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ECONOMIC TREND
Livelihood Pattern
The combined population of the present district of Gorakhpur and Deoria depending on agriculture was found to be 71.6 percent of the total population of the district (29,338,685) in 1901 which increased to 88.1 percent of the same (32,01,180) in 1911 and to 91.8 per cent (of 32,66,830) in 1921 when the rate of increase was arrested. By 1951, however, the percentage dropped to 88.5 percent (of 21,20,627) although the actual number of persons depending on agriculture had increased to 38,41,275 in 1951 from 29,97,997 giving rise of 28.1 percent in 1921. In 1951, the percentage for the State was 74.2.
Workers and Non-workers
In 1921, the percentage of workers in the total
population was 62.28 (agriculture 57.20 percent, non-agriculture 5.08 percent) but by
1951, it had come down to 49.68 (agriculture 44.13 percent, non-agricultural 5.55
percent).
The census that followed after 1951, pooled all the dependents of all the divisions of
economic activity into one class defined as non-workers. Consequently the data after 1951,
do not help to indicate separately the degree of dependence existing in agricultural and
non-agricultural activities
of workers.
The 1961 Census adopted a different definition of workers and their economic
classification which was adhered to some extent in 1971. Hence, an exact comparison with
earlier data is not possible. The comparative position with the data of 1971 is given
below:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year Total
Total
number Percentage of workers to total Population
population
of workers
-------------------------------------------------------------
Agricultural Non-Agricultural
Total worker
workers workers
------------------
District U.P.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1961 25,65,182 11,33,008
33.7
6.7 44.1
39.1
1971 30,38,177 9,83,934
27.4
4.9 32.3
30.9
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A cursory reading will thus indicate an alarming decrease in the working
population indicating unemployment even amongst the already employed persons of 1961. This
apparent anomaly is perhaps easily explained by the concept and definition of worker
adopted in 1961. Census allowed many persons to be included in the category of workers who
were not so treated in 1971 census. In 1961 as little as one hour's work in day entitled a
person to be treated as worker and a women whose time was utilized basically in household
chores was defined as worker even if she took food in the field and tended the cattle. But
in the census of 1971, a man or woman who was engaged primarily in house-hold duties such
as cooking for own household and even when such a person helped in the family economic
activity though not as a full time worker he was not treated as a worker and was
categorised as non-worker. Hence the different workers have now been classified into nine
major divisions, the basis of the classification being those economic activities which
were similar in respect of process, the raw material, and the products. The nine divisions
of workers and the number of persons engaged in them in 1971 are as follows;
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number and
Males
Females Total
Percentage Percentage
Name of division
to total to total
workers
population
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I Cultivators
4,30,904 28,077
4,58,981 46.6
15.1
II Agricultural
labourers
2,56,880 1,15,578 3,72,458
37.9
12.3
III Live-stock,
Forestry, fishing
hunting, plantations
orchards and allied
activities
3,328 462
3,790
0.4
0.1
IV Mining and
quarrying
211 37
248
0.0
0.0
V Manufacturing,processing
servicing and repairs:
(a) House hold industry 17,977
2,699
20,676 2.1
0.7
(b) Other than house
hold industry
25,280 1,015
26,295
0.3
0.1
VII Trade and Commerce 26,539
856
27,395
2.8
0.9
VIII Transport, storage
and communications
22,825 188
23,013
2.3
0.7
IX Other services
44156 3,958
48,114
4.9
1.6
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total workers
8,31,004 1,52,930 9,83,934
100
32.3
Non-workers
7,49,586
13,04,657 20,54,243 -
67.7
Total population
15,80,590 14,57,587 30,38,177
-
100.0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As will be observed above all the non-workers have been grouped together in one single
class though they have been classified in the census as follows:
(a) Full time students
(b) Those attending to household duties
(c) Dependents and infants
(d) Retired persons and rentiers
(e) Persons of independent means
(f) Beggars and vagrants
(g) inmates of penal, mental and charitable institutions
(h) Others
General Level Of Prices And Wages
Prices
Unfortunately there are no extant records of prices in this district prior to 1857, with
the exception of a few scattered references. In the ten years prior to 1860 the cheapest
rates were those of 1854, when wheat was sold at 28 seers to the rupee, rice at 26.6,
barley at 43.9 and gram at 40.7 seers. From 1861, onwards official returns are available,
and from these some idea may be obtained of the general tendency of prices by taking
averages of decennial period, so as to eliminate as far as possible the effects of
abnormal seasons and unusual influences. From 1861 to 1865, prices remained lower than at
any subsequent period, the averages in the case of the principal food-grains being 26.19
seers of common rice, 25.93 of wheat, 37.29 of barley, 23.95 of arhar and 28.61 of gram.
