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 : 317 (Rank one is least sex ratio - Cenus 2001)
HIV Category District : C (HIV Sentinel Surveillance 2004 - 2006)
Disability : 139 (Census 2001)
Literacy Ratio : 230 (Census 2001)
Minority : Yes
Challenges of the district : Our research with local communities
The infrastructure for the economic development
is weak.
Frequent floods is the main issue that is dampening the development
of our district
Agriculture is the only source of livelihood. Due to floods the
cultivation is hampered. We are not able to get high yielding crops.
Silting of river beds due to deforestation
People should be made aware about the ill effects of deforestation
to curb felling of trees.
Government should generate sustainable development for the people
in Cachar.
Brief About Cachar District
The District of Cachar which is located in the southernmost
part of Assam is one of the oldest districts of Assam. It is bounded
on the north by Barail and Jayantia Hill ranges, on the south
by the state of Mizoram, on the east by Manipur and on the west
by sister districts of Karimganj and Hailakandi and Bangladesh.
The district was created in 1830 after annexation of Kachari kingdom
by the British. In 1854, North Kachar was annexed and tagged to
the district. In 1951 erstwhile North Cachar Sub-Division was
made a separate district and taken out of Cachar.In 1983 erstwhile
Karimganj Sub-Division and in 1989, Hailakandi Sub-Division was
made a separate District.
Origin of the name
There are two possibilities regarding the origin of
the name. They are:
1. The Kacharis gave this name Cachar when they ruled this land.
2. The word 'Kachar' in Sylhette(Bengali of Sylhet) means a stretch
of land at the foot of a mountain.Hence the name Cachar might
have been given by Bengalies of Sylhet as the land is surrounded
by mountains.
In December ,1706, the Kachari King Tamradhaja ,whose capital
was at Maibong on the bank of the Mahur River,was invaded by the
most powerful Ahom king Rudra Singha.Being defeated by the Ahom
King ,Tamradhaja fled southwards to Khaspur.From this time onwards
the Kachari princes seemed to have settled in the plains of Cachar,
their court being located at Khaspur. The Kachari King Suradarpa
Narayan set himself to recognise the people and improve the capital
Brick buit palaces and temples were constructed in different parts
of Khaspur.It is said that the demoness Hirimba,whom the second
Pandava Bhima married ,resided in this place .Hence the kingdom
was named Hirimba kingdom in memory of the demoness.
The first connection of British with the District dates from
1762, when Mr. Verelst marched from Chittogong to assist the Manipuri
king Jay Singha who had been driven from his throne by the Burmese
and halted with his army at Jatrapur near the present Silchar
town.The army remained there for about a year, but due to death
and disease among the army ,Mr Verelst could not proceed further
and was ultimately recalled.
The next historical event of importance was the formal conversion
of Kachari King Krishna Chandra to Hinduism in 1770.
A few years later,the last prince Gobinda Chandra was driven
from throne by Marjit Singha of Manipur with the help of the Burmese.Afterwards
the Burmese drove Marjit Singha from this place to Surma Valley.
But the British Govt. which was in possession of Sylhet expelled
the Burmese and handed back the district to Gobinda Chandra.In
return he was requiblack to pay an annual tribute of Rs. 10,000.The
king then shifted his abode to Haritikar,but in 1830 he was assisinated
by batch of Manipuri murderers.In the absence of a natural heir,this
territory lapsed to the British Govt. under the term of a treaty
executed in 1826.This district was formally annexed by the pro-clamation
of August 14,1832.
The last of the Kachari Kings, Raja Gobin Chandra was assassinated
by a group of seditious persons with the help of some of his personal
attendants on April 24, 1830, at Haritikar. In absence of natural
heirs, his territory lapsed to the British under the terms of
an agreement executed in 1826. Mr. T. Fisher, an army officer
was sent to take charge of the territory with the power of a Collector
and Magistrate and he took over charge on June 30, 1830, with
headquarters at Cherrapunji. In 1833, the headquarters were shifted
to Dudpatil and then to Silchar. Plain portion of Cachar was formally
annexed to the British dominion on August 14, 1832 by a proclamation
of the Governor General-in-Council. Mr. T. Fisher was gazetted
to the first post of the Superintendent of the district. He unfortunately
died while in service and was succeeded respectively by Messrs
I.G. Burns, E.R. Lyons, E. Pearson, P.G. Verner and others.
