BIHAR PROFILE

Bihar is located in the northeast region of India, in the Gangetic basin. It shares borders with a number of Indian states (such as Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal) as well as with the neighbouring nation of Nepal. Jharkhand actually formed the southernmost region of Bihar until the state was divided into two. According to the 2001 census, it is the third most populous state (after Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra) with about 83 million spread over 94,163 sq km. Overall population density (persons per square kilometre) is 880. According to provisional population results from the 2001 census, the state of Bihar contains around 8% of the country’s population. The capital is located at Patna, and other major urban centers include Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Katihar, Purnea, Munger, Deoghar and Bhagalpur. However, the vast majority of the population is found in rural areas.

Socio-Economic and Developmental Issues

According to various Human Development Indicators, Bihar lags the rest of India across many dimensions. Out of the 15 Indian states ranked by UNDP, Bihar occupies the 15th position. According to provisional results of the 2001 census, the state has the lowest literacy rate in the country, with only 48% of the population considered literate. Moreover, women are far less likely to be literate, with only around 34% of the female population unfavourably comparing to the male rate of 60%. While some districts have been successful in improving their literacy rates over the past 10 years, 23 out of 37 districts in the state still have literacy rates below 50%. The sex ratio, at 921 women per 1000 men, is actually in line with the overall Indian figures.

Overall economic growth of the state is the lowest in the country at a sluggish 2.9% (overall Indian growth rate is estimated at 6.1%). At the same time, though, population growth in the state has increased roughly by 5 percentage points, and is now around 28% (as compared to an overall Indian grown rate of around 21%).

Environmental Characteristics (indicative of the natural resource base)

The topography of Bihar is perhaps best described as a fertile alluvial plain in the Gangetic Valley. This plain extends from the foothills of the Himalayas in the north to a few miles south of the river Ganges as it flows through the State from the west to the east. The earth is very rich, with farmland and orchards extending throughout the state. Major crops include paddy, wheat, lentils, sugarcane, jute and sugarcane. Fruits such as mangoes, banana, jack fruit and litchis are also common; the state is one of the few areas outside of China which produces litchi. Bihar is also richly endowed with water resources. Not only is there significant rainfall, but there are also several rivers throughout the state. Although not as rich in mineral resources as its southern neighbour, Jharkhand, Bihar also produces large quantities of limestone and other minerals. However, poor infrastructure limits the potential for large scale harnessing of these resources and areas of Bihar still experience resource allocation issues such as drought and flooding.

DISTRICT PROFILES

1. MUNGER

Munger district is located in the southern part of Bihar, and its headquarters are located on the southern bank of the river Ganges. The town of Munger is the headquarters of Munger Commissionary. Total area is about 136000 hectares. In 1995, the districts of Jamui, Lakhisarai and Seikhpura were carved out of Munger district. The district is currently bounded by Begusarai and Khagaria in the north (across the Ganges), Bhagalpur and Banka to the east, and Jamui and Lakhisarai to the west/southwest. There are nine developmental blocks (Munger, Bariarpur, Jamalpur, Dharahara, Kharagpur, Tetia Bambar, Tarapur, Asarganj and Sangrampur) and the same number of talukas. Total population is around 1.2 million. The district contains 903 inhabited villages.

Development statistics

Munger district has been notified as an economically and industrially backward district. Social development indicators reflect this status. The sex ratio is a very low 878 women for every 1000 men. This figure is broadly the same in both rural and urban areas. This situation does seem to be improving, however; the sex ratio among children less than 6 years of age is 915 girls for 1000 boys and is only slightly lower in rural areas (905 girls for 1000 boys). The district is largely rural, with 72% of the population classified as rural. Munger has one of the lowest literacy rates in the state. According to the 2001 census, only 38% of the population can be considered literate. Moreover, there is a very large difference between the literacy rates of men and women: while 53% of men are literate, only 20% of women can be classified as the same. Only around 29% of total population is classified as “working”, with a significant discrepancy between the statistics for men and women; while around 43% of men are part of the working population, only 13% of the women in the district are part of the same. Caste composition data is not yet available through the 2001 census, but according to the 1991 census, SC make up around 13% of the population, while ST are around 1.5% of the population. There are 67 banks in the district, with an average population per branch of around 15,000. The following table describes some important comparative statistics.

