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

Bodding, P . 0. 1942: TRADITIONS AND INSTITUTIONS OF THE SANTALS, Oslo.

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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