MARATHWADA

Term Paper

Course : RD402 (Regional Geography with Special

Reference to India)
Class : M.A. Sem-1
Submitted to : Prof B.S. Butola
By : Chandramani Choubey
CHAPTER - 1

Scheme of regionalization –

I(a) Hills
[Link]
REGIONS
I(b). Rivers

MARATHWADA
II(a) Historical
Regions

II. HUMANISTIC II(b). Social

REGIONS Regions

III(b).
Demographic
Regions

INTRODUCTION-
Marathwada is one of the six divisions of Maharashtra state of India. The name Marathwada
is given by the people to a specific area of land where the Marathi speaking peoples resides in the
former state of Hyderabad ruled by Nizam. This name indicates the majority of the people lives
here are used to talk Marathi language in comparison with other languages (Urdu,Hindi) of the
region. Head quarter of this region is at Aurangabad, this is the centre part of the Maharashtra state.
There are eight districts in this region which are Aurangabad, Jalna, Beed, Parbhani, Latur,
Osmanabad, Nanded and Hingoli.

PHYSIOGRAPHY
Physiography is one of the dominant parameter of physical environment and its impact on
patterns and density of agriculture is immense. The study of the influence of environment upon the
nature and distribution of crops and livestock is of prime importance in agricultural geography.
Nature with its physical characteristics provided a host of possibilities for agriculture in different
areas.
Marathwada is a part of Deccan plateau with general slope in south-east direction from
Sahyadris and has many features in common with upland districts of Deccan plateau. It shows a
combination of small and big plateaus, hilly ranges, Measas, buttes and Inselbergs and presents
generally highly dissected landscape. As a part of the Deccan plateau, the land of the Marathwada
region has a general elevation of about 500 metres above the sea level, highest and lowest level
being 958 metre in Satmala rang and 366 metres above sea level on the Godavari bank near the
point where the river crosses over the Parbhani district boundary, Marathwada is divided into two
broad physical divisions.
(i) Hilly ranges
(ii) River basins.

(i) Hilly ranges:- There are two major hilly ranges in the region, the satmala in the north and
Balaghat in the south.

(A) The Satmala of the Ajanta range enters at the north-western corner of the region and
runs close and parallel to the northern border of the region upto Ajanta acting as the watershed
between the Tapi vally in the north and Godavary valley in south. The satmala hill (943 Metres)
from which one of the names of the range is derived is situated north of the Kannad town.
Communication from Kannad to chatisgaon across the Satmala range is situated about 7 km. to the
west of this Satmala range. The Satmala range contains several hill forts on it overlooking the Tapi
valley to the north from west to east they are Antur (826 metres) Satonba (552 Metres), Abasgadh
(671 Metres), Baithalwadi (625 Metres) and Ajanta (578 metres).
 (B) Balaghat range : The Balaghat ranges run through the southern part of the Beed district
acting as the watershed between the Godavari basin in the north and Bhima basin is the south. The
Balaghat range run for a distance of 350 kms in a north-west to south-east direction nght across the
region from Ashti in Beed district in the west to Biloli tahsil of Nanded district in the east. It has an
average width of about 8 km. and has steep slopes facing northwards the Godavari river. The
southern founding scarp of this range starts from Chincholi (Beed district) appex and runs first
southwards and then in a south-easterly direction forming boundary between Ashti and Patoda
tahasils of Beed district. It enters in Osmanabad district near Langerwadi and runs south-eastwards
passing through Udgir tahasil. The railway hne as also the road from Parli through Udgir to Bidar of
Mysore state run on this ridge.

(C) Minor ranges:- Besides Satmala and Balaghat ranges running eastwest in the region,
there are another three important ranges viz, Jintur range, Mahur hills and Nirmal range. The Jintur
range is the more prominent portion in the heights of the Parbhani district. It is a remnant with a
general trend from north-west to south-east and forms a part of the Ajanta range. Mahur hills are
found in Parbhani and Nanded districts. Mahur hills are low ranges of hills generally trending west-
east separates the penganga valley from that of the Kaidhu to its south.
(ii) River Basins
There are three important river basins in Marathwada region viz. Godavari basin,
Marathwada Purna and Penganga basin The Godavari river basin occupies the southem part of
Aurangabad-Jalna districts, Northern part of Beed district and central part of parbhani and Nanded
district. The Purna basin comprises the whole tahsil of sillod (Aurangabad district), Jafferabad tahil
(Jalna), northern part of Kannad tahsil and eastern part of Khulatabad tahsil (Aurangabad district)
and Bhokardan tahsil (Jalna district) excluding its small north-eastern portion forming a salient
features between Jalgaon and Buldhana districts. The Penganga, after collecting the waters of the
southern belts of the Buldhana and Akola districts drains the north-eastern Margin with the aid of
Its tributary the Kaidhu river. Agricultural activities are mainly concertrated in the river basins in
the Marathwada region. They are also found over the plateau region.

