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Migration in Assam: Nature, Trend and Magnitude: Chapter Three
Migration in Assam: Nature, Trend and Magnitude: Chapter Three
CHAPTER THREE
Migration in Assam: Nature, Trend and Magnitude
3.1 Introduction:
The census estimate of 2001 shows the total population of Assam as 26.6
million (26,638,407). The density of population has gone from 286 per
experiencing the influx of population from time to time and from different
directions. Thus, migration is not a new phenomenon for Assam, but what is
new is its massive nature since the beginning of the 20th century.
The extent of migration and its impact on population growth and the socio
the last two, three decades. In this chapter, using materials from published
sources on the subject and analyzing available secondary data from the
census reports of India and other sources, an attempt has been made to (a)
(b) trace the causes of migration in Assam, (c) estimate the magnitude of
settled.
While the goals (a) and (b) are useful to get the study into a proper
perspective, (c) and (d) will be useful for assessing the economic
and half can be classified into five categories (Goswami, 1985). First,
labourers to work in the tea gardens of Assam coming from Bihar, Orissa,
and corning largely from the districts of East Bengal; Third, immigrants from
Nepal engaged in live-stock etc; Fourth, traders and artisans; and Fifth,
Bentinck to start tea industry in Assam in 1830. The industry soon grew up
covering Lakhimpur, Darrang, Kamrup and Cachar districts but at the cost
50
mostly as labourers. The basic reason for this influx was a thin population of
particular period of time and also the difficulty to work under the British
in the initial phase (Mann, 1934) they later on lost their contract due to
quarrels with local Indians. In the later period, the tea industry had to import
i
labourers to work in the tea gardens from those parts of India where the
(now Uttar Pradesh) etc. They migrated basically to earn their livelihood
prevalent in their place of origin. Thus, while the demand for labour to work
migration.
(a)Pre-lndependence Period
In the beginning of the 20 ,h century the British rulers, in order to run their
post office staff etc. w ho belonged m ostly to the Bengali Hindu com m unity.
The Assam ese population at tha t period had no proper training to run
adm inistration as w anted by the British rulers (W einer, 1978). This trend of
o f cheap and plentiful supply of virgin lands and the easy ryotw ari
settlem ent procedure in the Brahm aputra valley. The inflow o f M uslim
A ssam till 1891. The m ajor influx o f Bengali M uslim s begun after 1900 as
which increased from 1.4 per cent in 1881-1891, 2 per cent in 1891-1900 to
the East Bengal settlers had m oved to the Nowgong district and form ed 14
per cent o f their total population and also started to occupy the w aste lands
in Kamrup district.
The sam e trend continued through 1930-1940 and a second w ave occurred
in 1942 w hen the m igrants fled to Assam to get respite from the Bengal
r
52
along the southern bank of Brahmaputra valley etc. But Vaghaiwalla (1954)
stated that these benefits were derived at the cost of encroachment of not
only government reserves but also lands belonging to the local people.
(b)Post-lndependence Period
(control) Act and Migrants Act 1950, the flow of immigration continued.
to West Bengal, Assam, Tripura and various neighbouring stales and they
were rehabilitated under legal process. But another group of migrants (both
The exodus of Muslim farm labourers from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh)
residing in India to get the supply of cheap agricultural labourers and ease
the pressure of population on land in East Pakistan but also by the political
During the Bangladesh Liberation War (1971) both Hindu and Muslim
refugees came to Assam from erstwhile Pakistan and they were supposed
Infiltration continued as before and the new flow was not of refugees, but as
with a large population, great poverty and very limited natural resources.
According to the 1991 census, the density of population was 740 per sq.
km. Bangladesh is not only one of the poorest countries of the world in
terms of per capita income (PCI), but she suffers from substantial inequality
cultivated area of barely 22.5 million acres. Only about one-third of the
beginning of the 19th century. They came through Darjeeling district in West
and also through the Nepal bordering districts of Bihar. They occupied the
grazing buffaloes and cows in the riverine tracts they also settled in hill
hill slopes, which were not demanded by the indigenous Assamese people
or immigrants from East Bengal. Besides, they also settled down in the
outskirts of the towns and cities for selling milk and milk products and for
secret and illegal felling of trees from the forests. Moreover, their unplanned
clearing of the forest aggravated the problem of soil erosion in the hills and
Unlike the East Bengal settlers, the immigrants from Nepal were chiefly
55
males, the number of women being half the number of men. Up to 1890-
1900, the immigrants from Nepal consisted of retired military soldiers who
settled down in Assam and their number was inconsiderable. But from1901-
1910 onwards the actual influx from Nepal started and their number
The traders and artisans from Rajasthan, Punjab, Bihar and West Bengal
whole of import and export trade of Assam was in the hands of traders
coming from Rajasthan, who not only managed the wholesale but, to a
large extent, also the retail trade. Except a few from Kamrup district, the
{Weiner, 1973).
it
56
3.2.5 Vet another stream of migrants were the clerks and other
industrialists and officials, the farmers from Surama valley, the Christian
According to. Weiner (1973) the following factors were responsible for
migration in Assam:
(i)One major obstacle to start a tea industry in Assam was the lack of an
adequate labour supply. Diseases, civil conflict and the Burmese invasions
*
cultivators, there was little incentive to work as low income wage labourers
arable land. This prompted the British rulers to import labourers from the
Southern Bihar.
