An Inter-Block Level Analysis of Regional Disparity in the Youngest Alipurduar District of West Bengal

Abstract

Alipurduar (also known as 'Dooars') was a subdivision of Jalpaiguri district before its emergence as the new 20th district of West Bengal on 25 June 2014. The districts of North Bengal (including Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Coochbehar, Uttar Dinajpur, Dakshin Dinajpur and Malda) have been poorly placed in comparison to the state of West Bengal, in terms of Human Development Indicators: low literacy level, poor condition in sanitation, and partly availability of electricity and safe drinking water (Report on Comparative Backwardness of North Bengal Region, Government of India, 2002). Research on regional disparity is essential for addressing the lacuna in the planning process of development (Sen, 2001). In the present study, an analysis has been made in terms of the interblock inequality in socio-economic and infrastructural development of Alipurduar district as a newly emerged region.

Developing a methodological framework for capturing regional disparities in social development

“…Selection of variables or indicators is an essential process of inequality studies, especially those belonging to the second typology of social inequality, which uses several variables to capture development status. However, the majority of studies in inequality research selected the variables either from existing national/local databases or through literature surveys, which were finalized through an expert opinion survey (Aneja, 2013; Boeckhout & McClements, 2010; Kallingal & Firoz C, 2017a, 2022; Naidu, 2000; Rana et al, 2020; Sam & Chakma, 2016; Soares et al, 2003). Owing to the non‐availability of varied methods for variable selection in the inequality research, a literature search was carried out in other fields, such as environment, sustainable development and health.…”

“…Since such global indicators used a limited number of variables for ease of comparison, these might not capture the actual development status of the region. Nevertheless, few studies attempted to explore the inequalities by constructing indices with the use of variables or indicators (Aneja, 2013; Bělohradský & Glocker, 2019; Fernando et al, 2012; Greyling, 2013; Kallingal & Firoz C, 2017a, 2022; Krishnan, 2010; Odoi et al, 2005; Rana et al, 2017; Sam & Chakma, 2016; Soares et al, 2003; Vargas‐Chanes & Valdés‐Cruz, 2019; Vyas & Kumaranayake, 2006; Xie & Dutt, 1991). Likewise, current research focussed on developing a methodological framework to capture inequalities in social development using indicators.…”

Spatial Variation of Quality of Living in Selected Blocks of Murshidabad District in West Bengal, India

“…From a geographical perspective, there is a spatial variation in the quality of living at the state, district, and block levels (Sam & Chakma, 2016). Several researchers have studied the quality of living, identified the component of quality living and compared various geographical areas such as states, nations, districts and cities (Ruzevicius, 2007).…”