DRAINAGE
Drainage is a comprehensive expression in geography. It includes surface as well as
underground water flow. It is the result of a combination of numerous factors including climate
particularly precipitation, insolation, humidity, cloudiness, wind force and direction, structure and
type of rocks, vegetation, soil and human utilization, human obstructions to natural water flow such
as roads, railways, dams and reservoirs also change its nature. However, drainage is one of the most
important components of physical environment which affects agriculture directly and indirectly
Groundwater influent becomes the base flow that maintains the flow of streams in fair weather
when we speak of surface water we mean stream flow regardless of its source.
Therefore, surface water is by far the most important means for providing substantial irrigation with
stabilizes and improves agro-economic Use in an area that has otherwise plenty of land potential.
Because of the uncertainty in the flow of surface water it is probable that any attempt to improve
agricultural techniques and land-use planning without combating the problem with the help of
shallow and deep water tables is bound to be absorptive.

The following are the notable rivers in Marathwada region :

(i) Godavari: Godavari is the most important river in this region. Godavari enters in Marathwada
region at Punfamba in the Aurangabad district, runs on its southern boundary separating it from the
Beed district, flow through the parbhani and Nanded districts to enter the Andhra Pradesh Purna
enters the region from the north west corner of the Parbhani district and
flows south-east to fall into Godavari about 24 kilometres cupstream from Nanded district. From
the eight bank it receives the smdhaphana (which drains the land of Beed district) and the wan, the
Macchili, the Galati and the Dhond streams. Agricultural activities are highly concertratedin
Godavari river basin.
(ii) Marathwada Purna :- The Marathwada Puma takes its rise in the Ajanta range about 56.31
kms to the north of Aurangabad city m Ajanta hills in the Kannad tahsil of Aurangabad district. It
has a general south-westerly trend for the major length, but in the last strech of about 72.4
Kilometres, it flows almost due south to reach Godavari. The river has a length of about 273.53
kilometres which lies in Buldhana district the puma drains the land of Aurangabad and Parbhani
districts of Marathwada region. In the region of the source waters, which lies in aurangabad Khelna,
Anjan and Girna but in the lower middle portion, which has in parbhani district has entrenched and
meandering course flanked by enclosed scarp-lands on either side.
(iii) Dudhana :- The Dudhana a major tributary of the Purna, take its rise in Aurangabad district in
the wide amphitheatre of the Khultabad Mahismal range, which also is the source region of the
Kham river in Aurangabad district After draining the hilly region through small tributaries, the river
acquires a broad and more perennial from about 56.32 kilometers downstream. For the first 96.54
kilometers it drains the land of Aurangabad and Jalna districts. In Parbhani it has another streach of
about 80.45 kms. before it joins the Puma a little to the north-east of Parbhani city.
The other important rivers are Lendi, Bendsura, Dhondrai, Sindhapana, Saraswati in Beed district,
Penganga, Manyad, Ashna lendi in Nanded district, Kaydhu, Kapra in parbhani district and Kham
in Aurangabad district. Most of the rivers of Marathwada region have seasonal flow They become
dry in the summer season, hence they are not useful for agriculture in the summer season.
Therefore, it is necessary to put the various bandhara's in these rivers and store the wastage water in
raing season and use that water for irrigation in winter and summer season.