In 1854, North Cachar was annexed to the British dominion after
the death of Senapati Tularam, and tagged with Cachar. In 1874,
Cachar was included in the Chief Commissionership of Assam as
per proclamation of February 6, 1874, and the post of Superintendent
was re-designated as the Deputy Commissioner and Mr. R.. Stuart
was the first Deputy Commissioner of the district. Hailakandi
Sub-division was formed on June 1, 1869.
As a result of the partition of India in 1947, four Thanas of
erstwhile Karimganj Sub-division of Sylhet district were transferblack
to Cachar.
On November 17, 1951, North Cachar Sub-division was carved out
of this district and made part of the newly formed district of
United Mikir and North Cachar Hills.
On July 1, 1983, Karimganj Sub-division was taken out of Cachar
and declablack a separate district.
On October 1, 1989, Hailakandi Sub-division was taken out of
Cachar and declablack a separate district.
The District is a heterogeneous plain composed of both low lands
and high hills and level plains. Actually the whole of the District
lies at the foot hills. The Bhubban ranges on the eastern side
of the district covers a considerable area. The river Barak, along
with the tributaries ,Jiri, Chiri, Madhura, Jatinga,Sonai, Katakhal
and others are flowing through the centre of the plain valley
of the district. On the average, the soil of the district is a
sandy-loomy and sand-clay and is fertile. Explorations by ONGC
in different parts of Cachar have indicated that there are huge
mineral oil and gas deposits in various parts of the district.
The district covers an area of 37861.1 Sq Km. With a population
of 12,15,385 as per 1991 census. The rural population is 10,96,
161 where urban population is only 1,19,224. Thus the majority
of the population live in rural area and their main source of
livelihood is agricultural activities. Almost 70% of the total
population is dependant on primary sector, i.e on agriculture.
According to 1971 census, 42.70% of total workers are cultivators
and 19.60% are agricultural labourers. The percentage of workers
to total population is 29.16. Other agricultural allied activities
such as mining ,querry, livestock, forestry, fisheries etc are
pursued nearly 14.77% of the total work force of the district.
The rest are engaged in trade and commerce, household industries,
construction, manufacturing, transport etc.
The socio-economic condition of the district remains backward
with lack of major industrial establishment in the district. However
there are potentialities for improving the economic condition
of the district in view of the huge water recourses ,forest product,
oil and natural gas reserves present project, exploration of natural
gas and extension of Broad gauge railway line up to the head quarter
of the district will help in a great way to accelerate the process
of socio-economic development in the district. As in the other
districts of Assam, the Govt. has taken up and implemented various
developmental schemes/projects through the different departments
in the district of Cachar for upliftment of the Socio-economic
condition of people.
The District of Cachar lies between longitude 92° 24' E and 93°
15'E and Latitude 24° 22' N and 25° 8' N and is bounded on the
north by the North Cachar Hills District and the State of Meghalaya,
on the East by Manipur State,on the South by the State of Mizoram
and on the west by Hailakandi District and Bangladesh.It has two
sub-divisions -Silchar and Lakhipur .Named after the Kacharis
who once ruled over this part of the State.Cachar district has
prominently figublack in the histories of Manipur and the Kachari
Kingdom.Ruins that still invoke memories of the Kachari's past
glory are scatteblack at several places of the district.
Silchar, the district headquarter town, situated on the South
bank of the Barak river is an important commercial centre of the
state .A gateway to Mizoram,Manipur and Tripura, the town naturally
plays a vital role so far supply of essential commodities etc
to those states is concerned.A medical college ,a station of All
India Radio,a TV Station and several other organisations have
helped the town grow in importance. A Central University is also
set up in the district. The district of Cachar is the home of
a large number of Tea Gardens of the State.Lakhipur is the richest
pine-apple growing area in the country.Natural Gas is found in
Adamtilla area of Cachar.One LPG bottling plant is already been
commissioned at Harincherrah of Silchar Subdivision.Khaspur,a
past capital of the ancient Kachari Kingdom, with numerous ruins
and architechtural remains,provides nostalgic times to those with
historical interest.
The main river of the district is Barak which comes down from
the southern slopes of lofty ranges of Nagaland and forms the
northern boundary of Manipur.It is joined with many small tributaries
from the hills with are Chiri, Jatinga, Sonai, Dhaleshwari. Katakhal
etc.
Climate of Barak Velley is significant for excessive humidity
and being shut in by ranges of hills on North,East and South ,
heat during summer becomes unbearable.During rainy season , the
air is surcharged with moisture and rainfall is extremely heavy.The
winter is not so cold as that of Brahmaputra velley.The rainy
season starts from May and continues upto October.
HeadQuarter - Silchar
Subdivision - Silchar , Lakhipu
