IMPACT OF REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF SCHEDULED CASTE AND TRIBE POPULATION IN GUJARAT (1961-2001)

The pattern of economic development of the region necessitates movement and migration of people from one region to another. The Gujarat state is considered to be one of the developed states of India, which gained statehood in 1960. The State has been showing differential inter-district migration trends. The demographic changes in the distribution of Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) (as enshrined in Constitution of India) are recorded in various census years since 1961 to 2001.

This paper examines the regional development changes based on development indicators for decadal years of 1961 to 2001. The mapping of the development status of districts and blocks in these decades have been done and superimposed on the share of SC and ST population of State.

The paper attempts to bring out the relationship between the statuses of economic development vis-à-vis the changing demographic patterns. The paper uses the Geographical Information System (GIS), statistical analysis tools and technology to detect the change across the decades from 1961 to 2001. In the present context, the relevance of the study is to highlight the regional characteristics on the basis of development and demographic changes especially the composition and distribution of SC and ST population.