The following decade showed a great rise, though famines in 1868-69 and 1873-74 had a very
marked effect on the averages which were 18.93 seers for rice, 17.89 for wheat, 25.85 for
barley, 18.55 for arhar and 22.28 for gram.
In the decade 1866-1875 the prolonged scarcity sent prices up to famine levels. By 1880, however, the market recovered and two or three years of unusual plenty occurred, which lowered the prices to the level of 1865. The averages for the decade ending 1885 were consequently somewhat lower than in the preceding period, rice being sold for 17.5 seers, wheat for 18.18, barley for 29.6, arhar for 19.15 and gram for 24.52 seers to the rupee. In 1886 prices rose everywhere and the year marked an epoch in their history. For though the reasons had never been satisfactorily explained, it seemed that various causes produced a simultaneous effect, such as the extension of communications, the consequent development of export trade, and the fall in the price of silver. Whatever the reasons be, the result was that rates took a decided step upwards, from which they never descended in subsequent years. The practical effect of this change was the raising of the normal level and in later years the only variations were those due to famine and the state of the external markets. Because of the development of the railways system, the Gorakhpur rates become practically identical with those prevailing throughout Uttar Pradesh, the cost of railway freight alone differentiated various localities. From 1886 to 1895 with the bad seasons in the second half of the decade, the average were 14.67 seers for rice, 13.92 for wheat, 20.75 for barley, 19.7 for arhar and 20.43 for gram. The next ten years opened with a famine during which the rates rose to an unprecedented height. They remained high till 1900, owing to scarcity but the next four years witnessed a great improvement as the result of the magnificent harvests that were reaped throughout the country, though at the same time they never fell to the rates prevailing before 1886. In 1905 an extensive failure of the Rabi crops, caused a stringency in the market, the average for the ten years ending 1905 was 13.02 seers of rice, 13.93 of wheat, 19.58 of barley, 13.37 of arhar and 16.9 of gram to the rupee. Subsequent seasons were so unfavourable that the prices rose rapidly. In 1907-08 the rates were far higher than ever known by then in spite of the relative immunity of the district from famine. The rise in the past 45 years was sufficiently remarkable, which amounted on the whole to 18 percent from 1861 to 1885 and to 46 per cent from the former year to 1905, an enhancement which cast an immense effect on the condition of the district especially in the landowners and tenants who derived incalculable benefit from the increased value of their produce. Because of the excellent harvests of 1908 and following years prices again fell reaching low level in 1911, the prices being 13.06 seers for wheat, 10.37 seers for rice (common), 21.56 seers for gram and 12.75 seers for arhar dal , but rose sharply thereafter. In 1913, they were higher than ever before. The average for the 10 years ending 1915 was 9.46 seers for rice, 10.96 seers for wheat, 15.74 for barley, 10.79 for arhar, and 13.96 for gram to the rupee. Thus in these last ten years prices had risen by 21 percent.
With the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, a series of changes in prices including a considerable rise in the cost of food-grains were witnessed in the succeeding years. In 1916, the price level higher by 47 percent, in 1928 it was higher by 100 per cent over the rates prevailing in 1911.
The worldwide economic depression was started in 1930 and the years that followed were continued and severe depression. There was some recovery in 1932 but that was only seasonal and prices began to fall again in 1933 consequent on a good monsoon. The price level in 1934 went down by about 38 percent and 15 percent as compared to those of 1928 and 1916 respectively. Prices remained low in 1935 and in the first half of 1936. There was an upward trend in the next half and the prices were steady in 1937 and at a higher level than in 1936. By 1939 they registered a rise of nearly 25 percent over those prevalent in 1934.