(ii) In the earlier stage in administrative work, the British sought to make
use of high ranking officials from the previous Ahom government, especially
57
in revenue administration and the judiciary. But these officials did not
readily fit into the Anglo-Mughal administrative structure created by the
British. They have never kept written records; even judicial proceedings
were conducted without recording the statements of witnesses,
complainants or dependants. Moreover, the new administrative offices and
titles, such as tahsildar or district revenue collector were adapted from
British governance in Bengal father than based on indigenous Ahom
administrative structures. In consequence, the British increasingly imported
trained Bengali officers to work in Assam.
(iii) East Bengal (Bangladesh), especially Mymensingh district, from which a
large proportion of the migrants came, was one of the most densely
populated rural areas of the world with few industries or towns
accompanied by increased fragmentation of land holdings, a growing
number of landless labourers and marginal agriculturalists. In 1961, the
density of population in East Bengal was 925 persons per square mile,
whereas it was 252 persons per square mile in Assam.
(iv) In contrast to East Bengal, Assam had in the past at least substantial
virgin lands, some in easily flooded low lands along the Brahmaputra Valley
that are similar to the deltaic areas of East Bengal. Assam also had
substantial forest reserves that can be exploited, often illegally, which lured
the land-hungry migrants.
58
(v) The movements of the migrants were facilitated by the contrasting land
tenure of the two regions. East Bengal(Bangladesh) had (until shortly after
small landowner cultivators (ryots) who paid revenue directly to the state
government.
that the Muslim League government which controlled the state allowed and
government lands, grazing and forest reserves and this came to a halt only
On the basis of the study covering the period 1901-1971, Goswami and
(i) Acute economic crisis in East Bengal (Bangladesh) and the warm
districts of Goalpara, Kamrup, Darrang and Nowgong were the main factors
(ii) The oppression of the Hindu zamindars and the landless status of the
(iii) Another cause was the incentive from Assam (both from the local govt,
and private land owners) to settle down in waste land. The farm labourers
instances, the presence of such cheap farm labour in the household also
enabled the landlord to increase his area of farm land and avoid the Land
Ceiling Act.
Bengal (Bangladesh) and they also had the inducement (o get rehabilitation
Assam.
On the basis of the study of Population trends in the Brahmaputra Valley for
demand for labour to work in the tea gardens of Assam generated “pull-
and lured by plentiful virgin and fertile lands together with free land-tenure
entered Assam.
was administratively merged with the Dacca division of Bengal with a view
to form a new Province called the “Province of Eastern Bengal and Assam"
of Assam Valley and those of East Bengal narrowed down. This also
Another factor cited by him was the great improvements in railway transport
between East Bengal (Bangladesh) and Assam which induced many people
to migrate.
61
The immigrants from Nepal came to get better means of livelihood and to
escape compulsory service in their native country.
Considering net migration as a cubic function of time it was found that
during 1881-1931 in-migrations to the Valley was induced by time and
economic factors like expansion of tea plantations and available cultivable
wastelands.
* Assam's economic potential, coupled with reluctance of the indigenous
people to do toilsome and hard work, and absence of capital and
entrepreneurship led to immigration into AssarrfTtTass, 1988). The high
density of population and pressure on land in East Bengal (Bangladesh)
intensified the trend and the partition of the country led to more immigration.
His study covered the period 1891-1981.
t
j
62
inequality holds:
(1 -q ) W M > W R
sector and Bangladesh as the rural sector. T h e y believed that the average
O n the basis o f 1991 census data w hich included a question on ‘reasons for
migration’, these writers found that in A ssa m m ost of the foreign migrants
Besides, on the basis of 1991 census data, they found that ‘employment’ is
to (i) availability of different industries viz. tea, oil, coal etc. (ii) availability of
Among the two major groups of immigrants the first category of migrants
were the Bengali immigrants, mostly Muslims, from the districts of East
land for cultivation. In second category were those who came from Madhya
the start of the- Second World W ar and they should have returned to their
parent states after their contract period was over. But most of them did not
go back. In fact, the tea-garden authorities helped them to stay behind and
in many cases land was given just outside the gardens (Bhuyan, 2002). He
also mentioned about the migrants who were traders mainly from Rajasthan
While developed regions are main destinations of migrants and account for
major shares of global migration flows, smaller flows take place within
India's north-east is one such area that has traditionally been an attractive
Analyzing the causes behind migration of people to Assam and other North-
66
The population growth rate of Assam and India for the period 1901-2001
67
has been presented in Table 3.1. During the fifty years from 1901-1951, the
percentage of increase in population for Assam was 144 and for India it was
was 232 while it iwas 184 for the whole country. For the past hundred years
Table 3.1
* )
increased from 1.38 per cent in 1901 to 2.59 per cent in 2001 showing an
increasing trend throughout the period. This shows the alarming growth rate
41.0 per cent. India’s growth of population was negative (- 0.3 per cent)
during 1911-1921 owing to the fact that 5 per cent of its population was
i wiped out by influenza (1918-1919) ; but for the same period Assam
percentage for India was 0.31 per cent and it was 1.73 per cent for Assam
during 1901-1921.
of increase in population for India and Assam was 44 per cent and 73.1 per
increased by 51.8 per cent and Assam by 82.1 per cent. Annual compound
growth percentage for India was 2.11 and for Assam it was 3.04 per cent.
