| Voice of Junagadh :
P S Vadher
The major problems in our district are faced by the people residing
at the coastal area of the district. Due to lack of employment opportunities
people migrate with their children. The Childs education is affected.
In Junagadh district the education opportunities and facilities
are very limited.
The sex ratio is very low. As women in our district are illiterate
they are ignorant about problems associated with their health
Junagadh District
Area, Population & Sex Ratio
Geographical Area : 8846.0 Km2
Population in Junagadh (Census 2011)
Total Population : 2,742,291
Disabled population
Total disabled population : 47021
In seeing : 17370
In speech : 3445
In hearing : 3931
In movement : 16004
Mental : 6271
Rank ( VoiceOfBharat.org Analysis
)
Backwardness : 367
Sex Ratio Rank : 373
(Rank one is least sex ratio - Cenus 2001)
HIV Category District : D
(HIV Sentinel Surveillance 2004 - 2006)
Disability : 170 (Census 2001)
Literacy Ratio : 230 (Census 2001)
Minority : Does not figure in MCD
Water : Flouride in Groundwater above permissible limits
Brief About Junagadh District
History
Junagadh is a former princely state of British India. In the
independence and partition of India and Pakistan in 1947, the 565
princely states were given a choice of whether to join India or
Pakistan. The nawab of Junagadh (a Muslim) decided that Junagadh
should become part of Pakistan, which was just across the Arabian
Sea. The unsettled conditions in Junagadh had led to a cessation
of all trade with India and the food position became precarious.
The region was in crisis and the Nawab was forced to flee to Karachi
with his family and established a provisional government. Before
leaving the Nawab had emptied the state treasury of its cash and
securities. The Dewan of Junagadh, Sir Shah Nawaz Bhutto, the father
of the more famous Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, now decided to invite the
Government of India to intervene. Bhutto wrote a letter to Mr.Buch,
the Regional Commissioner of Saurashtra in the Government of India:
"Dear Mr. Buch, After discussion with Mr. Samaldas Gandhi at Rajkot
on October 1, Capt. Harvey Jones, senior member of Junagadh State
Council, brought certain proposals for the consideration of the
Council. The Council were prepared to accept them under protest
but before a final decision could be communicated to Mr. Samaldas
Gandhi it was thought necessary to ascertain the opinion of the
leading members of the public.A meeting was therefore held this
evening and the view of the leaders was unanimously expressed that
instead of handing over the administration to the Indian Union through
the so-called Provisional Government, it should be directly given
over to the Indian Union, through the Regional Commissioner at Rajkot.
The Junagadh Government, therefore, has requested that in order
to avoid bloodshed, hardship, loss of life and property and to preserve
the dynasty, you should be approached to give your assistance to
the administration particularly with a view to preserve law and
order, which is threatened by aggressive elements from outside.
This arrangement is sought pending an honourable settlement of the
several issues involved in Junagadh's accession.We have already
wired to His Excellency Lord Mountbatten, Mahatmaji, Prime and Deputy
Prime Ministers of India, Hon'ble Abul Kalarn Azad and the Governor-General
and Prime Minister of Pakistan. I hope you will kindly respond to
this request. Yours sincerely, :Sd/S.N.bhutto, Dewan, Junagadh."
A plebiscite was held on 20 February 1948, in which only 91 voters
out of 190,870 who voted (and an electorate of 201,457) voted to
join Pakistan. India has assumed control over the entire state of
Junagadh. An Azad Fauj, or liberation army, of 20,000 men with armored
cars and other modern weapons entered Junagadh and the state fell
- the ruler had already left with his family for the safer pastures
in Pakistan. Officially, the action was taken on the request of
the Dewan of Junagadh, who feared disorder and chaos in the state.
The Government of Pakistan protested, saying that since the accession
of the state to Pakistan (September 5,1947), the Dewan had no authority
to negotiate a settlement with India.Junagadh became a part of the
Indian state of Saurashtra until November 1, 1956, when Saurashtra
became part of Bombay state. Bombay state was split into the linguistic
states of Gujarat and Maharashtra in 1960.
District Genaral Information
The district of Junagadh is located on the Kathiawar peninsula
in western Gujarat, with the city of Junagadh as its administrative
headquarters. The district is surrounded by Rajkot (North), Porbandar
(North-West), Amreli(East) districts. To the South and West is the
Arabian Sea. Porbandar, Gandhi's birthplace, was earlier a part
of this district, before Porbandar district was carved out of Junagadh
district.
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