After the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 there was a steep rise in prices. The rise was largely due to speculation and profiteering but other factors like the holding back of stocks in anticipation of future shortage, contributed in no small measure to maintain and even to advance the high level reached. At the beginning of 1940 prices control measure which had been put into operation on the outbreak of the war were vigorously enforced. These measures included the fixation of price(with modification from time to time) by the district officer and the institution of prosecution to check profiteering and dealers in food-grains were licensed. Even then the prices continued to go up and it was experienced that effective control of prices was not possible without control over supplies. Therefore district reserves were maintained and to ease the situation a partial rationing scheme was introduced in 1943 for the poorer section but the markets were allowed to function normally. By bearing a free market the possibility of a breakdown in supplies was avoided. The availability of certain food-grains at subsidised rates from the government shops induced the dealers to reduce their own prices and bring out their hoarded stocks.
It was expected that with the end of the War and enforcement of several price control measures by the government, the general food situation would ease but it did not. The price level in 1944 was higher by 344 percent than that of 1911 and by about 184 percent than that of 1939. The period between 1943 and July 1952 was that of rationing and controls. After this period markets were allowed to function normally and restriction on movements of food-grains were also withdrawn and the statutory maximum prices, prescribed for various food-grains, were also given up. The system of issuing food-grains to ration card holders from ration shops was, however, continued in order to arrest any rising trend.
Expectation of an immediate fall in the prices of food-grains and easing of the food situation as a result of the relaxation of controls from July were not realised. On the contrary prices of nearly all food-grains went up appreciably. But by the end of 1953, prices tended to come down. The normal forces of demand and supply once again started adjusting the prices and the withdrawal of government with all its financial resources from the market had its effect on softening the prices. The cultivators was not sure of getting a fixed maximum prices for his grain nor was the trader assured of earning a fixed commission on the grains supplied by him. The nervousness of the cultivator and the trader only led to a further decline in prices. As a result thereof the downward trend which had started in 1953 could not be arrested and by 1955 prices had fallen by about 56 percent for wheat, 53 percent for rice, 57 percent for gram and 48 per cent for arhar, as compared with those prevailing in 1950.
This posed a new problem for the government. The
falling trend was required to be checked in the interest of the overall economy and in the
interest of the cultivator who needed being assured of a minimum price so that he could
stick to his land. The government had to take measures in 1953-54 to support prices. They,
therefore, again showed a gradual upward trend. The available average monthly wholesale
prices for certain years from 1951 are given below :
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year
Prices in Rs per maund (or 37.3)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Wheat
Gram
Rice
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1951 29.25
20.50
36.00
1955 12.80
8.80
16.80
1960 19.00
16.00
22.00
1965 29.10
23.00
42.69
(77.70)*
(61.62)*
(114.00)*
* Rupees per quintal
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The average yearly retail prices from 1969 to 1973 were as follows :
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year
Prices in Rs per Kg.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wheat
Gram
Rice (Common)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1969 1.02
0.87
1.33
1970 0.92
1.04
1.51
1971 0.96
1.09
1.53
1972 1.00
1.17
1.60
1973 1.28
1.83
1.83
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The average retail prices of certain other essential commodities, obtaining in Gorakhpur town in 1973, were as follows :
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commodity
Prices in Rs per Kg.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dal arhar
2.14
Ghee
19.00
Jaggery
1.85
Fire-wood
0.15
Mustard Oil
7.36
Sugar
3.57
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wages
About the close of
the nineteenth century the wages that ruled throughout the district were much lower than
those prevailing in the western parts of the State, the scale resembled that of the
eastern districts generally. From 1858 to 1868 the remuneration of field-labourers varied
from six to eight pice daily, although the cash wages were relatively rare. During next
decade the higher rate generally prevailed, though from 1878 to 1908 more usually
labourers were paid partly in cash and party in grain. The general average for the
district remained almost the same till 1908 though in rare instance more was given, while
payment in grain was of approximately the same value varying from two to three
seers. In practice cash remuneration took the from of the so called Gorakhpur pice and
amounted to 10 to 15 of these coins daily the equivalent in government currency being two
and three annas. The rate depended on the locality and the natural of the work performed.