Growth during 1971-2001: For the period 1971 to 2001, the increase in
population was 87.4 per cent for India and 82.2 per cent for Assam. Annual
compound growth percentage for India was 2.12 and for Assam it was 2.02
per cent during this period.
The high growth rate of population in Assam may be the result of two
possible factors:
(a) Large scale immigration to the state.
(b) Possible higher natural growth rate of population in the state than in
the country as a whole especially up to 1971.
migration to Assam.
Natural growth rate (difference between birth rate and death rate) is
regarded as one of the factors behind population growth. The birth and
70
death statistics of our country are not greatly reliable, because a large
compelled to use them in the absence of more reliable estimate. Under the
assumption that the figures of. Assam and India suffers from more or less
same degree and nature of errors, a comparison between the Assam and
Assam and India for the period 1951-2001 is presented in the following
table.
Table 3.2
Decade-wise Birth and Death Rates for Assam and India per
thousand Populations (1951-2001)
Decade Birth Rate Death Rate Natural growth rate
(p e r1000) (Per 000) (per 1 000)
Assam . India Assam India Assam India
l II III IV V VI VII
1951-61 49.0 41.7 26.9 22.8 22.1 18.9
1961-71 44.1 41.2 19.6 19.0 24.5 22.2
1971-81 *33.1 36.0 14.9 ttb— 18.2 21.2
1981-91 33.2 30.4 13.5 10.2 197 20.2
91-2001 27.0 26.1 9.7 ' 8.7 17.3 17.4
Table 3.2 shows that Assam’s natural growth rate of population was higher
than India from 1951 to 1971. In the later period there was a reverse trend.
But the fall in the natural growth rate was due to the higher death rate of
Assam compared to India and not as a result of decline in birth rate. The
natural growth rate of Assam is also more than that of the neighbouring
T ab le 3.3
Birth and Death rates for the North-Eastern states per thousand
populations in 1999
State Birth Rate Death Rate Natural Growth
(per 1000) (per 1000) Rate
I II ill IV
Assam 27.0 9.7 17.3
Arunachal 22.3 6.0 16.3
Manipur 18.6 5.4 13.1
Meghalaya 28.6 9.1 19.5
Mizoram 17.0 5.5 11.5
Nagaland Urban: 11.8 Urban: 2.3 Urban: 9.5
Tripura . 17.0 5.7 11.3
Source: Sample Registration System Dalta 1999, RGJ.
The continuous higher birth rate of Assam than India throughout the period
From Table (3.2 and 3.3) it becomes evident that the mortality rate of
Assam is higher than India during the period 1951-2001 and it is also higher
72
than the other north eastern states. Therefore, for natural growth rate to be
factors determining fertility rate. The major social and economic factors
* Economic status
M ean age at marriage: According to Ridley and Sheps (1966), age at,
building pattern. Thus due to its combined effect through several routes,
in India, there is a lot of variation in the age at marriage among the states
especially between the northern and southern states, and within stales
among castes, communities and across other social stratifications (Das and
Dey, 1998).
The singulate mean age at marriage (SMAM) for females in India (1991)
shows that it was higher than 20 years in Kerala, Assam, Punjab, Orissa,
< Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana (Table 3.4). During
73
1998-99 the SM AM was higher than 20 years in Gujarat and Jam m u and
W hen one examines the proportion of females who are married before age
becomes evident that the states like Haryana, Orissa, Assam, W est Bengal,
Table 3.4
Singulate Mean Age at Marriage for Female by States in India,
1961-1991 and 1998-1999
State /Region SMAM NFHS-2
1961 1971 1981 1991 (1998-99)
North
Haryana NA 17.7 17.9 20.3 19.8
Himachal Pradesh 15.6 17.8 19.1 20.3 22.1
Jammu and Kashmir 16.1 17.8 19.7 N.A. 22.5
Punjab 17.5 20.1 21.1 21.0 22.1
Rajasthan 14.2 15.1 16.1 17.5 18.3
Centra!
Madhya Pradesh 13.9 15.0 16.6 17.8 18.9
Uttar Pradesh 14.5 15.5 16.7 18.1 19.0
East
Assam 18.6 18.7 N.A. 21.1 21.7
Bihar 14.3 15.3 16.6 17.6 18.8
Orissa 16.4 17.3 19.1 20.2 21.2
West Bengal 15.9 18.0 193 19.7 19.6
West
Gujarat 17.1 18.5 19.6 19.9 20.2
Maharashtra 15.8 17.6 18.8 19.7 19.8
South
Andhra Pradesh 15.2 16.3 1-7r3— - 18 3 18.3
Karnataka 16.4 17.9 19.3 20.1 20.1
Kerala 20 2 21.3 22.1 22.3 21.5
Tamilnadu 18.4 19.6 ' 20 3 20.9 20.9
?
74
the age at which nuptiality start or provide clues as to how the nuptiality
schedules proceed. Coale’s (1971) nuptiality parameters ‘a0’ and ‘k’ are
their relation with fertility (Das and Dey, 1998). Here 'a0' refers to the age at
and ’k’ refers the speed at which marriage takes place. Table 3.5 presents
It can be observed from Table 3.5 that in 1971 the starting age at marriage
was very low in all the Indian states, with the exception of Kerala (15.9),
age at marriage. The table also reveals the value of *k’ for all the major
states on the given parameters a0 and k in 1991 the states have been
Table 3.6.
