DEGRADING ENVIRONMENT AND GROWING POPULATION OF THE INDIAN HIMALAYAS

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B. R. Pant

Department of Geography, Government Post Graduate College, Rudrapur,

Udham Singh Nagar 263 153, Uttaranchal

INTRODUCTION

            The Himalaya, lying in Indian sub-continent, constitutes one of the greatest and youngest folded mountain systems in the world rising from about 300 m to more than 8000 m above sea level. It is a mountain region of majestic grand-eur and high geographical significance. It acts as protector, regulator and creator of natural resources, climate and soil. The rapidly increasing population, settlement and development are exhibiting environmental transformation in the form of deteriorating environment, depletion of natural resources and conditions of poverty. There has been large scale deforestation, overgrazing and expansion of agriculture on forest and marginal lands, resulting in micro – climatic changes, loss of wild life, change in water level and river regions, soil erosion, flood and landslides, all of which brought about hardships increasing environmental degradation in the ecologically fragile and geologically sensitive Himalayan region. Increasing population is not sole responsible factor; while less enlightened government and non-government agencies and unawareness of the people are equally liable for this degradation process.

 

            The Himalaya, which plays a vital role not only in Indian but also in sub-continental economy, is in the grip of environmental degradation. Aspects of population, which are highly correlated with it, are discussed here. Figures pertaining to demographic scenario are based on Census 1991 and 2001, and overview regarding the environmental stress is based on published works.

 

About the Himalaya

            The Himalaya makes the northern boundary of India extending from eastern border of Pakistan to the western frontiers of Myanmar having a length of about 2500 km and width of about 160 to 400 km. Extending between 70⁰47’ and 97⁰22’ east longitudes and 21⁰57’ and 37⁰15’ north latitudes, the Himalaya encompasses an area of about 5,17,733 km², i.e., 15.75% of the area of the country. Administratively, the Indian Himalaya is divided into three broad regions - the Western Himalaya, consisting the states of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, includes illegally occupied areas by Pakistan and China. The Central Himalaya consists of Uttaranchal, and the Eastern Himalaya comprises the states of Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Mainpur, Tripura, Mizoram, Nagaland and hill districts of Assam and West Bengal. It is worth to mention here that the Himalayan region of West Bengal Hills consists of Darjeeling district only and the Assam Hills consists of the districts of North Cachar and Karbi Anglong. About 15% area of the Uttaranchal state (partially plains of Dehradun, Pauri, Nainital and fully plains of Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar) is below 600 meters, i.e., continuation of Indo-gengetic plain, tarai and Bhabar.

 

            From the northern boundary of the alluvial plain to the extreme north upto the Indian boundary, the Himalaya is divided into several geo-tectonic divisions - the Outer Himalaya (Siwaliks, Duns, Dwars, Tarai and Bhabar), the Lesser Himalaya having a number of fertile river valleys, the Great Himalayas, a zone of high snow peaks, glaciers and source of several rivers, and the Trans Himalaya a region across the Himalaya (rain shadow zone). These latitudinal divisions are separated from one another by thrusts and faults such as Himalayan Frontal Fault (H.F.F) extending between the Siwaliks and the Bhabar, Main Boundary Thrust (M.B.T) lying between the Siwaliks and the Lesser Himalaya, Main Central Thrust (M.C.T.) separating the Lesser and the Great Himalaya and Trans Himadri Thrust (T.H.T) lying between the Great and the Trans Himalaya. The total population of the Indian Himalaya is 4,03,11,039 persons in 2001 accounting for about 3.92% population of the country.

 

Degrading environmental profile

            With the alarming devastation caused by massive landslides, accelerating soil erosion, reduced soil productivity, drying up springs, frequent earthquakes and uncontrolled floods, the Himalaya is facing a number of environmental hazards, which are manifestations of ruthless deforestation, rapid growth of population, negligence of administration and unawareness of the society on environmental issues.