CLIMATE
 The climate of Marathwada, during the greater part of the year, is temperate and agreeable,
being a medium between the extremes of hot and cold. The rainfall is mainly dependent on the
summer rains brought by the south-west monsoon, the average being 32 inches. In a large measure
climate determines where man may live and thrive, what crops he may raise? What type of home he
may appropriately build? What sort of clothing he may wear? and what pests and diseases he must
combat? The potential crop producing capability of a given area is dependent mainly on the existing
climatic and soil conditions Since, Climatic factors exert mainly a regional influence on plant life,
the differences in the behavior on a crop or a group of crops over extensive area as in a given state
or a group of states, may be considered as due primarily of differences in climatic rather than soil
obvious condition that climate dictates the range of crops which a country can economically
produce. This in turn sets the range of commodities which that country must important if it wishes
its people to live a full life in the modem sense. The success or failure of the cropping season is
determined by the intensity of the climatic factors the three most important factors of climate from
the stand point of plant response are temperature, water supply and light and they may be treated as
primary determinants of crop growth.
(i) Temperature: Temperature conditions have been for less erratic from year to year than rainfall
conditions in each agricultural region However, great annual ranges may be highly significant in
different zones giving rise two or more cropping seasons. For this reason, specially m Marathwada
a different crops are raised in different seasons. Without suitable temperature conditions,
germination of seeds and growth of plants are retarded. Temperature regulates all the chemical and
physical processes of plant metabolism. The Metabolic processes begin at a certain minimum
temperature and increase with rise of temperature until they reach a maximum at a temperature
called the optimum. Further with rise in temperature above the optimum level the metabolic activity
is slowed down until it ceases at a temperature called the maximum Each species has its own
minimum and maximum beyond which its life activity ceases. Each crop plant needs a certain
number of effective heat units for germination, growth, stalking, maturing and ripening. This is
called the thermal constant and varies from crop to crop. Temperature above the minimum is
therefore, effective in furthering the growth of a plant towards maturity and ripening. The crucial air
temperature is 6° at and above which plants grow. It is also known as the crucial limit. Ideal
temperature conditions for crop production are between 18.3℃ and 23.9°C. In the cold season the
region is sometimes affected by cold waves which are associated with the passage eastwards of
western disturbances across North India on such occasions, the minimum temperature may drop to
5° or 6° Celsius. The period from March to May is one of continuous increase in both day and night
temperatures. Sometimes day temperatures increases up to 45 Celsius in Parbhani, Beed, Latur and
also Aurangabad district. With the advance of the south-west monsoon into the region by about the
first or second week of June temperatures fall appreciably and the weather is pleasant throughout
the south-west monsoon by about the first week of October the monsoon wind stops and the
temperatures show a slight increase in October. There for temperature begin to drop gradually.
(ii) Rainfall: Rainfall as the primary ecological parameter has created a variety of farming
enterprises, types or systems in the world. It is the dominant single weather element influencing the
intensity and location of farming systems and the farmer's choice of enterprises. It also becomes a
climatic hazard to farming when it is characterized with scantiness, concentration, intensity,
variability, and unreliability It is all the more important in the minimal regions, where average or
normal rain fall is generally necessary for successful crop production. In such area the system of
crop production must be correlated more or less to the moisture factor. About more than 84% of the
annual rainfall in the region is received during the south-west monsoon season, the rainiest month
being July, July gets the heaviest rainfall in the north east, while the retreating monsoon rainfall in
September becomes more important in the east. On an average there are 45 rainy days. The south-
west monsoon is the pivot around which almost the entire farm life and economy swings.
Climatic divisions of Marathwada region :-
Taking into consideration the factors like, soil, crops, altitude, rainfall, temperature etc. the
state of Maharashtra has been divided into nine broad agro climatic zones.
The area of Marathwada region falls under three zones they are as following :-
(i) Scarcity zone.
(ii) Assured rainfall zone.
(iii) Moderate to highly rainfall zone.
(i) Scarcity Zone :- The scarcity zone lies west of the isohyetal line of 700mm and includes
western strip of Beed, Auragabad and Jalana districts, Tuljapur, Kallam, Bh^om and Paranda tahsils
of Osmanabad district. Particulary this zone is known as drought prone area. Vaijapur, Gangapur,
Kannad, Khultabad, aurangabad, Paithan, Ambad, Geh, Ashti, Patoda, Beed, Kaij, Parenda, Bhum,
Kallam, Osmanabad and Tuljapur tahsils comes under the jurisdiction of drought prone area. But
due to the Jayakwadi project,
Galhati (Ambad) Kohli project (Vaijapur), Purna Anicut (Kannad) and Manjara projects the
intensity of drought has reduced to some extent (Map
(ii) Assured rainfall zone:- The assured rainfall zone extends between 700 to 900mm. Isohyetal
lines covering between western gulf of the Parbham district, southern Nanded and remaining parts
of Aurangabad, Jalna, Beed and Osmanabad districts.
(iii) Moderately high rainfall zone :- The area east of the isohyetal lines of 900mm. comes under
moderately high rainfall zone which extends over eastern part of the Parbham district and northern
portion of the Nanded district..
SOILS
Soils provide essential material on which agriculture is based, and therefore, any
comprehensive survey of the geography of agriculture should include a fairly thorough treatment of
soils. The top or upper layer of soils has an average thickness of between 15 and 20 cm depending
upon local conditions. Topography shows dominating influence on soil variation in the marathwada
region. The Marathwada region is covered by the geological formation of Deccan trap. The
development of soils is, therefore, mainly influenced by the topographical situation. Soils along the
banks rivers are deep and day. Most of the region is covered with black cotton soils or 'Regur'
drained from the Deccan trap volcanic rock. However, the soil vary greatly in texture and depth.
Soils along the river banks and nalas are deep and very fertile and capable of retaining moisture.
The soils however, coarse, shallow and relatively poor along the hill slopes and at the foot of the
hills. The deep black soils are found along the banks of Godavari, Manjara, Purna, Penganga,
Dhudhana and their tributaries. Soils have light grey brown to grey brown colour on the surface,
clayey texture and blacky structure. They are moderately high in soil reaction with the total soluble
salt content varying between 0.26 find 0.94 percent calcium corbonate IS high but shows wide
variation from 5 20% to 19.60% organic matter varies from 0.5% to 1.58%
NATURAL VEGETATION
The natural vegetation of region depends upon the distribution of climatic elements over the
region, edaphic or soil conditions, topography of terrain, natural drainage conditions, biotic factors
and the extent of human interference. The forests are mainly concentrated in Kinwat, Nanded,
Bhokar and Hadgaon tahsils of Nanded district, Jintur, Parbhani, Basmath, Kalamnun,
Hingoli tahsils of Parbhani district, Kannad, Khultabad, Daultabad tahsils of Aurangabad district,
northem and eastern part of Beed district, Latur, Jalna and Osmanabad distircts have scattered type
trees. The forest of Marathwada region can be broadly divided into the following groups.
(1) Dry Teak Type :- This is a climatic and an biotic chmax and is confinedto most of the area of
Kinwat, mahur, Islampur, Nanded and Bhokar range in Nanded district and Kannad tahsil of
Aurangabad district. Teak forms at least 20% of the forest. Apart from teak, Dhavada and salai from
the main species in the overwood. Other principle associates are moi, Kalam, Hiwart Tiwas etc.
(ii) Mixed Miscellaneous type :- This type of forest is mainly confined to most of the areas of
kinwat tahsil in Nanded district and Kannad, Khultabad tahsil in Aurangabad district. The important
species are Dhawada, salai etc.
(ill) Thorny scrub type :- Thormy scrubs are found in all districts of Marathwada region. Bor,
Dehti, Henkal, Khair, Babul, Amoni are the main species found in this forest.
(iv) Grass lands :- Grasslands which are well protected commercial kurans used mainly for fodder
grass which is sold on cutting terms, the main species being marvel, kunda, paoya, rosha, kusal etc.
Grasslands are mainly concentrated in Aurangabad and Nanded district