75
Table 3.5
T a b le 3.6
C o a le ’s N uptiality P a ra m e te rs
Timing of marriage (a,, Pace of mam'age (k value)
value) Relatively low marriage Relatively better
i spread marriage spread
k<0.5 k>0.5
Relatively high age at start Haryana, Rajasthan, M.P. Bihar, West Bengal,
of marriage U.P, Andhra Pradesh Karnataka, Tamilnadu
Relatively high age at start Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Kerala, Assam
of marriage ao>15 years Orissa, Gujarat, Maharashtra
Source: Das and Day, (1999)
Lite ra cy rate: Empirical findings in the studies by NSS (1967) for both
rural and urban sampled areas, UN (1961) for Bangalore city. Driver’s
(1963) survey of Nagpur and some other studies depict the negative
families.
literacy rate of Assam with some of the major states of India Table 3.7 has
Table 3.7
Note: In 1991 and 2001, the literacy rate included the children above 7
years whereas in the earlier censuses literacy rate included the
children above 5 years.
Source: Census of India 1991 and Primary Abstract, Census of India, 2001.
78
Table 3.7 reveals that in the case of female literacy rate Assam's rank is not
discouraging. Female literacy rate of Assam is higher than that of India for
the period 1961-2001. — '—
Moreover, from 1951 the literacy rate of Assam (for both male and female)
shows an upward trend, which is evident from Table 3.8.
Table 3.8
Literacy rate of Assam and India for the period 1951-2001
Assam India
Year Total Male Female Total Male Female
I II III IV V VI VII
1951 18.53 28.01 7.58 18.3 27.2 8.9
1961 32.95 44.28 18.62 28.3 40.4 15.3
1971 33.94 43.72 22.76 34.5 46.0 22.0
1981 N.A. N.A. N.A. 43.4 56.4 29.8
1991 52.89 61.87 43.03 52.1 63.9 39.4
2001 64.28 71.93 56.03 65.4 75.9 54.2
ft
rates. The direct relationship between infant mortality rates and birth rates
has been established in many studies reviewed by Mandelbaum (1974).
Lower infant mortality ensures couples higher probabilities for the survival
of their children to maturity and this motivate them to have a target number
r
79
presented.
Table 3.9
Estimated Infant Mortality Rate of Assam and India (per
thousand live births)
Year Assam j India
1 II I III
1976 124 129
1977 115 130
1978 118 127
1979 104 120
1980 103 114
1981 106 110
1982 101 105
'1983 94 105
1984 99 104
-1985 111 97
1986 109 95
1987 102 95
1988 99 94
1989 91 91
1990 76 80
1991 81 80
1992 76 79
■ 1993 81 74
1994 78 74
1995 77 74
1996 75 72
1997 76 71
1998 \ 76 72
1999 76
70
2001 76 70
Infant mortality rate of Assam was less than India during the period 1976-
1984. From 1985 to 1988 Assam’s rate was more than that of India.
Although in the subsequent period from 1989 to 2001, the table shows
variations in the gap between the Infant Mortality Rate of Assam and India
but it has been depicting a downward trend. Hence, we can at least assume
Apart from these major determinants of fertility there are also some other
which have been found to influence fertility rate. Many empirical studies
behaviour in India, even with a partial list of variables, have often viewed
that the problem of multicoilinearity is quite serious and renders the task
factors.
From the analysis made so far it appears that there can be no traceable
reason for Assapi having higher fertility rate than the rest of India. In
81
other words, there is no clear and strong evidence to believe that the
fertility rate of population in Assam is higher than that of India and also of
the neighbouring states. Hence it is not the only factor resulting rapid
deals w ith in-m igration (i.e. m igrants from the rest o f India) and 3.4.5
o f population had been collected m ainly on birth returns only, hence our
1961, 1971 and 1991. Census could not be held in Assam in 1981.
82
T ab le 3 .1 0
Table 3.11
Distribution of life-time In-Migrants in Assam, 1971
Place of Birth In-Migrants
Total Male Female
I II III IV
Andhra Pradesh 7,330(1.4) 4,515 2,815
Bihar 2,43,915(45.6) 1,81,807 6,21,08
Gujarat 650(0.1) 350 300
Haryana 3,780 (0.7) 2,565 1,215
Himachal Pradesh 495 (0.1) 350 145
Jammu& Kashmir 560 (0.1) 435 125
Kerala 4,620 (0.9) 3,590 1,030
Madhya Pradesh 13,965 (2.6) 8,045 3,920
Maharashtra 1,525 (0.3) 995 530............
Manipur 5,905(1.1) 3,375 2,530
Meghalaya 26,513(4.95) 13,727 12,786
Mysore 750 (0.1) 495 255
Nagaland - 4,670 (0.9) 2,635 2,035
Orissa 30,310 (5.7) 18,460 11,850
Punjab 8,785(1.6) 5,715 3,070
Rajasthan 28,727 (5.4) 20,801 7,926
Sikkim 50 (0.01) 35 15
Tamilnadu ' 3,070 (0.6) 2,005 1,065 '
Tripura 17,340 (3.2) 10,970 6,370
Uttar Pradesh 64,323(12.0) 48,161 16,162
West Bengal 65,671 (12.3) 34,450 31,221
Andaman & Nicobar 5(0.001) 5 0
Arunachal Pradesh 1,430 (0.3) 925 505
Chandigarh 20 (6.004) 5 15
Dadra & Nagar Haveli 5(0.001) 5 0
Delhi 985 (0.2) 655 330
Goa, Daman & Diu 30 (0.006) 25 5
Pondicherry 5(0.001) 0 5
Total 5,35,434 (100) 3,65,096 1,70,338
I
84
T ab le 3.1 2
Of these inter-state migrants in 1961, the largest proportion was from Bihar
(52.6 per cent) followed by West Bengal (11.2 per cent), Orissa (10.4 per
cent) and Uttar Pradesh (8.3 per cent). These latter three states together
contributed 29.9 per cent to total in-migrants. In 1971, there was a decline
in the proportion of migrants from Bihar (45.6 per cent) compared to 1961.
