An Analytical Study of Inter District Tribal Development of Dakshin Dinajur District, West Bengal

Abstract

Tribal people constitute 8.6% of nation’s total population according to census of 2011. Tribal’s considered as minority in number and also recognized as a backward class in West Bengal as well as in India. Dakshin Dinajpur district is one of the districts of 23rd district of West Bengal, which contains eight blocks and 16.12% different tribal population. Development is a consecutive process of positive change to better positions in respect of all social parameters that sustain a descend standard of living. In this study, an attempt has been made to light the tribal development issue. The concentration of tribe evaluated through Location quotient (LQ). High concentration of LQ (>4.0) lighted towards high level of concentration of tribes such as Hilli and Gangarampur block. In respect of educational status highest literacy recorded in Balurghat (56.01 %) and Tapan (41.31%) block and lowest in Kushmundi (9.27%). There was positive relationship between literacy and income. High literacy blocks i.e. Balurghat and Tapan has good earning status of tribe whereas Kushmundi block was recorded lowest literate tribes and very low income status compare to the other blocks. The blocks have categorised through ranking method on workforce participation rate, high work force participations to low work force participations and ranked as lesser the rank better the position in work participation. Hosue type considered to evaluate the quality of living. Houses taken in consideration as kuccha, pucca, semi kuccha, semi puccha. The blocks categorised in three groups of living standard quality on concentration of kuccha, pucca, semi kuccha, semi puccha houses and categorised as greater concentration of kuccha and lower concentration of puccha in low category, thus less concentration of kuccha and greater concentration of puccha houses as high category and given composite score. Different development parameters i.e. literacy, income, house type, different types of workers and work force participation rate were taken to evaluate the development level through composite index. The above maintained parameters have given ten division weight values for each parameter. Sum of all the weight score made a composite score index to enhance the development of different block of the entire district. Through the different parameters it illuminated the inter block development and disparity level of development among tribal community. The entire work thus made a strong decision support system for implementations farther development planning for backward blocks in respect of tribal community of Dakshin Dinajpur district.