ABSTRACT One of the serious problems that India facing today is the problem of regional disparities. It results in social, economic and political instability. The current tension and strain in the Indian polity are essentially a function of inadequacy of the strategies evolved since independence to correct inequalities and distortions embodied in the Indian space economy during the period of colonial rule. 1 These stresses in recent years have acquired alarming proportions and have been weakening the foundation of Indian unity and integrity. The recent turmoil in the northeastern states, and in West Bengal, Gorkhaland agitation, which are extremely backward regions are pointers to these threats. The growing trend of regionalism, secessionism and separatism in these areas are due to frustration of the people particularly young generation arising out of prolonged regional disparities. It has been observed that problem arising out of socio-economic disparities often get linked with linguistic and cultural affinities of the region. These problems take serious shape and subsequently becomes hard to eliminate. There are many ways of analysing spatial disparities in the level of socio-economic development, but the regional approach which permit the vertical integration of socioeconomic condition and horizontal variations over space, is of the most important. Using the spatial approach of a unit of spatial organisation of society in terms of certain selected indicators of the level of socio-economic development can be identified. Once the regions of underdeveloped have been identified and delineated and their main factors, contributing to disparities in the level of development analysed, strategies and measures for spatial order may be suggested. This study has been divided into Six chapters. The first three chapters are theoretical and are intended to provide the
base for conceptual parameters. While the last two are mainly analytical in nature. Chapter first deals with a general geographical Characteristics of the study area. Chapter second is devoted to the review of literature and chapter third deals with significance and selection of indicators and the methodological framework for the analysis of this study. Chapter fourth deals with the identification of regions of relative levels of development and disparities using the standard score additive models. While the fifth one highlights the relative importance of different variables and factors responsible for creating spatial disparities in the study area, based on Factor Analysis. The last chapter deals with conclusion and main findings of this study and also highlights corrective measures for minimisation of the existing regional imbalance found in the study area. The state of West Bengal lies between 21 0 38 / and 27 0 10 / North latitudes and 85 0 50 / and 89 0 50 / East longitude. It is located in the north eastern part of the country, and extends over 87853 Sq. kms, and covers a little less than three percent of India s land area. It is bounded on the north by Bhutan and the state of Sikkim, on the east by Bangladesh, on the north east by the state of Assam, on the south by the Bay of Bengal, on the south west by the state of Orissa, on the north-west by Nepal and on the west by the state of Bihar and Jharkhand. The main objectives of the present study are as follows: 1. To identify the regions of relative levels of development in terms of a large number of social and economic indicators sector wise as well as in aggregate. 2. To study dimensions of disparities. 3. To highlight factors and processes responsible for emerging patterns of socio-economic disparities and
4. To suggest remedial measures for their minimisation. The basic findings of the foregoing study shows that there are wide inter-district disparities in the level of socioeconomic development in West Bengal. The highly developed areas are small in extent and are largely confined to the south Bengal comprising the district of Howrah, Calcutta, Burdwan and 24-Pargana. While remaining districts are extremely backward with some exceptions in the case of Darjeeling and Hooghly district which are moderately developed. The main reason for high level of development may be attributed to their higher degree of Industrialisation and urbanisation. They are developed due to the advantage of being located in one of the richest mineral belts of India and also previous advantages, of big industrial complexes like Durgapur, Asansol, Hooghly, Calcutta and Haldia port which are lie in this region. There is also good accessibility of railways, roads, and location of DVC Hydel Power Plants, and many other Thermal Power Plant. On the other hand the underdeveloped regions lie in the south western part and between north and south Bengal. The south western regions comprises the districts of Purulia and Bankura while the other backward regions include the district of Malda and West Dinajpore. Their under privileged conditions can be attributed to the fact that these districts are agriculturally as well as industrially backward. Agricultural productivity is low, the size of the land holdings are small and too many peoples are dependent on farming. Farmers are not adequately using the modern inputs such as chemical fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides, assured means of irrigation and modern agricultural tools and implements to raise the productivity. This region is also facing the problems of drought and flood, as a result crops are destroyed almost every year. These districts also lack in urbanization,
