4) Chapter 4 Profile of Study Area Satara District

4.1 Introduction

Having presented the research methodology of the present research work,

and details about consumer durable industry, its strategies in rural areas of
Maharashtra in the earlier chapters, It is now attempted to present the
socio-economic and geographical profile of the area under study, i.e.,
Satara district of Maharashtra State. This is done with a view to providing
all possible details of the district. The information given in this chapter is
based on the secondary data compiled from various sources given at
the appropriate places.

4.2 Broad Features of Maharashtra

Both in terms of area and population, Maharashtra is the third largest State
in India. According to 2001 Census, its geographical area is 3.07.762 sq.
kms. or 9.4 per cent of the total area of the country. The total population of
Maharashtra is 5.04 crores which is 9.2 per cent of India's total populatlon.
The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and the neo-Buddhists
constitute about 18 per cent of the total population of the State. The total
rural population is estimated at 3.84 crores, of which about 43 wr cent are
estimated to be in labour force.

In respect of spread of industry, regional disparity is very significant. We

find that, the organised industries are concentrated mostly in the three
districts of Bombay. Thane and Pune. Such districts alone shared 83 per
cent of the income originating in the Industrial Sector in the State. This has
been one of the major considerations for the State Government to have
proceeded with the District Planning, as a basic component of the State
Planning and Plan Implementation System. As mentioned in the Draft
outline in the State's Fifth Five Year Plan.

The economy of Maharashtra presents a picture of extreme contrasts.

Technological dualism characterises the economy which is the industrial
complex of Bombay-Thane-Pune-Kolhapur in the west which is highly
capital-intensive, technologically advanced and highly productive; while
57
outside this industrial belt, traditionalism, tribalism and low yields and
productivity continue to prevail. .. . On the other hand, the rate of
Maharashtra excluding the pockets of sugarcane areas, is dominated
by rainfed agriculture pursued traditionally in low gear technology of
subsistence and submarginal farmers.

The State is divided into 35 districts spread over 4 administrative divisions

with headquarter at Bombay, Pune, Aurangabad and Nagpur. As a large
number of districts are far flung from the State headquarters located in
Bombay, the problem of administration demands considerable energy and
attention.

For purposes of carrying out periodical socio-economic surveys, the

National Sample Survey Organization of the Government of India in
its 27th round had divided the State into six regions.

Maharashtra also has the country's second largest urban population, with
about 43 persons out of every 100 living in towns and cities. It has a large
migrant population, of which nearly 72 per cent speak Marathi, which is the
most widely spoken language. Other prominent languages are Hindi, Urdu
and Gujarati. Positioned between 16 N and 22 N latitude and 72 E and
80 E longitude, Maharashtra with a 720 km long coastline stretching from
Daman in the north to Goa in the south, is encircled by the States of
Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. It
falls in the resource development zone called the Western Plateau and Hill
Regions, one of the 15 such zones into which India is divided on the basis
of the agro-climatic features.

Maharashtra's topography is diverse. It is classified into five broad regional

groups, historically evolved as socio-cultural units-Greater Mumbai,
Western Maharashtra, Marathwada, Konkan and Vidarbha, Mumbai being
the country's prime metropolis. These regions are divided into six revenue
divisions for administrative purposes. Each division has its headquarters at
Navi Mumbai, Nashik, Pune, Aurangabad, Nagpur and Amravati
respectively. The 35 districts are divided amongst these divisions. Konkan

58
division consists of Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Ramagiri and Sindhudurg
districts on the coast where landholdings are small but more or less evenly
distributed, and has no irrigation facilities worth mentioning. Nashik, Dhule,
Nandurbar, Jalgaon and Ahmednagar districts with a large tribal population,
with large landholdings, high level of landlessness, forests, a few fertile
tracts and good rainfall comprise the Nashik division.

Pune, Sangli, Satara, Kolhapur, and Sholapur districts constitute the Pune
division, and have relatively lower rainfall being in the narrow rain shadow
area though its smaller landholdings are served by canals and wells. The
Nashik and Pune divisions being contiguous, mesh into what is popularly
known as Western Maharashtra, Marathwada's Aurangabad, Jalna,
Parbhani, Hingoli, Nanded, Osmanabad, Beed and Latur together form the
Aurangabad division and are culturally well tied, all of them being from the
erstwhile State of Hyderabad. The region is rocky and dry with low and
uncertain rainfall, large Landholdings and some landlessness. One part of
Vidarbha, comprising Buldhana, Akola, Amaravati, Washim and Yavatmal
is administered by the Amaravati division and the rest of the same region,
comprising Nagpur, Wardha, Bhandara, Gondiya, Chandrapur and
Gadchiroli districts, is assigned to Nagpur division. The two divisions of
Vidarbha cover part of a plateau with deep black soils, assured rainfall and
medium to large landholdings and high levels of landlessness. Bhandara,
Gondiya, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli districts have a large tribal population
and forest cover.

The State has an uneven natural resource endowment. Its soil endowment
is poor in quality, being residual and obtained from the underlying basalts.
Though a beneficiary of the South West Monsoon, which lasts from July to
September, the rainfall is varying; it is as high as 2000 mm in the Western
Ghats and some 600 mm in the plains.

Maharashtra's net sown area is around 17,732,000 hectares of which only

14.5 per cent is irrigated, of which more than half i.e., 55 per cent, is by
wells. This renders agriculture vulnerable to droughts, a fact borne out by
the periodic fluctuations in farm output, which in a normal year produces

59
only about 90 per cent of the State's food grain requirements. The rural
economy is not diversified, though the mineral base is abundant-coal,
manganese, iron ore and tin being some of the important minerals. The
mineral belt stretches across Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Bhandara and
Nagpur districts. llmenite is found in Ratnagiri district.

Map of Maharashtra State

Mumbai, Maharashtras capital city was once the icon of industrialisation in

the country.

With the decline of manufacturing, it is now instead the principal financial

centre and a major commercial hub of the country. A maritime state,
Maharashtra has five districts along the coast with two major ports, Mumbai
and Nhava Sheva; the first is in the city of Mumbai and the other across the
harbour in Raigad district.

60
 Despite Maharashtras higher level of economic growth and being one of
the higher - income States with growth rates that exceed that of several
States, in terms of Human Development Index (HDI) Maharashtra was
ranked third among all States in 2001 with a HDI value of 0.532.

4.3 Location of Satara District

Satara, one of the 13 districts of Western Malrarashtra (see map for

location of the district) is spread over an area of 10.482 thousand sq. kms.
Amongst the other states in India the Maharashtra State is the third largest
state having 26 districts in all. Satara is one of the important districts. both
historically and politically, in Maharashtra. This district is located practically
in the midst of the State bounded towards the North by Pune district.
towards west by Solapur district and towards the South by Kolhapur and
Sangli, and in the East Ratnagiri district. This district is divided into 11
talukas and these talukas comprise many villages. The total area of the
district is 10,484 sq. kms. It lies between longitude 17.5 to 18.1 1
North and latitude 73.33 to 71.74 East.

