Majuli district

Majuli district

Native name: মাজুলী
Majuli district
Geography
Location	Brahmaputra River
Coordinates	26°57′0″N 94°10′0″E / 26.95000°N 94.16667°E / 26.95000; 94.16667
Area	1,250 km2 (480 sq mi)
Highest elevation	84.5 m (277.2 ft)
Administration
India
State	Assam
Demographics
Population	167,304 Approx (2011)
Pop. density	300 /km2 (800 /sq mi)
Ethnic groups	Mishing, Deori, Sonowal Kacharis minority groups - Ahom, Sutiya, Kalita
Additional information
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	785102, 785104, 785105, 785110
Telephone code	03775
Vehicle registration	AS-03
Official website	majulimap.com

Majuli district ^[1] is the biggest river island in the world^[2] in the Brahmaputra River, Assam and also 1st island district of the country.

On June 27, 2016 one more district was announced by Sarbananda Sonowal, taking the total number from 32 to 33^[3]. Majuli carved out of the Northern parts of Jorhat. It is the first river island district of India.^[4][5]

Administration

Majuli district headed by the Deputy Commissioner (DC), which combines the offices of the District Magistrate ultimately responsible for maintaining law and order and District Collector responsible for collection of the revenue. Generally, an officer belonging to the Indian Administrative Service becomes the DC but occasionally officers belonging to the Assam Civil Service too get appointed. The DC is assisted by a number of officials belonging to different wings of the administrative services of the state.

Economy

The main industry is agriculture, with paddy being the chief crop. Majuli has a rich and diverse agricultural tradition, with as many as 100 varieties of rice grown, all without pesticides or artificial fertilisers.

Handloom is a major occupation among the distaff population of the villages. Although largely a non-commercial occupation, it keeps many of the inhabitants occupied. Weaving is exquisite and intricate with the use of a variety of colours and textures of cotton and silk, especially Muga silk.

Among the fascinating arrays of rice produced are the Komal Saul, a unique type that can be eaten after immersing the grains in warm water for 15 minutes and usually eaten as a breakfast cereal; the bao dhan, that grows under water and is harvested after ten months and the Bora saul, a sticky brown rice used to make the traditional cake known as pitha. Fishing, dairying, pottery, handloom and boat-making are other important economic activities.^[6]

Politics

Majuli (Vidhan Sabha constituency) falls under the 99 constituency of legislative assembly of Assam. It is a reserved seat for the Scheduled tribes (ST). Majuli is one of the 9 assembly segments of Lakhimpur Lok Sabha constituency. At present Sarbananda Sonowal (2014-) is the Member of Parliament from Bharatiya Janata Party and was the Union Minister of State-Independent Charge for Sports & Youth Affairs, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship but resigned after becoming Chef Minister of Assam.^[7]

It is under jurisdiction of Mising Autonomous Council having three constituencies. Rajib Lochan Pegu won the seat [2001-2006 & 2006-2011, 2011- 2016] was MLA from Mājuli in Assam Assembly until 2016. He was bearing the portfolio of Minister of State (Ind.), Water Resources Dev., WPT & BC, in the Government of Assam.

See also

• Jadav Payeng
• Tourism in Assam
• List of villages in Majuli

References