            

            The Himalayan rivers are eroding catchment areas at the mean rate of 0.1 cm per year, i.e., 100 cm in 1000 years, which is five times faster than it was in recent geological past (Menard,1963). The Ganga alone at Kolkata carries annually 411 m.t. of sediments (324 m.t. in suspended state and 83 m.t. as dissolved chemical load), implying erosion in the catchments at a rate of 549 t/km²/yr (Abbas and Subramanian, 1984). The construction of 44000 km road in the Himalaya generates about 2640m³ of debris (Valdiya, 1985). About 39% of the road bed is affected by rockfall and 38% by slamping, i.e., about 24 debris chutes/km² (Haigh et al., 1989). At the average rate of 550 m³/km/year the total landslide debris on Himalayan roads would be of the order of 24 m.m³ annually (Valdiya, 1987). Haigh (1984) discovered 72 landslides larger than 10 m³ and total landslides sediment yield of 1105 m³/km along 66km reach of Mussoorie-Tehri road in 1978. It is well known that the whole Himalaya is dissected by various faults and thrusts. These areas are vulnerable for landslides, slumping, mass wasting, etc. Similar micro studies have been conducted by several other geologists and geographers in the Himalaya.

            

            The Himalaya also suffers from overgrazing problem. For instance, this incidence in Uttaranchal Himalaya is 2.4 to 4.5 times higher than the carrying capacity of forest (Singh and Saxena, 1980). The annual depletion of forest is amounting to 3.76 million m³ per year, i.e., at the rate of 5.8% per year (Shah, 1985). An interpretation of land imagery indicates that only 28.7% of Indian Central Himalaya is now forested and only 4.4% of the area has a forest with greater than 60% crown density (Singh et al., 1984). Maximum land degradation occurs in the civil forest areas because of uncontrolled and unscientific anthropogenic activities. The degradation of forest has accelerated soil erosion and tragic landslides in an unprecedented manner (Bahuguna, 1981) and floods in the adjoining plains (Reiger, 1981; Ashish, 1983). It is estimated that out of the total net sown area of 7.32 x 10⁵ ha, about 6.40 x10⁵ ha of agricultural land suffers from severe erosion problem (Shah, 1982). The land used for agriculture is gradually being lost (Reiger, 1981). It is predicted that at the rate of 3.9 quintals per capita consumption, the carrying capacity of forest will overreach by 2031 AD (Shah, 1982). There is a perceptible decrease in spring discharge and seepage in more than 40% of the villages in Gaula catchment of Kumaun Himalaya. The extent of this decrease is between 25% and 73% in the past 5 to 50 years (Valdiya and Bartarya, 1991). The water discharge of the river Dabka in Kumaun Himalaya has decreased by 39.45% during the period of 1976-80. If this decrease continues for next 15 years, many such streams would be dry except in the monsoon seasons (Pant and Jalal, 1992). Evergrowing of population is leading to more farming and the cultivated area and the cattle population is increasing at the rate of 1.5% and 0.18% per year, respectively (Shah, 1982).

 

            The carrying capacity of the Himalaya is decreasing day by day due to the heavy pressure of both human and livestock population. A large number of youths from the central Himalaya are migrating to other more developed parts of the country (Pant, 1992 and 1994).

 

            A majority of the rural people does not get sufficient nutrition in their diet; consequently they suffer from nutrition deficiency related diseases (Pant 1994, 1996 and 1998). The largest number of epicenters is located in the Himalayan belt where the strongest seismicity is attributed to the movements along the MBT and MCT (Valdiya, 1992). The Himalaya falls under the 4^th and 5^th maximum intensity earthquake prone zone. The change in micro climate is also noticed in the Himalaya. The glaciers are receding very rapidly. A number of vegetational and wild animal species are in the endangered stage. Environmental hazards are not merely natural disasters but the result of increasing human activities and less visionary or plannings of the development agencies.

Demographic profile

            Based on 1991 and 2001 Censuses, the present study highlights the changing scenario of population structure of the Himalaya. Nepal and Bhutan could not be studied as desired due to non-availability of reliable and complete data. Basically, the present study is worked out with the help of 1991 and 2001 Censuses in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura, Manipur and Hills of Assam and West Bengal (see notes at the end).