HUMAN ASPECTS-
 1. HISTORICAL ASPECTS :-

The boundaries of the region now known as Marathwada, have been of a varying nature during
the different historical periods. The name Marathwada was given to that part of Nizam's Dominions
which was inhabited mostly by the Marathi speaking people. But it does not mean that all the
regions of the Marathi speaking people of Nizam's dominions were incl'uded in it. Some of the
Taluk as which were to be included in this part, being of Marathi speaking people, were included,
for administrative purpose, either in the Bidar District of Karnatak or Adilabad and Nizamabad
districts of Telangana. In 1795 A,D. the Nizam of Hyderabad handed over the Marathwada region
to the Peshwas, In the confusion that followed the death of Sawai Madhao Rao, it was again
conquered by the Nizam and then the process of separating Marathwada from the parental
Maharashtra region started in 1800.
Marathwada were firstly transferred from Hyderabad state to Bombay state in 1956 and later
when a separate Maharashtra State was formed in the year 1960 it is included in this new state.
The location of the ancient and medieval monuments suggests the existence of important routes
running through the Deccan and connecting directly or indirectly such important medieval cities
and towns as Vatapi, Malkhed, Kalyani, Sinnar, Kalyan and Sopara and Latur, Ter, Paithan and
Devagiri. A few passes in the spurs of the Sahyadri connect the former Hyderabad State in the east
and south with the districts of Poona and Ahamednagar. Periplus mentions a trade route connecting
Paithan and Ter with Bhadoch (Broach). Another Sirthavaha-Patha (caravan-route) was running
from Nasik (Govardhana country), Sopara etc., to Pratisthana via Chalisgaon, allora and
Aurangabad. Yet another connected Pratisthana with Ujjain running via Ajanta, Bahai and
Burhanpur Marathwada is a backward region that had been under feudal rule for more than five
centuries. The nizam was the last feudal ruler of Hyderabad state. In Marathwada region now
consisting of seven districts, the nizam had introduced two land revenue systems. The first was
'diwani' or 'rayatwari' covering almost 75 per cent of Marathwada. Here immediate control of land
rested with the tenants. The other system was 'zamindari' which gave direct control of land to the
zamindar. It appears that even diwani or rayatwari effectively helped 'sawarkars' or moneylenders
from brahmin and bania castes to appropriate hundreds of acres of land which peasants had to
mortgage in crises. As a result, there were money- lenders in Marathwada holding thousands of
acres of land. The various land reform acts introduced from time to time
Ambedkar's ethical, philosophical, political and other values were built around the concept of
dignity of the in- dividual, the sanctity of human life, liberty, equality, justice and temperament. We
know, how difficult it had beçome for him to declare his willingness to wage a satyagraha
campaign at Mahad in 1927 and to sustain the satyagraha launched at the time of Kalaram Mandi r
at Nasik. Yet we must note the equally important fact that Ambedkar never went out of his way in
theory or in practice to contain dalit militancy in the face of the savarna oppression and
exploitation. His concern for law in concrete political terms amounted to a policy of a
programmatic, realistic calculation of the power available to both the Confronting sites. In other
words he would not have encouraged any kind of counter-productive dalit militancy and protest.
But in a given situation if a positive dalit counter-attack became a necessity Ambedkar would have
been the first to support dalit retaliation of the just character. Due to persistent drought in
Marathwada and lack of employment, a sizeable number of dalits particularly from Beed, Latur and
Aurangabad district migrate to western and southern Maharashtra for sugarcane harvesting.
Because of the rapidly deteriorating economic conditions some dalits have been trying to cultivate
government waste land 'gayran* in the villages. But cultivating this waste land has not been an easy
affair for dalits due to the violent opposition by the savarnas on the one hand and harassment by
government bureaucrats on the other. Of the 25,000 kotwals in Maharashtra (this is the figure given
by the Maharashtra Kotwal Union run by Lai Nishan Party, Leninwadi) 90 per cent of them are
dalits out of which quite a sizeable number of them belong to Marathwada .
2. SOCIAL ASPECTS :-

1. DEMOGRAPHIC ATRIBUTES :-

Natural and human resources are considered essential for the economic development of the
country. The size of population and its depth have certain effects on the economy. Population is
important component for the economic development.

