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CHAPTER - 2
STUDY AREA
Physiography
The area under study, the Chotanagpur plateau region is the
north-eastern edge of the Indian peninsula extending between 22O
North to 2s0 30' North latitudes and 83O 47' East to 87O 50' East
longitudes. It covers an area of about 201014 sq. kms. It
embraces the districts of four states: Ranchi, Dhanbad,
Hazaribagh, Giridih, Palamau, Singhbhum districts of Bihar;
Purulia and Bankura districts of West Bangal; Raigarh, Raipur,
Bilaspur and Surguja districts of Madhya Pradesh and
Sundergarh, Mayurbhanj , Keonj har and Sarnbalpur districts of
Orissa (Fig. 1)
There is a great confusion regarding it.s precise boundaries
and areal coverage. However, an arbitrary boundary should be
done by considering few criteria depending on the objectives of
the work. The present work includes altogether 16 districts which
have the best representation of the Chotanagpur region.
The Chotanagpur region consists of a series of plateaus
having different altitudinal extent. There are four plateaus
having different characteristics and nature as well as height.
One of them is known as 'Pat' region having comparatively higher
altitudinal extent which varies from 2500 feet to 3600 feet above
the mean sea level (MSL) . This region covers the norht - western
part of Ranchi district and southern edge of Palamau district.
The 'Pat' region having flat topped, consists of dissected hills
,
*
CHOTANAGPUR REGION
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
..... -.Giridih '. Hazaribagh : Palamau '-. . .
. . . . . . . %, . . . . . . : . . . ..... . -. :' \ .... ....,... . . . . . . . . . :Dhanb@j'., ..... i . . : r.C 2 . . . . . . ) . . . . . . . . . . . C'
b ' .:. . . . . . .f L . j . . j. .
. . . . . i . ?Puruli a : Bankura.., .--. Ranchi +.
: L.... ...... . . . 5 . . . . . . . . 7 '- . . ............. (. .. ./... ... . . . . . ~ a i g o r h (4: ,:' Singhbhum r . ~ . \ . '. ."
, , / . - . J ' ,
Bilaspur cJ~undergarh ) i 4 v.y,. !
/' . . . _-'.__ \.,.-.-. i !i . . . . . ..... . . . \ .......'
r '., . Mayurbhanj: :. . ' j". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " r' . . . . . .
'. . - . i j Sarnbalpur , !Keonjha . . . . , ' Raipur .-
I . . ...... . . . . . . . . . , , _ ..- .- . , . . . . . . .~ . .
Kilomr(rea
DlSTRlCT BOUNDARY
STATE BOUNDARY
INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY
COSTAL BOUNDARY
rising to about 1600 feet above the lower plateau. The region was
composed of Deccan lava which is later changed Into ldterite and
bauxite due to both physical as well as chemical weatherings.
The next lower plateau is known as Ranchi plateau covering
almost the whole of Ranchi district. It is composed, mostly, of
gneisses and granites rising at a height of about 2000 feet above
MSL . The Ranchi plateau is separated by the structural trough of
the Damodar river from the upper Hazaribagh plateau in the west
which has the same height as the Ranchi plateau and is probably a
continuation of Ranchi plateatu.
The next plateau is the outer Chotanagpur plateau having an
elevation of about 1000 feet above MSL. This plateau region is
composed of gneisses and other Dharwar rocks. In Hazaribagh it is
known as lower Hazaribagh plateau.
The fourth region consists of the erosional, undulated
surface of rive1 valley, plain and lower parts of the outer lower
plateau having the altitudinal extent varying from 500 feet to
1000 feet above the MSL.
The drainage follows the general slope and relief features
of the region and adopts almost all the directions.It comprises
of main systems namely, North Koel, South Koel, Subarnrekha,
Kumar, Kasai, Damodar, Barakar, Ajai, More and Brahmani as well
as the tributaries of these main rivers. Although the most of
them are seasonal rivers but for the purpose of this study, these
has been treated as important system. There are some perenial
river system ie. Subarnrekha, Damodar, etc. However, rivers have
developed extensive drainage basin. The rivers especially in
Rajmahal highlands (the Ajai, the More the Arahmani and the
Gumani) drain in parallel channel, towards the west Bengal in
the direction of south-east. The northern fringe of the plateau
is drained by numerous small tributries of the Punpun, the
Phalgu, the Sakri and the north Koel rivers towards the south
Bihar plain in the direction of the north.
The rivers are characterized by wide shallow channels over
the flat plateaus but exhibit youthful characteristics marked by
steep-sided, narrow valleys gorges, the courses being interrupted
by rapids and waterfalls. A series of big or small waterfalls are
marked at all the scarp fronts namely, Gutamghagh 36 metres,
Ghaghri 42 metres, Burhaghagh 40 metres, Sadnighagh 60 metres in
the region of Pats; Hundru 73 metres Johana, Dasam 39 metres
etc. on the eastern margin of central part of Ranchi plateau
region; Motijhara 45 metres in Rajmahal hills; and Kakolat 24
metres on the northern edge of Hazaribagh plateau.
The river regime is highly fluctuating with continuous flow
only during the monsoon season and either completley dry bed or
disconnected pools of water during the rest of the year. The
rivers rise suddenly after the monsoon downpour but after
a few hours they quickly subside to fordable level.
The over all drainage pattern is dendritic signifying
limited structural control even though they flow over rocks of
varying chracter and hardness. However, there are several local
variation, depicting different types of drainage patterns, some
of them are fault-guided rivers, e.g. the Damodar having
remarkable straight c0urse.A variety of the trellis pattern is
seen in the Damodar valley, where a series of parallel faults
have resulted in alternating bands of strong and weak rocks which
provide the drainage a 'fault trellis' pattern. Trell pattern
is also visible in folded structure of the Chotanagpur where
alternating weak and strong rocks have been truncated by stream
erosion. The Sankh reveals a barbed drainage pattern where its
tributaries join it in ' 'boathook bends" pointing upstream. In
north Palamau 'angulate'pattern has developed under the influence
of joints in the granite-gneiss areas. Radial patterncan be
marked over the plateau tops in Pats, the central Ranchi plateau
and the Hazaribagh plateau.