It is surprising to note how this district is named as Satara. There are

various opinions on this issue. There is one village in the south of the
district, named Sate having seven vallies so it is called Satara.

According to the second opinion there is a fort named as Ajinkyatara near

Satara city; its original name was and and from this the name Satara is
derived. According to the third version Ajeemshah, the son of Aurangzeb,
had surrounded this fort and according to them this fort has seventeen
doors and bastions (w).so it is Satara and Satara being the capital of
Marathas, the entire area around Satara city was called Satara district for
the administrative purposes. The origin of the district can be traced to the
third century, that is, the reign of Chalukyas. Rashtrakutas, Sindhan,
Sheelahar and Yadeo Kings, then Bahamani, Adilshahis kingdoms and
lastly under the Maratha reign headed by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaja.

61
Map of Satara District

Satara, the seat of Chhatrapati dynasty of Maharashtra, is the highest

sugar--producing district in the State, catering to the 12 cooperative sugar
factories functioning in its jurisdiction. The district has taken a quantum
leap in dairy production and development. The massive Koyna
hydroelectric project or the dams at Dhom, Kanheri, Urmodi and Tarali
have made the district fertile though some talukas are still awaiting
irrigation. Satara is called the District of Power due to a chain of windmills,
which dot its mountain ranges. It has won laurels at the national level for
attaining high adult literacy. Mahableshwar is a hill station that is still
unparalleled owing to its pristine beauty and restorative weather. No
wonder, this is the first choice of tourists. Maharashtras doyen Y.B.Chavan
made this district well known.

62
 1. District 11. Industries
Satara Big and Medium-2842

2. Area 12. Languages/Dialects

10475 sq. kms. Marathi

3. Sub-divisions 13. Folk-Arts

4 (Satara, Phaltan, Wai, Karad) Lavani, Gondhli, Dhangar songs

4. Talukas 14. Weather

11 (Satara, Karad, Wai, Temperature-
Mahableshwar, Max.-37.5 Deg.C.
Phaltan, Mann, Khatav, Javli, Min.-11.6 Deg. C.
Koregaon, Patan Rainfall- 2643 mm (Average)
and Khandala)
15. Main Crops
5. Distance from Mumbai Sugarcane, jowar, vegetables
250 kms.
16. Area under Horticulture
6. Means of Transport 33000 hect.
Main Airport-Karad
Railway Stations -Satara, 17. Health Infrastructure
Karad, etc. PHCs-71
Rural Hosp.-10
7. Population Dist. Hosp.-1
Total-28,08,994 Big Hosp.-1
Male-14,08,326
Female-14,00,668 18. Tourist Places
Mahableshwar, Panchgani,
8. Literacy Koynanagar
Per cent-78.52
Total-78.52
Male-88% 19. Educational Institutions
Female-68% Colleges - 38
Prim. Schools - 2869
9. Area under Irrigation Sec. Schools 293
1,89,000 hectares

10. Irrigation Projects

Major-10
Medium-13
Minor-80

(SOURCE : CENSUS OF INDIA 2001 updated up to 2008-09)

63
Situation of Satara District:

The present district of Satara owes its administrative evolution to the several
changes that took place, first during the British rule, and subsequently during
the post-independence period till as late as the year 1960. The core of the
district was supplied by the Satara Principality after its lapse in the year 1848.
Several boundary and sub-divisional adjustments were later on made with the
neighbouring districts and with the lands of the neighbouring Indian princes.
With the merger of the Princes' territories in 1947, the district was enlarged
and divided into North Satara and South Satara. in 1960, the North Satara
reverted to its original name Satara, South Satara being designated as Sangli
district. The district, accordingly, has eleven talukas and petas.

4.4 Administrative Divisions And Population break up of Satara

District

SATARA AT THE WESTERN LIMIT OF THE DECCAN TABLE LAND,

lies between 16 50' and 18 10' North, and 73 45' and 15 00' East. It has
an area of 4,022.6 square miles, a population of 28,08,994, according to
2001 census, with 15 towns and 1,152 villages. The following table brings
out the salient features of the administrative aspects of the district:

64
Table 4-1 Administrative Division & Population

Number
Number
Name of Taluka Area in Sq. of towns,
Division of Population.
or Peta. km, including
villages.
cities.
(i) Satara 876.24 210 5 451870
Satara (ii) Koregaon 921.80 139 1 253128
(iii) Jaoli 864.53 218 0 124600
(i) Wai 619.10 120 1 189336
Mahabaleshwar (ii)
223.01 55 2 54546
Mahabaleshwar
(i) Patan 1320.92 203 0 298095
Patan
(ii) Karad 969.20 343 1 543424
(i) Phaltan 1199.43 123 1 313627
(ii) Khatav 1129.60 141 0 260951
Phaltan (iii) Man 1449.11 104 1 199598
(iv) Khandala 523.72 66 1 119819
Total 10480.00 1739 15 28,08,994

The district has a compact shape, with an east-west stretch of about 90

miles and north-south about 75 miles. Administratively it is bordered by the
Poona district on the whole of the northern side, by the Sholapur district on
the east, by the Sangli district on the southeast and south, and by the
Ratnagiri district on the west; only over a length of about 15 miles the
Kolaba district borders on the northwest. Although the boundaries of the
district are mainly administrative, along several lines these coincide with
physical features, in that the Nira river practically forms a border over the
entire north, the main Sahyadrian range on the west and south-west, and
the Shikhar Shingnapur section of the Mahadeo hills on the east to
demarcate to some extent the lands of the Sholapur district.

65
4.5 Main Physical Features of Satara District

Relief and Drainage.

Residual hill ranges and the intermediate valleys, all well-developed on a

tableland surface, form the main element of landscape in the Satara
district. On the west, it has the Sahyadrian scarp with its major peaks,
usually flat topped, and intervening saddles. The Mahadeo Range, which is
the next major well developed range;, begins as an off-shoot of the
Sahyadries, in the north-western part of the district. Eastwards, it runs as a
main range and sends off several minor ranges south-eastwards and
southwards. The Sahyadrian range and its minor hill chains on the plateau
surface, and the Mahadeo range and its minor ranges, enclose between
them the major river svstems of Satara.

From the point of view of the peninsular drainage, the entire land of the
district belongs to the larger drainage system of the Krishna river. In this
district there are four distinct river basins: the Krishna draining the major
portion to the south, the Yerla also draining to the south the mid-east
portions, the Man draining the eastern parts to join the Bhima river outside
the limits of the district, and the Nira draining the northern belt of the
district.

