Table Of ContentPopulation Redistribution and Development
in South Asia
Population Redistribution and
Development in South Asia
Edited by
Leszek A. Kosinski
and
K.Maudood Elahi
D. Reidel Publishing Company
A MEMBER OF THE KlUWER ACADEMIC PUBLISHERS GROUP
Dordrecht / Boston / Lancaster
Library of Congress Cataloging In Publication Data
Mainentry under title:
Population redistribution and development in South Asia
Bibliography: p.
Includes index.
1. Migration, Internal - South Asia - Adresses, essays, lectures. 2. Refugees - South Asia - Adresses,
essays, lectures. 3. South Asia - Population - Adresses, essays, lectures. I. Kosinski, Leszek A. II. Elahi
K. Maudood.
HB2096.5.P661985 304.8'0959 84-26260
ISBN- 13: 978-94-0 I 0-8845-9 e-ISBN-13: 978-94-009-5309-3
001: 10.1007/978-94-009-5309-3
Published by D. Reidel Publishing Company
P.O. Box 17, 3300 AA Dordrecht, Holland
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All Rights Reserved
C1985 by D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordrecht, Holland
Sofkover reprint of the hardcover 15 t edition 1985
No part of the material protected by this copyright notice may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, elec-
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TABLE OF CONTINENTS
Contents
List of Figures VII
List of Tables VIII
List of Contributors X
Preface 1
1 Introduction by Leszek A Kosinski and K. Maudood Elahi. 3
2 Population Redistribution and Settlement Change in South Asia:
A Historical Evaluation
by K. Maudood Elahi and Sabiha Sultana. 15
3 Migration in South Asia: An Overview by Ronald Skeldon. 37
4 Regional Development Process and Redistribution of Tribal
Population in Mid-India by Aijazuddin Ahmad. 65
5 Flood Induced Population Migration in India: A Case Study
of Ghaghara Zone by S.L. Kayastha and R.P. Yadava. 79
6 A Cultural Ecological Appraisal of Refugee Resettlement in
Independent India by AB. Mukerji. 89
7 Land Resettlement Policy as a Population Redistribution
. Strategy in Nepal by Vidya B.S. Kansakar. 111
8 Trends of the Redistribution of Population in Nepal by C.B. Shrestha. 123
9 Population Growth and Redistribution in Sri Lanka, 1901- 1981
by AW.AD.G. Abayasekara. 139
10 Evolution of Population Policies in Sri Lanka: A Survey
by R.S. Gunawardena. 155
11 Urbanization and Development Strategies in Sri Lanka
by P. Puvanarajan. 169
12 Some Aspects of Population Redistribution in Pakistan, 1951-81
by Qazi Shakil Ahmad. 185
13 Population Mobility in North West Frontier Province of Pakistan
by Mohammad Aslam Khan. 197
14 Refugee Problems in Bangladesh by AF.M. Kamaluddin. 221
Index of Names 237
Subject Index 241
The GeoJournal Library
Series Editor: Wolf TIETZE
Editorial Board:
John E. Bardach, Honolulu, HI W. Lauer, Bonn
Pierre Biays, Lille Lee Shu-tan, Nanjing
Asit Biswas, Oxford Richard F. Logan, Los Angeles, CA
Bruce Currey, Dhaka Walther Manshard, Freiburg i. Br.