Geology
Chotanagpur is composed mainly of Archaean granite and
gneiss rocks with patches of Dharwar rocks on the northern and
southern margin, the latter being very consicuous in the iron
ore, Kolhan series covering greater part of the Singhbhum
district.. The Dalma range marks the belt of Archaean lava
flows. "The structural base of the region is provided by a
series of batholithic intrusions of granite into Dharwar strata,
which were intensely metamorphosed by orogenetic movements. The
earliest floor, on which the Dharwars were deposited has not been
recognized anywhere since it was subsequently metamorphosed"
(Singh, 1970: 14) . This part of chotanagpur is characterised by
complex geological structure. There is evidence of a peneplained
"ancient fold mountains," extending east - west across north
Singhbhum, south Ranchi and Jamshedpur lies on the central
prexisting range; the hills st.retching east and west Dalama or on
the site of northern slopes of the old mountain system. In the
structural trough of the Damodar valley Gondwana rocks
consisting of sandstone of great thicknees with some slates and
clay. The region of 'Pat' land on the eastern margin is covered
with edge of Deccan trap which is rich into laterite and bauxite
due to differential weathering. The Rajmahal hills in the north-
eastern fring of the plateau are also covered with lava flows
which were probably linked with the initiation of the Himalayan
orogeny. Rajmahal hills consists of dolerites basalt and
andesites. These structural units are helpful in reconstructing
the geological history of Chotanagpur (Dunn, 1944,141)
A long period of erosion carving out the irregularities of
geneissic and granitic pre- cambrian land surfaces, an ice age
in the upper corboniferous: major trough faulting in the Permian
times that brought into being the Damodar valley when the
Gondwana rocks were laiddown in fresh water lakes; uplift in the
hot desertic conditions of Triassic days when 5000 ft. of
unprotected Gondwana residents were stripped away and massive
sand stones of Mahadeoa series (Middle Gondwana) were formed; a
volcanic outburst in the Jurassic; and minor faulting and tearing
during Tertiary earth movements." The existing geomorphology in
t:he incesant erosions from Cretaceous period accentuated by
up1ift.s during the Tertiary era in the folowing succession:
(i) An early Tertiary peneplain was uplifted by 300 metres to
the south with a tilt to the north east;
(ii) A further uplift of shaps 300 metres sometime between
Middle and late Tertiary.
(iii) After an interval sufficient to permit the formation of quit
a well defined peneplain, a further uplift of above 100
metres took place with at least a sharp upward in the
Subarnarekha plain.
Towards the southern edge of Chotanagpur the upward
movements were cumulative where as further north, close to the
edge of Ganga alluvium and particularly around Rajmahal hills,
there was no apparent differential movement- there may have been
subsidence but certainly not uplift.
Climate
The Chotanagpur Plateau enjoys monsoon type of climate
having a seasonal rhythm running through a11 the elements of
weather. With the commencement of hot weather in March the
temperature rises sharply until May. The monthly mean
temperature ranging between 2g0c - 32O C, cr-eating a low
pressure area in the north - eastern part of t.he Plateau. The
wind consequently blows from west, with increasing velocity from
9.6 to 14.4 K.M/hour (Pandey, Suresh, 1961:41). By the end of
May calms become more frequent and the westerly winds begin to
cease and the seasonal low pressure establishes in the seasonal
north- western India. There is some in April under
the influence of the north- western of the bay of Bengal
After the hot season, rains start and t.he rainy season
continues from June to October. During the season of rains the
temperature begins to decrease with the onset of the south-
western monsoon. The seasonal trough of low pressure which lies
in the Ganga plain in July, shifts to the south,over the plateau
in August- September. The winds generally blow from east and
south- east. The wind velocity decreases gradually with the
advance of the season.Heavy rainfall, accounting for over 80 per
cent of the annual rain comes this season.The average annual
amount of rain ranges between 100 to above 150 CM. It is liable
to fluctuations from year to year. The general distributional
pattern shows that the amount of normal rainfall decreases from
south to north and east to west. There are significant local
variation, nevertheless, according to topographic features.The
localities receive comparatively greater amount of rain. The
highest amount occurs at Netarhat (over 1000 metres) located in
Pats; while the Chibasa plain lying on the south eastern fringe
having below 300 metres elevation, receives comparatively very
less amount of rainfall.
The cold weather season commences from November and lasts
till the end of February. The normal January temperatures at
Hazaribagh and Ranchi are 16.4 C and 17.3 C respectively. There
extends a wedge of high pressure from the north-west with gentle
gradient. The wind blows, therefore from north-west with low
velocity (4- 6 K.M./hour). The occasional invasion of the north-
western distinction in the climate of Chotanaqpur from that of
the neighbouring plains. Even though the plateau has tropical
location the climate is relatively cooler owing to higher
elevation. During the rainy season the weather is not as muggy
because the air on the high plateau rarely still. The only period
of relative discomfort, particularly at lower levels, is from
mid-April to mid-May when the temperature is almost as in the
Plain.
Natural Vegetation
Although much of the original vegetal cover has been
depleted by reckless cutting and grazing, some pockets of
valuable forests still lie intact in the inaccessible parts of
Chotanagpur. There are generally three types of forest found over
the plateau.
i) Dry deciduous forest: It is found on the fringes of the
Hazaribagh plateau where the annual rainfall is below 125
cm.It comprises a wide variety of stunted deciduous trees like
Amallas, Semal, Harra, Khair, Palas, Mahna, Asan etc. mixed with
Bamboos and Sabai grass. Such forests generally covered in
river valleys amidst disected terrain. The plateau is generally
covered with grass.
ii) Dry Peninsular Sal: It is extensively found over the
Hazaribagh Plateau, the lower Palamau and the Pat lands and
occurs in scattered patches over Ranchi Plateau and in Singhbhum
district. Sal is found mixed with bamboos and catechu especially
in the north-western part
iii) Moist Peninsular Sal: This forest is located in Singhbhum
where valuable timber is available from the stands of Sal and
other species, notably Mahu, Kausum, Asan, Piar, khair, Gamhar,
Anjan, Karanj etc. Sabai grass and Bamboo are also found in these
forests.
Soil
The soil of Chotanagpur vary according to the nature of
parent rocks. The plateau is covered with the red soil of the
gneiss and granite surface with the exception of:
a) loose sandy soil developed over the Gondwana sandstones in
the Damodar Valley,
b) the high level lateritic soil over the pats and
c) regur and lateritic soil over the lava surface of the
Rajmahal highlands.
The soil over the gneissic and granitic surface is deep red
or even black in colour because of the presence of highly
ferroginous biotic and hornblande. This soil has sufficient
potash and lime but nitrogen,Phosphoric acid and humus contents
are inadequte. It is generally thin, sandy or gravelly on the
uplands but thick and loamy in valleys and depressions. The regur
of the Rajmahal highlands is basaltic containing siliceous
matter, kaoline and potash as well as magnesia and iron oxides.
The black clay developed over it is sticky when wet and retains
moisture for a long time but becomes hard though frible when dry.
It is very fertile. The lateritc soil of the pat and certain
localities in Singhbhum is infertile. The depth and fertility of
the diffrent soils are highly varible according to the details of
topography and rock constituents.