The wages were generally higher in the north, the average being three annas a day for
labour was less abundant here. The rates in the case of skilled labourers in the rural
areas varied from Rs 6 to Rs 9 per month. In the city the wages were much higher. A
similar rise was also noticed in the case of household servants. In 1907, the average
monthly wages of a sweeper was Rs 3 and a syce Rs 5 which increased to Rs 5 and Rs 7
respectively about 1920. The foremost reason for this increase was the rise in price which
culminated in the scarcity of 1907-08. The increase of emigration owing to higher wages
obtainable in Bengal and elsewhere, the ravages of plague and increased facilities of
transport also tended to increase wages in this district.
A comparative survey
of rural wages for skilled and unskilled labour for certain years from 1906 to 1973 is
given in the following statement :
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year
Wages in Rs per day
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Unskilled labour
Skilled labour
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1906
0.09
0.21
1911
0.09
0.25
1916
0.10
0.36
1928
0.14
0.53
1934
0.10
0.33
1939
0.14
0.33
1944
0.31
1.00
1950
0.78
1.64
1955
1.00
2.00
1960
2.00
4.00
1965
2.50
5.00
1970
3.00
4.50
1973
3.50
6.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
After the First World War, there occurred a marked all round rise in wages which was most
marked in 1928. The fall after 1930, which was due to worldwide economic depression, was
reflected in the wages obtaining in 1934, after this wages began to rise and by 1944 those
for unskilled and skilled labour had recorded a rise of 100 and 205 percent respectively,
over those of 1939. This abnormal rise may be attributed to the out break of the Second
World War in 1939, and the consequent rise in prices wages thereafter did not down and
continued to move upwards.
In 1934, various agricultural occupation such as weeding, reaping, transplantation and ploughing ranged from Rs 2.75 to Rs 3.50 per day, the working hours being eight.
Wages in urban areas were, as usual,
higher than those in the rural areas. In Gorakhpur town, wages prevailing in 1974 are
given below in respect of certain occupations :
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Occupation
Unit of quotation
Average wages in Rs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gardener
Per month
190.00
Chowkidar
Per month
145.00
Domestic servant (a) Per month, without food
80.00
(b) Per month, with food
40.00
Herdsman
Per month, per cattle
5.00
Motor Driver
Per month,
200.00
Truck driver
Per month
250.00
Scavenger
Per month for a house with one
latrine for one clearing per
day 5.00
Casual labour
Per
day
4.50
Carpenter
Per day
7.00
Blacksmith
Per day
7.00
Midwife
(a) For a boy
25.00
(b) For a girl
20.00
Barber
(a) Per shave
0.30
(b) Per hair-cut
0.70
Porter
Per 40 kg.of a load carried for
1.00
a km.
Wood-cutter
Per
40 kg. of wood turned into
0.50
fuel
Tailor
(a) Per man's cotton shirt (full
sleeves)
2.50
(b) Per woman's cotton shirt (short
sleeves)
2.00
(c) Per woolen suit
75.00
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
General Level Of Employment
In 1971, the number of agricultural workers was 8,31,439, cultivators and agricultural labourers being 4,58,981 and 3,72,458 respectively. The number of persons engaged in activities connected with livestock, forestry fishing, hunting, plantations, orchards and allied activities was 3,790 and in mining and quarrying 248. As many as 2,964 persons were engaged in activities connected with building of roads, bridges, tunnels, etc., and trade and commerce offered employment to 27,395 persons and transport storage and communications to 23,013. The services engaged 48,114 persons, household industry 20,676 persons and industries other than household 26,295 persons.
