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 / 26.95000°N 94.16667°E / 26.95000; 94.16667
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

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]

On September 8, 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 Mrs Karabi Sarma,ACS.

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. 1 2 "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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