Minerals
Chotanagpur has the most important mineral belts of India
accounting for about 40 to 100 per cent of the national
production of various minerals. In certain minerals it holds a
key positions. It produces nearly 100 per cent of India's copper
and apatite (till recently), 95 per cent of kyanite, more than 50
per cent of coal, mica, bauxite and China clay and about 40 per
cent of iron ore. Chotanagpur plateau contains 80 per cent of
India's known deposits of coal and nearly 100 per cent of cooklng
coal also.
The above mentioned important minerals occur- in well defined
belts . The occurance of minerals with the Gondwana rocks of the
Damodar valley. The pricipal coal fields extend in eastwest
direction conforming approximately to the alignment of the
Aurangabad and Damodar rivers from the Hutar fields in the west
to Jharia fields in the east. There are other fields, off this
main strike, such as the Daltanganj and Giridih fields. Most of
these fields contain good quality bituminious coal suitable for
coke. The estimated and inferred reserves total 45,841 million
tons or approximately 38 per cent of the total coal reserves of
the country. The production from these fields in 1960 was about
25 million tons i.e.nearly 50 per cent of the India's total
production. The anticipated production in 1970 1s 64.20 million
tons accounting for 35.5 per cent of India's total. Thus,
although the production of coal fields in Chotanagpur has been
constantly increasing, its relative share in t.he country is
diclining because of the increasing exploitation of inferior
grade coal in other states.
Iron ore is associated with the iron ore series of the
Dharwar in the Kolhan area of Singhbhum district. It crops out in
two narrow horse--shoe-like parallel ridges, which have open sides
in Singhbhum. The ridge,forming the western side of the horse-
shoe is known as iron ore range. The iron occurring here is
haematite having more than 60 per cent iron content. Jones has
estimated that a minimum of 1,047 million tones of ore averaging
not less than 60 per cent iron content crops out within Kolhan
area in Singhbhum (Jones, 1934: 249) .The production in 1960 was
2.79 million tones out of 10.45 million tones for 1ndia.The
anticipated production in 1970 was 6.4 million t-ones.
Limestone occurs scattered in considerable areas of Palamau,
Hazaribagh, Ranchi,and Singhbhum districts and feeds the various
cement factories located nearby.
Mica is found in a belt,128 km long and 32 km wide in the
northern fringe of the Kodarma plateau. This belt roughly
coincides with the outcrop of Dharwr consisting of schists,
gneiss and pegmatites (Karan,1953:221). The annual production is
highly fluctuating. It was 121,545 cwt in 1951, and declined
continuously to 73,047 cwt in 1954; again rose gradually to
1 1 4 , 358 cwt in 1957, but declined sharply to 20,021 cwt, in 1958
and than gradually to 13,835 cwt in 1962
Coper veins occur in a 1 3 0 kilometer long belt in Singhbhum
following the line of soda granite outcrop. Commencing from
Duarduram near Chakradharpur, it runs through Kharsawan up to
Turandih; hence, although the soda granite outcrops are missing
for some distance , the copper belt persists through Rakha mines,
Musabani and eventually ends at Bahargora, (Dunn, 1 9 4 0 : 6 6 - 6 7 ) .
Its production in 1 9 6 2 was 492 ,255 tones. It is mined at Rakha
mines and processed at Man Bhander.
Bauxite occurs in the Pat area. The bauxite enrichment in
the laterite cappings on the west side of Ranchi district and
adjoining highlands in Palamau district constitues at present,
t.he most important deposites in India. The reserves of high grade
amount of more than 1 0 milion tons (Roy, Chowdhar-y, 1 9 5 6 : 3 9 ) . The
continuously rising annual production reached 218 ttiousand tons
i.n 1 9 6 2 . It is mined near Lohardaga and railed to Muri for
processing into alumina.
Apart from these, various other minerals like apatite,
asbestos, byrites, chromite, kyanite,steatite, uranium, etc. are
found in Singhbhum. Uranium, the atomic mineral is mined at
Jaduguda near Rakha mines.
Population
The total population of Chotanagpur is about 3 3 , 5 4 7 , 9 6 4
( 1 9 8 1 ) , distributed very unevenly reflecting the habitability
condition, an expression primarily at terrain features and the
historical process of population-spread. There is overall sparse
population in comparison to the adjoining South Bihar Plain. The
hilly and highly rugged areas such as the Pat lands, the broken
country of palamau and western Hazaribagh, the norhtern dissected
fringe of Kodarma plateau, the Rajmahal Hills and the
southern dissected upland have very sparse population. There are
thick clusters in wider valleys while steep scarps and hill
slopes are practically uninhabited. Comparatively leveled
portions of ~azaribagh and Ranchi Plateaus, Rajmahal highlands
and Singhbhum plain have relatively evenly distributed
population. A patch of thick population concentration comparable
in density to the Middle Ganga plain, occurs in the rolling
upland of the lower portion of the Damodar valley where a great
influx of population has taken place during this century.
The density of populaiton in different region is related to
the supporting capacity of land, a function of the existing level
of resource utilization. The average density in Chotanagpur
region is about 167 sq.km. (1981) excepting the more populated
coal mining areas in Dhanbad district where the density is about
705 sq.km. (1981). The barren lands with scattered patches of
cultivated land such as the 'Pat' lands and similar pockets of
dissected terrain have less than 40 sq. km. The forest clad areas
viz, the rugged portions of the Hazaribagh, Ranchi, and Rajmahal
Highlands have a density of 40 - 100 sq. krn. forest areas are
largely negative in respect of population for several reasons
like unaccessibility, restrictions for settlement in reserved and
protected forests, etc. The level peneplains carry a population
of 100 - 200 sq. km because of suitability f o ~ cultivation.
Several handicaps, e.g. over drainage lack ot irrigation
facilities and varying thickness of the soil cover restrict the
fertility of the soil necessitating great effort to take out a
poor subsistence. In the most favourable localities, where
mining or manufacturing offer better opportunities, population
density increases to 200-400 sq. km. Such conditions obtain in
the lower portion of the Damodar valley, north - central
singhbhum and in small patches ground mining or industrial nods
like Ranchi, Ramgarh, Hazaribagh, Giridih, etc. The mining-
industrial Dhanbad region has the highest density 705 sq. km.
which is only the comparable density to the plain area of West
Bengal, and South Bihar.
Distribution of Tribal Population
The chotanagpur plateau within t t ~ c : p d r t of Indlan
subcontinent has also been a veritable crucl.ble which has
through the ages, seen the fusion of diverse races and cultures.