were occupied respectively by West Bengal (12.3 per cent), Uttar Pradesh
(12.0 per cent) and Orissa (5.7 per cent) and together they comprised of
30.0 per cent. In 1991 also, Bihar (36.3 per cent) occupied the first position,
cent), Uttar Pradesh (10.2 per cent) and Tripura (6 9 per cent). These latter
three states together comprised 34.7 per cent of the total inter-state
migrants. Here mention may be made of the faciihaLfrom 1961 to 1991 the
Moreover, there was also an increase in the proportion of people who came
from Rajasthan (4.5 percent in 1961 became 5.5 per cent in 1991).
Regarding sex composition of the migrants, it has been noticed that in all
the above mentioned censuses the male outnumbered the female in most
of the states. However, in 1991 the female migrants were more than the
On the basis of the above In-Migration Tables and total in-migrants of 1951
86
as available from census data, Table 3.13 has been constructed below.
Table 3.13
Trend of In-Migrants in Assam during 1951-1991
Decade Total In-Migrants Decadal Percentage
Chanqe of In-Miqrants
1 II III
1941-1951 4,47.416 (5.6) —
From our study during the period 1951-1991 the total in-migrants to Assam
has been found to be 15, 61,941. For the same period another, study to
estimate migration in Assam by Saikia et al (2003) found the total in-
migrants as 15, 10,066. Although both the estimates are based on place of
birth statistics the difference in figures occurred as the lattef study have
adjusted the migration figures to the present boundary of Assam. However,
both the study depicted large-scale iriter-state migrants from 1951 to 1971
which continued throughout 1971-91 but with a declining trend.
As far as migrants from other stales are concerned, it can be expected that
they have reported their place of birth correctly, because every citizen of
India has the right to move anywhere within the country. Moreover, as
87
states o f India from which it can be checked how m any people have m oved
from one state to another w ithin India. Therefore, it appears that the total in
period were the people w ho cam e from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh)
and Nepal and so our study w ill be confined to these two stream s only. In
the M igration tables from 1951 to 1971 no distinction was m ade between
East Pakistan and W est Pakistan and from 1991 census w e get m igration
Tables 3.14 3.15, 3.16 and 3.17 show the distribution o f im m igrants to
Assam in 1951, 1961, 1971 and 1991 respectively. In 1951 and 1961
census,’ w e get com bined figures for the two hill "districts namely. United
M ikir and N.C. Hills; in 1971 and 1991 separate figures w ere available for
both the districts. H owever in 1991 United M ikir has been renam ed as Karbi
im m igrants to Assam will vary w ith the district total because A ssam ’s figure
88
Hills, Mizo Hills, Khasi & Jaintia Hills etc. which were part of Assam prior to
1970s.
Table 3.14
District-wise Immigrants to Assam in 1951
District Immigrants Percentage of
total
Pakistan Nepal | Total population
........ . ....i__
1 II HI IV V
Cachar T1,29,573 410 1,29,983 11.65
M 70,053 302
F 59,520 108
Goalpara T1,35,626 3873 1,39,499 12.59
M 77,722 2704
F 57904 1169
Kamrup T 1,86,776 6,464 1,93,240 12.97
M1,06,384 4,007
<
F 80,392 2,457
Darrang T 84,277 10,427 ■9T7T04' 10.25
M 44,377 5,623
F 39,900 4,804
Nowgong T1,72,704 2,118 1,74,822 19.70
M 97,815 1,334
F 74,889 784
Sibsagar T 26,481 3,423 29,904 2.47
M 15,304 2,079
F 11,177 1,344
Lakhimpur T 60,976 12,808 73,784 6.55
M 33,928 8,299
F 27,048 4,509
U.Mikir & N.C. T 3,322 T 323 3.645 1.15
Hills M 1,723 M 179
F1.599 F 144
ASSAM T 8,33.288 56,572 8,89,860 11.08
, M 4,65,436 36,350
F 3,67,852 20,222
Table 3.15
District-wise immigrants to Assam in 1961
District im m igrants P e rce n ta g e of
total
N epal Total population
Pakistan
I II III IV V
G oalp ara T 1 ,4 5,9 50 3,6 0 2 1,49,55 2 9 .69
M 7 9 ,72 6 2,1 7 6
F 66,224 1,426
K am rup T 1 ,3 6 ,3 7 7 8,042 1,44,419 7 .0
M 77 ,06 0 5,451
F 59,317 2,591
D arrang T 88,42 4 19,019 1,07,443 8 .3 3
M 51,310 11,137
F 37,114 7 ,8 8 2
N o w g on g T 1 ,3 6,6 25 3,329 _ _ X 3 9 ,9 5 4 11.56
M 7 7 ,77 0 1,695
. F 58,855 1,634
S ib sa g a r T 2 0 ,68 4 5,562 26 ,24 6 1.74