Distribution

            The distributional pattern of the population structure differs from one place to another. These sectoral aspects are particularly determined by the environmental conditions which have both restrictive and permissive connections to human activities. Mostly the population of the Himalaya is concentrated in Tarai, Bhabar, Duns, Dwars and lower valleys of the rivers, owing to their favourable environmental conditions such as conducive climate, availability of drinking water, fertile soil, well irrigational provisions and infrastructurally more developed nature while the mountainous parts possess adverse conditions and are sparsely populated. According to the 2001 Census, Jammu and Kashmir has the largest population accounting to 0.98% of the country’s population. Uttaranchal with a population of 84,79,562 persons, accounting to 0.83% of the country’s population, has the second largest population.  Sikkim with a population of   5,40,493 persons, accounting to 0.05% of the total population of the country, has the smallest population. Mizoram has a population of 8,91, 058 accounting for 0.09% of total population of India (Table 1).

 

Table 1: Country’s population in the Himalayan States.

S.No.	State/Region	Percentage of country’s population
		1981	1991	2001
1.	Jammu  and Kashmir	0.88	0.92	0.98
2.	Himachal Pradesh	0.63	0.61	0.68
3.	Uttaranchal	0.85	0.84	0.83
4.	Sikkim	0.05	0.05	0.05
5.	Arunachal Pradesh	0.09	0.10	0.11
6.	Nagaland	0.11	0.14	0.19
7.	Manipur	0.21	0.22	0.23
8.	Mizoram	0.07	0.08	0.09
9.	Tripura	0.03	0.33	0.31
10.	Assam Hills	N.A.	0.40	0.39
11.	West Bengal Hills	0.15	0.16	0.16

Source: Anon. 1991 and 2001. (Vide Note given in the end).                

N.A. Stands for not available.

 

Table 1 shows the similar pattern of population distribution during 1981, 1991 and 2001.

Figure 1. Country’s population in the Himalayan states/regions, 2001

Growth and density

            The Indian Himalaya has registered 24.75% growth during the 1991 to 2001 which is higher than the country’s average (21.34%). Among the Himalayan states, Nagaland registered maximum (64.41%) growth during this decade which is far above the national average. Baring Manipur, Nagaland and Sikkim, decadal growth has declined in all other states of the Indian Himalayan Region (Table 2). In case of Manipur, Nagaland and Sikkim, it has gone up, respectively, from 29.29%, 56.08% and 28.47% in the previous decade to 30.02%, 64.41% and 32.98% in the current decade (Table 2).

 

Table 2: Growth and distribution of population

S. No.	State/Region	Population (number)			Growth (%)
		1981	1991	2001	1971-81	1981-91	1991-01
1.	Jammu  & Kashmir	5987398	7718700	10069917	29.59	30.34	29.04
2.	Himachal Pradesh	4280818	5111079	6077248	23.71	20.79	17.53
3.	Uttaranchal	5725972	7113483	8479562	27.45	24.23	19.20
4.	Sikkim	316585	405505	540493	N.A.	28.47	32.98
5.	Arunachal Pr.	631839	858392	1091117	35.15	36.83	26.21
6.	Nagaland	774930	1215573	1988636	50.05	56.08	64.41
7.	Manipur	1420953	1826714	2388634	32.46	29.29	30.02
8.	Mizoram	493757	686217	891058	53.16	39.70	29.18
9.	Tripura	2053058	2744827	3191168	31.91	34.30	15.74
10.	Assam hills	N.A.	3294770	3987306	N.A	N.A.	21.02
11.	W.B. Hills	1024269	1335618	1605900	N.A.	26.91	23.54
Himalaya		N.A	32310878	40311039	N.A.	N.A.	24.75
India		6813329097	846387888	1027015247	N.A.	23.86	21.34

Source: Anon, 1991 and 2001.

 

            The main cause of this growth in population in Manipur, Nagaland and Sikkim is immigration from the less developed areas, it may be national or international. The growth of population in Himalayan states of Himachal, Uttaranchal and Assam Hills, has recorded growth lesser than the national average (Table 3).

 

Table 3: Distribution of districts by ranges of percentage decadal growth in the Indian Himalaya, 1991-2001

Ranges of Decadal (%) Growth	India		Himalaya
	No.	Percentage	No.	Percentage
<10.00	58	9.78	7	7.70
10.00-19.99	203	34.23	25	27.47
20.00-29.99	240	40.47	29	31.87
30.00-39.99	61	10.30	19	20.88
40.00-49.99	12	2.02	3	3.29
50.00+	19	3.20	8	8.79
Total	593	100.00	91	100.00

Source: Anon, 2001.