'The clash of foreign and often antagonistic cultures presumably
led to a gradual stratification of tribal society too (Gupta,
1 9 7 4 : 2 )
From the first regular Indian census or 1 . 8 7 2 , tribal
denominations at the population have been regularly recorded in
some form or the other. The Scheduled tribes have been last
notified under the Govt. of India, Minist.ry of Home Affairs
notification No. SRO 2 4 7 7 A , dated the 29th October 1956 issued
11der Article 341(i) and 342 (2) of the c:onstitution and more
recently in 1990, some of the communities have also been
included from Jammu & Kashmir.
There are about 30 different tribes in the Chotanagpur
Region. As per the census of 1981, the population of Chotanagpur
is about 33,547,964. The Scheduled tribe population of this
region is 10,043,899 as per 1981 census and the density is about
50 sq. km. The reason of low density in this Region is poor soil
condition and large forest coverage. The majority of the
population in Chotanagpur in rural including considerable tribal
population in the different parts the main percentage of
Scheduled Tribes are concentrated in the four districts, namely.
Ranchi, Mayurbhanj , Sundargarh and Surgu j a. The districts of
Singhbhum, Keonjhar, Sambalpur and Raigarh has medium percentage
of tribal population while Hazaribagh, Giridih, Palarnau, Dhanbad.
Furulia, Bankura, Raipur and Bilaspur have l o w percentage of
tribal population (Table- 1 ) .
TABLE - 1
PERCENTAGE OF TRIBAL POPULATION TO TOTAL POPULATION
~ ...--..--
S 1 . No. D i s t r i c t s % t a g e of t r i b a l popula t ion . . .. ..----..----
1 Ranchi
2 Hazaribagh
3 Dhanbad
4 S inghbhum
5 G i r i d i h
6 Palamau
7 Mayurbhan j
8 Keon j h a r
9 Sundergarh
10 Sarnbalpur
11 Puru l i a
12 Bankura
13 Surguja
1 4 Raigarh
1 5 Bi laspur
1 6 Raipur
Source: Census of India 1981, Series - 1, Part I1 B (iii)
A brief discription of some of the tribal groups has been
given in the following paragraphs.
THE ASURS
The Asur tribe consists of three subtribal divisions,
namely the Bir, Birjia and Agaria Asurs. The Bir section is
known by different names like solka, Thuppu, Kol, Jat, etc.
In official records all these sections are known by their
tribal name as Bir.
The Asurs are considered to be remnant of earlier
settlers who were driven out to the interiors by Mundas
(Risley, 1891). The Asur locality is known as the Netarhat group
o f plateaus. There, hill ranges run from south t.o north and
their top is locally called as 'Pat'. The Asurs are now the
inhabitant of these 'Pat' regions of Ranchi and Palamau
districts. The traditional art of iron smeltinq is dying out
because of extension of land code in the area for the public need
of preserving jungle (forest) from wasteful exploitation. They
speak Asuri dialect which is one of the fourt-een Mundari
dialects as recorded in the linqiuistic survey of India. The
total population of Asur is about 7,783 as per the census of
'1981.
THE BAIGAS
Baiga means a sorcerer or medicineman, a title of the
priests among the Kharwar tribe of Chotanaqpur. They are
primitiv Dravidian tribe (Russell & Lal, 1 9 1 6 ) whose home is on
the eastern Satpura hills in the Mandla, Ralaghat and Bilaspur
districts of central provinces. They are also distributed in
Palamau, Ranchi and Hazaribagh districts of Bihar. Baigas now
speak a corrupt form of Chattisgarhi dialect and the total
population of this group is about 3,553 only ( 1 9 8 1 ) .
THE BANJARAS
They are one of the nomadic groups found all over the
country. The Banjaras were included in the list of schdulded
tribes in the year 1956. In the Chotanagpur, they are in very
small number(412) and distributed in the districts of Hazaribagh
and Singhbhum.
The Bathudi is a minor scheduled tribe in the Chotanagpur.
But they do not call themselves a tribe or Adivasis and when they
are addressed as Adivasis, they get o f f e n d e d . They are
agriculturist and distributed around the hill ranges and on the
hanks of the river Swarnarekha in Singhbhum dist.rict:. They speak
a corrupt form of Oriya-Bengali mixture with good many Hindi
words. The total population of this group is about 1,595
persons.
THE BEDIAS
The Bedias call themselves 'Vedbanis' and are settled as
cultivators in permanent villages with little planning. They are
confined to the districts of Hazaribagh, Ranchi, Palamau,
Singhbhum and Dhanbad
THE BIiUblIJS
The Bhumijs are the inhabitants of a plain on the
Chotanagpur plateau encircled on three sides by the Singhbhum
hills, hill ranges of Lohardaga, Hazaribagh, Dhanbad and Ranchi.
They are also found on the banks of the river swaranarekha. They
are agriculturists and the total number of Bhumljs is about
136,110 persons.
The Binjhias are considered to an 'Aristocratic sub-
division of the Baigas' (Russell & Lal, 1916). They call
themselves Vindhya-Niwasi and they say that their ancestors
migrated from Binjhakop to Lampa in Balaghat.. The name Binjhia
has been givn to them by others when they settled in Chotanagpur
iPrasad, 1961). They still remember many fights with others in
Chotanagpur for calling and naming them as Rinjhia. They are
small community of industrious farmers spread over a contiguous
and inaccessible area of Ranchi district in Simdega subdivision.
They are also found in Orissa and Madhya Pradesh. The total
population of Binjhia is about 10,009 persons.
THE BIREIORS
The Birhors are largely nomadic with no fixed habitation.
Traditionally, Birhors and Kharwars are said to be of the
same group descending from the sun. They dre distributed in the
districts of Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Singhbhum and Palamau. The
total population of Birhor is about 4,377 persons
THE BIRJIAS
The Birjias live a forest life. They make the11 houses on
the spurs of the highest hills, where two or three fc~milies will
be found living together. They practiced slar;l~ and burn
cultivation. They are confined to the districts Of Ranchi and
Palamau. Confusion still persists as regards ttleir racial
affiliation. The total population of Birijia is about 4,057
persons.
THE CHEROS
Chero is the well known tribe of the Munda or Kolarian
family ( Russell & Lal, 1916). The Cheros are a l f : ~ known as
Cherus or Cherwas and are distributed in Palamau, Ranchi and
Hazaribagh. The Cheros of Palamau are primarily aqriculturists
and divided into two sub-divisions- Barahazar or Bdrllajaria and
Terehazar or Birbandhia. These two are again sub- divided into
seven clans.
(I) Mowar
(11) Kuanr
(111) Samwat
(IV) Rautia
(V) Manjri
(VI) Sohanait and
(VII) Mahto.
The total population of Chero is about. 52, 210 persons.