Employment Trends
The statement given below shows employment trends in both the private and the public
sectors during the years 1969-73. The date relate only to those establishments which were
covered by the enquiry conducted by the employment exchange authorities :
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year
No of establishments
No of
employees
----------------------------------------
---------------------------------
Private Public
Total Private Public
Total
sector sector
sector sector
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1969 240
211
451
14746 53105
67851
1970 243
227
470
15159 53342
68501
1971 247
243
490
15094 56072
71166
1972 279
281
560
16148 57473
73621
1973 274
291
565
16279 59310
75589
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The number of persons employed in 1972 and 1973 given in the foregoing statement when
further split up according to nature of their work presents the following picture :
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nature of activity No of reporting
No. of employees
establishment
1972
1973
---------------
----------------------------- -------------------------------
1972 1973
Private Public Total Priv.
Public Total
Sector Sector
Sector Sector
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Agriculture, livestock 10
12
-
2189 2189
- 2283
2283
hunting and fishing
Mining and quarrying 1
1
-
313 313
-
597 597
Manufacturing
72 69
9569 2549
12118 9523 2622
12145
Construction
29 29
-
3354 3354 -
3575 3575
Electricity Gas, water 7
8
-
2258 2258 -
2359
2359
and sanitary services
Trade and commerce 77
80
686 937
1623 657
1311 1968
Transport and storage 40
42
27 22480 22507
26 22195 22221
Services ( public,
legal, medical etc.) 324
324
5866 23393 29259
6073 24368 30441
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total
560
565
16148 57473 73621
16279 59310 75589
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Employment of Women
The trend in employment of women workers is given in
the following statement which shows the number of women employed in the private and public
sector during the years ending December 1973 :
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. on December 1973
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. of reporting establishments
565
No. of women employees in public sector
2656
No. of women employees in private sector
609
Total number of women employees
3265
Percentage of women employees in private sector to total
number of employees in that sector
3.7
Percentage of women employees in Public sector to total
number of employees in that sector
4.5
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The proportion of women workers in different spheres in the quarter ending December, 1973, was as follows :
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sphere
Percentage
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Education
62.5
Medical and public health
24.3
Transport
5.8
Manufacturing
2.3
Construction
0.2
Trade and coomerce
0.4
Services etc.
4.0
Electricity, gas and water
0.5
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total
100.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unemployment Trends
The number of men and women who sought employment in different spheres during the year
ending December, 1973, were as follows :
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Educational Standard
Men Women Total
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Post-graduate
407 21
428
Graduate
2,737 28
2,765
Intermediate/ Under graduate 6,801
44 6,845
Matriculate
7,470 89
7,559
Below matriculate including
11,385 827
12,212
illiterate
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total
28,800 1,009
29,809
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vacancies notified to the employment exchange during the quarter ending December, 1973, by the Central Government were 101, by the State Government 670, quasi government 77,(State 70 and Central 7), local bodies 30, and private sector 33.
The district experienced shortage of civil engineer chemists, experienced mechanical engineer, stenographer, (English and Hindi), general mechanics, experienced electrician, overseer, physician, health inspector, trained accountant, fitter and pressman. Persons without previous experience of training and technician trainees of industrial training institutes are surplus to requirement.
The district has a surplus labour force which migrates to other deficient areas for
employment.
Employment Exchange
The employment service came into being in the wake of post-war demobilisation and a need
was felt for a machinery that would satisfactorily handle orderly re-absorption of
demobilised personnel in civil life. Accordingly an employment exchange was established at
Gorakhpur in January, 1946. Till the end of 1946, employment services facilities were
available only to demobilised service personnel and discharged war workers. In 1947, at
the time of partition of the country, the employment exchange was also called upon to deal
with the resettlement of a large number of persons who were displaced as a result of
partition. In response to growing demand, the scope of service was gradually extended and
by early 1948, employment exchange was thrown open to all categories of workers. Its
administration was taken up by the State government with effect from November 1956.
The work of employment exchange is divided into different sections. Besides the employment market information and vocational guidance units, the registration and submission work is divided into three sections, viz., the clerical, technical and unskilled. The registration of all categories of women is done separately in the women section. Each section is under the charge of an assistant employment officer.
The introduction of the Compulsory Notification of Vacancies Act, 1959 and the Apprentice Act of 1961 has widened the scope of the employment service. Vocational guidance and occupational and training information has been an added attraction normal registration and placement activities. The employment exchange was also made responsible to recruitment of labour for the State labour group at Gurma Camp attached to the Churk Cement Factory since October 1964. A university employment information and guidance bureau is also operating under the employment exchange at Gorakhpur.