District wise Population in Marathwada (2001)

Marathwada division according to census of 2011 and Marathwada had the 15629248 population
compared to total population of Maharashtra (96,752,247). The average of population in
Marathwada is 16.11 percent compared with total population. Comparing district wise population
the largest figure is found for Aurangabad district while lowest figure is for the Hingoli district.
Comparing same with the total population of Maharashtra, it is about 3.02 percent and 1.02 percent
respectively. Total males population in the Marathwada region are about 8060169 while largest
figure of the males is in Aurangabad district while Hingoli district has the lowest figures of male’s
population. Marathwada has about 7569079 females and Aurangabad district had largest numbers
of females while again Hingoli District has the lowest figures of females. 10 year increase in
population from 1991 to 2001 is average 21.78 percent which is about 21.30 percent for
Maharashtra. Comparing with Maharashtra, increase of population in Marathwada region is higher.
The largest figures of increase in population in Marathwada are for Aurangabad district i.e. 31.93
percent while lowest one is found in Parbhani District which is 15.31 percent.
Rural And Urban Population:
The proportion of rural and urban population shows the development in the area. Growing
population in urban area is deemed as the indication of economic development. Industrialization
causes to grow the cities. Speed of civilization depends on the industries, trade, transportation,
communication etc. As there is emigration from rural areas to urban areas, urban population has
increased.
Density Of Population:
Density is the average of people residing in per sq. km. Compared with rural areas urban
area has the largest population. In Marathwada region there are 240 peoples per sq. km. In state of
Maharashtra there are 314 peoples residing in per sq. km. Compared to average density of
population, density of population for Maharashtra state is higher.
The above table shows that, Marathwada had density of 241 peoples per sq. km. in 2001-2002. The
largest density of population in Marathwada region is 290 for Latur district while lowest density of
population is for Osmanabad district which is 197. All district of Marathwada carry lowest figures
compared to average density of population in Maharashtra state.

Proportion Of Male / Female Ratio In Marathwada:

It is important to note what the proportion of male-females in the structure of population
(females compared to 1000 males). Proportion of male-females is very important regarding social
issues like marriage, existence of family system etc. If there is gap between the proportion of male
and females, social problem can arise.
The above table shows the proportion of male-females in the Marathwada region. In 2001 there
were 936 females compared with 1000 males in the Marathwada region while same proportion in
Maharashtra state was 922. As compared with Maharashtra, Marathwada has large proportion of
male-females. Comparing district wise proportion of male-females in Marathwada region, Parbhani
district has largest numbers (957) while Aurangabad district has the lowest numbers (919).

Literacy Rate In Marathwada:

While considering qualitative side of population, literacy is very important issue. According
to census of 2001, persons above seven years able to read and write are considered as “literates.”
Maharashtra has growing rate of literacy in each decade. After the establishment of Maharashtra
State, literacy rate in male and females has been increased. For the dissemination of literacy there
are constant attempts of government through adult education, adult literacy etc. Literacy rate has
been increased as the result of economical development, dissemination of primary education and
enrolling for the education. Education is not yet reached up to scheduled tribes and castes living in
the Marathwada region. Tribal area and particularly tribal part of Marathwada and Vidarbha has
lowest literacy rates.

The above table shows district wise literacy rate of Marathwada Division. Proportions of literacy in
Male-Females and literacy in rural as well as urban areas also have been shown. Average literacy
rate of State of Maharashtra is greater than Marathwada Division. Literacy rate in Marathwada is
62.77 percent while Maharashtra State has 77.27 percent rate of literacy. Briefly, Marathwada is left
behind as compared literacy rate of Maharashtra State. The largest literacy rate in Aurangabad
district of Marathwada is 85.07 percent while lowest literacy rate is 79.1 percent for Jalna district.
The largest literacy rate in females is for Aurangabad district which is 61.28 percent while lowest
literacy rates of females is for Jalna district i.e. 49.25 percent. Rural population in Marathwada
division was 70.84 percent out of which Latur district has the literacy rate of 69.84 percent. The
lowest literacy rate was in Jalna district which is 61.85 percent. Urban literacy rate of Marathwada
was 55.91 percent while largest urban literacy rate was for Aurangabad district (83.03 percent) and
lowest literacy rate was for Jalna district (75.82 percent).
HEALTH ASPECT- In health sector various author has made its valuable contribution regarding
this. Accordingly two of author named Abhay-Anita Bang has made significant contribution
regarding sanitation and stunning in marathwada region .
According to them Stunting (low height for age) is the preferred indicator of chronic under
nutrition. It reflects a child’s early development and history of disease. The latest reliable available
national level estimates for India showed 48% of children under five years of age as stunted (IIPS
2010). That children in India are shorter on average than children in Africa has been described as
“the Asian enigma”Research by Dean Spears sheds light on this puzzle. His analysis of 140
demographic and health surveys has found that the height of Indian children correlates with their
and their neighbours’access to toilets, and that open defecation (OD) accounts for much of the
excess stunting in India. Considering that 53% of India’s population de fecates in the open
(Government of India 2012) in consequence, children are widely exposed to faecally-transmitted
infections.