Hills.

The Sahaydries.

The two major ranges, the Sahyadries and the Mahadeo, form, as
mentioned above, the major hill complex of the district, and these and their
several transverse members together with many isolated hill features and
knolls give Satara its dominant relief forms.

The Mahadeo.

The second chain of Satara hills is the Mahadeo range. In the north of the
district the range emanates from the Sahyadrian complex from about ten
miles north of Mahabaleshwar and stretches east and south-east across

66
the whole breadth of the district. The trend of the range for the first thirty
miles, to a little beyond the Khambatki pass through which runs the Satara-
Poona road, is towards the east.

Hill Forts.

Within Satara limits there are several notable hills and hill-forts. The names
of the major hills in the Khandala-Wai tract are, Baleghav. Dhamna, Harli.
Kamalgad, Kenjalgad, Mandhardev, Panchgani, Pandavgad, Pipli, Sonjai.
Vagdera, Vandan. Vairatgad and Eruli. Of these hills Sonjai, the lowest is
3.287 feet and Eruli, the highest, is 4.531 feet above the sea.

Rivers.

Within Satara limits there are four distinct river drainage areas; the Nira in
the entire northern belt, the Man in the south-east and the Yerla and the
Krishna in the south. The narrow belt beyond the Mahadeo hills is drained
north into the Nira which flows east into the Bhima, and the eastern part of
the district beyond the Mahimangad range is drained south-east along the
Man which afterwards flows east and north-east to join the Bhima.

Krishna.

The Krishna is one of the three great sacred rivers of Southern India. Like
the Godavari and Kaveri, it flows across almost the entire breadth of the
peninsula from west to cast and flows into, the Bay of Bengal. In length it is
less than the Godavari, but its drainage area, including the drainage of its
two great tributaries, the Bhima and Tungbhadra, is larger than that of
either the Godavari or the Kaveri. Its length is about 800 miles and its
drainage area is about 94,500 square miles. Of its 800 miles, about 110 lie
within Satara limits. The Krishna rises on the eastern brow of the
Mahabaleshwar plateau four miles west of the village of for in the extreme
west of Wai. The source of the river is about 4,500 feet above the sea in
18 1' north latitude and 73 41' east longitude. On the plateau of the
Mahabaleshwar hill near the source of the river stands an ancient temple of
Mahadeo. Inside the temple is a small reservoir into which a stream pours

67
out of a stone Gomukh. This is the traditional source of the river which
Hindus lovingly call Krishnabai the Lady Krishna". Number of pilgrims
crowd to the spot which is embowered in trees and flowering shrubs. From
its source the Krishna runs east for about fifteen miles till it reaches the
town of Wai. It receives the Kudali, from the right about two miles south of
Panchvad in South Wai. After meeting the Kudali, the river continues to run
south through the Satara Sub-Division by Nimb and Vaduth, and after
fifteen miles receives the Vena on the right near Mahuli, about three miles
east of Satara. As the confluence of the Krishna and Yenna, Mahuli is a
sacred spot. A fair is held five times in the year, once in Kartik, October-
November, in Chaitra, March-April, and in Ashadh, June-July, and twice in
Shravan. July-August. Alter meeting the Vena, the Krishna curves to the
south-east and separates Satara Sub-Division from Koregaon tor about ten
miles till it reaches the border of Karad. In Koregaon, after a course of forty
miles, about a mile east of Mangalpur, the Krishna receives the Vasna from
the left, and after a course of about fifty-five miles in the extreme south of
the Satara Sub-Division, about two miles south-west or Vanegaon. it
receives the Urmodi from the right. In Karad the river runs nearly south, it
receives from the right, two tributaries, the Tarli near Umbraj after a course
of about sixty-five miles and the Koyna near Karad after a course of about
seventy-five miles. Below Karad, it flows for about 30 miles and then enters
the limits of the Sangli district. Within Satara limits the Krishna is unfit for
navigation. The channel is too rocky and the stream too rapid to allow even
of small local craft. The banks are twenty to thirty feet high and generally
sloping, earthy and broken. The river bed, though in parts rocky, as a rule
is sandy. In Wai and Satara in the north-west except that melons are
grown, in its bed, the water of the Krishna is being increasingly used for
irrigation. In Karad, crops of sugarcane, groundnut, chillies, and wheat are
raised by watering the soil from recently made canals. During the fair
season the Krishna is everywhere easily forded, but during the rains there
is considerable body of water, and a bridge has been thrown over the
Krishna at Mahuli, three miles east of Satara, at Dhamner in the South of
Koregaon, at Umbraj, in Karad. Within Satara limits the Krishna is bridged
at Bhuinj on the Poona-Bangalore road, at Wai on the Poona-
68
Mahabaleshwar road, and at Vaduth on the old Poona road, and at Karad
to connect the town with the railway station on the east.

Kudali.

The Kudali, a small feeder of the Krishna in the north, rises near Kedamb in
Jaoli. and after a south-easterly course of about sixteen miles through Jaoli
and Wai. flanked by the Vairatgad range on the left or north and the
Hatgegad-Arle range on the right or south, joins the Krishna from the right
about two miles south of Panchvad in Wai.

The Vena or Yenna one of the Krishna's chief feeders, rises on the
Mahabaleshwar plateau and falls into the Yenna valley below the Lingmala
plantation, on the east point of the Mahabaleshwar hills about three miles
cast of Malcolmpeth. It flows between the Hatgegad-Arle range on the left
or north and the Satara range on the right or south, and after a south-
easterly course of about forty-miles through Jaoli and Satara, it joins the
Krishna at Mahuli about three miles east of Satara. In the hot season the
stream thins down and the water stands in pools. It is crossed by no ferries.
Besides a foot-bridge at Medha in Jaoli, it has four road bridges, one on the
Poona-Bangalore road at Varya, three miles north of Satara, two on the
Satara-Malcolmpeth road at Kanhera eight miles and at Kelghar twenty
miles north-west of Satara, and one on the old Poona road at Vadha-
Kheda, three miles north-east of Satara.

Urmodi

The Urmodi. a small feeder of the Krishna, rises near Kas in Jaoli. It passes
south-east along a valley flanked by the Satara range-on the left or north
and the Kalvali-Sonapur range on the right or south. After a south-easterly
course of about twenty miles, mostly through Satara, it joins the Krishna
about two miles south-west of Venegaon in the extreme south of the Satara
Sub-Division. The banks of the Urmodi arc high and steep. The flow of
water ceases in the hot season. There is no ferry, and only one bridge on
the Poona-Kolhapur road at Latna, nine miles south of Satara.