Industrialisation and infrastructural facilities, that leads to their backwardness. All these factors have increased the gap in the level of development between developed and backward regions. Thus, there are few islands of developed area in the vast ocean of either moderately developed or underdeveloped areas. The factoral analysis of the regional disparities in the study area has shown three dimensions, (i) Urbanisation and Socio-economic development, (ii) Agricultural productivity and Infrastructure (iii) Industrialisation and Education. The first factor, urbanisation and socio-economic development accounts for 46.37 per cent of the total variance. The nature of factor loadings indicates that almost all factors of socio-economic development are positively associated with urbanisation. The indicators which have very high positive loadings with urbanisation are Pucca house to total houses, Banks per lakh of population, per capita income, literacy, Hospital beds per lakh of population and non-agricultural employment. This factor shows that there are concentrations of amenities and facilities in urban centers and they are socially developed than their rural counterpart. The spatial pattern of the first factor shows that the areas of very high scores of socio-economic development are Calcutta, Howrah, Hooghly and Burdwan. The backward districts in terms of socio-economic development are Purulia, Bankura, Birbhum, Midnapore, Murshidabad, Malda, West Dinajpore and Cooch Behar. The second dimension agricultural productivity and infrastructure explains 19.70 percent of the total variance. It indicates that heavy inputs in the form of irrigation facilities, fertilisers, high yielding varieties of seeds, intensive cropping and mechanisation of agriculture has direct bearing on productivity and yield per hectare has increased. Besides this
infrastructure facilities has also developed tremendously especially availability of electricity and transport and communication etc. The spatial pattern of this factor reveals that the regions with high agricultural productivity and infrastructural facilities are Hooghly, Burdwan, Howrah and Nadia. The most backward district in this regard is Purulia, where development of agriculture over the western plateau region is poor, because of the rocky laterite soil and scarcity of water. The third factor is labeled as dimensions of Industrialisation and Education. It accounts for 9.63 percent of the total variance. There is a close relationship between Industrialisation and education. The region, which is highly industrialized, the standard of educational development in these areas are also very high. Industrialisation is a key force for rapid development. Due to rapid Industrialisation most of the infrastructure facilities, such as schools, hospitals, means of transport and communication, power and banking institution expand in the area. In such areas favourable teacher student ratio may be due to the fact that besides government and private schools are established by the big industrial establishment have also their own schools. Thus pressure of students on government schools is reduced by schools of different Industrial units. Spatial variation in terms of third factor shows that there are large area around Calcutta which are highly developed educationally as well as industrially. These districts comprises of Calcutta, Howrah, and 24-Pargana. There are only two district namely Bankura and Purulia which are highly backward. It can be put forward that the disparity exists because of natural, historical, economic and social reasons. Allocative mechanism also involved in the spatial distribution of
developmental resources, invariably operates infavour of the developed regions, with the results that, the economic reward accruing to different regions are unequal. Political factors also play an important role not only for allocation of resources but also for their implementation. A bold measure is needed for the removal of backwardness from the region which are sufferer. The analysis points to a number of directions which might be taken to improve the level of development and to minimise the inter-district disparities in West Bengal. It is desirable that the region which lag behind in industrial development and absence of infrastructure, local or regional industries (small scale, and agro-based) instead of large projects have to be developed in northern regions (Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar), north central regions (Nadia, Murshidabad, Malda and West Dinajpore regions Midnapore, Purulia, Bankura and Birbhum) of the state. This may bring about some equity in the level of development and better functional integration of industrial centers can be achieved. Since agriculture supports to the majority of the population of the region, it should be given a high priority. Agricultural operation in Bengal is still by and large dependent on the vagaries of nature. Therefore, more stress should be given to (i) Availability of inputs such as assured means of irrigation, improved seeds, fertilizers and insecticides and pesticides and (ii) Deve loped agricultural infrastructural facilities such as financial institutions, agricultural marketing, agricultural loans and subsidies and modern tools and equipments of farming. These measures would ultimately increase the productivity and diversify the agriculture in the state.