 

Figure 2. Distribution of districts by ranges of % decadel growth in Himalaya and India, 1991-2001

 

            Table 3 gives the distribution of the districts in each state of Himalaya and India by the ranges of percentage decadal growth during 1991-2001. Out of the total 7.7% districts of the Himalaya and 9.78% districts of India have registered decadal growth rate less than 10%. Maximum 74.70% districts of India and 59.34% districts of the Himalaya have registered 10 to 29.99% growth during the decade of 1991-2001. About 3.20% and 8.79% districts in the country and the Himalaya, respectively, have registered high growth rate more than 50%. Among them as many as five districts belong to Nagaland state itself.

            In the Indian Himalaya the density (No. of persons/Km²) increased from 62 in 1991 to 78 in 2001. This means that the pressure in the Himalaya has increased by 16 persons/km² during the decade. However, the population density in the Himalaya is far less than that of the country. It is because of the rugged topography and adverse climatic conditions and most of the area is not suitable for human habitation.

 

            According to the 1991 and 2001 Census, West Bengal Hills has the highest density 413 and 510 persons/ km², respectively (Table 4). Since the district of Darjeeling is a tea producing and tourist area, the population pressure is always high. During the decades of 1981, 1991 and 2001, the Himalaya witnessed the increasing trend in population density. The population density in the Himalaya ranges minimum from 13 persons/km² in Arunachal Pradesh to maximum 510 persons/km² in W.B. Hills (Table 4).

Sex ratio

            The analysis of sex ratio reveals the numerical relationship between women and men, and is  expressed as number of females per thousand males. A ratio of 1000 indicates equal balance of males and females in the population, less than 1000 denotes deficit of women (low sex ratio), and more than 1000 indicates numerical surplus of women (high sex ratio) in the population. The sex ratio of the Himalaya is 933 in 2001, which is equal to national average (933). The provisional results of census 2001, indicates an increase in the sex ratio (933) in comparison to the previous census (918) in the Himalaya. Total sex ratio ranges between 875 in Sikkim state to 970 in Himachal Pradesh in 2001. Out of the total 11 states in the Himalaya, 9 states have shown improvement in sex ratio in comparison to previous Censuses (Table 4). 

 

Table 4: Density and sex ratio in the Indian Himalaya

S. No.	Stage/Region	Density (persons/km2)			Sex ratio   (females/1000 males )
		1981	1991	2001	1981	1991	2001
1.	Jammu & Kashmir	59	77	99	892	896	900
2.	Himachal Pradesh	77	93	109	973	976	970
3.	Uttaranchal	109	133	159	920	936	964
4.	Sikkim	45	57	76	835	878	875
5.	Arunachal Pradesh	8	10	13	862	859	901
6.	Nagaland	47	73	120	867	886	909
7.	Manipur	64	82	107	971	958	978
8.	Mizoram	23	33	42	919	921	938
9.	Tripura	196	263	304	946	945	950
10.	Assam hills	N.A.	148	179	N.A.	930	935
11.	West Bengal Hills	325	413	510	888	914	943
Himalaya		N.A.	62	78	N.A	918	933
India		216	267	327	934	927	933

Source: Censuses of India, 1981, 1991 and 2001

 

            It is evident that 26.98% of the total districts of India have sex ratio of below 900 (Table 5). Similarly 23.08% of the total Himalayan districts have low sex ratio, i.e., less then 900 females per 1000 males. It is seen that 13.15% districts at national and 14.28% at Himalaya have recorded high sex ratio. The largest number of such districts in Himalaya is from Uttaranchal (8) followed by Himachal (3) while Manipur has two districts in this category. It is noteworthy that those districts having more urban population have recorded low sex ratio due to the male immigration in these districts from the less developed districts while the districts having more rural area/population have recorded high sex ratio due to out migration of males to more developed places in search of employment (Pant, 1995).

 

    

Figure 3. Ranges of sex ratio of population (F/1000M)       Figure 4. Sex ratio in the Himalayan states, 2001

 

Table 5: Distribution of districts by ranges of sex ratio of population in the Indian Himalaya, 2001.