69
Tarli.

The Tarli, a small feeder of the Krishna, rises in the north-west of Patan
about ten miles above the village of Tarli. It flows south-east along a valley
flanked by the Kalvali-Sonapur range on the left or north-east and the Jalu-
Vasantgad range on the right or south-west. After a south-easterly course
of about twenty-two miles through Patau and Karad. it joins the Krishna
from the right at Umbraj in Karad.

Koyna.

The Koyna, the largest of the Satara feeders of the Krishna, rises on the
west side of the Mahabaleshwar plateau near Elphinstone Point in 17 58'
north latitude and 73" 43' east longitude. Of its course of eighty miles within
Satara limits, during the first forty it runs nearly south, and during the next
forty it runs nearly east. During its forty miles to the south the Koyna flows
along a beautiful valley' with the main line of the Sahyadris on the right and
on the left the Bamnoli-Gheradategad branch of the Sahyadris which runs
parallel to the main line at an equal height. In Jaoli the river passes by
Bamnoli and Tambi and receives the Solshi from tut-left about three miles
north of Bamnoli and the Kandati from the right about two miles south of
Bamnoli. At Helvak in Patan, after a course of forty miles, the river
suddenly turns east, and, after a further course of forty miles flowing by the
town of Patan, where it receives the Kera from the north, and on receiving
down stream the waters of Morna and Vang from the south it falls into the
Krishna at Karad. In the first forty miles the Koyna is seldom more than 100
feet broad; but in the last forty miles the bed is 300 to 500 feet wide.
Especially in the first forty miles the banks are broken and muddy and the
bed is of gravel.

To-day however the Koyna has become, probably the most important river
in Maharashtra on account of the Hydro-Electricity Project that is being
developed near Helvak.

70
Vasna.

The Vasna, a small left bank feeder of the Krishna, rises in the Mahadeo
range near Solshi in the north of Koregaon. It flows south along a valley
flanked by the Chandan-Vandan range on the right or west and by the
Vardhangad range on the left or east. It runs south for about twenty miles,
and from the left, joins the Krishna about a mile east of Mangalpur in
Koregaon.

Yerla.

The Yerla, the largest of the left bank or northern feeders of the Krishna,
rises in Solaknath hill in the extreme north of Khatav. It flows along a valley
flanked by the Vardhangad range on the right or west, and by the
Mahimangad range on the left or east. It runs south for about seventy-five
miles through Khatav in this district and through Khanapur and Tasgaon. In
Khatav it passes by Lalgun, Khatav, Vaduj, and Nimsod. After a south-
westerly course of about seventy-five miles the Yerla falls into the Krishna
within Sangli limits about six miles south of Bhilavdi. Its bed is sandy, and
its banks are sloping, earthy and muddy. The stream holds water
throughout the year and crops of sugarcane, groundnut, wheat, potatoes,
and onions are raised by bhudkis or wells sunk near the banks.

Nira.

Of the Bhima drainage, the two chief Satara representatives are the Nira in
the north and the Man in the north-east. The Nira which separates Satara
from Poona in the north, rises on the Sahyadri range within the lands of the
Bhor taluka of the Poona district. From its sources in Bhor the river runs
east to the north of the talukas of Wai and Khandala and Phaltan. After
leaving Phaltan, it runs north of Malsiras in Sholapur and falls into the
Bhima about five miles east of Tambve in the extreme north-east of
Malsiras. The Nira is bridged on the Poona-Kolhapur highway at Shirwal in
the Khandala taluka. The river has acquired great economic importance on
account of the Bhatgar dam (Poona district) and the newly constructed Vir
dam, both of which support an extensive net-work of canals for irrigation.

71
 Manganga.

The Manganga, a tributary of the Bhima, rises in the Tita hill in the north-
east of Man. Of a total length of about 100 miles, about forty lie in Man
within Satara limits. In Man the river runs southeast by Malvadi, Andhli,
Dahivadi, and Mhasvad. Beyond Satara limits the Manganga continues to
run south-east through Atpadi, and from Atpadi it turns north-east through.
Sangola and Pandharpur in Sholapur, and falls into the Bhima at Sarkoli
about ten miles south-east of Pandharpur. During the rains within the Man
sub division the water of the Manganga runs two to six feet deep. In the fair
season it is about two feet deep in some places and almost dry in others.
The bed is sandy and the banks highly eroded. In some parts near the river
banks crops of sugarcane, groundnut, wheat, sweet potatoes, and onions
are raised by pats or fair-weather channels.

4.6 Industries in Satara District

DURING THE LAST CENTURY SATARA WAS INDUSTRIALLY

BACKWARD, having only a few crafts. The chief crafts [Gazetteer of
Bombay Presidency (Satara), Vol. XIX, 1885, pp. 220-23.] were making
gold and silver ornaments, copper and brass pots and iron tools, stone-
cutting, pottery, carpentry, cotton-weaving, dyeing, blanket-weaving,
tanning and shoe-making. Besides working in gold and silver a few Sonars
(Goldsmiths) were well known for their skill in stone-setting. Tambats and
Kasars (copper and brasssmiths) were found in almost all towns. Copper
and brass pot-making was one of the chief local industries. Blacksmiths,
stone-cutters (Patharvats), potters (KutnbJiars), carpenters (Sutars),
weavers (Salis, Koshtis and Khatris) and blanket weavers (Sangars) were
found to flourish in almost all towns and large villages.

History of industrialisation in Satara dates back to 1916 when a glass

manufacturing factory was established at Ogalewadi. The year 1916 also
gave birth to an electricity generation plant in the district. The pace of
industrialisation was, however, very slow. No new industries were started
during the period following the First World War. A groundnut decorticating

72
factory was established in 1928. Increase in the area under sugarcane
cultivation gave impetus to the starting of a sugar factory in 1933. The
sugar factory was a landmark in the history of industrialisation of the
district. Two electricity generation plants were established in 1933 and
1940, respectively. The other industries like extraction of edible oil, copper
and brass rolling and general engineering came into existence after India
became politically free.

Sugar industry is one of the important industries in this district. It gives

employment to a large populace of sugarcane cultivators, skilled and
unskilled workers in factories and a number of technicians. There are at
present, three sugar factories in this district. The Cooper Engineering
Works at Satara Road have established a countrywide reputation for the
manufacture of engines, spare parts, machine tools, powerlooms and
agricultural implements.

In the small scale industries sector, general engineering, gul manufacture,

oilseeds crushing, weaving and pharmaceutical industries are important.

It is difficult to indicate the extent of industrialisation of Satara district in

comparison with other districts of Maharashtra. Such an appraisal will
necessitate the consideration of complicated issues such as availability of
raw materials, capital, private initiative and cntreproneurship, economies of
localisation, etc. It may be said however, that the district has not achieved a
high degree of industrialisation. There remains much to be accomplished.
The available resources regarding raw materials and supplv of labour are
not exploited to the fullest extent.

As regards mineral deposits, Satara does not enjoy a favourable position.

