Majuli district

Majuli district [1] is the largest river island in the world,[2] situated on the Brahmaputra River in Northeastern Assam. It is also the first island district of the country.[3]

Majuli district
District of Assam
Wetland in Majuli
Wetland in Majuli
Location in Assam
Location in Assam
Coordinates: 26°57′0″N 94°10′0″E
Country India
StateAssam
DivisionUpper Assam
HeadquartersGaramur
Government
 • Lok Sabha constituenciesLakhimpur
 • Vidhan Sabha constituenciesMajuli
Area
 • Total880 km2 (340 sq mi)
Population
 • Total167,304
 • Density190/km2 (490/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+05:30 (IST)
Vehicle registrationAS-29
Websitemajuli.gov.in

On June 27, 2016 an additional district was announced by Sarbananda Sonowal, taking the total number from 32 to 33 after Majuli was carved out of the Northern parts of Jorhat.[4]

Administration

The district consists of one circle, Majuli. The Deputy Commissioner is Bikram Kairi, IAS.

Economy

The main industry is agriculture, with paddy being the chief crop. Majuli has a rich and diverse agricultural tradition, with as many as 100 varieties of rice grown, all without pesticides or artificial fertilisers.

Handloom is a major occupation among the distaff population of the villages. Although largely a non-commercial occupation, it keeps many of the inhabitants occupied. Weaving is exquisite and intricate with the use of a variety of colours and textures of cotton and silk, especially Muga silk.

Among the fascinating arrays of rice produced are the Komal Saul, a unique type that can be eaten after immersing the grains in warm water for 15 minutes and usually eaten as a breakfast cereal; the bao dhan, that grows under water and is harvested after ten months and the Bora saul, a sticky brown rice used to make the traditional cake known as pitha. Fishing, dairying, pottery, handloom and boat-making are other important economic activities.[5]

Demographics

As of the 2011 census, Majuli district has a population of 1,67,304, entirely rural. Majuli has a sex ratio of 955 females per 1000 males. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 23,878 (14.27%) and 77,603 (46.38%) of the population.[6] Hinduism is the predominant religion, practiced by 99.04% of the population.[7] Majuli is famous throughout Assam for its large number of Satras.

Languages of Majuli district (2011)[8]

  Assamese (54.47%)
  Mising (41.01%)
  Bengali (1.66%)
  Deori (1.22%)
  Hindi (0.90%)
  Nepali (0.46%)
  Others (1.64%)

At the time of the 2011 census, 54.47% of the population spoke Assamese, 41.01% Mising, 1.66% Bengali and 1.22% Deori as their first language.[8]

Politics

Majuli (Vidhan Sabha constituency) falls under the 99 constituency of legislative assembly of Assam. It is a reserved seat for the Scheduled tribes (ST). Majuli is one of the 9 assembly segments of Lakhimpur Lok Sabha constituency. At present Sarbananda Sonowal (2014-) is the Member of Parliament from Bharatiya Janata Party and was the Union Minister of State-Independent Charge for Sports & Youth Affairs, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship but resigned after becoming Chief Minister of Assam.[9]

It is under jurisdiction of Mising Autonomous Council having three constituencies. Rajib Lochan Pegu won the seat [2001-2006 & 2006-2011, 2011- 2016] was MLA from Mājuli in Assam Assembly until 2016. He was bearing the portfolio of Minister of State (Ind.), Water Resources Dev., WPT & BC, in the Government of Assam.

See also

References
  1. Official Website
  2. "Assam's Majuli to become India's first island district today".
  3. "Assam: Majuli becomes 1st river island district of India". Hindustan Times. Guwahati. 27 June 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  4. Majuli to get district status today
  5. The Only Govt Jobs updates website open from Majuli Archived 2017-05-01 at the Wayback Machine
  6. "District Census Handbook: Jorhat" (PDF). censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
  7. "Table C-01 Population By Religion: Assam". census.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
  8. "Table C-16 Population By Mother Tongue: Assam". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
  9. "List of Winning Candidates of Assam State in General Election 2014". Election Commission of India.
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