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Chhattisgarh

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Chhattisgarh (Chhattisgarhi/Hindi: छत्तीसगढ़, IPA: / tʃʰət̪t̪iːsgəɽʰ /) [pronunciation] ([Media helphelp]·[info]), a state in central India, formed when the sixteen Chhattisgarhi speaking southeastern districts of Madhya Pradesh gained statehood on November 1, 2000. Raipur serves as its capital. It is the 10th largest state of India. Chhattisgarh takes its name from 36 (Chattis is thirty-six in Hindi and Garh is Fort) princely states in this region from very old times.

It borders Madhya Pradesh on the northwest, Maharashtra on the west, Andhra Pradesh on the south, Orissa on the east, Jharkhand on the northeast and Uttar Pradesh on the north.

The Chhattisgarhi language, part of the East-Central group of Indo-Aryan languages, is the predominant language in the region. It is often regarded by linguists to be a dialect of Hindi, which is the official language of the state. The hill districts of the state serve as a home to the Gond peoples, who speak Dravidian languages.

Contents

Geography

Location of Chhatisgarh in India
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Location of Chhatisgarh in India

The northern part of the state lies on the edge of the great Indo-Gangetic plain: The Rihand River, a tributary of the Ganges, drains this area. The eastern end of the Satpura Range and the western edge of the Chota Nagpur Plateau form an east-west belt of hills that divide the Mahanadi River basin from the Indo-Gangetic plain. The central part of the state lies in the fertile plain of the Mahanadi and its tributaries, with extensive rice cultivation. The southern part of the state lies on the Deccan plateau, in the watershed of the Godavari River and its tributary the Indravati. Forests cover roughly forty-four percent of the state.

Mahanadi (one of largest rivers in India) originates from Chhattisgarh. Other main rivers are Hasdo (a tributary of Mahanadi), Rihand, Indravati, Jonk and Arpa.

The north and south part of the state is hilly. The middle part is plain. The weather and climate is typical to that of central India.

Politics

There is a heavy presence of armed insurgent communists (known as Naxalites) in southern and northern part of the state almost running parallel Government in the hinterland . There are 4 major political parties with followers in the state:

Media

Chhattisgarh has witnessed a unique experiment of Citizen Journalism called [Chhattisgarh Net]. The group wants to work as a Shadow Cabinet for the state. They have created a [People's Website of Chhattisgarh]

One can participate in daily discussions on any issues related to Chhattisgarh at [link]

Also see:

Districts

Districts of Chhattisgarh
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Districts of Chhattisgarh

Bastar, Bilaspur, Dantewada (South Bastar), Dhamtari, Durg, Janjgir-Champa, Jashpur, Kanker (North Bastar), Kawardha, Korba, Koriya (Korea), Mahasamund, Raigarh, Raipur, Rajnandgaon, and Surguja.

Recent developments

On September 3, 2005, twenty policemen were killed by a mine in the district of Bijapur. The mine had been laid there by Naxalite rebels, who have joined with the rebels in Nepal. ([20 indische Polizisten durch Mine getötet], September 4, 2005, Neue Zürcher Zeitung).

On February 28, 2006, 55 civilians were killed in Dantewada District after their trucks were blown up by Naxalites, one of the deadliest such Naxalite attacks in India's history. Smaller numbers of people have continued to perish in continued attacks related to the Naxalite rebellion. ([Fear triggers exodus in India's Maoist Badlands], March 8, 2006, ABC News).

On March 25, 2006, thirteen civilians were killed in Kanker District after a land mine detonated underneath their jeep. Naxalite rebel involvement has been alleged by local police. ([India landmine blast 'kills 13'], March 25, 2006, BBC News).

On April 28, 2006, thirteen out of a group of fifty hostages were found partly beheaded in Dantewada District. Naxalite rebels are suspected in the hostage-taking and the massacre. ([India rebels 'kill 13 villagers'], April 28, 2006, BBC News).

Economy

Chhattisgarh's gross state domestic product for 2004 is estimated at 12 billion USD in current prices. After partition, this mineral-rich state produces 30% of the output of the old Madhya Pradesh state.