However, some of the tracks were found to possess deposits of iron ore,
lime stone and salt. Near the Sahyadris, in twenty villages of Javli and thirty
of Patau, iron ore [Gazetteer of Bombay Presidency (Satara District), Vol.
XIX, 1885. Mining has. however, been abandoned since the beginning of
this century.] was found in the murum or crumbled trap below the lalerite.
The iron one was smelted by a class of Musalmans called Dhavads. In

73
fixing where to dig for ore the Dhavads looked first to the presence on the
surface of small lime nodules or pieces of kankar of the size of a masur
bean. The next best sign of ore was a heavy blackish-yellow earth. The
methods of mining and smelting the ore were very crude. It was not
economic and, hence was abandoned.

Because of its nearness to the Sahyadris and the rocky nature of much of
its soil the district is well supplied with stone for building and for road metal.
The prevailing stone is trap in the plains and lalerite on the hills. The trap is
dark in colour and weighs 180 to 185 pounds per cubic foot. It is a hard
compact stone well suited for masonry purposes. Lime stone is found all
over the district in the plains, especially near Wai. It is either nodular called
kankar, or it occurs in seams along river banks. Kankar, if properly burnt,
makes good mortar, but the river seams yield the best lime for building.
Before the passing of the Salt Act of 1873, considerable quantities of salt
were produced from earth deposits in Man in the north-east of the district.

Koyana Electric Grid

The Koyna Electric Grid Scheme is a unique feature of the district. It is an

important landmark in the industrial development of the district and the
areas of southern Maharashtra. It is one of the biggest hydro-electric
projects in Maharashtra. It will encourage industrial growth and rural
electrification in the areas. The programme of rural electrification forms an
integral part of the Koyna Scheme.

The project is estimated to generate about 5,00,000 k.w. power on

completion. But initially in the first stage, it would generate about 2,40,000
k.w. Under this scheme it is proposed to construct the following major
transmission lines from Koyna Power House to Karad, Satara Road and
Vishrambag. It will serve Satara, Pancngani, Wai, Mahabaleshwar, Karad
and Satara Road.

The Koyna Electric Grid Scheme will have a considerable impact oh the
industrial development in this area. It will also fulfil the long-felt need of
rural electrification.

74
 The following statement gives statistics of the economically active (i.e. self-
supporting) persons engaged, in industries which might be grouped under
'Processing and Manufacture' and Construction and Utilities'.

NUMBER OF ECONOMICALLY ACTIVE (i.e., SELF-SUPPORTING)

PERSONS ENGAGED IN INDUSTRIES UNDER "PROCESSING AND
MANUFACTURE" AND "CONSTRUCTION AND UTILITIES" IN SATARA
DISTRICT IN 1951.

Table 4-2 Classification of Industries

Division 1
Independent
Total Employers Employees
Classification of Industries Workers
males females males females males females males females
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Processing and
manufacture of
1. foodstuffs, textiles, 10,840 1,271 278 33 2,140 292 8,422 946
leather and
products thereof.
Food industries
2. otherwise 165 13 6 -- 4 4 155 9
unclassified
3. Grains and pulses 411 15 70 2 237 7 104 6
Vegetable oils and
4. 649 127 32 4 132 17 485 106
dairy products
5. Sugar industries 966 40 2 -- 864 32 100 8.
6. Beverages 34 -- 5 -- 26 -- 3 --
7. Tobacco 85 47 9 -- 39 14 37 33
8.
Cotton textiles 2,164 273 17 3 588 98 1,559 172
Wearing apparel
(except ready-
9 1,720 99 47 4 97 4 1,576 91
made footwear)
and textile goods
Textile industries
10. otherwise 2,958 425 42 8 23 24 2,893 393
unclassified

Leather, leather
11. products and 1,688 232 48 12 130 92 1,510 128
footwear

75
Division 2

Independent
Total Employers Employees
Workers
Classification of Industries
female
males females males females males females males
s
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
1. Processing and 2,832 94 63 -- 1,483 31 1,286 63
manufacture of
metals, chemicals
and products
thereof.
2. Manufacture of 1,333 63 43 -- 164 4 1,126 57
metal products
otherwise
unclassified.
3. Iron and Steel 15 3 1 -- 14 3 -- --
4 Non-ferrous metals 38 -- -- -- -- -- 38 --
5. Transport 126 2 5 -- 65 -- 56 2
equipment
6. Electrical 1 -- -- -- -- -- 1 --
machinery
apparatus,
appliances and
supplies.
7. Machinery (other 1,217 16 3 -- 1,164 16 50 --
than electrical
machinery)
including
engineering
workshops.
8. Basic industrial 10 2 1 -- 7 2 2 --
chemicals, fertiliser
and power alcohol.
9. Medical and 4 3 -- -- 4 2 -- 1
pharmaceutical
preparations
10 Manufacture of 88 7 10 -- 65 4 13 3
chemical products
otherwise
unclassified.

76
Division 3
Independent
Total Employers Employees
Workers
Classification of Industries 1
males females males females males females males females
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Processing and manufacture
1. 5,905 332 126 6 1,266 59 4,513 267
not elsewhere specified
Manufacturing industries
2. 971 20 16 -- 26 3 929 17
otherwise unclassified
Bricks, tiles and other structural
3. 105 15 11 -- 50 7 38 8
clay products
Cement, cement pipes and
4. 9 -- -- -- 9 -- -- --
other cement products
5. Non-metallic mineral products 2,040 123 29 1 854 40 1,157 82
6. Rubber products manufacture 1 -- -- -- 1 -- -- --
Wood and wood products other
7 2.537 166 46 4 132 4 2,359 158
than furniture and fixtures
Furniture and fixtures
8. 11 -- -- -- 1 -- 10 --
manufacture
Paper and paper products
9. 31 4 -- -- 31 -- -- --
manufacture
10. Printing and allied industries 200 4 24 1 156 1 20 2

Division 4

Independent
Total Employers Employees
Workers
Classification of Industries 1
males females males females males females males females
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
1. Construction and Utilities 3,024 317 74 2 834 40 2,116 275
Construction and maintenance
2. 2,053 278 73 2 140 16 1,840 260
of buildings.
Construction and maintenance
3. of bridges, roads and other 268 14 -- -- 107 4 161 10
transport works.
Construction and maintenance
4. operations irrigation and 369 5 -- -- 297 5 72 --
other agricultural works.
Works and serviceselectric
5. 118 2 -- -- 112 1 6 1
power and gas supply.
Works and servicesdomestic
6. 57 4 1 -- 21 -- 35 4
and industrial water supply.
Sanitary works and services
7. 159 14 -- -- 157 14 2 --
including scavengers.

