| Voice of Budgam
Budgam District
Area, Population & Sex Ratio
Population in Badgam (Census 2011)
Total Population
Total : 735753
Male : 390705
Female : 345048
Under 6 population
Total : 152241
Male : 83100
Female : 69141
Brief About Budgam District
COVERING an area of 1,371 sq. km, Budgam is the
smallest district in Jammu and Kashmir accounting for nearly 1 %
of the total area of the state and 6 % of its population. Bounded
by the districts of Baramulla and Srinagar in the north, Pulwama
in the south and the Poonch border in the south-west, Budgam is
one of the youngest districts of the State, carved out as it was
from the erstwhile District Srinagar in 1979. Situated at an average
height of 5,281 ft above sea-level and at 75 degree E longitude
and 34 degree N latitude, the district was known as Deedmarbag
in ancient times.
The topography of the district is mixed with both
mountainous and plain areas. The climate is of the temperate type
with the upper-reaches receiving heavy snowfall in winter. The average
annual rainfall of the district is 585 mm.
While the southern and south-western parts are
mostly hilly, the eastern and northern parts of the district are
plain. The average height of the mountains is 1,610 m and the total
area under forest cover is 721 sq. km. The soil is loose and mostly
denuded karewas dot the landscape.
Comprising Budgam, Beerwah and Chadoora tehsils,
the district has been divided into eight blocks, which serve as
prime units of economic development. Budgam has been further sliced
into 108 panchayats comprising 553 villages.
The recently-concluded Census 2001 has thrown up
interesting facts about the district. While educating us about some
hitherto unknown aspects, these facts help to identify the areas
of focus and renewed attention.
The district has recorded a population of 5,93,768,
which is 6% of the State’s population. The population comprises
3,09, 574 males (52.1 %) and 2,84,194 females (47.9 %). The population
density has been recorded at 433 persons per square kilometer, as
compared to 99 persons per square km for the entire state.
Budgam district has registered a decadal growth
rate of 26.5 per cent, which is slightly less than 29.04 per cent
for the State as a whole. With a Sex-Ratio of 918 females per 1,000
males, the figure is comparatively better than that for the State,
which is 900. The sex-ratio in the State has been bettered only
by Pulwama (938), Kupwara (929) and Budgam (922). The overall literacy
rate has been recorded at 39.54 %, which is considerably less than
the figure of 54.46% for the J&K State. While the male literacy
rate is 51.23% as compared to 65.25% for the state, the female
literacy rate trails at 26.60 % as against the state figure of 41.82
%. The abysmal literacy rate for the district despite its proximity
to the capital is a cause of serious concern.
With a predominantly rural outlook, 86 % of the
population in Budgam district live in its villages and are primarily
involved in agricultural operations.
On the positive side, the total road length in
the district is 11,152.70 kms, which includes 398 kms of blacktopped
roads. Consequently, the average road
length in Budgam district works out to 81 kms per 100 sq. kms and
over 205 kms per one lakh persons, figures which are much better
than the corresponding figures for the state.
Also encouraging is the agricultural infrastructure.
The net area irrigated stands at nearly 60% of the total against
the state average of 40 %. The area under fruit and vegetable cultivation
is about 11 % of gross area sown against the state average of about
6 %. Budgam leads Valley in cultivation of vegetables while a good
quantity of fruit is also grown in selected pockets.
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION
BUDGAM district came into existence as a separate administrative
unit in 1979. The district comprises three tehsils of Budgam,
Chadoora and Beerwah respectively, covering nearly 500 villages.
Budgam is situated at an average height of 5,281 ft above sea-level
and at 75 degree E longitude and 34 degree N latitude.
TOPOGRAPHY AND SOILS
The general topography of the area is both mountainous and plain.
While the southern and south-western parts are mostly hilly, the
eastern and northern parts are relatively plain. The average height
of the mountains is 1,610 meters. The soil is loose and mostly denuded
karewas dot the landscape.
CLIMATE
The climate of district Budgam is of temperate type. The annual
average rainfall is 585 mm.
Arts
and Culture
The Kanishawl design is created by manipulation
of tiny wooden sticks called tujis. Such is the artistry that it
takes two weavers six months to make one shawl.
The state government, with help from the central government is trying
to create domestic & overseas market for Kashmiri shawl.
Indigenous to Budgam, Bandpather is the most popular face of Kashmiri
folk-art. Even now the bhands can be seen performing at Wathura.It
is traditional bastion in Chadoora.
In a bid to revive the the age-old culture of folk music, Budgam
was in the forefront in organizing cultural shows in the district.
Kanishawl the piece art of Kashmiri shawls is made in a tiny hamlet
of Kanihama, from where it derives its name.
The Budgam craftsmen have great mastery in creating household items
from willow-wicker such as the ubiquitous small earthen firepot,
Kangri,and the quintessential baskets et al.
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