J. Demek, Brno German MOiler, Heidelberg
Yehuda Gradus, Beer-Sheva Paul MOiler, SaarbrOcken
Arild Holt-Jensen, Bergen Hiroshi Sasaki, Tsukuba
Huang Ping-wei, Beijing Akira Suwa, Tokyo
Johannes Karte, Bonn Jarn Thiede, Kiel
P.M. Kelly, Norwich H.Th. Verstappen, Enschede
C. Kergomard, Lille E.M. Yates, London
C. Gregory Knight, University, PA M.M. Yoshino, Tsukuba
M.P. Lapping, Manhattan, KS Alexander Zaporozec, Madison, WI
List of Figures
Fig 1.1 Population of South Asia, 1950 - 1980
Fig 2.1 Internal population shifts in South Asia, 1931 and major development areas
Fig 2.2 Interstate migration in India, 1971
Fig 2.3 Population growth in India, 1971-81
Fig 3.1 Principal streams of lifetime migration in South Asia
Fig 4.1 Areas of tribal concentration in India, 1971 and location of study areas
Fig 4.2 Population change in villages surrounding Hatia Industrial Complex
Fig 5.1 Location of Ghaghara River study area
Fig 5.2 Nature of peak floods of Ghaghara River, 1920-56
Fig 5.3 Changes in population density of Ghaghara floodplain
Fig 5.4 Floods and seasonal migration in the village of J agdishpur, 1971-77
Fig 6.1 Distribution of Tibetans in India, 1961 and 1971
Fig 6.2 Tibetean refugee settlements in India, 1980
Fig 6.3 Distribution of refugees from Pakistan in India, 1951
Fig 7.1 Major ecological belts and population density in Nepal
Fig 7.2 Vertical distribution of population in Nepal, 1971
Fig 7.3 Major streams of population movement in Nepal
Fig 9.1 Population density in Sri Lanka, 1981
Fig 9.2 Ethnic composition of population in Sri Lanka, 1971
Fig 10.1 Development projects in Sri Lanka
Fig 11.1 Administrative division and climatic zones in Sri Lanka
Fig 11.2 Development areas in Sri Lanka
Fig 12.1 Muslim refugees from India in urban areas of Pakistan, 1951
Fig 12.2 Percentage increase of population in Pakistan by districts, 1951-81
Fig 12.3 Pattern of population growth in Pakistan, 1951-72
Fig 12.4 Percentage of urban population in Pakistan, 1981.
Fig 13.1 Out-migrants from the North West Frontier Province, 1973
Fig 13.2 Afghan refugees registered in NWFP and Baluchistan in 1980
Fig 13.3 In-migrants in the North West Frontier Province, 1973
Fig 14.1 Percentage share of displaced persons in East Pakistan/Bangladesh, 1951
Fig 14.2 Refugee camps in India (1971) and Bangladesh (1980)
Fig 14.3 Burmese refugee camps in Bangladesh, July 1978
List of Tables
Tab 1.1 Population of South Asia, 1950-1980
Tab 1.2 Emigration and major concentrations of Indians abroad
Tab 1.3 Political migration in South Asia since 1947
Tab 1.4 Immigration from South Asia to Britain, 1962 -1980
Tab 1:5 Immigrants from South Asia admitted to Australia, Canada and the USA
Tab 1.6 Migrants from India and Pakistan in the Arab region, 1975 and 1979
Tab 1. 7 Urban population in South Asia, 1950-1980
Tab 1.8 Rural-urban transfer
Tab 1.9 Governments' perceptions and policies in relation to migration and spatial distri-
bution, November 1981
Tab 2.1 Density, population change and net migration in Bangladesh
Tab 2.2 Net migration rate by states, India, 1951-61
Tab 2.3 Percentage distribution of migrants by migration streams, India, 1961-71
Tab 2.4 Proportion of refugees in the population of major urban centres in Pakistan, 1951
Tab 2.5 Growth of population in Nepal, 1911-1971
Tab 2.6 Migration rates (per 1000) for Sri Lanka, 1961-71, by districts
Tab 3.1 Number of internal lifetime migrants captured by the censuses in South Asia
(latest year)
Tab 3.2 Magnitude and urban/rural direction of internal migration in four countries of
South Asia: period migration or most recent migration from latest censuses
Tab 3.3 Inter-sectoral migration: urban/rural origins and destinations of internal flows in
three countries of South Asia (latest year)
Tab 3.4 Inter-sectoral flows for India and Pakistan according to distance (percentage)
Tab 3.5 Sex ratios of the largest cities in the countries of South Asia (men per
100 women)
Tab 3.6 Selected indicators of social development in South Asia (latest year)
Tab 4.1 Population composition of villages in the Hatia Industrial Zone, 1961
Tab 4.2 Ethnic composition of selected villages in Ranchi district, 1962
Tab 4.3 Changes in tribal population in villages around Hatia Industrial Zone, 1961-1971
Tab 4.4 Structure of the workforce in sample villages with predominantly tribal popula-