CONCLUSION

The Marathwada region of Maharashtra State has eight districts viz. Aurangabad, Jalna,
Parbhani, Hingoli, Beed, Latur, Nanded and Osmanabad. Marathwada is one of the most backward
regions as characterized by low standards of living with a dominant agricultural sector with little
industrialization. The backwardness of Marathwada region is not a result of poverty only. There are
social, economic, geographical and entrepreneurial reasons behind it. The importance of the
industrialization is over looked. In the absence of industrialization in rural area of Marathwada the
region’s economy cannot be developed as compare to the other regions of the state. Rural
Development Programs is very necessary for the development of Marathwada region because the
maximum number of people (75.46 percent) of the region is living in rural areas.
REFERENCES :

1. CD Deshpande India : A Regional Interpretation

2. India :A Regional Geography by RL Singh
3. Sanjana Krishnan and Rahul Jambhulkar : Caste,Religious Institutions and Domination
EPW
4. Gopal Guru : Dalit Killings in Marathwada EPW
5. S.M Mandavdhare : Spatial Patterns Of Caste Distribution And Land Relations In
Marathwada.
6. DR Digamber and M. Tangawala : A Review of Agrarian Studies in Maharashtra: Issues
and Challenges. (IOSR-JHSS)
7. [Link] Dabe : Industrial Disparity in Marathwada Region.
[Link]
8. Pradeep Parandare : Water Governance and Droughts in Marathwada. EPW
9. Satyvan Yashwant, SL. Sananse : Identification of climatic effect on crop yield of
Marathwada. International Journal of Applied Research (IJAR)
10. Bb Mohanty: Regional Disparity in Agricultural Development of Maharashtra
 LITERATURE SURVEY
The concept of regionalization has evolved through evolutionary thinking of various
scholars over the period of time. The Marathwada region has been studied through different sources
available. Available literature and documentary sources help us
to have it clear idea of the extent of research that has been carried out in the particular field in the
past. Some of them are as follows:

CD Deshpande through his one of book-India : A Regional Interpretation ; explained the

various aspects of Marathwada region. According to him Marathwada region is a area consisting
Marathi speaking district of Osmanabad , Beed , Aurangabad , Nanded , Parbhani , Hingoli ,Latur
and Jalna . The landscape is typically basaltic and the contrast between the dry rolling uplands and
the well tilled river valley persist . The Godavari- Manjra valley is important to marathwada in
many ways . It is known for their jowar and pulse production .Production of cotton takes place in
the fertile tracts of Aurangabad , Jalna and Nanded. The velly provide natural route from north-west
to south-east. Historically this route was important ;Deogiri and Aurangabad rose as capital city
because of their controlling position along this route. In economic development Marathwada is still
backward , as compared with other parts of Maharashtra plateau. Shepherd, the nomadic
communities principally the Banjaras or Laminis and dry farming communities inhabit these
plateau tracts. This is the neglected part of Nizam’s dominion, with feudalism reigning supreme ,
and the peasantry down-trodden is now being developed in its “jirayat bagait cultivation” specially
under new canal irrigation development. Low urbanization is another is another feature of
Marathwada . This again must be attributed to the Nizam’s policy of making Hyderabad , a premier
city in almost every way. Deogiri or Daulatabad fort , Khuldabad , and Ellora famous famous for its
cave and temple .According to auther Aurangabad was known as khirki (window) , a controlling
point from which the south was open to north invader .The economic development of marathwada
faces some problems . The first is the total lack of minerals –a disadvantage shared by the
progressive and urbanized Desh. The second is the comparative isolation of vast area in the rural
interior . Towns are no more than administrative centres .Considering the physical base and assets
of marathwada , its economic development seems to be tied up with growth in agriculture,
especially with extension of canal irrigation , as is being done in Godavari jayakwadi and other
projects, promotion of agro-based industries , developments of roads in interior and greater stimulus
to its town

Regionalism in Marathwada is one of different nature . The main sentiment is that of neglect by the
political forces – both of the past and present .

