Saiha district

This article is about the district. For its eponymous headquarters, see Siaha.

Siaha district
District of Mizoram
View of Saiha town
View of Saiha town
Location in Mizoram
Location in Mizoram
Siaha district
CountryIndia
StateMizoram
HeadquartersSiaha
Government
 • Lok Sabha constituenciesMizoram
 • Vidhan Sabha constituencies2
Area
 • District of Mizoram1,400 km2 (500 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
 • District of Mizoram56,574
 • Density40/km2 (100/sq mi)
 • Urban
25,110 (44.38%)
Demographics
 • Literacy90.01
 • Sex ratio979
Time zoneUTC+05:30 (IST)
Websitesiaha.nic.in

Siaha District is one of the eleven districts of Mizoram state in India. The district is bounded on the northwest by Lunglei district, on the north and west by Lawngtlai District and on the south and east by Myanmar. The district occupies an area of 1399.9 km2. Siaha town is the administrative headquarters of the Mara Autonomous District Council. The population had decreased from 60,823 (in 2001 census) to 56,574 (in 2011 census). It is the least populous district of Mizoram (out of 8).[1]

History

Siaha District was formerly part of Chhimtuipui District. In 1998 when Chhimtuipui District was split in half, the half that became Saiha District was briefly called by the old name Chhimtuipui District.[citation needed] In 2016 Saiha District was renamed to Siaha District following the rename of Siaha town in the previous year.[2]

Economy

In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Siaha one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640).[3] It is one of the two districts in Mizoram currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).[3]

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
197113,508—    
198122,143+5.07%
199134,930+4.66%
200160,823+5.70%
201156,574−0.72%
source:[4]
Religions in Saiha district (2011)[5]
Religion Percent
Christianity
 
 97.18%
Hinduism
 
 1.65%
Islam
 
 0.91%
Other or not stated
 
 0.26%

According to the 2011 census Siaha district has a population of 56,574, roughly equal to the island of Greenland.[6] This gives it a ranking of 628th in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of 40 inhabitants per square kilometre (100/sq mi). Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was −7.34%; the only district in Mizoram to have decreased population. Siaha has a sex ratio of 979 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 90.01%. 44.38% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Tribes make up 96.59% of the population.[7]

The majority of the district inhabitants are Mara people, who also have an autonomous district council called Mara Autonomous District Council composed of the two R.D. Blocks of Siaha and Tuipang.[citation needed]

Languages spoken in Saiha district (2011)[8]

  Mara (72.14%)
  Mizo (16.77%)
  Pawi (5.36%)
  Hindi (1.04%)
  Bengali (0.93%)
  Others (3.76%)

According to the 2011 census, 72.14% of the population spoke Mara, 16.77% Mizo, 5.36% Pawi, 1.04% Hindi and 0.93% Bengali as their first language.[8]

Flora and fauna

In 2007 Siaha district became home to Tokalo wildlife sanctuary, which has an area of 250 km2 (96.5 sq mi).[9]

References

  1. ^ "District Census 2011". Census2011.co.in. 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
  2. ^ DIPRO on siaha.nic.in
  3. ^ a b Ministry of Panchayati Raj (8 September 2009). "A Note on the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme" (PDF). National Institute of Rural Development. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 April 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  4. ^ Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901
  5. ^ "Table C-01 Population By Religion: Mizoram". census.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
  6. ^ US Directorate of Intelligence. "Country Comparison:Population". Archived from the original on 13 June 2007. Retrieved 1 October 2011. Greenland 57,670 July 2011 est.
  7. ^ "District Census Handbook: Saiha" (PDF). censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
  8. ^ a b "Table C-16 Population By Mother Tongue: Mizoram". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
  9. ^ Indian Ministry of Forests and Environment. "Protected areas: Mizoram". Archived from the original on 23 August 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2011.

External links

22°29′24″N 92°58′48″E / 22.49000°N 92.98000°E / 22.49000; 92.98000