obtained in 1961 Census on the basis of notional village ha'lling no well de­marcated boundary. At that time it was a small village covering 424.92 hectares of land and popula­tion as 1619 under the jurisdiction of Ishan Chandranagar Tehsil of Sadar Sub-division. But the village has since been renamed as Bikramnagar after the cadastral survey operation in the State and this Bikramnagar village now constitute of several Census "illage of 1961 Census, namely, Noagram, Malabati, Sekerkot, Purnagram, Mahesh Chaudhuri Para, Jangalia, Rajeshwaripur, Tigling Sardar Para. Con­sequent upon the cadastral survey it has been possible to have well defined boundary of the present revenue village in the place of earlier census villages which were more or less hamlets without any specific boundary. Considerable difficulties were, therefore, faced for the identification of earlier village which was a census villagae due to the complete change oveI of the boundary as well as heavy change of popula­tion in the locality during the last two decades. It is, therefore, not possible to have a strict comparison which may throw some idea regarding the growth between the two surveys. However, the present study is based on the data collected from 100 households of the original geographical area of the then Sekerkot, now a part of Bikramnagar village.

The changes in the infrastructure over a period of about 20 years have been observed with regard to the ethnic composition and different amenities.

In the earlier study the 'Hindu Laskars' whose number was 417 i.e., 25.76 per cent o[ the total populatiion constitued the main bulk of the ~aste populatipn of village. The)' were Iegarde~ as dommant community in the village because of thelI wealth and number. However an important feature of the present caste com~si~on is. that J ~li~ Kaibarta, who are mainly engageo 1ll fishmg activity, followed by Mahisyadas, both belongi~g to Scheduled Caste community form the predommant group.

It is reported that there were originally 140 households of the 'Garos' at Sekerkot w~o ~e~e the inmigrants from the bills of Assam. LmguIsucally, they belon§ed to Assam-B~rJ]}ese group and ~ad n? script but a-dialect of thcrr own known as paro. They did not possess any land. Th.ey settled m and around the undulating jungle and hilly tracts of the then Sekerkot.

They used to do the jhum cultivation for their meagre 5ubsistance. However, they migrated to interior areas and only one household was reported at ~() time ~f earlie~ study. But wi.th the passage of tIme, spec:lally wIth the prevention of jhum cultivation, they totally disappeared from the village as no household was found from thls caste at the time of restudy.

Regarding amenities, changes have been observed ~ regard to constructi.on of pucca (~oncrete) bridge m place of the earlIer wooden budge over river 'Scnai'. Irrigation schemes through river and channels, mOre number of deep tubewelIs, MaTk-Two tubewells, tap water on street side for drinking water, electri­fication in the village, ope.ning of Higher Secondary School, Veterinary Hospital, telegram facilities, two banks i.e. State Co-Operative Bank and Tripura Gramin Bank and several Government Offices l'iz, Panchayat Office, Tehsil Office, Agricultural Sector Office, Rural Electricity Office, Fishery Office, Flood Investigation Office, Forest Office and Co-Operative Inspector's Office. Besides these, three clubs and a library in Panchayat Office also exist.

The village Bikramnagar comprises an area of 744.62 he<:tares, households as 801 and population as 4605 as per 1981 Census. It is located in Bishalgarh Block under the jurisdiction of Bilcram­nagar tehsil of Sadar Sub-division of West Tripura Distr~t at a distance of 12 KIDs. towards south from Agartala town, the State capital of Tripura and is therefore not free from urban influence.

Pucca road and consequent transport facility are perhaps the most important factor influencing the life of the villagers. Communications tOI Agartala town, the State capital of Tripura and social contacts with urban elite are frequent.

The earlier study highlighted a number of significant facts and cleared a host of wrong notions. The economic and social life of the village is found to be moving away from the State of stagnation. A slow but continuously increasing urban look is apparent.

The village is multiethnic in character and the Muslims also exist. Majority of the persons are dis­placed penons from East Pakistan, now Bangladesh. J alia Kaibarta constitute a single dominent caste followed by Laskar and as such social, economic and political power are concentrated in these communities in the village. There has been an increase in the

numeber of Scheduled Caste households during the period under study. The villagers are generally religious minded. The elders play an important part in social stifes and disputes. The people as a whole are peace-loving and· have close relations with each other.

The supply of drinking water through taps has been introduced in the village. It is hoped that tap water facility will be available in the houses. The village is electrified.

The position in respect of literacy observed dur­ing the restudy in respect of both males and females has increased. The data collected from 100 house­holds during 1986 reveals that among 528 persons (273 males and 255 females) of age-group 5 and above, 447 persons (232 males and 208 females) were educated which amounts to 84.66 per cent literacy rate for the surveyed village population, 84. 98 per cellt for males and 81.57 per cent for females respectively. Educational facilities in regard to number of Schools, free education and consciousness for schooling, Balwadi Centre, Adult Education Centre has increased. As far as the level of educa­tion is concerned there afe persons with educational level upto degree and above. This shows that a change is taking place in the field of education.

