Journal of Global Resources
Volume 4 (02)
July 2018
ISSN: 2395-3160 (Print), 2455-2445 (Online)

Page 186-192

24
AN ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACT OF INDIRA GANDHI CANAL PROJECT ON IRRIGATION,AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND LITERACY RATE IN JAISALMER DISTRICT
Vinita Tanwar1 and Khetpal Jangid2
12

Associated Professor, Govt. College, Sambhar Lake, Rajasthan, India
Research Scholar, Department of Geography, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Email: kpsjangid@gmail.com

Abstract: The Indira Gandhi canal project has undergone a change in landscape, climate
conditions, economic-social and environmental conditions of Jaisalmer district which is situatedin the ‘Thar’ Desert of western Rajasthan, where there are unfavorable climatic conditions, withminor economic development, low population and population density, social and cultural
diversity and thirsty for centuries, by the Indira Gandhi canal project in this region, the watercoming and availability of water from the Himalayas have been possible. As a result, agriculture
and irrigation facilities expanded and this region has immigrated, regional mixed culture, which
has greatly affected the demographic formation and local human development. The objective of
the study shows the change in the aftermath of the canal in the irrigation status, cropping patternof major crops and literacy status of the district. Comparative study shows that in the past
decades, there has been a positive change in agriculture area, production, productivity andirrigated area of kharif and rabi crops, education and literacy in the district. There has beenastonishing positive change in the tehsils located in command area. While most positivity has
been registered in some selected crops and girl child education, negativity is also visible in thetehsil situated far away from the irrigation facilities. The study refers to the major obstacles toirrigation agricultural development and education in the district, whereas the suggestion for
promotion and advancement of education also suggests.
Key words: IGNP, Irrigation, Agricultural development, Literacy, Impact analysis
Introduction
The Indira Gandhi canal project is an excellent example of the creativity generated by theuntimely courageous straggle of man with the limitless inequalities of nature. As a lifeline of thisdesert, logging for water for centuries, this canal has set new records for all round development.
In the Jaisalmer district, the Indira Gandhi canal project has changed a lot in social, economicand ecological form. Enhanced irrigation facility by canal system has encouraged immigrationand has made changes in social and cultural forms along with literacy status. Different
dimensions of human development, the area of agriculture, productivity and crop diversity has
increased. Agriculture and Education is the basic medium of Human, socio-economic conditionand country's advancement. This leads to development of human understanding and intellectuallevel, and it can become a participant in self and nation-building activities. Education is basis ofhuman development which produces different types option, which is possible to achieve versatileand multilevel development and advancement and skilled manpower and resources areavailable to the country. The spread and availability of agriculture and education depend on thevarious favorable possibilities available in the state in which the population status andtopography, per capita income, state conditions, government schemes and awareness andencouragement play an important role. Jaisalmer district is situated in the lap of the vast "Thar”
desert in the western part of Rajasthan, when the main constraints in the spread anddevelopment of Education are not the ease and availability of the various schemes andprograms with very strict-climate conditions, low population density, inaccessible terrestrial area,social status with ancient-belief and customs.