Ranges of sex ratio (F/1000M)	India		Himalaya
	Number	Percentage	Number	Percentage
Less than 800	8	1.35	2	2.20
800-849	34	5.73	4	4.40
850-899	118	19.90	15	16.48
900-949	194	32.72	40	43.96
950-999	161	27.15	17	18.68
1000-1049	58	9.78	7	7.69
1050+	20	3.37	6	6.59
Total	593	100.00	91	100.00

Source: Anon, 2001

Literacy

            Literacy is one of the important social aspects on which information is obtained on every individual in Census. For the purpose of Census 1991 and 2001 a person aged seven and above, who can both read and write with understanding any language is treated as literate. Table 6 shows the literacy rates for the year 1991 and 2001. Like India, the whole Himalayan region has had an expected progress in the literacy aspect during 1981 to 1991 and 1991 to 2001. Maximum literacy rate was found in Mizoram (88.49 %) where 90.69 % male and 86.13% females are literate which is quite higher than the national and Himalayan averages. It is due to the educational programmes launched by the missionaries from the earlier days of independence. Out of the total states in the Himalaya, eight states - Himachal Pradesh (97.13%), Uttaranchal (72.28%), Manipur (68.87%), Nagaland (67.11%), Sikkim (69.68%), Tripura (73.66%), Mizoram (88.49%) and West Bengal Hills (72.87%) have registered higher literacy than the national average (65.37%). The literacy percentage in Jammu and Kashmir (54.46 %) and Arunachal Pradesh (54.74%) is quite lower than the Himalaya (69.44 %) and national average (65.37%).

 

Figure 5. Percentage of literacy (persons) in the Himalaya, 1981 to 2001

 

            The highest proportion of male literates has been observed in Mizoram (90.69%) followed by Himachal Pradesh (86.02%). Other three states with more than 80% male literacy are Uttaranchal (84.01%), Tripura (81.47%) and West Bengal Hills (81.28%). On an average in Himalaya, the female literacy at the 1991 Census was very low (49.19%). The same has now gone up to 60.79% in 2001. In fact, the improvement in female literacy has been faster (11.6% points) than that of males (8.16% points) and total persons (9.8% points). However it is lesser than the nation (persons 13.16, males 11.72 and females 14.8% points).

            Mizoram with 86.13% female literacy leads among all states in the Himalaya followed by Himachal (68.08%) and Tripura (65.41%) in female literacy. Jammu and Kashmir has the lowest percentage of female literates (41.82%) followed by Arunachal Pradesh (44.2%) and Assam Hills (55.73%). Female literacy is one of the important indicators of social development.

 

Table 6: Literacy by sex in the Himalaya (%)

S.N.	State/region	1981 Person	1991			2001
			Person	M	F	Person	M	F
1.	Jammu & Kashmir	26.66	N.A.	N.A.	N.A.	54.46	65.75	41.82
2.	Himachal Pradesh	42.47	63.86	75.36	52.13	77.13	86.02	68.08
3.	Uttaranchal	46.06	57.75	72.79	41.63	72.28	84.01	60.26
4.	Sikkim	34.05	56.94	65.70	46.76	69.68	76.73	61.46
5.	Arunachal Pradesh	20.78	41.59	51.45	29.69	54.74	64.07	44.24
6.	Nagaland	42.57	61.65	67.62	54.75	67.11	71.77	61.92
7.	Manipur	41.36	59.89	71.63	47.60	68.87	77.87	59.70
8.	Mizoram	59.88	82.27	85.61	78.60	88.49	90.69	86.13
9.	Tripura	42.12	60.44	70.58	49.65	73.66	81.47	65.41
10.	Assam hills	N.A	54.06	63.77	43.25	64.58	70.85	55.73
11.	W.B. Hills	42.47	57.95	67.07	47.84	72.87	81.28	63.92
Himalaya		N.A	59.64	69.16	49.19	69.44	77.32	60.79
India		43.57	52..21	64.13	39.29	65.37	75.85	54.16

Source: Anon, 1991-2001. M: Male, F: Female, NA: Not available.

