Socio-Economic Development Scenerio of Coochbehar District, West Bengal, India: A Geographical Perspective
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Abstract
Background: Socio-economic scenario (SES) is an important indicator to measure the development level of any community. Economics as a science of wealth deals with ‘Production', ‘Exchange', ‘Distribution' and ‘Consumption' (Prof. Adam Smith, 1776). Development is a multi-dimensional phenomenon includes level of economic growth, level of education, level of health services, status of woman, level of nutrition, quality of housing, distribution of goods and services and access of communication. Whereas economic development is a policy intervention endeavor with aims of economic and social growth is a phenomenon of market production and rise in Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Results: The paper focuses on the socio-economic development scenario (SEDS) analysis of Cooch Behar district and tries to reveal some fundamental aspect of socio-economic condition of the district. Though the district lies in the lower Ganga Plain, it has a unequal pattern of SEDS becausethe impact of market economy, poor soil condition, unequal agricultural production, industrial diversity and other socio-economic factors. The socio-economic scenario of the district varies in different sub-division (highest in Coochbehar sadar, medium in Dinhata, Tufanganj and Mathabhanga and lowest in Mekhliganj).
Conclusions: The present study based on the secondary data, will point out the variation of SEDS. The SEDS of sub-divisional level are finding out by using two statistical methods Simple Composite Index and Composite Z-Score Index. The paper also presents some micro level sustainable policy and suggestion to improve the economy of Cooch Behar District. According to Composite z-score and simple composite index Coochbehar sadar indicate the highest socio-economic development (8.03 and 18) while Dinhata, Tufanganj and Mathabhanga is follows medium SED (0.7 and 24, -2.27 and 22, 0.13 and 24 respectively). Mekhliganj is the lowest SED (-6.81 and 32).