Anlong the Mowars and Kuanrs there is,
(I) a Barka Mowar and a Chotka Mowar
(11) a Barka Kuanr and a Chotka Kuanr.
The Chotka Kuanr are alleged to have come to Palamau from
Buxar. The legend regarding. The creation of the Birbandhia
Cheros is that a wealthy Cheros to a feast. They came and found
them with Kharams (wooden & Sandles) on their feet, while they
were pouring ghee into dal that was intended for them. This had
so irritated them that they not only abused them and left their
house, but also out casted them. Since there have been also two
castes, the followers of the outcasted Chero being the present
Birbandhia Cheros.
Among Cheros, the Kuanr Samwats and Mowars may marry among
themselves, but they should not marry those having the titles
like Mahto, Sohanait. Manjhi and Rautia. The total population of
Chero is about 52,210 persons.
THE CHIK BARAIKS
The Chik Baraiks support themselves by weaving which
constitutes their main occupation. They are concentrated in
Ranchi, Palamau, Singhbhum, Hazaribagh and Dhanbad. The total
population of Chik Baraik is about 40,339 persons.
The Chik Baraiks are in counstant contact. wlth other tribes
like the Mundas and the Oraons and other castes in order t.o
clear their finished goods. As a result of contact, they speak
Sadani, Mulidari and Hindi
THE GONDS
The Gonds are linguistically a Dravidian tribe (Russell &
Lal, 19161, belonging to Madhya Pradesh.Some of the Gond are also
found in Ranchi, Singhbhum, Hazaribagh, Palamau, Dhanbad and some
other districts of Bihar. The total population ot Gonds is about
96,574 persons.
THE GORAITS
The Goraits belong to the an Austric tribe of the Munda
group. This is a minor group of scheduled tribe, who
scattered throughout the the southern part of Bihar. Thus they
are found in Ranchi, Singhbhum, Hazaribagh, Dharlbad, and Patna.
The total population is about 5 , 206 persons. They support
t.hemselves by agricultural, forest products, occasional labour
tor wages and also as drum players.
TWE HOS
The Hos constitute about 10.8 per cent of the tribal
population of Bihar. But unlike the more numerous tribes they are
almost exclusively confined to the district of Singhbhum which
contains 99.8 per cent of the Hos. They used to say that they are
of the same family as the Mundas. They are found in Mayurbhanj.
Keonj har, Surldargarh, Bankura, Ranchi and Hazaribagh, but they
are very less number in these districts.
The total population of the Hos is about 536,524 persons.
The Hos are in the rapid transition process and also their
agricultural economy.
THE XARMALIS
The Karmalis are a minor Scheduled tribe of the state of
Bihar and depend mostly by assisting their neighbours in making
and repairing their plough shares, sickles and such other
agricultural and hunting implements. They inhabit in Hazaribagh,
Ranchi, Singhbhum, Dhanbad and Palamau districts. The Karmalis
are belived to be a branch of the Santal tribe who split off and
began a separate existence on account of their profession of
black simithy (Prasad, 1965). The total population of Karmali is
about 38.652 persons.
THE KHARIAS
A primitive Kolarian tribes (Russell & I , 1916) are
divided into three sections, namely the Hill. Uudh and Dhelki
Kha~ias. So for as their manners and customs are concerved,
they belong to the separate and distinct branches of the Kharia
tribe. Marriage among them does not take place. The Hill Kharias
are most primitive community, depending upon forest resources
such as collectio~i of honey, edible roots, herbs and fruits. The
other sections of the Kharias have taken plought in cultivation
and are better off than the hill Kharias. They are distributed in
Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Singhbhum, Sambalpur, Raigarh, Palamau,
Dhanbad, Sundergarh, Mayurbhang, Bilaspur, Raipur, Hankura, etc.
The total population of Kharia is about 141,771 persons.
The language spoken by them is known as Kharia which is a branch
of Munda family of languages.
THE KHARWARS
The Kharwars are a Dravidan tribe and their legend is that
they came to palamau originally from Kherijhar hence, the name
Kharwa is applied on them. They now stablished themselves in
Palamau, Ranchi. Hazaribagh, Singhbhum and Dhanbad. The Kharwars
are settled agriculturist community of Chotanagpur plateau. But
their life is at different stages of development in different
regions of Bihar. The community in Palamau is divided into the
following six endogamous units:
i) Surajbansi
iil Daulatbandi
i li I Patbandi
ivl Kherl
V ) Bhogti
vi) Manjhia
Manjhia, similarly in Ranchi District, are divided into
i) Deswari
ii) Bhota
iii) Raut
iv) Manjhia
The total population of all the Kharwar is about 222,758 persc
THE KHONDS
The Khonds are belonging to the Dravidian tribe (Russell &
Lal, 1916) and found in the Oriya speaking tract of Sambalpur
district and adjoing areas of Hazaribagh, Ranchi and Singhbhum.
The tribe call themselves Kinloka or Kuienju which may posibly be
derived from KO or Ku Telugu word for a mountain. There is no
strict endogamy within the Khond tribe. It has two main
divisions: The Kutia Khonds who are hill men and retain their
primitive tribal customs,and the plain dwelling Khonds who have
acquired a tincture of Hinduism. The Kutia or hill Khonds are
said to be so called because they break the skulls of animals
when they kill them for foods, the word Kutia meaning one who
breaks or smashes. The plain dwelling Khonds have a number of
sub-divisions which are supposed to be endogamous, though the
rule is not strictly observed. Among these, the Raj Khonds are
the highest and are usually have landed proprietors. The Dal
Khonds may have been probably soldiers. They are also known as
Adi-Khondh or the superior Khonds, and Balausudia or Shaven.
The Khond or Kandh language called Kin by the Khonds
themselves,is spoken by them. The total population of Khond is
about 1,263 persons.
THE KISANS
The Kisans also frequently called Nagasias, are divided into
three endogamous sub-castes
i) Telia
ii) Dhuria and
iii) Sinduria
The Kisans as the name implies are an agricultural
community. They are also called Chasa. They are distributed in
Palamau, Ranchi, Singhbhurn, Hazaribagh and Surguja. The total
population of Kisan is about 23,420 persons.
THE KORAS
According to Risley, (1891), 'Kora' 'Keora' 'Khair' or
'Khayra', Dravidian caste of earth workers and cultivators, is
probably an off -shoot of the Munda tribe. The Koras are
inhabitants of the Singhbhum, Dhanbad, Hazaribagh, Raipur,
Sambalpur, Mayurbhanj, Sundergarh and Bankura districts. The
total population of Kora, is about 33,951 persons
THE KORWAS
The Korwas are a Dravidian tribe of Palamau. r-esembling
Kharwars (Sunder, 1898). A great bulk of Korwas belorig to Surguja
district.. They are also found in Dhanbad, Ranchi, Singhbhum,
Hazaribagh, Raigarh and Bilaspur. The total population oC Korwas
is about 21,940 persons. Korwas originally came from Lanka
but how or when or under what circumstances is not known. They
claim to be the original inhabitants of the count-ry they occupy.