77
4.7 Standard Of Living

Any attempt to study the standard of life of the people of a particular place or
region necessitates the consideration of its physical aspects over and above
its socio-economic factors.

The population of the district in 2001 was 28,08,994 of which 14,08,326 were
males and 14,00,668 females. The occupational distribution of the population
was as follows:

Persons depending on agriculture 12,07,165

Persons depending on production other than
2,04,422
agriculture
Persons depending on commerce 1,42,923
Persons depending on transport 56,277
Persons depending on miscellaneous
3,13,522
occupations

The following pages give a brief description of the standard of living of

the people in both the urban and the rural areas of the district, for which a
sample survey on a small scale was conducted in Satara, Karad and
Phaltan regions of the districts.

Urban Areas.

The urban families were classified into the following three groups on the
basis of their actual income; (This is as per the Gazzeter of Satara
District )

with income of Rs. 250 and above per

High Income Group
month-
Middle Income with income ranging between Rs. 101
Group and Rs. 249 per month.
with income of Rs. 100 and below per
Low Income Group
month.

78
High Income Group.

For classifying a family in one of the income-groups, the total family income
is related in the following way. The standard size of a family is taken to be
four full units. A person below the age of 12 years constitutes half a unit
and a person above that age signifies one full unit. If the size of the family
to be classified is bigger than the standard one, the total income is adjusted
down-wards by relating it to a family of a standard size, for example, for a
family consisting of 6 units and having a total monthly income of Rs. 120,
the computed total income will be 4 X 120 /6 = Rs. 80

Hence the family will be classified as if the total family income was Rs. 80.

The computed monthly income of this group comes to Rs. 250. The group
consists of persons who follow such professions as education, engineering,
medicine, law, goldsmithy, lodging and boarding, etc. Included in this group
are also Class I and Class II Government Officers- Twenty-five families of
this category from Satara, Karad and Phaltan were investigated for the
purposes of this survey.

Generally every family possessed nearly 7.43 acres of land worth Rs.
7,130 of which only a small portion was mortgaged to the tune of Rs.
217.39. Most of the families in this group had their own houses and the
average value of the house did not exceed Rs. 2,500. Only four families
possessed cattle such as cows, buffaloes, etc.

Generally a family had only one earning member who was the head of the
household. The percentage of female earners was almost negligible. The
total income of a family on an average came to Rs. 376.48 per month,
while the expenditure of each family was Rs. 263.78. The surplus was
invested in banks, post-office, insurance, etc. The extent of indebtedness in
this group was very negligible and of the families investigated only one was
found to' have incurred debt to the tune of Rs. 1,500.

Commensurate with its higher standard the level of education of this group
was quite high, while the percentage of illiteracy was as low as 7.55. Nearly

79
20.75 per cent, of the population belonging to this category had taken
college education, 29.25 per cent, had reached the stage of secondary
education and the percentage of people taking primary education came to
42.45. Expenditure on education was found to be Rs. 442.42 per family per
year. The size of the family was quite small, each family having on an
average 2.91 adults and 1.73 minors or children.

Expenditure.

The average yearly expenditure of a family was Rs. 2,70,926, while its
income was Rs. 2,800.50 of which Rs. 971.46 were spent on articles of
food. The next important item of expenditure was clothing which accounted
for Rs. 107.73 per year. The other important items of expenditure were
housing, medicine, fuel land lighting, servants and miscellaneous. Yearly
expenditure on them came to Rs. 209.23, Rs. 100.30, Rs. 107.73, Rs.
115.73 and Rs. 442.42 respectively. Expenditure on entertainment was Rs.
33 per year.

Indebtedness.

The bedding of the family consisted of a few mattresses and chaddars,

while the household utensils consisted mostly of brass. These families also
had some stainless steel vessels and utensils.

As the economic conditions of these, families were somewhat satisfactory

there was little need for them to borrow for the purposes of their
maintenance. Loans were raised mostly for production on agricultural lands
as well as for business. Of 28 families investigated from this group about 8
had contracted debts amounting to Rs. 26,850. The amount of loans taken
by individual families varied between Rs. 250 and Rs. 5,000. In most of the
cases the source of loan was. banks and co-operative societies while their
duration was one year and the rate of interest varied between 7 per cent,
and 9 per cent.

80
Middle Income Group.

The families with an average income of between Rs. 100 and Rs. 249 per
month belong to this group. The family budgets of forty-eight families from
this group were examined. Each family constituted on an average five
members of whom 2.97 were adults and 2.06 minors or children. The
number of male earners per family was 1.21 and that of female earners
only 0.04. The average monthly income from the principal and allied
sources was Rs. 159 per month while its expenditure came to Rs. 142.37
per family.

Expenditure.

Annual expenditure of an average family on food was Rs. 921.15. The

expenditure on milk and milk products and on vegetables was small in
comparison with the expenditure on similar items in case of higher income
groups. As regards expenditure on items other than food an average family
spent about Rs. 200 per year on clothing, Rs. 78 on medical aids, Rs. 17
on domestic services and Rs. 62 on education. Entertainment accounted
for Rs. 17 per year.

Indebtedness.

Of the 47 families investigated, 18 were found to be in debt. The total debt

incurred by the families was Rs. 15,086, which worked out at an average of
Rs. 838 per family. The purposes of the debt were specified as follows: Of
the total sum borrowed, 21.5 per cent, was borrowed for maintenance, 8.1
for marriage and other rituals, 45.00 for business, 14.5 for construction of
buildings, 1.9 for purchase of machinery, etc. Banks, businessmen,
insurance companies, co operative societies and relations were the main
sources of loan. Interest rates varied between 5 per cent, and 8 per cent,
and debts were repayable within periods varying between one and three
years.

81
Education.

More that one -fourth the population from this group was found illiterate.
Illiteracy in this group was more pronounced than in any other group.
Percentage of secondary and college education dropped quite steeply
while the percentage of people who had taken or were taking secondary
education was only 10.58. Percentage for college education was only 5.29.
There was lack of sufficient funds to provide for the education. Out of 11
persons who had taken college education only 2 were females.

Low Income Group

This group includes families with incomes of Rs. 1,200 or below per
annum. The average number of members in a family belonging to this
group was found to be 7.8 consisting of 5.11 adults and 2.57 children. Both
the male and the female members of the family worked. A few had
ownership in land which worked out at an average of 1.63 acres valued at
Rs. 1,200. In some cases the land was found mortgaged or pledged as
security for contracting loans. Very few families were in possession of
valuables and even such possessions were not worth Rs. 300. Only a few
families owned cattle-heads worth Rs. 120 only.