tions in the neighbourhood of the Hatia Industrial Zone, 1961-1971
Tab 4.5 Change in the proportion of non-tribal population in sample villages in the Paral-
kote zone, Dandakaranya region
Tab 5.1 Length of the idle period and percentage of jobless workers in the village of
Jagdishpur
Tab 5.2 Types of migration and choice of jobs in the village of Jagdishpur
Tab 5.3 Factors of migration in selected villages in Khadar and Bhangar zones (percentage
distribution)
Tab 6.1 Population of selected peninsular settlements of Tibetans in India
Tab 6.2 Growth of Muslim population in Assam and West Bengal
Tab 6.3 Number of Bengali refugees in Dandakaranya
Tab 7.1 Inter-regional variation in growth rate in Nepal
Tab 7.2 Distribution of population by regions, 1971
Tab 7.3 Migration by regions, 1952 -1971'
Tab 7.4 Regional level of urbanization, 1971
Tab 8.1 Families resettled by Nepal Resettlement Company until 1980
Tab 8.2 Families resettled by Resettlement Department until 1980
Tab 8.3 Distribution and change of population in Nepal, 1911-81
Tab 8.4 Distribution and growth of population in Nepal, 1971-81
Tab 8.5 Population growth in the Tarai region, 1971-1981
Tab 9.1 Intercensal growth of population in Sri Lanka and its components, 1891-1981
Tab 9.2 Lifetime migration in Ceylon, 1946
Tab 9.3 Migration and natural increase, 1946-1971 (annual rates per 1000)
Tab 9.4 Birth and death rates, annual growth rates in Sri Lanka, 1930-1970 (rates
per 1000)
Tab 9.5 Index of dissimilarity of the population, 1901-1981: annual average
Tab 9.6 Percentage distribution of population by race, 1901-81
Tab 10.1 Population changes in Sri Lanka, 1946-1980 (rates per thousand)
Tab 11.1 Intercensal growth of population in Sri Lanka, 1871-1941 (in thousands)
Tab 11.2 Population increase in Sri Lanka by districts, 1946-71
Tab 11.3 Urban centres and urban population in Sri Lanka, 1871-1981
Tab 11.4 Urban population of Sri Lanka by province and district, 1946-1981
Tab 11.5 Urban growth in Sri Lanka by province and district, 1946-1981
Tab 11.6 Changes in urban population, area and density by urban categories, 1963-81
Tab 11.7 Percentage distribution of towns in Sri Lanka by size class, 1953-81
Tab 11.8 Components of urban growth in Sri Lanka by size class, 1963-71 (in thou-
sands)
Tab 12.1 Population change in selected districts of Pakistan, 1961-72
Tab 12.2 Percentage of Hindus in Pakistan, 1941 and 1951
Tab 12.3 Population of Pakistan by provinces, 1951-1981
Tab 13.1 Mobility status of population born in North West Frontier Province,
1901-1931
Tab 13.2 Origin of in-migrants to NWFP, 1931
Tab 13.3 Immigrants from Afghanistan in NWFP, 1901-1931
Tab 13.4 Net migration between North West Frontier Province and other provinces of
India, 1901-1931
Tab 13.5 Origin of in-migrants from other parts of India to North West Frontier Pro-
vince, 1931
Tab 13.6 Destination of NWFP out-migrants enumerated in other parts of India, 1931
Tab 13.7 Inter-district migration in North West Frontier Province, 1901-1931
Tab 13.8 Mobility of NWFP-born population in Pakistan, 1951-73
Tab 13.9 Birth-place of migrants enumerated in North West Frontier Province,
1951-1973
Tab 13.10 Indian refugees in North West Frontier Province by districts and selected urban
centres, 1951
Tab 13.11 Repatriates from Bangladesh in North West Frontier Province, 1974 and 1979
(families)
Tab 13.12 Afghan refugees in North West Frontier Province, December 31, 1980
Tab 13.13 Tribal affiliation of Afghan refugees in Kurram Agency, 1980
Tab 13.14 Migration between NWFP and other provinces of Pakistan, 1951-73
Tab 13.15 Internal migration into and from NWFP, 1951-73
Tab 13.16 Inter-district migration in North West Frontier Province, 1951-1973
Tab 14.1 Distribution of refugees in East Pakistan/Bangladesh and their origin, 1951
Tab 14.2 Origin of Urdu-speaking refugees, 1951
Tab 14.3 Urdu-speaking refugee population in Bangladesh, 1979
Tab 14.4 Distribution of Bangladesh refugees camps in India, July 1971
Tab 14.5 Percentage distribution of displaced persons in Bangladesh by districts, 1971
Tab 14.6 Distribution of Burmese refugees in Bangladesh by camps, 1978
List of Contributors
AW.AD.G. Abayasekara, Ph.D., Evaluation and Impact Studies Coordinator, Mahaveli