M 13,360 3,750
F 7,3 2 4 812
La khim pu r T 65 ,68 5 2 4 ,6 6 2 90,347 5 .7 8
M 41,00 8 15,810
F 24,67 7 8,852
Cachar T 1 ,3 4 ,1 5 9 464 1,34,623 9 .7 7
M 7 0 ,1 2 8 313
F 64,031 151
U .M ikir & T 12,846 4,7 2 9 17,575 6 .2 8
N .C .H ills M 7,727 3,499
F 5,1 1 9 1,230
ASSAM T 7 ,7 4 ,8 6 9 82,62 4 8,57,493 7.91
M 4 ,3 8 ,1 9 9 53,189
F 3,36,67 0 29 ,43 5
Table 3.16
District-wise Immigrants to Assam in 1971
District Immigrants / Percentage of
total
Pakistan Nepal Total population
I II II! IV V
Goalpara T1.78.761 3,750 1,82,511 8.2
M 95,741 2.380
F83.020 1,370
Kamrup T1,67,500 11,025 1,78,525 6.25
M 92,096 6,555
F 75,404 4,470
Darrang T 96,963 14,685 1,11,648 6.43
M 54,753 7,565
F 42,210 7,120
Nowgong T1,76,294 3,855 1,80,149 10.72
M 91,339 1,930
F 84,955 1,925
Sibsagar T 29.882 6.635 36.517 1.99
M 18,286 5,005
F 11,596 1,630
Lakhimpur T 88,388 26,776 1,15,164 5.43
M 46,568 16,450
F 41,820 10,326
Cachar T 1,45,361 1,315 1,46,676 , 8.56
M 75,367 1,095
F 69,994 220
U.Mikir T 10,733 6,465 17,198 4.53
M 5,169 2,025
F 5,564 4,440
N.C.Hiils T 2,941 1,360 4,301 5.66
M 1,805 855
F 1,136 505
ASSAM T 9,03,429 78,268 9,81,697 6.7
M 4.84,850 46,037
F 4,18,579 32,231
Table 3.17
District-wise Immigrants to Assam in 1991
District Immig rants Percentage
Bangladesh Nepal Pakistan Total of total
population
I II III IV V VI
Goalpara T 56,522 T 820 T 2,400 59,742 1.66
M 30,831 M 540 M 1,360
F 25,691 F 280 F 1,040
Kamrup T 49,152 T 47,80 T 2,100 56,032 1.27
M 26,242 M 30,00 M 1,140
F 22,910 F 17,80 F 960
Darrang T 32,727 T 2,800 T 1,640 37,167 1.36
M 18,292 M 1,510 M 900
F 14,435 F 1,290 F 740
Nowqonq T 49,411 T 840 T 4.420 . 54,671 2.16
M 27,327 M 550 M 2.360
F 22,084 F 290 F 2,060
Sibsagar T 4,382 T 1,663 T 210 6,255 0.24
M 2,522 M 1,093 M 150
F 1,860 F 570 F 60
Lakhimpur T 20,760 T 6,700 T 2,240 29,700 0.92
M 11,900 M 3,900 M 1,300
F 8,860 F 2„800 F 940
Cachar T £8,665 T 280 T 1„090 70,035 2.81
M 35,291 M 200 M 700
F 33,374 F 80 F 390
KAnglong T 5,800 T 3,360 T 960 10.120 1.53
M 3,280 M 2,100 M 430
F 2,520 F 1,260 F 530
N.C.Hills T 690 T 1,190 T 50 1,930 1.28
M 410 M 900 M 30
' F 280 F 290 F 20
ASSAM T 2,88,109 T 22,433 T 15,110 3,25,652 1.45
M 1,56,095 M 13,793 M 8,370
F 1,32,014 F 8,640 F 6,740
Source: Basic data has been taken from Census of India 1991,
Assam, Migration Table.
r
92
T ab le 3.1 8
During 21,64,842
(1951-1991)
statistics during 195 1-91 th e total im m igrants (from all foreign countries)
cen sus place o f birth d a ta th ey also ado pted the survival m ethod o f
93
estim ating migration and found the total im m igrants'to A ssam during the
more accurate than the other indirect method of estim ating migration,
namely, the vital statistics method. Because in the survival m ethod the
total population is split into different age groups and their corresponding
survival ratios are used instead o f the single births and deaths figure for
applying A ssam ’s natural growth rate to the m igrant population they have
when the cum ulative im pact o f both m igrants and their offspring are
reveals the fact that w hatever might be the m ethod of estim ation (direct
would disclose their actual birth place, we can at least assum e that the
total im m igrants (from East Pakistan/ B ang ladesfrand Nepal) will not be
94
less than what we have found (I.e. 21, 64,842) during the period 1951-
1991.
period our next objective is to locate the areas of concentration. For this
purpose Table 3.19 has been constructed on the basis of Table 3.14,
Table 3.19
District-wise concentration of Immigrants in different decades (in
descending order)
1941-1951 1951-1961 1961-1971 1971-1991
Kamrup Goalpara Goalpara Cachar
Nowgong Kamrup Nowgong Goalpara
Goalpara Nowgong Kamrup Kamrup
Cachar Cachar Cachar Nowgong
Darrang Darrang Lakhimpur Darrang
Lakbimpur Lakhimpur Darrang Lakhimpur
f
Sibsagar Sibsagar Sibsagar K. Anglong
U. Mikir & N.C. U. Mikir & N.C. Sibsagar
Hills Hills
N.C.Hills
95
From the above table it becomes difficult to determine the districts with
concentration of immigrants for the entire peiiod from 1951 to 1991. For
this purpose another table (Table 3.20) has been constructed showing
of 1951 and 1991 has also been shown in the table below.