They say that they are divided into seven clans or sub-castes
name1 y,
i) Rajkorwa
ii) Manraj i
ili) Samat
1v) Edqi
V ) Murullg
~ii ) Bir] la and
vii) Birhor.
Each sub-caste is obliged to marry among themselves. The
Korwas like the Kisans of the region have forgotten their Korwa
dialect and speak Sadri.
THE LOHRAS
In Chotanagpur, the Lohras live with other tribal and non-
tribal people, namely the Mundas, Oraons, Chik Baraiks, Ahirs and
Rajputs. They are found in Ranchi, Singhbhu~n, palamau,
Hazaribagh and Dharlbad districts. The total population of Lohra
is about 169,090 persons. Blacksmithy is the main occupation of
the Lohras.
According to Risley (18911, the Mahalis are divided into
five sub-castes, namely,
i) Banspor (basket making)
ii) Patar (cultivators)
iii) Sulunki (labourers)
iv) Tanti (palanquin carriers) and
v) Mahali Munda (a small outlaying sub-castes confined to
Lotlardaga) .
A comparision of Mahali totemistic clans or sects give an
introduction of their close association with t i Santals. The
Mahalis occupation of basket work is degrading from t.he point of
view u r he Santals and the adoption of this occupation must have
given the necessity for the emergence of new tribal groups. They
are stablished themselves in Ranchi, Singhbhum, Hazaribagh,
Dhanbad and Palamau districts. The total population of Mahali is
about 91,868 persons.
THE W PAaARIYAS
The Pahariyas from are isolated Maleo speaking group
consisting of the Suria, Maler, Ma1 and Kumarbhag sects. But two
main divisions of the Pahariyas are the Suria Pahariya and Ma1
Pahariya including Kumarbhag. They have beer1 recognised as
separate scheduled tribes in the state of Bihar-. They are found
in Singhbhum, Ranchi and some other districts of Rlhar. The total
population of Ma1 Pahariya is about 79,322 persons.
THE MKJNDAS
Numerically, the Mundas are one of the strongest Kolarian
tribe (Roy, 1912) , inhabiting the Chotanagpur regiori. They stand
next in strength to the Santals and the Oraons. The main
concentration of the Mundas who are primarily an agriculturist
tribe, is in the Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Dhanbad, Singhbhum, Palamau,
Giridih, Sundergarh, Sambalpur, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Bilaspur,
Raigarh, Raipur, Surguja, Purulia and Bankura di.stricts. The
total population of the Munda is about 1,112,350 persons. The
Akhra at the dancing ground is characteristics of the Mundas. It
is a veritable open hall, not only for dance but for the meetings
of the village punchayats. Agriculture makes the base of their
economic life and hence, all their activities are directed
towards it throughout the year. The Mundas are divided into
thirteen sub-tirbes. The sub-tribes are probably as a result of
inter-caste marriages with neighbouring tirbes. A Munda may not
marry a woman of his own sect.
TEE ORAONS
The Oraons are Dravidian tribe (Roy, 1915) and form a second
major tribe next to the Santals. They live in Ranchi,
Hazaribagh, Singhbhum, Dhanbad, Palamau, Mayurbhanj, Sundergarh,
Sambalpur, Surguja and Raipur districts of the Chotanagpur
region. The total population of Oraons is over 1 . 5 million
persons. In Bihar they are 1,048,064 persons. The Oraons
history prior to sattlement in Chotanagpur is mainly divided
from legends and traditional sources. According to the
tradition, Konkan is said to be the original home of the Oraon.
They migrated from the west coast of India to north India
through river valleys and settled down as agriculturists and
owners in the Shahabad district of Bihar. The most important
social institution of the Oraons is the Dhumkuria.
THE PARAIiIYAS
According to Dalton (1872) the Parahiyas are one of the
numerous tribes or perhaps one of the branches of the great tribe
who with Turanian feactures and many corresponding customs, have
adopted Hindi as the languge to the oblitratio~~ of all their
primitive forms of speech and who though affecting Hindu customs,
retain practices that in the eyes of Hindus are impure and
abhorrent.
They are found in Palamau, Hazaribagh and Ranchi the
plateau. The total population of Parahiyas is about 24,012
persons. They live on hunting and food gathering. They also
work as wood cutters.
THE SANTALS
The Santals number over 4.3 millions in India. In
Bihar they are the largest of scheduled tribes mostly found in
the district of Santal Paragnas. The total population of
Santal is about 2,060,732 persons. In Chotanaqpur, they are
found in Hazaribagh, Singhbhum, Dhanbad, Giridih, Ranchi,
Palamau, Bankura, Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar districts. The Santals
besides that their home, Santal Parganas have migrated to
western districts of West Bengal, northren hilly districts of
Orissa and Tea plantation areas of Assam. The Santals are the
largest tribal group of India, speaking its own tongue. Santali,
which is allied to the Mundari langauge.
Today the Santals are setteled on the plains. Besides
agriculture and hunting, they are singularly famous for dance and
music. The Santal women give sufficient proof of the aesthetic
sense by drawing simple and artistic designs and patterns on the
walls of their hunt. According to Bodding ( 1 9 4 2 ) . t.he Santal, the
Munda, the Birhor, the Kurmis and others together were called
by the name of Kharwar tribe.
THE SAURIA PAIIARIAS
The Saurias are concentrated on the hill tops of the
Rajmahal hills in Santal Parganas, Singhbhum and Dhanbad
districts. The total population of the Sauria Paharias is about
39,269 persons. They practise shifting cultivation and the
forest is the main source of their existence. They also grow
sabai grass which is used on a large scale for paper
manufacturing industry.
THE SAVARS
The Savars (Sawara, Savara, Saour. Sahara and other
variants) are a widely distributed 'Kolarian' tribe (Roy.1927).
They are fast disintegrating in smaller groups or
assimilated into major tribal communities Probably, they
separatet from the main body of the tribe and isolated
themselves in the hills of Orissa, Sarikakulam, Visakhapatnam,
Koraput and Singhbhum districts. The total population of Savars
is about 3,000 persons (Fig.2).
LITERACY
The tribal communities are treated to be primitive which
is composed by slow speed of literacy. The percentage of literacy
among the scheduled tribes according t o 1981 census, Ranchi,
. -- . -- --
CHOTANAGPUR REGION
TRIBAL POPULATION TO TOTAL
1981
-. ... , ; -- -- .. , . - . . . L i - - .