 

             

Figure 6. Male literate (%) in the Himalaya, 1991 & 2001           Figure 7. Female literate (%) in the Himalaya, 1991 & 2001

 

            Tables 7 to 9 give the distribution of districts in different ranges of literacy rates for persons, males and females at the national level and the Himalaya. About 4.4% districts in the country and 1.11% of districts in the Himalaya are having literacy rates below 40%. It is observed that out of total districts of the country and the Himalaya, 35.7% and 46.67% districts have registered more than 70 % literacy rates, respectively. About 9.98% and 14.44% districts in the country and the Himalaya have literacy rate of 80% and above, respectively. About 2.20% and 4.44% districts in the country and the Himalaya, respectively, have reported literacy rate of 90% and above. Four of these districts are located in the Mizoram state of Himalaya.

 

Table 7: Distribution of districts by ranges of literacy rates (persons) in the Himalaya, 2001

Ranges of literacy rate (%)	India		Himalaya
	Number	%	Number	%
30.0 – 39.9	26	4.40	1	1.11
40.0  - 49.9	55	9.31	11	12.22
50.0 – 59.9	127	21.49	17	18.90
60.0 – 69.9	172	29.10	19	21.11
70.0 – 79.9	152	25.72	29	32.22
80.0 – 89.9	46	7.78	9	10.00
90.0 +	13	2.20	4	4.44
Total	591	100.00	90	100.00

 Source: Anon, 2001.

 

               There are 3.38% and 1.11% districts in the country and in the Himalaya, respectively, with male literacy rate below 50%. Among these one district falls in the Himalaya (Nagaland). Nearly 70.2% districts of the country and 66.67% districts of the Himalaya have reported male literacy of 70% and above (Table 8)

 

Table 8: Distribution of districts by ranges of literacy rate (male) in the Himalaya, 2001.

Ranges of literacy rate (%)	India		Himalaya
	Number	%	Number	%
30.0 – 39.9	01	0.17	-	-
40.0 -49.9	19	3.21	01	1.11
50.0 – 59.9	46	7.78	13	14.44
60.0 – 69.9	110	18.61	16	17.78
70.0 – 79.9	190	32.15	19	21.11
80.0 – 89.9	195	33.00	32	35.56
90.0 +	30	5.08	9	10.00
Total	591	100.00	90	100.00

Source: Anon, 2001.

 

              Table 9 gives distribution of districts by the different ranges of female literacy rate. Nearly 7.62% and 5.56% districts in the country and in the Himalaya, respectively, have female literacy rates   below 30%. About 42.81% districts of the country and 34.44% districts of the Himalaya have registered female literacy rate below 50%. (Table 9).

 

Table 9: Distribution of districts by ranges of literacy rate (female) in the Himalaya, 2001.

Ranges of literacy rate (%)	India		Himalaya
	Number	%	Number	%
10.00 – 19.9	2	0.34	-	-
20.00 – 29.9	43	7.28	5	5.56
30.0   – 39.9	81	13.70	10	11.11
40.0   -  49.9	127	21.49	16	17.78
50.0 –   59.9	138	23.35	16	17.78
60.0 –   69.9	118	19.97	24	26.67
70.0 –   79.9	59	9.98	13	14.44
80.0 –   89.9	16	2.71	4	4.44
90.0 +	7	1.18	2	2.22
Total	591	100.00	90	100.00

Source: Anon, 2001.

 

            In the Himalaya, Mizoram, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Nagaland, Manipur and Tripura have 7,5,2,1 and 1 districts, respectively, with female literacy rate of 70% and above. Only 1.18% of the country and 2.22% districts of the Himalaya (Mizoram) have reported female literacy rate of ninety percent and above (Table 9). Traditionally, there has been some bias against female education in the Indian society and until very recent past, education was not usually considered important for females. The spread of modernisation, urbanization and westernization associated with the notion of egalitarianism has contributed to reduction of disparity between the male and female literacy rates. However, regional disparities still exist. There is a high correlation between the male and female literacy rates. The districts with lower male literacy rate also tend to have lower female literacy rates. Generally it is also observed that districts with higher literacy rates have lower male-female disparity in literacy rates.

