Towards Universalisation of Primary Education in North 24-Parganas District

Abstract

North 24-Parganas is one of the most important and vital districts of West Bengal. According to the 1991 census, more than 72.80 lakh persons live in this district, spread over 4094 Sq.Kms. Demographic, geographic, linguistic and economic diversities make the district unique. North 24-Parganas. being the second most populous district in the state, comprises one of the largest industrial areas in West Bengal with heavy Industries chemical industries, jute, cottage and small industries, factories and numerous tiny sector units, sharply contrasting with the monocrop economy and rural setting of the estuarine Sunderbans. Salt Lake City and the Dum Dum International Airport are counterpoints to the primitive transportation modes of the riverine parts. The geo-economic unevenness is also reflected in the demographic variety : the Eastern region is predominantly Bengali-speaking, the urban industrial population mix is polyglot, due to successive waves of labour migrations from the traditional labour catchment areas. North 24-Parganas is the only district where Municipalities outnumber the Panchayet Samities and the proportion of urban population is larger than the rural. The detailed statistical resume of the district may be seen in Annexure-A.