. . . _ _ . > - 1. , . . . - - - - - - - . . . . - - - - - - - . - - - - - - U' - - - - - - - -. - - - - - -
- - d~ L L - - - - -
- - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - . - - - - - - - - - _ - _ - -
, .
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - . . . . . . , .. - - - - - -?=L,. . . +- '-
,_ _ - _ _ _ -- I_-- - - - - - - - , -'
., -. . . . . - - - - - - - . - - - - - -
- - - - - - . - - - - .
.- .- - -. .. - - - - - - .-.;~.~
POPULATION (O/o)
> 5 0
2 5 - 5 0
100 0 100 I T
Fig. 2 2 ,
Kiiomstrss
L
Sundergarh and Raigarh shows the high percentage of literate
tribes. The rate of literacy in Hazaribagh. Palamau, Singhbhum,
Dhanbad, Purulia, Bankura, Mayurbhanj , Keonj har, Sambalpur,
Raipur and Bilaspur is not satisfactory while Giridih and
Surguja districts show the low percentage of literate
tribe1 population (Table-2).
We can only suggest that we will have to go down to the dust
if we want to educate the millions in the tribal areas without
wasting our time in policy formation, for reaching the goal of
mass literacy, it can be suggested that efforts should be
concentrated towards universalisation of primary education.
Efforts should be made to spread education in remote areas as
well as provide facilities of higher education. Specialised
traning should be imparted to improve job prospects Provisions
should be made to give vocational education to develop skills for
self-employment and entrepreneurship (Fig. 3 )
TABLE - 2
LITERACY RATE AMONG TEE SCHEDULED TRIBES - 1981
- - - - . - - - - - - - - - -
S 1 . No. Districts %tage of Literate - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - India
Hazaribagh
Dhanbad
Singhbhum
Giridih
Palamau
Mayurbhan j
Keonj har
Sundergarh
Sambalpur
Purulia
Bankura
Surgu j a
Raigarh
Bilaspur
Raipur ---------.-.
1981, Series
1 9 . 8 9
15.67
1:. 3 9
9 . 4 ' 7
20.09
16.16
1 9 . 7 9 . - - . - . . . - . - - . . . - - - P a r t I1 B ( i i i ) .
CHOTANAGPUR REGION
I PERCENTAGE OF LITERATE TRIBES
LITERACY (%I
I00 0 100 L- -x-
Kilometres F ig .3
ECONOMY
Land Use
Forests occupy considerable portion of land in different
districts varying between 25 per cent to 50 per cent except in
Dhanbad with 15 per cent. The highest percentage of land under
forest cover lies in Palamau with 50 per cent of its area
followed by Hazaribagh with 48.2 per cent, Singhbhum with 47
per cent, Ranchi with 25 per cent and Santal Paraganas with
23.75 per cent. The net area sown varies between one fifth to
about two fifths of the total area in different districts.The
percentage of net area sown is highest in Ranchi district with
3 7 . 5 per cent and the lowest in Hazaribagh with 20.6 per cent,
Santal Parganas with 37 per cent, Dhanbad with 33 per cent,
Sinqhbhum with 25.5 per cent and Palamau with 24.4 per cent
stand at intermediate level in this respect:. The percentage of
net area sown is intimately related to rhe degree of flat
land available in different districts. The areas affected by
gully erosion or covered by steep slope are elthrer covered by
forests or fall under the category ot culturable waste. The
cultivated land are confined either to flat. plateaus at different
elevations or to valley bottoms where terracing is feasible. The
percentage of culturable waste is qulte high all over the
Chotanagpur, being closely comparable to the net area sown.It is
16.8 per cent in Singhbhum, 18.4 per cent in Palamau, 20.35 per
cent in Hazaribagh, 24.4 per cent in Dhanbad, 2 6 . 8 per cent in
Ranchi and 30 per cent in Santal Parganas. Eecause of limited
irrigation facilities, thin soil cover, over drainage and
vagaries of mansoon, substantial portion of the uplands covered
by thin forests is left as poor grazing or fallow land. The land
not available for cultuvation does not show much regional
varation. Out of the total working population, agriculture
engages the 70 to 85 per cent work force. The cropping pattern in
the Chotanagpur discloses the over-dominance of rice of early
variety.
Kharif crop which is devoted almost entirely to rice
dominates in every district but it over shadows Bhadai crops and
reduces Rabi crops to insignificant in Dhanbad and Singhbhum
districts, where the cultivated land is flat and the rainfall is
heavy ensuring good rice crop. In Santal Parganas, Hazaribagh
and Ranchi the Bhadai crop consisting chiefly of maize whose
share is significant of cultivated land although it is far
behind Kharif. This is so because the cultivated land in these
districts is divided between upland and low lands or valley
bottoms. The former is less fertile owing to thin soil cover.
soil erosin and less moisture-retaining capacity and thus,
suitable for cultivation of maiz, while the latter having thick
deposited soil and terraced fields are devoted mainly to rice
cultivation. Palamau having infertile soil except in valley
bottoms and less rainfall has almost equal share of Kharif,
Bhadai and Rabi crops mainly because of the uncertainty of
rain resulting in frequent failures of Bhadai and Kharif crops
which need a sound amount of water. The average yield of rice per
acre decreasing from east to west. because ot decreasing
fertility as well as water deficiency in different districts. It
is 0.39, 0.37 and 0 . 2 8 tons per acre in Santal Parganas,
Dhanbad and Singhbhum respectively. In Hazarihagh, Ranchi and
Palamau the yield comes down to 0.20. 0.21 and 0.22 tons
respectively. In terms of total production howerver, rice out
weights every other crop in all the districts of the Chotanagpur
showing that the region has virtually a monoculture and the
different other crops entering into the crop combination,
contributing a little to the total out-turn of crops.
Agriculture in Chotanagpur depends entirely on the monsoon
with it's onset starts the broadcasting of maize on the uplands,
especially the land adjacent to the home and paddy in the
lowlands.
After the harvesting of these crops the land is generally
left fallow. In addition to rice and maize ragi, gram and
vegetables are also grown. Ragi is grown in Hazaribagh and
Ranchi, gram in Palamau and Santal Parganas and vegetables in
Dhanbad and Ranchi districts. The products of different crops,
particularly rice, are characterised by great annual fluctuations
according to the vagaries of the monsoon. 'The monsoon rain is
highly variable and the variability is maximum in the months in
which consistency is most desired. Greatest value is attached to
the departing rains in October which are most likely to fail. A
long side cultivation, livestock raising and poultry farming are
generally carried on in Chotanagpur as a subsidiary source of
income. The cattle reared are of poor quality for they depend on
nat.ural pastures on the open grazing grounds and suffer greatly
from the paucity of forage. The agriculture being of extenslve
nature, the yield is not sufficient to meet the food requirement
of the growing populat.ion. All the districts ale deficient in
almost all food grains necessitating import ot rood grains from
the South Bihar plain where rice, coarse grains, potatoes,
chillies and other vagetable are grown in surplus in different
localaties.
