4. Status of Population Growth

The location and sociocultural importance are the main accelerators behind the development and growth of any area. The growth of Tripura as well as Agartala City is mainly started after 1950s. Since then, the general trend of population growth is in increasing pattern. But the growth rate is more (>30,000 persons) in the Agartala area and its surroundings (namely, Dukli, Pratapgarh part, Jogendranagar, etc.). The density of population is also high (>1000 persons/km²) in the aforesaid areas. From the analysis of Census data for the year 1981–2011, it is found that the ST population are in decreasing trend. The growth rate of ST population is very low near Agartala and their major concentration has been noticed in the hilly part of the basin. Although the growth of SC population is high in town part, most of them are marginal workers and some of them are engaged in industrial sectors.

The trend of household distribution is showing a great variation within the entire basin. The growth of household in Agartala and Dukli areas always remains high, but households are still very less in the Baramura part of the river basin. The economic status of the Haora River basin is indicating a well-grown economy of the area. Although the number of non-workers was higher (>35 %) in previous years (1981–2001), now it shows a declining trend as high proportion of female population are now working as marginal workers in different sectors. The proportions of main workers (both cultivators and agricultural labours) are higher in Agartala and its surrounding region.