 

         

Figure 8. Distribution of districts by ranges of male          Figure 9. Distribution of districts by ranges of  

literacy in Himalaya & India, 2001                                          female literacy in Himalaya & India, 2001

Urbanisation

            Urban population figures for 2001 Census are yet not published/available. Therefore the analysis is based on data available for 1991 Census. Most of the Himalayan states are witnessing a slow change in the ratio of rural urban population. The Himalayan region has mostly rural population, but steadily the developing towns are attracting large proportion of this rural population. Due to better infrastructural facilities tourism, trade and services in those small towns, immigration towards them has considerably increased.

 

Table 10: Rural-urban population in the Himalaya (%)

S. N.	State/Region	1981		1991
		Rural	Urban	Rural	Urban
1.	Jammu & Kashmir	78.95	21.05	N.A.	N.A
2.	Himachal Pradesh	92.38	7.62	91.30	8.70
3.	Uttaranchal	79.70	20.30	76.90	23.10
4.	Sikkim	83.85	16.15	90.88	9.12
5.	Arunachal Pradesh	93.44	6.56	87.79	12.21
6.	Nagaland	84.48	15.52	82.72	17.28
7.	Manipur	73.57	26.43	72.31	27.69
8.	Mizoram	75.33	24.67	53.08	46.20
9.	Tripura	89.01	10.99	84.74	15.26
10.	Assam hills	N.A.	N.A.	90.36	9.64
11.	W.B. Hills	72.45	27.55	69.29	30.71
Himalaya		82.32	17.68	80.01	19.91
India		76.66	23.34	74.28	25.72

Source: Anon, 1991. Data for 2001 are yet not published. * Excludes Jammu and Kashmir.

 

            Among Himalayan states, the maximum urban population is in Mizoram where 46.2% of total population was urban, followed by West Bengal Hills (30.71%) and Manipur (27.69%). The percentage of urban population of these three states is more than that of the nation (Table 10). There were some rural population dominated regions too, the more conspicuous being Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Assam Hills where the percentage of rural population was above 90%. All the states of the Himalaya taken together has a urban population of 19.99% only. If was quite lower than that of the national average   (25.72%). During 1981-1991, the states having high growth in urban population was Mizoram (160.27%), Arunachal Pradesh (152.98%), Tripura (85.75%) and Nagaland (74.74%), while the regions having moderate urban growth were West Bengal Hills (45.38%), Uttaranchal (45.34%), Himachal Pradesh (36.46%) and Manipur (34.73%). In Sikkim the urban population declined considerably (-27.60%).

 

Figure 10. Urban population in the Himalaya

CONCLUSION

            The study concludes that for the last many decades the Himalaya endures several environmental problems including soil erosion, deforestation, overgrazing, landslides, floods, siltation, decreasing soil fertility, drying of springs, increasing of slums, health hazards, etc. It can be suggested that all development efforts for the region should be made according to demographic traits and needs, and keeping in mind the availability of the resources and ecologically fragile and geologically sensitive nature of the Himalayan environment. A separate population policy should be framed for the Himalaya. Any approach adopted for planning in this region must consider the aspects of man and his environment.

            There is an urgent need to improve the education status of the people particularly of females, which is too low in the Himalayan states. More employment generation programmes should be launched in the region. Local participation must be considered at the time of policy framing.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

            The author is grateful to the University Grants Commission, 35 Ferozshah Road, New Delhi for financial assistance in the form of Minor Research Project. 

NOTES:

1. The population of India includes the estimated population of entire Kachchh district, Morvi, Maliya-Miyana and Wankaner talukas of Rajkot district, Jodiya taluka of Jamnagar district of Gujrat state and entile Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh while the literacy data are not included where population enumeration of Census of India, 2001, could not be conducted due to natural calamities.

2. The population figures for Jammu and Kashmir have been interpolated for the year 1991 as the 1991 Census could not be conducted in the state due to disturbed conditions.

3. The literacy rates for the year 1981 relate to the population aged five years and above while the year 1991 and 2001 relate to the population aged seven years and above.

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ENVIS Bulletin : Himalayan Ecology 11(1), 2003

G. B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development

(An autonomous Institute of Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India)

Kosi-Katarmal, Almora - 263 643, Uttaranchal, India

Contact us : himenvis@gbpihed.nic.in