Industrial Economy
The Chotanagpur has the most advantageous situation for the
development of sound industrial economy owing to the abandance of
torest and minerals raw materials. The availability of good
quality of iron ore, coking coal, and limestone provides
excellent advantages for the grown of the cycle of ferrous metal
industries. Bauxite and copper ore in association with the
liydro-electricity of the Damodar Valley provide bases for the
rionferrous metal industries. Bamboo, Saba~ grass, Timber, Lac
and other minor forest produce can support paper, furniture,
plywood, matchworks and a host of other forest based industries.
Large scale cement, chemical, glass and refractory industies may
develop on the basis of limestones, quartz sands and coal and
coke available in the region in abundances. Besides, agro-based
and consumer goods industries may develop i 1 1 the fast growing
urban centres on the imported agricultural raw material from the
adjoining plains. The high density of population in the adjoining
plains of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal are source of
cheap labour and provides markets for agricult.ura1 implements,
f ert.il izers and consumer goods. A good network broad-gauge
double-track electrified or dieselised railways with main lines
providing direct links to Calcutta, Delhi and Bombay and the
branches extending directly to mineral raw material sources, are
most advantageous to the industrial plants. A good road network
complements the rail net-work in providing easy accessibility to
different urban centres in the region. Moreover, the state
government also holds out "a package of incentives" for
faciliting the establishment of large and medium scale
industries. These invcentives includes facilities of licensing,
procurement of land in industrial complexes, viz, Adityapur
(Jamshedpur), Patratu, Ranchi and Bokaro, provision of
building materials for quick constructions, financial assistance
preference of manufactured products in store purchases,
assistance in preparing project reports exemption of sales tax
for 5 - 10 years in purchasing raw materials, subsidies for
housing schemes and cheap water and e1ecticit.y suplies from
government sources. The Heavy Engineering Corporation at Ranchi
manufactures metallurgical machinery, machine tools and iron-
steel castinags, electrical equipment and motors ball, roller and
tapered bearings, grinding wheels and abrassives, agricultural
implements, and drugs-pharmacuticals also. Cotton textiles,
alcohol and ceramic industries also have grown in and around
Ranchi. In Dhanbad district fertilizers, chemicals and portland
cement are manufactured at Sindri. Fire bricks and refractories
are found on both sides of the main railway line between Dhanbad
and Barakar. In addition, a number of metallurgical, electrical
and telecommunication equipment, industrial machiriery, glass and
food processing industries are located in Dhanbad, Jharia
localities. Several important factories are found struggling
along the Barkakana loop; glass factories at Ramgarh and
Bhurkunda cement factory at Khalari and chemicals at Gumia cement
factories are found scattered at Jhinkapani, Khalari and Japla
regions.
There are numerous small scale industries manufacturing
mainly consumer goods and are located usually in important nodal
centres. Such industries are stablished around the areas at
Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Giridih, Jhumri-Talaiya, Chaibasa,
Jamshedpur, Jharia, Dhanbad, Katras, Kusunda, Chirkunda,
Daltonganj, Hariharganj, Garwa and Japla areas.
There is little variation in the nature of small scale
industries. The largest number of such industries are concerned
and fixtures, non-metallic mineral products and electrical goods
are other industries almost universally present in all the
districts of this regions.
The industries in the Chotanagpur are highly localized
either around important nuclei of heavy and basic industries or
in large urban centres. Industrial landscape appears only in
Dhanbad district where a dense network of railway and road inter-
link a number of large and small mining and industrial towns
mainly due to coal mining. The industrial base is strong through
still very small only because of the unskilled exploitation of
natural resource.
Tertiary activities occupy an insignificant place in the
economy of the Chotanagpur people. The most note - worthy
activities relate to services of different kinds (commerce,
transportation and construction follow in ordes of preference).
The importance of tertiary activities increases with increasing
order of towns and cities. The Chotanagpur has evidently great
potentialities for developing a variety of heavy industries,
particularly ferrous, non-ferrous, chemical, cement, paper and a
host of other industries based on minerals, forest and
agricultural raw materials utilizing abundant and easy and
subsidised available of thermal and hydroelectric power. The
industrial nuclei are likely to expand and form industrial
complexes while the growing population and purchasing power in
urban centres will encourage consumer goods industries on medium
and small scale. The greatest handicap, at present, is the lack
of capital and enterprise and much depends on government
encouragement and financial assitance to small entrepreneurs and
thus attracting outside investment in the region.
References
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Census of India - 1981: Spatial Table for Schdeuled Tribe. Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, West Bengal, Series - 4 . Part IX, (IV)
Dalton, E. T. 1872: DESCRIPTIVE ETHNOLOGY OF BENGAL, Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing Press, Calcutta.
Dunn, J. A. 1940: "The Mineral Deposits of Eastern Singhbhurn and Surrounding Areas' ' , MEMOIRS, GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA, LXIX, 66-67.
Dunn, J. A. 1944: "Post Meszoic Movement-s in the North Part of the Peninsula", MEMOIRS, GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA, Vol . 7 3 , pp. 143.
Gupta, S . P. 1891: TRIBES OF CHOTANAGPUR PLATEAU, Varma' s Union Press, Ranchi.
Jones, H. C. 1934 : "The Iron Ore Deposits of Bihar and Orissa' ' , MEMOIRS, GEOLOG1C:AL SURVEY OF INDIA, LXIII (Part-?), p p . 2 4 9 .
Kran, P. P. 1953: "Economic Regions of Chotanaqpur, Bihar, India", ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY, PP.29 & 221.
Pandey, Suresh. 1961 : \? e Hot Weather Season in Bihar" , THE EOGRAPHICAL REVIEU OF INDIA. XXIII, (NO.
3 ) , pp. 41.
Prasad, N. 1961: LAND AND PEOPLE OF TRIBAL BIHAR, Verma's Union Press, Ranchi.
Roy, Chaudhary, M. K. 1956: "Bauxite in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Vindhya Pradesh and Bhopal", MOMOIRS, GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA, LXXXV, pp.39.
Risley, H. H. 1891: THE TRIBES AND CASTES OF BENGAL, Government Printing Press, Calcutta.
Roy, S. C. 1915: THE ORAONS OF CHOTANAGPUR, Verma's Union Press, Ranchi.
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