Agriculture alongwith fishing continues to be the backbone of the village economy. The 1981 Census reveals that 23.11 per cent people have returned as workers in the village. 43.23 per cent people of dilferent communities maintained their livelihood by cultivation and agricultural labourer. Only 2.82 per cent are engaged in secondary sector and 53.95 per cent are engaged in tertiary sector out of which only 5 per cent are engaged in trade and commerce.

Majority of the households possesses some piece cl' land whether owned or leased in or both. But tlw size of the holding is small. Irrigational facilities are provided by the Government pumping stations which are two in number. Medical including veteri­nary services are also available to the villagers.

No industry as such exists in the village except a tea garden. Grarnin PACS exists in the village which helps in getting shott and long term loan for agricultural implements and business.

A major part of the income of the household is spent on food. Indebtedness is also there. Economic conditions of the people in the village have not changed much.

The general housing pattern in the village has not undergone much change. Improvement in cook-

92

ing and serving utensils are observed. Rich house­holds also possess luxuary and costly goods.

In the event of birth, marriage and death no differences in beliefs and practices are observed except the Nath communities who do not bum the dead bodies. Child marriage is no longer prevalent. The villagers are aware of family limitation. However, they are not fully aware of social legislation in India except Hindu Marriage Bill, Succession Bill and Dowry Bill.

To sum up the overall impression one would get from the" restudy is that the social and economic progress so far made in. the village is not yery im­pressive but a progresslVe one. The SOCIal, eco­nomic and political life in the village is active. A scientific development of agriculture and horticulture with proper irrigation facilIties and starting o~ small scale household industries may enable the villagers to bring about a faster economic growth.

It is not possible to derive certain orientation and insight from the restudy of the village which can be applied for the interpretation of the demo­graphic data for the block as a whole except that the micro-demography may be studied in regard to im­migration of households with emphasis on push and pull factors as majority of the people are basically displaced persons from East Pakistan, now Ban~la­desh. Dimension of unemployment and pOSSIble remedial measure through plant development in the form of rubber plantation, encouragement to house­hold traditional craft activity viz. cane and bamboo craft, weaving and fruit preservation plants ctc. may also be studied.

The tools and the methods used in collecting the data in the village are the village schedu~es, house­hold schedules and personal observations. It is felt that the schedules were alright at the time when they were framed as not much data was available on the socio-economic and cultural aspect of the people. However, the idea of no change model in this regard in a time span of 20 years for the purpose of restudy of villages, at least now, calls for a drastic change from several angles. The scheduled are very ex­haustive in nature and suffers from improper integra­tion of items of enquiry in ditlerent blocks. It has been endeavoured to deep into every aspect. But this exhaustiveness for all aspects made the schedule more lengthy and complicated. Instructions to field staff with concepts and definitions required for different items in the form of manual were not pre­pared which posed considerable difficulties at the ·time of collection, tabulation and interpretation of data. Difficulty was experienced to continue the interview with the informant for longer period. Respondents were reluctant to answer such a huge amount of information asked by the field staff. Fur-

ther the proposed multivariate tabulation programme for microlevel analytical findings with a suggested sam­pIc size of 100 has. not been able to solve the purpose of restudy of the village as most of the time consumed resulted in wastage in the form of yielding one and the same information e.g. income and expenditure have been collected without giving any scope for its concepts and definitions. It is, therefore, suggested

93

that -a thorough examination of current schedules of enquiry, tabulation plan and preparation of instruc­tion manual for field staff are made for future studies in the light of changing field conditions and develop­ments during last twenty years. Otherwise there is a danger that the field staff may consider themselves as simply a schedules filling device and the whole purpose of the study may be defeated.

(1) Village approach road

Censusj90 (2) Bridge over the Sanai river and cremation ghat

14

(3) Sekerkot Bazat

(4) Workshop-Malabati Tea Estate

(5) Medical Dispensary

(6) Tripura State Co-operative Bank

(7) Bikramnagar Tehsil Office

(8) Agriculture Sector Office

(9) Tripura Gramin Bank -

(10) Veterinary Dispensary

(11) Malabati Tea Garden

(12) A view of paddy field with water pumping machine-Sekerkot

(13) Wooden paddy husking tools (Dheki) in a Manipul'i family

(14) Paddy field

(15) Mosque

(16) Post Office

(17) Sekerkot H. S. School

(18) Baba Lalsa Darga Sari{, Sekerkot 6 Census/ 90 15

(19) House Type: Tea garden labourers with their families in Malabati Tea Estate

(20) Dwelling bouse of a Manipuri family

(21) Agriculture Seed Store

(22) Manipuri family at Sekerkot village

(23) Old cobbler engaged in his work