The average income of a family in this group was about Rs. 133 per month.
The low income and the large number of members in the families made it
difficult to the families in this group to make both ends meet. Their major
items of expenditure were food and clothing. The family from this group
spent Rs. 900 per year on articles of food alone. Expenditure on clothing
was another significant item in the budget on which the family could not
afford to spend more than Rs. 200 per year. The expenditure over other
items was allocated thus: Rs. 47.76 for housing, Rs. 56.23 for medicine,
Rs. 78.28 for education, Rs. 14.88 for entertainment and Rs. 43 for
domestic services.

82
Indebtedness.

Debt was a normal feature of the families in this group. Of the 11 families
surveyed for this purpose it was found that the total amount borrowed by
them was Rs. 19,460, the average working out at Rs. 1,769 per family. The
debts were contracted for numerous purposes such as clearing off old
debts, construction of houses, marriages, education, investment in
business, etc., mostly from private sources such as merchants, relatives,
petty traders and such others. The share of responsibility for loans in
respect of co-operative banks was negligible. The rates of interest varied
from six per cent, to nine per cent., the incidence of interest being very high
when the loan was contracted from private institutions and relatives. The
repayment was spread over from one to ten years. Immovable property
normally served as security but in many cases loans were granted on
personal credit and mutual relationship also.

In the matter of education progress made by this group of families was not
far from satisfactory. The general tone of literacy was quite high with
asmuch as 70 per cent, knowing reading and writing. About 40 per cent, of
the literates had primary education. Nearly 8.45 per cent, of the literates
had attained the level of secondary and only 3.02 per cent, the level of
college education. Poverty and necessity to earn in early childhood
deprived a large part of populace from getting benefits of higher education.
However, there is found to be a major educational build up in this group
due to the implemention of the new policy of Government to grant free
education at all levels in case of those families whose annual income is
below Rs. 1,200.

Rural Areas.

The rural standard of life offers a picture in contrast as compared to its

urban counterpart. The ruralites do not get the same amenities as urbanites
due to general rural backwardness, lack of proper transport and
communication.

83
Classification of people in rural areas into various income-groups is made on
lines similar to those on which grouping of urban population is based. And the
villages from which these people come are selected in the same way as is
done in the urban areas so that they can faithfully represent the conditions of
the people in the whole district.

High Income Group.

Most of the families in this group were those of agriculturists owning vast
tracts of land and with an income exceeding Rs. 3,000 a year.

The amount of security and stability generally enjoyed by this class by virtue
of its ownership over land and other property is greater than any other class
of the rural society. For example, an average family of an agriculturist from
this group was found to have owned land worth Rs. 20,000 or above, a house
worth Rs. 8,500, cattle-head worth Rs. 4,000 and gold and silver ornaments
costing over Rs. 1,200 or so.

The average number of members in the family of this group was five of whom
three were adults. The monthly income and expenditure of these families
amounted to Rs. 450 and Rs. 370, respectively.

Expenditure.

On food the family had to spent as much as, Rs. 1,200 whereas on clothing
the average expenditure was Rs. 250 per year. Expenditure on fuel and
lighting was Rs. 80.3, repairing of houses Rs. 87.0, medical aids Rs. 65.0,
entertainment Rs. 21.7, education Rs. 39.5, miscellaneous Rs. 36.0. The
expenditure on entertainment was negligible due to the semiabsence of
theatres in the villages.

The level of education of the rural population was low compared to that of the
urban population in the district. Among all the three groups, however, this
group stood quite high as far as general literacy and the tone of education
was concerned. Only 23.5 per cent, of the rural population from this group

84
was found illiterate, while more than 50 per cent, had completed primary
education and more than 23 per cent, had taken secondary education.
Percentage of those who had reached the level of higher or college
education, of course, was as low as 2.90.

Inventory.

The family possessions of this group were as under utensils (mostly brass
and some stainless steel) to the value of Rs. 315.5, furniture worth Rs. 66,
cotton and silk clothes worth, Rs. 244, bedding material worth Rs. 88.6 and
bicycles, bullock cart worth Rs. 860. Many families also had radio, valuable
religious books, old photo-frames, etc. estimated to cost about Rs. 500 to Rs.
800. People in rural areas had a fascination for gold and silver and the
families in this group were not an exception. The survey revealed that on an
average each family possessed gold and silver ornaments to the tune of Rs.
1,100.

Middle Income Group.

The average family in this group consisted of five members of whom four
were adults. In each family the number of earners was more than one even
though the head of the family was the principal earning member. The total
earnings of the family from all sources were about Rs. 228 per month. Nearly
every family owned a house worth Rs. 3,000 or above and land admeasuring
about 14 acres, and six heads of cattle valued at about Rs. 1,000. The value
of gold and silver possessions by some families could be placed at Rs. 1,300.

The monthly expenditure which an average family had to incur was calculated
to be Rs. 115.7, and the annual savings were Rs. 493.4 This does not mean
that all the families in this group had a sound financial position or could very
well balance their budgets.

85
Indebtedness.

A number of households were running into debts, the aggregate amount of

their debts came to Rs. 24,130 and the average worked out at Rs. 1,856 0.
These loans were contracted for various purposes such as, maintenance,
business, construction of houses and wells, improvements on land, marriage,
sickness, etc. The creditors be longed to different categories which included
merchants, friends and relatives. The agriculturist also received assistance by
way of tagai loans and credits from the co-operative societies. Variations in
the rates of interest were remarkable, depending upon the source from which
loan was taken and the purpose of its utilization as could be seen from the
following figures:

Tagai 0.48 per cent

Private Sources 7.8 per cent.

The period covered by these loans also differed, as in the case of Tagai it
was one year, in case of private loans it was two years or more and in some
cases ranging over a period of even 15 years also.

Nearly a third section of the population from this group in the district was
illiterate. About sixty per cent, had taken only primary education, while
persons going in for secondary education formed as low a percentage as ten.
College education was almost rare.

Inventory.

Most of the family possessions were in the form of gold and silver ornaments.
An average family had ornaments worth Rs. 638 or above. Besides this, it
had all the necessary domestic utensils, mostly of brass, worth Rs. 97,
bedding worth Rs. 108, and clothes worth Rs. 325. It was also found that
nearly half the number of families also possessed vehicles such as bicycles,
bullock-carts, etc., the cost of which ranged from Rs. 150 to Rs. 500. A
family, besides its house or land, possessed other property valued at Rs.
2,000.

86
Low Income Group.

This group is economically the most handicapped section of the rural

community. With a limited income capacity it finds extremely difficult to
make its both ends meet. The following account attempts in brief to assess
the economic position of the group manifested through the available
statistical data and on-the-spot personal impressions.

The computed income of the family unit in this group came to about Rs. 84.
per month. An average family was composed of five members, of whom
three were adults. Inspite of the fact that some of the families did possess
agricultural lands their average income was too small to make sizable
additions to the total resources of the family. The total area of land in
possession of an average family worked out at less than 10 acres while its
value was about Rs. 4,000, Instances of lands mortgaged were, however,
very rare. Besides landed property, the family on an average possessed a
house worth Rs. 1,200, about three heads of cattle, the value of which
could well go over Rs. 1,200, and gold and silver ornaments worth Rs. 200.