The state's economy is further fuelled by the presence of the Bhilai Steel Plant, S.E.C.Railway Zone, BALCO Aluminium Plant (Korba), and NTPC Kobra (National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd) and S.E. Coal Ltd. The city of Korba is a hub for power generation, from where the electricity is supplied to several other Indian states. Serious shortage of electric power makes Chattisgarh towns in summer less livable.chattisgarh's southern area consists of high iron ore avaliable where NMDC is excavating to meet the iron demand in india and as well sending to countries like japan.NMDC is located in dantewara distirct.Recently ESSAR has started transporting iron ore through pipe lines to vizag.

Transportation

The rail network in Chattisgarh is centered on Bilaspur, which is zonal headquarter of South East Central Zone of Indian Railways. Other main railway junctions include Raipur, Durg, Champa. These junctions are well connected to all the major cities of India.

The roadways infrastructre is also slowly picking up in the state. The NH 6 (Bombay to Kolkata) passes through the state. The state also hosts NH 43 which starts from Raipur and goes up to Vizag (Vishakhapatnam).

The air infracture as of now in the state is minor. Raipur, the capital city, is the sole commercially operating airport of the state. However, of late, Raipur has air links to top four cities of the country i.e. Delhi, Bombay, Kolkata, and Chennai. The state, however, has airport in Bilaspur and air strips in Bhilai, Jagdalpur, Sarguja, Korba, etc.

Culture

Chhattisgarh is one of the least developed states of India. The per capita income is around 250 USD as of 2001. Only 20% of population lives in urban areas. Basic amenities like telephone service are not available in many areas. Cellphones services, however, are available in major parts of the State.

Chhattisgarh has approximately 34% [Scheduled Tribe] population, 12% Scheduled Caste ('antyajya', shudra who came outside of fold of classic hindu varnashram during Gupta period) population, and more than 50% Other Backward Classes ('shudra' in classic hindu varnashram). More than 96% of population consists of people belonging to lower Hindu castes [page 4 of NCW report]. The state hosts many religious sects like Satnami, Kabirpanth, Ramnami Samaj, and others which originated as reaction to caste-based Hinduism practised by outsiders coming to the state.

Chhattisgarh is a favorite of anthropologists and sociologists due to its relevant profile. For more information, see:

On Sundays, markets are arranged in some prominent villages. Chhattisgarh has identified and is developing ethnic villages and private sector is encouraged for proper maintenance and professional site management of important heritage sites/monuments.

Status of Women

In many ways, the women of Chhattisgarh enjoy a unique position within India. The proportion of women in the population is second highest among states in India. The percentage of females is higher than males in the rural population as compared to the urban.

The village society is little affected by classical doctrines of Hinduism and most of the customs and cultural practices are unique. As such rural women here are though poor but are more independent, hardy, better organised and socially more vociferous and command more power in general compared to their counterparts in other parts of India, so much so that they can choose and even terminate a marriage at will. Most of the old temples here are related to women power (eg Shabari, Mahamaya, Danteshwari).

But there is the negative side also. Women in aged between 20 to 49 years were found to have married at median age of 15.4 years; and 34% of girls aged between 15 to 19 years are already married (according to Government). Further, there is widespread social belief in witchcraft in Chhattisgarh. Women are supposed to have access to supernatural forces, and often accused of witchcraft and called 'Tonhi' by people jealous of them. They are barbarically persecuted.

Today, with increasing urbanization, industrialization and in- migration , many of the cultural concomitants of female subservience, common to mainstream India but hitherto unknown in Chhattisgarh, have started creeping in here.

The gender ratio (number females per 1000 males) has been steadily declining over the century in Chhattisgarh: 1046 in year 1901, 1032 in 1941, 996 in 1981 and 990 in 2001; but is better than the ratio for India: 972 in 1901, 945 in 1941, 934 in 1981 and 933 in 2001.

For further information, [this 103 page report] titled 'A situational analysis of women and girls in Chhattisgarh' can be seen which has been prepared in year 2004 by 'National Commission of Women', a statutory body belonging to government of India. [[Citing sources citation needed]].

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