Table 3.20
Total Immigrants across districts in Assam during 1951-91
District Total Percentage Rank Percentage Rank
Immigration of 1951 of 1991
1951-1991 Population Population
1 II III IV V VI
Goalpara 3,91,805 35.36 2 10 86 3
Kamrup 3,78,976 25.43 6 8.61 5
Darrang 2,56,258 27.75 5 9.41 4
Nowgong 3,74,104 42.18 1 14.77 1
Cachar 3,51,334 31.49 3 14.10 2
Sibsagar 69,018 5.69 8 2.65 9
Lakhimpur 2,35,211 20.88 7 7.27 6
K.Anglong 44,893 *30.90 4 6.77 7
N.C.Hills . 6,231 4.13 8
ASSAM 21,64,842 26.96 9.68
Note: (i) Since the total immigration figure for Assam includes the
immigration to some of the districts like Garo Hills, Mizo Hills, Khasi
& Jaintia Hills etc. which were part of Assam prior to 1970's the
district total will not be equal to the total figure of the state.
(ii) * Combined figure for both the hill districts.
96
Kamrup.
period with the growth rate of Assam so that we can have some idea
about the location ,of these immigrants m various districts of Assam. For
In Table 3.21 variation of population growth rate for the eight undivided
districts (as in the early 1970s) have been shown for 1951-61 and 1961-
71 whereas in Table 3.22 the same has been shown for the present
Moreover, both the tables depicted the difference between the population
Table 3.21
Note: (i) Column No. Ill and V are computed on the basis of the
census data.
(iii) U.M. implies United Mikir and N.C. implies North Cachar
Hills.
Source: Census Reports of India 1951,1961 and 1971.
98
Table 3.22
Variation of Population Growth Rate of the divided districts in
Assam during 1971-1991 and 1991-2001
District Population 1 Difference Population Difference
Growth Rate with Assam’s Growth Rate with Assam’s
(1971-1991) Population (1991-2001) Population
Growth Rate Growth Rate
1 II III IV V
Kokrajhar 76.75 23.49 15.05 -3.8
Dhubri 56.47 3.21 23.42 4.57
Goalpara 54.12 0.86 23.07 "4.22
Bongaiqaon 64.64 11.38 12.23 -6.62
Barpeta 43.02 -10.24 18.53 -0.32
Kamrup 65.72 12.46 25.75 6.9 ,
Nalbari £9.27 -3.99'' 11.98 -6.87
Darrang 55.63 2.37 15.79 -3.06
Morigaon 50.90 -2.36 21.29 2.44
Nagaon 51.26 -2.0 22.30 3.45
Sonitpur 57.14 3.88 17.80 -1.05
Lakhimpur 56.29 3.03 18.34 -0.51
Dhemaji 107.50 54.24 18.93 0.08
Tinsukia 47.03 -6.23 19.52 0.67
Dibrugarh 37.78 -15.48 12.43 -6.42
Sibsaqar 38.76 -14.50 15.95 -2.90
Jorhat 33.10 -20.16 15.84 -3.01
Golaghat 58.12 4.86 14.21 -4.64
Karbi-Anglong - 74.72 21.46 22.57 3.72
N.C.Hills 98.30 45.04 23.47 4.62
Cachar 47.59 -5.67 18.66 -0.19
Karimganj 42.08 -11.18 21.35 2.50
Hailakandi 45.94 -7.32 20.92 2.07
ASSAM 53.26 18.85
Note: Column No. Ill and V are computed on the basis of the
census data.
On the basis of the data provided by the above tables, the districts
Table 3.23
Districts with more than overall growth rate of population
in Assam in different decades (in descending order)
1951 1961 1961-1971 1971-1991 1991-2001 ...
U.Mikir& U. Miktr & Dhemaji Kamrup
N.C.Hills N.C.Hills
Darrang Goalpara N.C.Hills N.C.Hills
Goalpara Nowgong Kokrajhar Dhubri
Lakhimpur Kamrup K. Anglong Goalpara
Kamrup Lakhimpur Kamrup K. Anglong
Nowgong ‘ Bongaigaon Nagaon
Golaghat Karimganj
Sonitpur Morigaon
Dhubri Hailakandi
Lakhimpur Tinsukia
Darrang Dhemaji
Goalpara
/
100
Some observations from Table 3.19, 3.21, 3.22 and 3.23 are given below:
• A comparison of Table 3.19 and 3.23 reveals the fact that there exist
immigrants on the basis of place of birth statistics and the districts having
higher population growth rate than that of Assam. For example, United Mikir
and N.C.Hills district and Lakhimpur district has depicted more than the
state level growth rate of population even though they have less
Because according to Bogue (1969) there are two ways in which population
and deaths) and through net migration . But identification of the areas of
growth rate during 1971-91 (107.50) but it dropped to 18.93 during 1991-
2001 .
101
25.75 per cent which was much less than the lowest growth rate of
during 1971-91.
