District-wise Growth of Population in Western Himalayan States of India, 1981-2011

Abstract

The growth of population is an important demographic characteristic which not only helps in understanding the population change that a society has undergone, but also helps in predicting the future demographic characteristics of an area. Therefore, it is useful to study and analyze the pattern of population growth. The purpose of this study is to examine the decadal variation of population growth in Western Himalayan States of India i.e. Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttrakhand sprawling over an area of 3,31,392 sq km. It constitutes about one-tenth area of India but supports merely 2.44 percent of India's population (Census 2011). The present study is based on secondary data collected at district level for four Census years i.e. 1981, 1991, 2001 and 2011. The simple percentage method and choropleth technique have been used to present the temporal and spatial variations in growth of population. In order to identify the regions of high, low and moderate growth rate the decadal growth rate of population has been calculated for these decades (1981-1991, 1991-2001 and 2001-2011). The study reveals that the study area as a whole experienced declining trend in growth of population. However, there were marked regional variations at the district level. The majority of districts of Jammu and Kashmir have recorded sizable growth of population, whereas, the central and southern parts of the study area which comprise Himachal Pradesh and Uttrakhand have conversely registered low growth rate in population. Keyword: Growth Of Population,Population In Western Himalayan. INTRODUCTION: The term growth of population is generally used to refer to the change in the number of inhabitants of a territory during a specific period of time, irrespective of whether the change is negative or positive. Population growth may be measured both in absolute terms and in percentage form. Population growth is the product of a combined operation of the three population process viz. the fertility, mortality and migration. These three are also called the components of population dynamics because it is these three, which bring about dynamism in population numbers by not letting them remain static (Chandna, R. C. pp. 132133). Mountain form one of the most important bio-geographical resource zone of the world. They are remote areas covering 52% of Asia, 36% of North America, 25% of Europe, 22% f South America, 17% of Australia and 3% of Africa making up in total 24% of the earth continental surfaces (Bridges, 1990: 260). In most mountain regions, people have their livelihood on agriculture, pastoralism and use of forest resources timber, fuel wood and fodder (UNEP-WCMC, 2002, p. 17). The Indian Himalayan Region is spread between 21o57' 37o5' N latitudes and 72o40' 97o25' E longitudes. It has an area of 5, 31,250 km2 spread over12 states and constitutes about 16.16% of India's total geographical area. This great chain of mountains in Indian Territory extends all along the northern border of the country from the eastern border of Pakistan on the west to the frontiers of Myanmar in the east for about 2,500 km with an average width of 240 km. Orographically, the Himalayan mountain system is divided into Greater Himalaya (Himadri), Lesser Himalaya (Himanchal) and the Sub-Himalayan tract (Sivalik). Apart from the longitudinal divisions the Indian Himalaya is also divided into following regional divisions based on population features and vegetation elements: Western Himalaya, Central Himalaya and Eastern Himalaya. (Nandy, S.N. et al., 2000, p.12). Study Area: Western Himalayan States of India The Himalayas consist of the youngest and loftiest mountain chains in the world. Geographically as well politically, Western Himalayan region is more important from strategic point of view, because of its contiguity to Pakistan, China, Afghanistan and connecting link between Central Asian countries. Geographically, the Western Himalayas is located between 29° 5 N latitude to 37° 5 N latitude and 72° 40 E longitude to 81° 00 E longitude. The region stretched for 880 km between the Indus river in the west and the Kali river in the East, comprise Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttrakhand. It covers an area of 3, 31,392 sq km i.e. approximately One Tenth area of India but supports merely 2.44 percent of India's Population (Census 2011). Fig. 1 shows that the study area shares land frontier with Nepal in South east part, China in North 1 Sandeep Kumar And Sujan Singh. “ District-wise Growth of Population in Western Himalayan States of India, 19812011 .” Science Park 1.6 (2013): Online & Print Science Park ISSN: 2321-8045 th Volume-1, Issue-6, 29 August-2013 and North East Part, Afghanistan in North West and Pakistan in west and North West. Besides, southern Part of the study area is bordered by three states i.e. Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Regional Setting of Study Area