186

After the arrival of the Indira Gandhi canal Project, new population of farmers and agriculture
Laborers has arrival from district and states with the development and expansion of irrigation
facilities, agriculture and agro-cooperative activities. As a result of this, more than 150 new
revenue villages have emerged in this barren and under Productive area and education andbasic infra-structure are developing. The Indira Gandhi canal Project has made a positive impact
on the economic and environmental status of this region, but it has also created a mixed culture
due to its massive change in socio-cultural from. Traditional traditions and practices like theprevailing childhood slaughter and pardah tradition in this region of Rajput pluralism have not
only changed the mixed culture of the canal command area, but have also oriented local
society towards girl’s child education. The study clarifies that out of total 04 tehsils of the district(Jaisalmer, Pokaran, Fatehgarh and Bhaniyana) Bhaniyana tehsil lacks irrigation facility andlack of immigration, hence the development of agriculture and education has decreased .Whileother canal irrigation facility tehsil are amazing in agricultural production and literacy increases
have been recorded.
Study Area
Jaisalmer situated in the harsh desert area of the Thar Desert on the western shores ofRajasthan. Contained by the Yaduvanshi rulers, this district in spread over 38401 sq. Km area
between 260-29' to 280-02' north latitudes and length of 186 km. and between 690-29' to 720-20'
east longitudes and 720 km. width. According to the census year 2011 in the district the
population is 669919 which are inhabited as 17 persons per square km. density. The
administrative divisions are divided into 04 tehsils, 03 subdivision, 140 village panchayats and840 revenue villages. Jaisalmer also has a unique identity in the field of tourism.
Objectives
The main objective of the research is to study the situation of irrigation facilities, crop pattern,area of agriculture, productivity and irrigated area of various crops and literacy status, thechange in demographic, social and cultural from according to district and tehsil after the arrival ofIndira Gandhi canal project .In particular, the tehsil located in irrigation areas and in tehsil of nonirrigation areas. Irrigation facility and agricultural development, rural-urban, Men-women andoverall literacy, education status, development and future prospectus are studied.
Data base and Methodology
For the detailed study on the subject, annual progress reports of RSEB, Jaipur Rajasthan,agricultural statistics at a glance and vital agriculture statistics booklet, Rajasthan from 1994-95
to 2014-15. Jaisalmer’s census report has been used since 1981 to 2011, published andunpublished data of office, district education officer (all) Jaisalmer, office of the assistant director
economic and statistics, Jaisalmer has been used, simple statistical methods (percentage andaverage) and diagrams or mapping were used to synthesize these data.
Irrigation status of Jaisalmer
Desert condition of Jaisalmer district has been changed widely by Indira Gandhi canal project.
For administrative control, Pokran tehsil of Bikaner irrigation division and remaining tehsils in the
district and Sheo tehsil of Barmer district comes in Jaisalmer irrigation division, which is187

expanded to 382 km. of the main canal to the distribution system of the last end (445 km.)
According to the sources in the district, gross irrigation is most by the canal, the percentage of
which was 84.49 in 1994-95, while the tube well was only 15.49 percent, which was 60.17
percent and 39.88 percent in 2014-15 after two decades. In 2015-16, the canal colonization area
was 15.09 lakh hectares (11.23lakh hect. of Jaisalmer tehsil and 3.85 lakh hect. of Pokran tehsil)
whereas it was lacking in Fatehgarh and Bhaniyana tehsil. According to 2016-17, the total canalcommand area in the district is 5.90 lakh hect., of which 5.18 lakh hect. (87.79 percent) has
been developed and only 0.72 lakh hect. (12.21 percent) remains undeveloped.
Table 01: Canal command area (acc. sub-division), 2016-17 (in hect.)
Block
Total area
Developed area
Undeveloped area
Sam
22824017305655184
Jaisalmer
2461682461680
Sankra116591
99069
17522
Total
59099951829372706
Source: Office, Chief engineer, IGNP, Jaisalmer

