Social,
Environmental & Economic Sustainability
Our analysis of the rank of the district
Backwardness : Does not figure in list of 447 backward
districts
Sex Ratio Rank : 174
(Rank one is least sex ratio - Cenus 2001)
HIV Category District : C
(HIV Sentinel Surveillance 2004 - 2006)
Disability : 453 (Census 2001)
Literacy Ratio : 71 (Census 2001)
Minority : Does not figure in MCD
Challenges of the district : Our research
with local communities
People living below the poverty line is scrupulously
high
The percentage of literacy is very low. The road infrastructure
is very weak. The connectivity between villages is yet to develop.
The transportation facilities are not upgraded. There are very few
trains running in our district. Even the timings are erratic.
Women face lot of challenges in Nainital. Around 20% of children’s
eyesight is getting weak. This should be the concern of the government.
Health infrastructure is retarded. There is also high carbon emission
due to traffics and some industries. This is affecting the tourism
business.
Brief About Nainital District
Historical Background
Nainital is referred to in the ‘Manas Khand’ of the ‘Skanda Purana’
as the Tri-Rishi-Sarovar,the lake of the three sages ,Atri,Pulastya
and Pulaha who were reputed to have arrived here on a penitential
piligrimage, and, finding no water to quench their thirst dug
a hole and siphoned water into it from Mansarovar the sacred lake
in Tibet.
The Second important mythological reference to Nainital is as
one of 64 ‘Shakti Peeths’.These centres were created wherever
parts of charred body of Sati fell ,when Lord Shiva was carrying
around her corpse in grief .It is said that the left eye (Nain)
of Sati fell here and this gave rise to patron deity of town Nainital
. It is said that the lake is formed in the emerald eye shape
. Naina Devi temple is located at the northern end of the lake
. Thus name of Nainital derivated from Naina and the tal (Lake).
British Settlement
The british occupied Kumaon & Garhwal in 1815 .After the British
Occupation E. Gardiner was appointed as the commissioner of Kumaun
Division on May’8th 1815 .In 1817 the second commissioner of Kumaun
Mr. G.W. Traill has conducted the second revenue settlement of
Kumaun , Mr. Traill was the first European to visit Nainital but
he did not popularize his visit in respect for the religious sanctity
of the place.
In the year 1839 an English businessman from Rosa , Mr. P. Barron
a sugar trader and his friend an avid hunter strayed into the
hills while hunting they got lost and while finding there way
back chanced on the wondrous spot. So enamored was Barron with
the vision of the placid lake that he left the sugar business
and build a European Colony on shores of the lake .In 1841, Nainital
appeared in issue of the ‘Englishman Calcutta’ announcing the
discovery of a lake in the vicinity of Almora.
According to the earliest data available on tourist in Nainital
by 1847, it had become a popular hill resort. On 3rd October 1850,
the Nainital Municipal Board was formally constituted. It was
the second Municipal Board of North Western Provinces. To catalyse
the formation of a town the administration transferred land to
the wealthy Sah community of Almora, on condition that they build
houses on the land. In 1862, Nainital became the summer seat of
the North Western Provinces. After it was made the summer Capital,
a remarkable expansion of the town occurred with the growth of
magnificent bungalows all around and construction of facilities
such as marketing areas, rest houses, recreation centres ,clubs
etc together with the secretariat and other administrative units.
It also became an important centre of education for the British
who wanted to educate their children in the better air and away
from the discomforts of the plains.
Geography
In the Uttranchal, district of Nainital lies in the Kumaun division
. To it’s north is Almora district and to its south lies the Udham
Singh Nagar district. Champawat district flanks it in the east
and district of Pauri Gahwal is in the west. It is located approximately
in between 80º14’ and 78º80’ east longitude and 29º00’
and 29º05’ north latitude . On the northern side lies the
Himalayan ranges while on the southern side lies the plains making
the resultant climate of the district enjoyable one.
The total geographical area is 3422 Kms. Geographically the district
is divided in to 2 zones viz. Hilly and Bhabar.The hilly region
in outer Himalayas is known to geologist as Krol. The highest
peak of the district is Baudhansthali 2623 mts. high near Binayak
adjoining Nainital town.The hilly region of the district .The
hilly region of the district used to have big & small lakes.
Bhimtal ,Sattal, Naukuchiatal,Khurpatal, Nainital, Malwatal, Harishtal
, Lokhamtal etc. are known lakes of bigger size.
The foothill area of the district is known as Bhabhar. The name
Bhabhar is derived from a tall growing grass growing in the region
. The underground water level is very deep in this region .
Kosi is the main river of the district .River Kosi arising out
of Koshimool near Kausani flows on the western side of the district.
There are number of smaller rivulets like Gaula , Bhakra , Dabka
, Baur etc . Most of these have been dammed for irrigation purposes.
Nainital district has good received good rainfall in recent years
. As per 1999 records total average rainfall of district was 1338.08
MM while total average rainfall up to Aug. 2000 was 1602.69 MM.
