SPATIO-TEMPORAL PATTERN OF POPULATION AND LITERACY IN BANKURA DISTRICT, WEST BENGAL

Population change and literacy status of the people are two key determinants of the overall development of any region. This study aims to analyze the changing pattern of growth and the changes in literacy rate over a period of time in the district of Bankura based on secondary database from Census of India 2011. The study shows Bankura has always experienced a normal unevenness in terms of spatial distribution. It has a population density of 464 persons/sq. km in 2001 that increased to 523 persons/sq. km in 2011. Bankura exhibits a low decadal growth rate of 12.64% in 2001-2011. The literacy rate of Bankura has increased from 52.04% in 1991 to 63.84% in 2001 and 70.95% in 2011. Among all the blocks bankura district, Kotulpur block ranks first in terms of total literacy rate, male literacy rate and female literacy rate. However Bankura scores low on the overall female literacy side. Literacy rate has increased as a result of wide spread of free school education and mass literacy campaign through direct involvement of the poor and weaker section of the society mainly with the help of panchayets.