The following statement would show the amount of
assistance rendered by the employment exchange during the year 1969-73 :
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year Vacancies notified No. of persons
No. on 'live Persons provided
by employers
registered
for register' with employment
employment
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1969 2619
20741
10016
2093
1970 2634
24021
15673 1880
1971 2960
31065
17562 2411
1972 2971
29863
29713 1798
1973 3139
30312
29809
2867
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Employment market information scheme was introduced by the exchange in December, 1958, for public sector only and its jurisdiction was extended to private sector also in 1959. Under the scheme an effort is made to find out quarterly from public and private sectors establishments, the number of persons employed by them and the number of posts under them that fell vacant during the quarter and the type of jobs for which supply of qualified candidates was inadequate.
In order to give assistance to an individual in solving problems related to occupational choice, a vocational guidance unit was established by the State Government in the employment exchange, Gorakhpur in 1960. During the year 1973, about 5700 candidates attended group guidance talks, 6126 individuals sought guidance, 578 candidates were placed in training and 232 were placed in apprenticeship, special guidance were given to 1658 persons of the Scheduled Castes, 288 ex-service men, 309 women and 23 physically handicapped persons.
Central Labour Depot
The Central labour depot at Gorakhpur is functioning under the administrative
control of the director of employment exchanges, New Delhi, and under the immediate
charge of a deputy director (labour). The Depot was established in March, 1942, at
Gorakhpur on a small scale. Later it developed rapidly and soon grew into big
organisation supplying about 50,000 labourers annually all the state of country. It also
looks after labour welfare work.
National Planning And Community Development
Before Independence the subject of rural development and planning received little attention and whatever efforts were made in this direction were merely the outcome of political expediency and confined to such activities as sanitation and expansion of agricultural and irrigational facilities to the villages. When the first Congress government came into office in, 1937, a scheme for rural development was adopted in certain villages of the district. The scope of the scheme was expanded and a rural development association was formed at the district level, having a nominated non-official chairman and a subdivisional magistrate as secretary with functions more or less advisory. The work related largely to rural hygiene, construction of roads, establishment of libraries, construction of panchayat ghar (house) and night school for adults, and allied development activities. All rural development programmes were almost given up when the Congress government went out of office in 1939. In 1947, the work was again taken up when the rural development department was merged with the co-operative department and the rural development association replaced by the district development association with a non-official as chairman and the district co-operative officer as its secretary.
The development activities received proper attention only after the setting up of the
planning commission of India in 1950. In the First five-year Plan(1951-56) agriculture,
including irrigation and power, were given top priority, funds having been allocated
accordingly. In 1952, the district development association was replaced by the district
planning committee, having the district magistrate as its chairman and the district
planning officer as its secretary. Its role was, however, advisory. A number of
subcommittees were also framed for the preparation and execution of development
programmes.
In the district the first community development block was opened on October 2, 1953, at Nichlaul followed by another at Chargawan on January 26,1955.
The scope of the Second Five-year Plan was engaged to include industrialization and it was decided that the whole district would be divided into development blocks for the implementation of the various Plan schemes. In the second half of the Second five-year Plan the Antarim Zila Parishad (now the Zila Parishad) was formed in 1958 by amalgamating the district planning committee and the district board. A three-tier structure of rural self-governing bodies was adopted from December, 1963, for the successful implementation of the planing and development programmes-the village panchayat at the villages level, the kshettra Samiti at block level and the Zila Parishad at the district level. For the co-ordinated execution of the different Plan schemes the resources of the agriculture, co-operative, animal husbandry, panchayat raj and some other departments and organisations were pooled and put under the control of the district planning officer (now designated as district development officer). The district was divided into 31 development blocks. Some particulars about these blocks of the district are given in the Statement A appended at the end of the chapter, all of which being in post-stage II.