Environmental Characteristics (indicative of the natural resource base)

Munger district is on average 30 to 65 meters above sea level. This region can be geographically described as middle Gangetic plain. Forested areas cover about 33000 hectares of land in the district—about 24% of the district; this is slightly higher than the state-wide figure of around 17%. There three distinct seasons in this zone: summer, monsoon and winter. Rainfall in the district is highly seasonal, greatly limiting water availability during the monsoon season. The monsoon takes place from the second week of June up to the end of September; occasional cyclonic rain also occurs. The major river flowing in this district is the Ganges, which submerges large tracts of land during the rainy seasons. A large proportion of the district (50%) is cultivable. About 45,000 hectares of Munger district is irrigated, primarily through canals with some use of tubewells and wells. The district is also rich in mineral resources, particularly in the Safiabad area.

Prominent livelihoods

Agriculture is the core economic activity of Munger district. It engages approximately 70% of the workforce, and the main crops are paddy, wheat, maize, pulses and oilseeds; fruits are also cultivated in this area. Industrially, the district is characterized as backward, although there is potential for sub-contracting/ancillarisation etc. connected to the railway workshop in the town of Jamalpur and an extensive Indian Tobacco Company factory in Munger. Stone crusher units also provide work in some parts of the district. In addition, recently, the World Yoga University, located in Munger, has gained international renown.

2. BHAGALPUR

Bhagalpur district is located in the southeastern region of Bihar. It is divided centrally by the river Ganges. There are three subdivisions on the northern side of the river. Only recently—in 2001-20022—was an all-weather bridge that connects the two sides constructed. Total area is about 254,3000 hectares. The district is bounded by Madhepura, Purnia and Katihar to the north, the neighbouring state of West Bengal to the east, Banka to the south, and Munger and Jamui to the west/northwest. There are 16 blocks and an equivalent number of talukas. The district contains 1536 inhabited villages.

Development statistics

Infrastructure like power, roads etc. are not congenial to industrialization. Support from the district authorities falls far short of expectations. The district level departments are dysfunctional. Engergization and poor civil work are also problems. Due to poor infrastructure in the district, scope for innovative development schemes can be limited.

Bhagalpur district has one of the lowest literacy rates in the state, with overall only 41% of the population considered literate. There is a significant disparity between male and female populations on this count; while 53% of men are considered literate, only 28% of women can be called the same.

Environmental characteristics (indicative of the natural resource base)

Bhagalpur district is characterized by a plain topography, with black soil. This district has very little forest cover—less than 100 hectares. The district has a hot summer and a moderate winter, as well as a monsoon season. During the rainy season, the bank to the north of the river Ganga is submerged during the rainy season. Additionally, the district is flood prone and lacks adequate drainage to prevent crop losses. The climate of the district is favourable for sericulture, floriculture, mushroom and agro-processing activities. Bhagalpur, along with Muzaffarpur has been identified as a potential Agri-Export Zone for litchi. Only about 46,000 hectares of the district is irrigated, primarily by wells, although other sources (e.g. tanks) are also used.

Prominent livelihoods

The main economic activity in Bhagalpur district is agriculture—primarily along traditional lines. The principal grain crops are paddy, wheat, maize, pulses, oilseeds and vegetables. The principal horticulture crops are mango, litchi, banana and guava. However, lack of irrigation, proper drainage, timely power and organised support services have limited growth of this sector. In addition, as there are no post-harvest treatment facilities, or agro/fruit-processing units in the district, most of the produce is consumed in the local market. Silk weaving is another economic activity traditionally pursued by a large segment of the population. However, the silk industries in the region are now on the edge of survival, thus threatening the livelihoods of a significant share of the population.