Expenditure

Of the total expenditure, 47 per cent. was earmarked for food items,
consisting mostly of cereals like Bajri or Jowar and meagre quantities of
milk, tea, vegetables, etc. Milk did not form either a part of the regular
meals of the family or a drink even for children. The average family had to
spend 17. 6 per cent, on clothing. Besides this expenditure on clothing, the
family had to spend 9 per cent, of its total expenditure on fuel and lighting,
2.4 per cent, on medical aids, 4.5 per cent, on education and 0.4 per cent,
on entertainments and nearly 14 per cent, on miscellaneous items.

The educational standards of this class were very low with more than 50
per cent, above five years of age being illiterate. Among the literates 88 per
cent, had studied up to primary level and the rest up to the secondary level.
Very few persons had taken college education.

87
Indebtedness.

The incomeexpenditure pattern of this group reveals deficit budgeting. To

fill up this gap borrowings were resorted to. Of the total families surveyed
more than 62 per cent, had borrowed money and the average debt per family
worked out at Rs. 742.

Loans were mostly borrowed from relatives and friends, co-operative

societies, money lenders, merchants and petty shopkeepers. The high
incidence of indebtedness can be directly attributed in a large number of
cases to the insufficient income of these families. The rates of interest
charged by the money lenders ranged from 7.50 to 12 per cent. The duration
of loans varied from one year in the case of loans taken from money lenders
to about five years in case of loans from friends and relatives.

Planning and Standard of Life

Among the manifold schemes included in the "five-year plans" nothing

concerns the village life as closely as the Community Development and the
National Extension Service Schemes. The Community Development
Programme was started in this district in 1952 with a view to building up a
new life and to create a new pattern of society in rural areas. Later on, the
programme of Community Development was broadened in its application
under the name of National Extension Service. Objectives of both these
programmes are identical. They seek to bring about a social change by
arousing the enthusiasm of the rural people for a new way of life and to put
an end to poverty and starvation by initiating a process of growth in which
every family in the village will be enabled to participate. The aim of the
programme is not only confined to material development such as provision of
food, clothing, shelter, health and recreational facilities but it extends to more
important aspects of changing outlook of the people, instilling in them an
ambition for higher standards of life and the will and determination to work for
such standards. In this district the talukas of Karad, Patan, Satara, and
Khandala have been covered by National Extension Services and Community

88
Development Block Schemes. Of these, Karad taluka is made a Post
Intensive Block, the talukas of Patan and Satara fall under Community
Development Block, while Khandala alone falls under the National Extension
Services.

(These are indicative income levels as per Gazeteer of Satara District

published by Government of Maharashtra.)

4.8 Literacy & Educational Standards

The Educational standards in the district are in keeping with the general
educational pattern in the country. The gradual increase in the number of
literates from 33,161 (for the former Satara district comprising the present
Satara and Sangli districts) in 1911 to 2,21,231 in 1951 is a sufficient
testimony to the fact that in the recent past conscious effort was being made
by the State Government and some voluntary organisations for the spread of
literacy and education. The percentage of literates to the total population
came to 20.60 in 1957-58. However, as compared to some other districts of
the State. Satara district has a comparatively large number of educational
institutions. There were in 1957-58 the following educational institutions in the
district: seven for higher education; 64 for secondary education; 1,347 for
primary education and 922 other educational institutions. The following few
figures give an idea of the level of literacy prevailing in the district according
to the 2001 census: -

89
Table 4-3 Urban Rural Population & Literacy Rate of Satara District. (Census 2001
updated 2008)
Sr. Taluka Urban Population Male Towns Citie Literacy
No. /Rural Dencity Female
Ratio
Tot Ma Fema
al le le
1 Satara Total 516 973 210 5 85 92 77
Rural 325 1004 210 0 82 91 73
Urban 22055 922 0 5 89 94 84

2 Javali Total 144 1100 218 0 76 89 64

Rural 144 1100 218 0 76 89 64
Urban 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

3 Patan Total 226 1089 343 1 72 86 60

Rural 218 1095 343 0 72 86 59
Urban 2010 940 0 1 89 95 82

4 Karad Total 561 961 220 2 79 88 69

Rural 500 963 220 0 78 88 68
Urban 23478 941 0 2 86 91 80

5 Mahabaleshwar Total 245 873 55 2 85 93 75

Rural 145 962 55 0 81 92 69
Urban 967 785 0 2 89 94 82

6 Wai Total 306 1021 120 1 80 90 71

Rural 257 1033 120 0 78 89 69
Urban 7606 957 0 1 87 93 81

7 Khandala Total 229 960 66 1 80 89 71

Rural 206 965 66 1 79 89 70
Urban 0 915 0 0 84 90 78

8 Phaltan Total 261 953 123 1 76 85 66

Rural 220 952 123 0 74 84 63
Urban 7095 959 0 1 85 91 78

9 Man Total 138 995 104 1 69 80 58

Rural 131 996 104 0 69 80 57
Urban 246 984 0 1 71 82 60

10 Khatav Total 231 1024 141 0 77 87 67

Rural 231 1024 141 0 77 87 67
Urban 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

11 Koregaon Total 275 1000 139 1 81 90 73

Rural 279 1003 139 0 81 90 72
Urban 228 965 0 1 82 90 75

90
Table 4-4 Age Wise Distribution of Satara District Population
Sr.No Age Total Male Female
1 0-6 3686 3216 470
2 7 to 14 4886 4191 695
3 15 to 19 2677 2268 409
4 20 to 24 2363 1986 377
5 25 to 29 2185 1835 350
6 30 to 34 1976 1662 314
7 35 to 39 1960 1662 298
8 40 to 49 3081 2628 453
9 50 to 59 2081 1802 279
10 Above 60 3172 2839 333
11 Not Known 21 19 2
Total All Age Group 28088 24108 3980
In the post independence period the district has made a distinct progress
[The information has been supplied by the District Educational Inspector.]
in the spread of literacy amongst the village population. In the year 1958-59
about 10,000 illiterate adults were turned literate, while during 1959-60 the
number was almost doubled (i.e. rose upto 21,000) and in 2001 census it
has increased up to average 88% of total population . The success
achieved in the field of social education was due to untiring efforts on the
part of social workers, inspecting officers, local bodies and institutions;
propaganda by means of pamphlets, speeches, bulletins, etc. and co-
operation and enthusiasm of the villagers. (Directorate of Economics &
Statistics, 2009) (Directorate of Economics & Statistics, 2006-2007)

This all review gives details about the study area profile and it establishes its
relevance with the present study.

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