Impact of Irrigation on Cropping Pattern
After the arrival of the canal, increased irrigation facility has increased crop production andproductivity. According to land use, in the year 1994-95, the net showing area of the district was
9.74 percent and the total agricultural area was 9.83 percent, which increased to 18.025 and22.68 percent in 2014-15. With irrigation facility, there has been a surprising increase in selectcrops (gram, guar, cumin seed and Isabgol) in the decade of 2004-05 to 2014-15, the total areaof cereals increased by 24.03 percent and irrigated area was 108.03 percent the most positivechanges have been recorded in pulses, in which area has registered an increase of 726.05
percent, 560 percent in the production and 855.89 percent in irrigated area during the same
period. In the irrigated area of food grains, oilseeds, and other classes, there has been an
increase of 561.92 percent,37.47 percent and 304.06 percent. However, negativity is also seenin productivity of some crops. The comparative study of the decade in the district shows that in
the total agricultural sector, 199.78 percent increase, 84.72 percent of productivity and total
irrigated area has increased by 219.63. Immigrant communities have made extensive socialchanges facilitate easy access to water, colonization expansion and agriculture and cooperative
activities in the command area. There has been significant increase in literacy level and girl childeducation.
Table 02: Cropping pattern of Major Crops (2004-05 to 2014-15)
Total underYear
Cereals
Pulses
Food
Oil
Other
Rabi & Kharif
grainsseeds
Crops
2004-05
110291
13986
12427752178
226047
Area
2014-1583782
115532
19931468478
616845(in hect.)% Change
24.03
726.0560.37
31.23
172.88
2004-05
15690
7638
23328
49602
9938
Production
2014-15
15210
50411
65621
49148
38312
(in tones)% Change-3.05
560
181.29-0.91
285.51
2004-05
142
546
188
951
44
Productivity
2014-15
182
436
329
718
62
(Kg. /hect.)% Change
28.16-20.14
75
-24.5
40.9
2004-05
7687
11869
19556
49140
26739
Irrigated Area
2014-1515992
11345512944767557
108043(Area in hect.)% Change
108.03855.89561.9237.47
304.06

Total

402502884637
119.7882868
153081
84.72
206
173
-16.0195435
305047219.63

Source: Rajasthan agricultural statistics at a glance 2004-05 and 2014-15.

Challenges for Educational Development in the District
Jaisalmer district, like the analog of ‘black water’, there are few reasons for having low educationlevels and facilities
188

Wide Area, Remote and Dispersed
ispersed Settlement
The district has the highest area (38401 sq.km.) in which only 17 people live per square
kilometer. On the vast majority of district is the extension of the Thar Desert .it lacks basic
facilities for teaching in marginal
arginal villages. Also there is not enough facility of transport andcommunication media.
Population Transfer
With the border areas, the main occupation of most of the rural areas in the district is animalhusbandry and agriculture. In addition to irrigated areas, the effect of harsh climate on ‘barani’agriculture (rain based) and animal wealth is reflecting in their transfer. Therefore, the task ofconnecting children with the main stream of education in the border areas is a challenge.
Seasonal Obstacles
The average annual rainfall in the district is 165 mm. it is clear that there is permanent habitationof famine and drought condition here. Summer high temperature (45-50)(45 50) and in the month of
May- June, the local super hot air ‘lu’ with dusty sto
stormsrms make condition worse and worse.
Therefore, all kind of productive and personal work is affected.
Social Attitude
In the district, especially in Rajpoot dominated areas, ’pardah’ costumes are still practiced.
Therefore the mothers do not take interest in sending the girls to the school, but they understandtheir responsibilities in grooming the girls towards domestic task. As a result, enrollment
enrol
of girls
in school is very low and dropout is very high. For the postural in rural areas and by sending thechildrenildren for the transfer of animals in dry and famine conditions, their stagnation in schools
decreases.
Girl’s education
In the absence of awareness and due to tradition, girl’s education is more neglected in rural
areas except urban centers. According to year 2015-16,
16, there are only 04 government girls
secondary and higher secondary schools in the district, only 75 schools are for girls, in which thenumber of primary schools is 02.this situation reflects the neglect of girl’s child education.
Literacy Scenario
As per census 2011, the literacy rate of the district is 57.21 percent,, which was 50.97 percent in2001, a decade earlier. Male literacy in 2001 was 66.26 percent which increased to 72.03
percent in 2011, while female literacy was 39.71 percent, which was only 32.05 percent in 2001.
There is 32.32 percent gender gap in the female male literacy in the district, so the district is so
far behind in female literacy
eracy and comes in ‘dark zone’.
zone’