Authority of Sri Lanka, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Aijazuddin Ahmad, Ph.D., Professor, Centre for the Study of Regional Development,
J. Nehru University, New Delhi - 110067, India
Qazi Shakil Ahmad, Ph.D., Professor and Chairman, Department of Geography, University
of Sind, Jamshoro, Sind, Pakistan
K. Maudood Elahi, Ph. D. Associate Professor and Chairman, Department of Geography,
Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh
R.S. Gunawardena, Ph.D., Senior Lecturer, Department of Geography, Univerisity of
Paredeniya, Paredeniya, Sri Lanka
AF.M. Kamaluddin, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Geography, Jahangirnagar University
Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh
V.B.S. Kansakar, Ph.D., Centre for Economic Development ·and Administration Tribhuvan
University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal
S.L. Kayastha, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Geography, Banaras Hindu University,
Varanasi - 221005, India
Mohammed Aslam Khan. Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Geography, University
of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan
Leszek A Kosinski, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Geography, University of Alberta,
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2H4
AB. Mukerji, Ph.D., Professor and Head, Department of Geography, Punjab University,
Chandigarh - 160014, India
P. Puvanarajam, Senior Lecturer in Demography, Demographic Training and Research Unit,
University of Colombo, Colombo 3, Sri Lanka
C.B. Shrestha, C.B., Ph.D., Professor, Geography Instruction Committee, Kirtip·ur Multiple
Campus, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
Ronald Skeldon, Ph.D., Lecturer, Department of Geography and Geology, University of
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Sabiha Sultana, Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, Jahangirnagar University,
Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh
R.P. Yadava, Lecturer, Department of Geography, S.M. Postgraduate College, Chandausi -
202412, India
Preface
The mutual relationship between change in population distribution and its
determinants and consequences on one hand, and social and economic
development on the other, is becoming an increasingly important area of concern
for researchers, policy makers and planners alike. During tha last several years the
International Geographical Union Commission on Population Geography has
devoted much of its attention to this problem and organized a series of
international meetings focusing on population redistribution and its ramifications
in different parts of the world.
During one such meeting, held in 1980 in Karachi, Pakistan, some thirty
papers were submitted by participants coming mostly from five countries in South
Asia: Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The present volume is an
outcome of that symposium, but it should not be regarded merely as a report of
proceedings; these have been published separately by the Commission.
Furthermore, all Pakistani papers were published in their original version in a
separate volume edited by M.1. Siddiqi, who coordinated local arrangements for
the meeting on behalf of Karachi University.
This present volume offers only a selection of the original papers, all
substantially edited and thoroughly revised, and brings them together with
additionally solicited texts. All original figures have been redrawn and tables and
references have been updated and standardized as much as possible.
Inevitably, the editorial process has been delayed maintammg
communication and cooperation with dozens of mobile individuals moving
between three continents had its trying moments and in some cases proved
impossible, leading to the exclusion of some potentially valuable contributions.
The editors wish to acknowledge, with gratitude, the most valuable assistance
obtained from the United Nations Fund for Population Activities which sponsored
the original symposium and assisted with editorial costs and has thus indirectly
subsidized publication. We are grateful to the Department of Geography,
University of Alberta, for the indispensable help rendered during the editorial
stage - cartographic expertise was provided by Stephanie Kucharyshyn, Inge