The above fact raises two issues— (i) the authenticity of the census'data, (li)
migrants in Assam:
The population of a district is the aggregate of persons born (i) within the
district, (ii) outside the district but within the state (inter-district migrants),
(iii) outside the state but within the country (inter-state migrants) and (iv)
To locale the areas of the state where immigrants are concentiated and to
find out the reasons behind the high growth rate of population in some
102
districts an attempt has been made in the following tables to show the
percentage of-inter-district, inter-state migrants and immigrants to the total
population of the districts. Our study could not include 1991-2001 data as
the migration table for 2001 was not released by the census authority.
Table 3.24
1961
)
103
Table 3.25 .
Percentage distribution of migrants across districts in Assam in
1971
District Population P ercen tag e of total population of th e district
1 II III IV V
r
G oalpara 2 2 ,2 5 1 0 3 2.01 3 .18 8 .2
Kam rup 2 8 ,5 4 1 8 3 2 .9 2 2 .7 2 6 .2 5
Darrang 1 7 ,3 6 1 8 8 5 .5 7 5 .13 6 .4 3
Nowgong 1 6 ,8 0 8 9 5 3 .3 3 2 56 10.72
Sibsagar 1 8 ,3 7 3 8 9 2 .5 7 3 .6 7 1.99
C ach ar 1 7 ,1 3 3 1 8 0 .5 2 1.42 8 .5 6
United Mikir 3 ,7 9 3 1 0 11 38 5 .4 8 4 53
N.C.Hiils 7 ,6 0 4 7 9 .0 9 3.71 5 .6 6
From Table 3.24 and 3.25 it becomes evident that during the decade 1951-
1961 and 1961-1971, the higher growth rate of population of United Mikir
and N.C.Hiils (as shown in Table 3.23) was the result of high rale of inter-
growth rate of Lakhimpur district was mainly due to in-migrants and inter
district migrants.
104
Table 3 .2 6
1991
District Population Percentage of total population of the district
Inter-district Inter-state Immigrants
\
1 II III IV V
Dhubri 13,32,475 2.96 1.8 1.04
Kokrajhar 8,00,659 6.5 2.5 1.5
Bongaigaon 8,07,523 10.8 2.7 2.7
Goalpara 6,68,138 6.2 1.3 1.8
Barpeta 13,85,659 3.2 0.6 1.5
Nalbari 10,16,390 7.3 1.01 0.9
Karnmp 20,00,071 10.5 4.7 1.3
Darrang 12,98,860 5.8 2.0 1.5
Sonitpur 14,24,287 7.2 29 1.2
Lakhimpur 7,51,517 6.2 1.5 0.7
Dhemaji. 4,78,830 20.4 2.2 1.4
Morigaon 6,39,682 6.01 0.9 2.5
Nagaon 18,93,171 3.7 1.6 0.3
Golaghat 8,28,096 8.7 2.2 0.3
Jorhat 8,71,206 5.3 2.1 0.23
Sibsagar . 9,07,983 4.5 1.9 0.19
Dibrugarh 10,42,457 6.8 3.9 ' 0.6
Tinsukia 9,62,298 7.9 5.5 1.2
Karbl-Anglong , 6,62,723 9.5 47 1.5
N.C.Hills 1,50,801 14.8 4.04 1.3
Karimganj 8,27,063 2.9 1.8 3.5
Hailakandi 4,49,048 j 4.5 1.4 1.4
Cachar 12,15,385 ! 3.4 1.6 2.9
Note: Percentages are computed from census figures of 1991.
Table 3.26 exhibits that the high rate of inter-district migrants was the
Table 3.27
On the basis of the tables 3.24, 3 25 and 3.27 respectively the districts
Table 3.28
Table 3.19 and 3.28 indicate that during 1951-1971 immigrants mainly
Kamrup. Table 3.19 has shown that during 1971-1991 also the areas of
concentration were the same districts but Table 3.28 revealed that in
From the analysis made in section 3.5.1 and 3.5.3 it becomes evident
Assam has been found to be more than that of India not only in the
2. During 1951-2001 the birth rate and death rate of Assam has been
found to be higher than that of India. For the period 1971-1991 and
1991-2001, the lower natural growth rate of Assam than the country
as a whole was not the result of a fall in its birth rate. However,
and during 1971-91 it was 5, 36,579. They comprised 4.5 per cent,
3.7 per cent and 2.4 per cent of the total population of Assam
T ripura.
total population of Assam was respectively 7.9 per. cent, 6.7 per cent
f
Note: 1. Pakyntein, E. (1961). Superintendent of Census operations.
Assam, 1961.
Assam, 1971.
References:
Bandyopadhyay.S. (1999), "Migration in the North-Eastern Region of India
& Chakraborty, D. during 1901-1991: Size, trends, reasons and impact"
Demography India, Vol. 28. No1.
Barpujari, H.K. (1998), North East India - Problems, Policies and
Prospects Spectrum Publications, Guwahati,
Assam.
Bose, Ashish (2001), India's Billion plus People (2001 Census Highlights,
Methodology and Media Coverage) B.R. Publishing
Corporation, Delhi.
Das.N.P and Dey, D.(1998), "Female age at Marriage in India: Trends and
determinants", Demography India.
Mann, Harold.H (1934), "The Early History of the Tea Industry in N.E.india”,
The Assam Review.
Weiner, Myron (1978), “Migration and Ethnic Conflict in India", Sons of the
Soil, Princeton University Press,