Literacy Growth inPercentage

8060
Person40

MaleFemale

20
0
1981

1991

2001

189

2011

Comparative Study: Based on State and National Average
Comparison of literacy rate with state and national average, the district shows that the state
average is 66.1 percent to 09.79 percent and the national average is 73 percent to 15.79 percent
behind. Jaisalmer in male literacy, the state average is 79.2 percent to 07.17 percent and thenational average is 80.9 percent to 08.87 percent backward. The female literacy rate of the
district is 39.71 percent this rate, the female literacy rate of the state is 52.1 percent to 12.39
percent and the national female literacy rate is 25.89 percent lower than 65.6 percent.
Table 03: Literacy Rate (in percentage)
PersonMale
Female
73
80.9
65.6
66.1
79.2
52.1
57.21
72.03
39.71

level
India
Rajasthan
Jaisalmer

Gender gap
15.3
27.1
32.32

Literacy in Percentage

Sources: Census of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan and India, 2011100
80
Person

60

Male

40

Female20

Gender Gap

0
India

Rajasthan

Jaisalmer

Comparative Study: On the Basis of District and Tehsil Average
Jaisalmer district comes in hard core and dark zone due to literacy, which is mainly due to lackof population and its scarcity as well as due to adverse environmental conditions, the speed ofsocial and economic development is very low. However, according to the census of 2001 and2011 in the district, there has been a surprising increase in the literacy rate of tehsil situated incanal irrigated areas.
Table 04: Literacy Rate, Rural-Urban (in percentage)Dist./Teh.

District
Jaisalmer
TehsilJaisalmer
TehsilPokranTehsilFatehgarh

Year
2001
2011
Difference
2001
2011
Difference
2001
2011
Difference
2001
2011
Difference

Rural

Total
Urban

Total

46.78
53.8
7.02
46.58
53.35
6.77
46.64
53.79
7.15
47.63
55.71
7.08

73.01
78.02
5.02
74.87
78.46
3.59
67.15
73.79
9.64
0
0
0

50.97
57.22
6.25
54.88
59.88
5
48.42
55.68
7.26
47.63
54.71
7.08

Rural

Male
Urban

62.71
69.42
6.71
62.55
68.23
5.68
62.43
69.7
7.27
63.8
71.01
7.21

84.49
87.44
2.95
85.49
87.1
1.61
81.19
88.42
7.23
0
0
0

Total

FemaleRural Urban

Total

66.26
72.04
5.78
69.31
73.23
3.92
64.08
71.29
7.21
63.8
71.01
7.21

27.26
35.54
8.28
25.53
35.39
9.86
28.24
35.74
7.5
44.92
35.28
-9.64

32.05
39.71
7.66
35.81
43.54
7.73
30.14
37.88
7.74
44.92
35.28
-9.64

58.1
66.17
8.07
60.71
67.44
6.73
50.41
62.68
12.27
0
0
0

Sources: Census report of Jaisalmer (2001 & 2011) Office, District education officer (all) Jaisalmer (Rajasthan)190