Sanjana Krishnan and Rahul Jambhulkar: have made a comprehencive study about
marathwada on caste and religious domination about marathwada region .
Caste categories were constructed through a complex interactive process. It involved the use and
misuse of power manipulations by different castes and sub-castes to advance different social and
political claims. These claims infl uenced categories of presentations in politics and religion in
regional particularities. In Marathwada, the Marathas have created a stronghold over the resources
through their political, cultural and religious dominance. The portrayal of Shivaji as the ideal Hindu
king and a symbol of Maratha power is propaganda of the Hindutva forces in the state. The linking
of Shivaji to the Tuljabhavani and making the goddess a symbol of Maratha supremacy is a way of
creating space for sustaining caste relations and power structure. The temple administration is also
actively playing its part in making Hindu religion the dominant force by representing the
institutional opportunity for controlling resources as ritually supreme. While Dalits have been
symbolically reincorporated into the formal political arena through Hindutva politics, especially its
anti-Muslim agenda, the emergent Dalit politics continues to challenge Hinduisation (Rao 2009).
The Dalit community, especially the Mahars, has been resisting the religious domination by
struggling for a respectable place within the Hindu social order or by rejecting the hegemonic
Hindu social and religious practices. The term “Maratha” is used in three overlapping senses:
within Maharashtra it refers to the single dominant Maratha caste or group of Maratha–Kunbi
castes; outside Maharashtra, the term loosely designates the entire regional population that speaks
Marathi; and, historically, the term denotes the kingdom founded by the maratha leader Shivaji in
the 17th century (Deshpande 2004). This article follows the first definition of the term Marathas as
a community. The Tuljabhavani temple do not provide much authentic information, Kulkarni and
Khare (2005) hold that the Bhope family held the office of patil (headman) and maintained a strong
armed guard, to deal with frequent incursions of “Muslim rulers.” The priests of the temple are
called Bhopa or Bhope (head priests), while the other assistant priests are called pujaris. The term
Bhopa is probably derived from the word “Bhupal,” meaning protector of the earth or the king
(Dhere, 2007). Apart from the 16 head priests, there are 128 assistant priests who perform rituals
for pilgrims. The head priests of the Tuljabhavani temple reside within the temple premises in the
Kadam–Patil and marathwada which also doubles as a lodge for the tourists. They are all a part of
the same lineage, Kadam–Patil, the dominant Maratha community in the region.

India :A Regional Geography by RL Singh In this book auther has try to made regionalization of
marathwada on various aspects In vis – physiographic social and cultural aspects . In his paper he
generally divide the region Although documents in the possession of the Tuljabhavani temple do
not provide much authentic information, hold that the Bhope family held the offi ce of patil
(headman) and maintained a strong armed guard, to deal with frequent incursions of “Muslim
rulers.” The priests of the temple are called Bhopa or Bhope (head priests), while the other
assistant priests are called pujaris. The term Bhopa is probably derived from the word “Bhupal,”
meaning protector of the earth or the king. Apart from the 16 head priests, there are 128 assistant
priests who perform rituals for pilgrims. The head priests of the tuljabhavani temple reside within
the temple premises in the Kadam–Patil wada which also doubles as a lodge for the tourists. They
are all a part of the same lineage, Kadam–Patil, the dominant Maratha community in the region

Gopal Guru : has made extensive study about dalit killing in marathwada region .According to
him Dalits are now reacting more sharply than ever before to their economic and social conditions.
In view of the scale and cruelty of upper caste violence and the callousness of the state on the one
hand and the ineffectual politics of the established dalit groups on the other hand, dalits are taking
recourse to different strategies to protect their identity and ensure their survival on more honourable
and equitable terms. It is necessary to note dalit reaction to oppression by upper castes in western
and southern Maharashtra. As compared to the militancy in Vidarbha and Marathwada, in western
and southern Maharashtra dalit reaction to the upper caste oppresion has, by and large, remained
both feeble, short lived and localised in character. Why has this happened despite the long presence
of Ambedkar's move- ment in this region and the educational facilities given to dalits by the Rayat
Education Society started by Karmveer Bhaurao Patii? The answer to this question has to be located
partly in the out- migration and in the Sanskritisation of dalits and largely in their co-option through
the pacification process built up around the elaborate co-operative institu- tions in western and
southern Maha- rashtra. The savarnas have used these pacification and co-option strategies in a
sophisticated and efficient manner so as to contain whatever little protest is offered by the dalit
community in these regions. As a result of this submissive attitude, the robbery of dalit irrigation
resources by the upper caste rich farmers goes unprotested. However, socio-economic
circumstances and the kind of political authority that has evolved over the last four to five centuries
seem to have conditioned the levels of militancy of the dalits of Marathwada.

S.M MANDAVDHARE has made extensive study about the level of socio-economic deprivation
of schedule-caste in marathwada region .

According to him the caste system, from the point of view of Scheduled Castes, we are at the base
of the social hierarchy in India, continues to be thoroughly exploitative. It imposes impedements in
the way of the social integration of our people and defeats the basic principle of equality as
envisaged in the Indian Constitution. The hierarchical nature of social status has allowed the
penetration of differential roles baing played by different groups especially discriminatory to the
lowely placed. The low status of the Scheduled Castes perpetuated his economic exploitation. He
works very hard ln the field and gets very low earning in retums. The surplus value that he produces
is extracted by the landlord. He could not revolt against this exploitation because of' social and
economic operations and o fatalistic attitude of life. Qualitatively, the caste system continued to be
a successful weapon of economic exploitation and skillfull design to divide the exploited class and
to rule them. Unless this sinister of design of injustice brought to the notice of the law and unit them
for a common cause. Nothing could be done to mitigate the plight at the hands of the high born.

