Majuli district
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|---|---|
Wetland in Majuli
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Location in Assam
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| Coordinates: 26°57′0″N 94°10′0″E / 26.95000°N 94.16667°E / 26.95000; 94.16667 | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Assam |
| Division | Upper Assam |
| Headquarters | Garamur |
| Government | |
| • Lok Sabha constituencies | Lakhimpur |
| • Vidhan Sabha constituencies | Majuli |
| Area | |
| • Total | 880 km2 (340 sq mi) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 167,304 |
| • Density | 190/km2 (490/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+05:30 (IST) |
| Vehicle registration | AS-29 |
| Website | majuli |
Majuli district [1] is situated on Majuli, the largest river island in the world,[2] in the Brahmaputra River in Northeastern Assam. It is also the first island district of the country.[3]
On September 8, 2016, an additional district was announced by Sarbananda Sonowal, taking the total number from 32 to 33 after Majuli was carved out of the Northern parts of Jorhat.[4]
The district consists of one circle, Majuli. The Deputy Commissioner is Mrs Karabi Sarma,ACS.
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.[5]
As of the 2011 census, Majuli district has a population of 1,67,304, entirely rural. Majuli has a sex ratio of 955 females per 1000 males. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 23,878 (14.27%) and 77,603 (46.38%) of the population.[6] Hinduism is the predominant religion, practiced by 99.04% of the population.[7] Majuli is famous throughout Assam for its large number of Satras.
Languages of Majuli district (2011)[8]
At the time of the 2011 census, 54.47% of the population spoke Assamese, 41.01% Mising, 1.66% Bengali and 1.22% Deori as their first language.[8]
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 Chief Minister of Assam.[9]
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.