The Kshettra Samiti is responsible for all the development activities within a block. The block development officer is the executive officer of the Kshettra Samiti. He is assisted by a number of assistant development officers for agriculture, animal husbandry, co-operatives, panchayats, etc. At the village level, there is a multipurpose worker designed as gram sewak (village level worker) to work for all the development departments. During the First Five-year Plan period the stress was on people's participation in different activities. Improvement of village roads, drainage and pavements was done by Shramdan (voluntary labour).Improved methods of agriculture and use of compost manure were also introduced. Tube-wells and other facilities for irrigation were augmented.
The aim of Second Plan was to increase national income by 25 percent and to reduce unemployment. During this period branches of different co-operative societies were established to enable the farmers to get proper value of their produce and a land development bank also started functioning to make available to farmers loans on easy terms. In the field of agriculture, schemes relating to soil conservation, Japanese method of paddy cultivation, expansion of and training in the use of improved agricultural implements, and use of chemical and green manure were taken up.
The Third Five-year Plan was conceived as the first stage of a decade or more of intensive development leading to a self-reliant and self-generating economy. It sought to ensure a minimum level of living to every family while narrowing economic and social disparities. Some special programmes, much as intensive methods of wheat and paddy cultivation, crop protection measures, availability of improved varieties of seeds, increase in double-cropped area were taken in hands. This all resulted in substantial increase in production. Schemes for the development of live-stock, poultry and fisheries were undertaken.
A period of three annual Plans intervened between the
Third Plan and the Fourth Plan which commenced from April 1, 1966, the broad objectives of
these Plans being the following :
(i) A Growth rate of 5 percent in the
agricultural sector and 8 to 10 percent in industry.
(ii) 6.9 per cent annual rate growth in production of
food-grains to achieve self-sufficiency.
(iii) To maximize employment opportunities with the
proposed growth rate.
(iv) To redress imbalances arising from a high rate
of population growth and inadequate expansion in agricultural production by bringing the
fertility rate to 25 per thousand in shortest possible time.
The implementation of these Five-year Plan schemes has helped in raising the standard of living, providing better wages and living conditions and helping the general economic growth of the district. The growing industrialization side by side with increased agricultural production holds a define promise of ushering in an era of increased prosperity and better economic condition for the people of the district.
STATEMENT A
Development Block
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tahsil Name of Block Date of
No. of
Population
inauguration ----------------------------
Gram Nyay
Sabhas Panchyats
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1
2
3
4
5
6
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------
Bansgaon Bansgaon
01/04/1956 103
12
91092
"
Kauriram
01/07/1957
87 11
85367
"
Barhalganj
01/04/1958
92 10
89539
"
Belghat
02/10/1959
107
11 86353
"
Gola
02/10/1962
107 10
84730
"
Gagaha
02/10/1972
96
10
79145
"
Khajni
(Rudrapur)
02/10/1972
212 10
93732
Uruwa
02/10/1972
115
11
88983
Gorakhpur Chargawan
26/01/1955 74
9
119147
"
Khorabar
01/07/1957
67
8 90138
"
Sardar Nagar
01/10/1959 69
8
87340
"
Piprauli
02/10/1959 77
10
90210
"
Pipraich
01/04/1960 83
9
86441
"
Sahjanwa
01/04/1961
99 10
83365
"
Junglekauria
02/10/1962
96 10
81539
"
Bhathat
02/10/1972 69
8
88510
"
Brahmpur
02/10/1972 79
9
89210
"
Pali
02/10/1972
108
11
91418
Mahrajganj Nichlaul
02/10/1953
99 10
104705
"
Partawal
01/04/1956
86
9
99383
"
Paniara
01/04/1958
72
9 89219
"
Mahrajganj
01/04/1959
74
8 93955
"
Siswa
01/04/1962
81
9
96075
"
Ghughli
02/10/1972
72
8
89461
"
Mithaura
02/10/1972
91 10
97894
Pharenda Pharenda
02/10/1956
72
9
78316
"
Nautanwa
01/07/1957 99
9
104773
(Ratanpura)
"
Dhani
02/10/1962
61
8
68103
"
Lachhmipur
02/10/1962 100
10
83201
"
Bridgmanganj
02/10/1972
65 8
79591
"
Campierganj
02/10/1972
61
9 88154
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--------