The present study pertains to Marathwada, one of the most backward regions of Mahsrashtra. i.e.
Schedule caste are however, the most deprived as they are socially segregated. An overwhelming
majority of these low castes are landless and are as hired laborers on the forms. The NSSO data in
this regard are highly revealing. The Schedule Castes are largely concentrated in rural areas. More
than 91 per cent of all the Scheduled Castes of Marathwada live in villages More than 92 percent of
their work force is absorbed 1n agriculture as false lecturer. Considering the rural base, low social
status and heavy dependence on agriculture of these people, they may be described as the most
deprived section of the society.

DR Digamber and M. Tangawala made a comprehensive study about the agrarian issues and
made study about important aspect of agrarian society. Studies done by him shows that present
young generation is not interested for the cultivation, cultivable land is transforming for the non-
cultivable activities.
Small and marginal farmers are selling their lands and migrating to the urban places in search of
alternatives for their survival. Due to the male migration from the rural to urban areas, female were
undergone pressure of the agriculture. The families whose head / male members either (farmers)
have been suicides or been migrated to the other places, member of such families, small children
and widows / young women are in the crisis. Governmental organizations have not any mechanism
to purchase their products on the fixed rate and provide security to their food and production.
Further, natural calamities, droughts, floods, climate changes, soil erosion and deforestation etc
raised challenges in front of the farming communities
(V.V. and Padhye M.D 1964), studied the socioeconomic condition of the people who are living in
the Command area of Purna Project of the Marathwada region of the Maharashtra state. In their
study, they used stratified sampling method to select the appropriate sample for the study. Study
selected twenty villages from the Command area of the project. Study selected four highly irrigated
villages from Parbhani and Nanded district. In their study, they found that the benefits of irrigation
are not confined to the farm sector alone; but study also induced a change in the other sectors of the
economy. The arrival of irrigation facilities on a massive scale- as in the case of Purna Project –
exerts an influence on the whole occupational pattern of the area and the surrounding region. The
enriching of the farm sector as a result of the Purna project is bound to give rise to new industries
and bring about an extension of trade and commerce and social services.

[Link] DABE has made extensive study about industrial disparity in Marathwada region .
Accordingly Regional disparities can be eradicated by industrialization. But there should be proper
implication of policy for it, otherwise state wise regional disparity will be lessen and disparity
within the state or among the districts can be enlarge. Marathwada region is one of the
underdeveloped regions of Maharashtra, having eight districts named Aurangabad, Latur, Nanded,
Jalna, Osmanabad, Beed, Parbhani and Hingoli. Industrialization plays vital role in economic
development and urbanization of any country. Most of the countries became developed economy
because of industrialization. By the experience of these developed economy, underdeveloped and
developing countries follow the process of industrialization in their country for rapid economic
development i.e. China. Indian planners also accepted industrialization for fulfillment or achieve the
selected ‘planning goals’. In India as far as industrialization concern, there is great diversity in
states. We can observe uneven impact of industrialization in all the states. Government provides
infrastructure facilities to industries by developing industrial area. MIDC (Maharashtra Industrial
Development Corporation) is one of the best examples to encourage industrialization. But the
allocation of industrial area are very unequal.

PRADEEP PARANDARE worked on water governance in Marathwada region which is very

acute problem persist in this region . The 2012 drought in Maharashtra’s Marathwada region was
mainly the result of lack of good water governance and poor operation of watershed development
and irrigation projects. A policy that restrains sugar cane cultivation and modernises all types of
water resource development works will go a long way in ensuring that a situation as in 2012-13 is
not repeated. A drought does not arrive all of a sudden. It gives suffi cient notice. However, such
early warnings are generally ignored and the lessons learnt late, if ever. While a drought brings
misery it also exposes systemic weaknesses which if dealt with can initiate changes, however,
small. An attempt has been made here to review the 2012 drought in the Marathwada region of
Maharashtra based on various issues as reported in the Aurangabad.

Satyvan Yashwant, SL. Sananse have worked which he explained through an article-
Identification of climatic effect on crop yield of Marathwada region by using multiple linear
regression & stochastics frontier approach .

B.B MOHANTY studied about regional disparity in agricultural development of Maharashtra in

which he studied agricultural development in Maharashtra over last three decades has been unequal
across the region. The inefficiency of Marathwada to complete adequately for a large share of state
resources is mainly due to absence of a well-articulated of groups and alliances of this regions
Marathwada did not witnessed substantial agricultural development. Unlike rest of Maharashtra,
Marathwada did not enjoyed the contingencies of democracy and capitalist modernization.

S.M MANDAVDHARE have worked on Spatial Distribution of Cast and Land Relations In
Marathwada .In this He deals with a the problem of distribution of land among the different caste
groups in the villages of Marathwada. Land being the principal means of production in rural India
continues to determine the instruments of social power .In fact it is the access to land that
determines a status of caste in the economic hierarchy. Caste which holds the lands are easily the
dominant caste. It is generally understood that the high caste own the major chunk of the village
land.

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