Literacty Rate in
Percentage

10
5
Total

0
-5

Jaisalmer
District

Jaisalmer
TehsilPokranTehsilFateh Garh
TehsilMale
Female-10-15

In Jaisalmer district, the total literacy in the year 2001 was 50.97 percent, which was
52.22 percent, in 2011, with 06.25 percent changes, whereas in the district, there was anincrease of 07.02 percent in rural literacy and 05.02 percent is urban literacy. The total male
literacy gap in decimal interval is 05.78 percent, whereas, the difference in female literacy is
07.66 percent, which reflect growth. Urban literacy change in male literacy has improved 06.71
percent in rural areas compared to 02.95 percent, while female literacy is 08.28 percent increasein rural areas and urban literacy rate is 08.07 percent which is more than male literacy increase.
Most decade of literacy change has come in rural female literacy which reflects the positivesocial change in the district and awareness of girl child education. According to the tehsil, thestudy clarifies that the total decade change in Jaisalmer tehsil is 05.00 percent, which is lesscompared to other tehsils. The urban literacy rate here is 03.59 percent, whereas in rural areas
this increase has been almost double to 06.77 percent from urban areas, male literacy inJaisalmer tehsil increased by 03.92 percent whereas female literacy recorded an increase of
07.73 percent. Increase in male literacy in urban areas increased to 01.61 percent, whereas inrural areas the rate increased to 05.68 percent, while in urban literacy, the urban literacy rate
was 06.73 percent, whereas in rural female literacy, the district recorded the highest and mostnotable growth of 09.86 percent have occurred.
In Pokran tehsil, the total literacy gap in census 2001 to 2011 stands at 07.26 percent
which is highest in the growth rate of district and other tehsils In addition, this tehsil is number
one in rural literacy with 07.15 percent and urban literacy 09.64 percent with positive change.
Male literacy rate in Pokran tehsil was 07.21 percent whereas the difference between rural andurban male literacy was 07.27 percent and 07.23 percent highest, at the same time, the decadalchange in overall female literacy was 07.74 percent, with a change of about 12.27 percent inurban female literacy rate in place of a 07.5 percent change in rural female literacy. Fatehgarh
tehsil, which was directly un afforded and low immigration from the Indira Gandhi canal project
had a change in the total literacy of 07.08 percent Most of the population here, resides invillages. The decade of rural literacy in rural areas is also 07.08 percent. This change in male
literacy shows negative change of 09.64 percent in 2011 compared to census 2001, which is aworrying condition.
Conclusion and Suggestion
The study clarifies that positive change has been recorded in agriculture area, production andirrigated area of cereals, pulses, food grains, oil seed and other crops under rabi and kharif,
literacy rates in Jaisalmer and Pokran tehsil and Jaisalmer district which are situated in canalirrigated area, in particular, female literacy has been the highest increase in rural areas, whereas
in areas far away from the canal and Fatehgarh tehsil, the female literacy of 09.64 percent has
been marked in the negative. It is clear that cultural consolidation and mixing in the canalcommand area have made local customs a little flexible, while collective imitation andawareness has changed the mindset of killing the girl during birth, and there is also a positive
trend of public opinion towards girls child education. The spread of education in district andcanal command areas is really a challenging task, the main reason being the scatteredpopulation in the broad, inaccessible area. Literacy can be increased by conducting activities as
per the following in the tehsil and villages in the plurality of sand dunes located in Jaisalmer
district and Indira Gandhi canal command area.
191

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

By putting non-residential camps for men and women.
Education by mobile education unit for remote sandy areas.
By creating professional training camps for creating interest in literacy and self employment.
Organizing special education camps for women and girls.
Nightclub classroom for the ‘jogi’ and ‘bhil’ community and teaching by the mobile education
unit.
Establishment of primary schools and conducting girl’s school so that the gender gap can be
reduced.
Establishment school pyramid (from primary to higher secondary) according to the ideal
location.
Any additional benefits such as marginal allowance should be given to teachers appointed in
the sanctioned schools.
The accountability of the teachers and institution heads is fixed for the children’s stay inschool.
Promoting of establishment of private educational institutions in the border and inaccessible
areas should be encouraged.
Residential building for the teachers stay and hostels for scheduled castes and scheduled
tribes will be established.
For the development of negative thinking towards child marriage and promoting education,
the responsibility should be given to the patwari, ANM, village secretary and heads of theeducational institution.

References
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environment, Rajasthan, India’.
3. Census of India report from 1981 to 2011.
4. District human development report, 2010-2011.
5. District statistical outline 1998-2007.
6. Socio-economic review and statistical abstract of Jaisalmer district, 2010-2015.
7. Bhat, P.N.M. (2002) ‘returning a favor: Reciprocity between female education and fertility inIndia’.
8. Jeffery, Roger and Jeffery, Patricia (1997) ‘Population, Gender and policies: Demographic
change in rural north India’.
9. Jandhyala, B.G. Tilak (2003) ‘Education, society and Development: National andinternational prospective’.
10. Sriwastav, K. and Rathore, M.S. (1992) ‘Peoples initiative for development-Indira Gandhi
Nahar Yatra’.
11. Sriwastwas, M.N. (1995) ‘Social change in modern India’.

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