The Changing Urban Ecology of Kolkata: An Appraisal of 50 Years (1971–2011)

Devarupa Gupta , International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)

Factor Analysis is used for ward level Census data to understand the changing urban ecology of Kolkata from 1971 to 2011. Since Bangladesh Independence in 1971 most migrated population settled in the southern, eastern and western parts of the city. There has been a change in the type of occupation. People engaged in primary activities shifted to manufacturing and tertiary activities. Literacy rates significantly improved and after 2001 the southern and eastern parts of the city have higher literacy rates than the city centre. Residential segregation in Kolkata is prolific on the social classification of caste (SC and ST) than on slum, with concentration of SC and ST population in the southern, western and eastern parts of the city. Better housing conditions prevail in the northern part of the city. Occupation, education, social status, family composition, household conditions and assets owned are responsible for the urban ecological classification of Kolkata.

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 Presented in Session 7. Migration & Urbanization