1. Overview of the Study Area

This chapter deals with a brief overview of the study area, i.e., Malda District of West Bengal. The chapter begins with a brief justification of why the author has selected this study area. Followed by this, geographic location, present administrative divisions, and history of the origin of the district have been explained. Next to this, physical, demographic, economic, market, and transportation systems and network are analyzed through recent secondary data. This chapter reveals that the district is experiencing certain natural problems like decreasing soil nutrition, increasing temperature, decreasing rainfall, frequent flood, and drought conditions in a specific region. Although, demographically district has a vibrant age group population but absent mineral resources and industries make more than 85% of the population engage in agricultural activities. Literacy rate and per capita income remain low, but population density is increasing in the district as compared to state and national average. The increasing population earns income mostly after selling their agricultural products in limited fair price and weekly market. In terms of population size, the number of market infrastructure is limited where transportation is one of the causes. The last section ends with a synoptic overview of the transport network in the district. This chapter provides the basis for analysis of subsequent chapters.