Daman District, India
Encyclopedia
Daman district is one of the two districts of the union territory
of Daman and Diu on the western coast of India
, surrounded by Valsad District
of Gujarat state on the north, east and south and the Arabian Sea to the west. The district has an area of 72 square kilometres (27.8 sq mi), and a population of 113,949 (2001 census), which increased 83% between 1991 and 2001.
Daman lies at the mouth of the Daman Ganga River
. Major industries have units here. The closest railway station is Vapi
(7 km). It is also famous for its beach, Portuguese colonial architecture, churches, and for the scenic beauty in the twin cities of Nani-Daman and Moti-Daman, which lie opposite each other across the Daman Ganga.
The district is infamous for having the least balanced sex ratio in the country. The chief occupation has been fishing. The city of Surat
lies to the north, and Mumbai
lies approximately 160 km (100 mi) south of Daman on the Arabian Sea coast in Maharashtra
state.
in 1531, and was formally ceded to Portugal
in 1539 by the Sultan of Gujarat. It remained a Portuguese colonial possession
until it was annexed by Indian forces on 19 December 1961. From 1961-87, it was a part of the union territory of Goa, Daman and Diu. In 1987, it became a part of the newly formed union territory of Daman and Diu.
constituency.
has a population
of 190,855 , roughly equal to the nation of Samoa
. This gives it a ranking of 592nd in India (out of a total of 640
). The district has a population density of 2651 PD/sqkm . Its population growth rate
over the decade 2001-2011 was 67.43 %. Daman has a sex ratio
of 533 females
for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate
of 88.06 %.
Now the New bridge is built up known as Rajeev Gandhi Setu for Heavy Vehicles. and the old bridges are kept closed for ever.
Union Territory
A Union Territory is a sub-national administrative division of India, in the federal framework of governance. Unlike the states of India, which have their own elected governments, union territories are ruled directly by the federal government; the President of India appoints an Administrator or...
of Daman and Diu on the western coast of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, surrounded by Valsad District
Valsad district
Valsad district is one of the 26 districts in the Western Indian state of Gujarat. It is bound by Navsari district to the north, Dang district to the east and the State of Maharashtra to the south. The Arabian Sea lies west of the district...
of Gujarat state on the north, east and south and the Arabian Sea to the west. The district has an area of 72 square kilometres (27.8 sq mi), and a population of 113,949 (2001 census), which increased 83% between 1991 and 2001.
Daman lies at the mouth of the Daman Ganga River
Daman Ganga River
The Daman Ganga is a river in western India. The river's headwaters are on the western slope of the Western Ghats range, and it flows west into the Arabian Sea. The river flows through Maharashtra and Gujarat states, as well as the Union territories of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli...
. Major industries have units here. The closest railway station is Vapi
Vapi
Vapi Vapi Vapi (IAST: vāpī, Gujarati: , is a city and a municipality in Valsad district in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is situated on the banks of Damanganga River in southern Gujarat, India. Vapi falls under the taluka administration of Pardi...
(7 km). It is also famous for its beach, Portuguese colonial architecture, churches, and for the scenic beauty in the twin cities of Nani-Daman and Moti-Daman, which lie opposite each other across the Daman Ganga.
The district is infamous for having the least balanced sex ratio in the country. The chief occupation has been fishing. The city of Surat
Surat
Surat , also known as Suryapur, is the commercial capital city of the Indian state of Gujarat. Surat is India's Eighth most populous city and Ninth-most populous urban agglomeration. It is also administrative capital of Surat district and one of the fastest growing cities in India. The city proper...
lies to the north, and Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
lies approximately 160 km (100 mi) south of Daman on the Arabian Sea coast in Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
state.
History
Daman was occupied by the PortuguesePortuguese India
The Portuguese Viceroyalty of India , later the Portuguese State of India , was the aggregate of Portugal's colonial holdings in India.The government started in 1505, six years after the discovery of a sea route to India by Vasco da Gama, with the nomination of the first Viceroy Francisco de...
in 1531, and was formally ceded to Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
in 1539 by the Sultan of Gujarat. It remained a Portuguese colonial possession
Portuguese Empire
The Portuguese Empire , also known as the Portuguese Overseas Empire or the Portuguese Colonial Empire , was the first global empire in history...
until it was annexed by Indian forces on 19 December 1961. From 1961-87, it was a part of the union territory of Goa, Daman and Diu. In 1987, it became a part of the newly formed union territory of Daman and Diu.
Divisions
Daman district has only one tehsil. The territory of the whole district is part of Daman and Diu Lok SabhaLok Sabha
The Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...
constituency.
Demographics
According to the 2011 census2011 census of India
The 15th Indian National census was conducted in two phases, houselisting and population enumeration. Houselisting phase began on April 1, 2010 and involved collection of information about all buildings...
has a population
Demographics of India
The demographics of India are inclusive of the second most populous country in the world, with over 1.21 billion people , more than a sixth of the world's population. Already containing 17.5% of the world's population, India is projected to be the world's most populous country by 2025, surpassing...
of 190,855 , roughly equal to the nation of Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
. This gives it a ranking of 592nd in India (out of a total of 640
Districts of India
A district is an administrative division of an Indian state or territory. Districts are further subdivided, in some cases into Sub-Divisions, and otherwise directly into tehsils or talukas.District officials include:...
). The district has a population density of 2651 PD/sqkm . Its population growth rate
Family planning in India
Family planning in India is based on efforts largely sponsored by the Indian government. In the 1965-2009 period, contraceptive usage has more than tripled and the fertility rate has more than halved , but the national fertility rate is still high enough to cause long-term population growth...
over the decade 2001-2011 was 67.43 %. Daman has a sex ratio
Sex ratio
Sex ratio is the ratio of males to females in a population. The primary sex ratio is the ratio at the time of conception, secondary sex ratio is the ratio at time of birth, and tertiary sex ratio is the ratio of mature organisms....
of 533 females
Women in India
The status of women in India has been subject to many great changes over the past few millennia. From equal status with men in ancient times through the low points of the medieval period, to the promotion of equal rights by many reformers, the history of women in India has been eventful...
for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate
Literacy in India
Literacy in India is key for socio-economic progress, and the Indian literacy rate grew to 74.04% in 2011 from 12% at the end of British rule in 1947. Although this was a greater than sixfold improvement, the level is well below the world average literacy rate of 84%, and India currently has the...
of 88.06 %.
Transport
A bridge over the Daman Ganga between Moti Daman and Nani Daman collapsed during a monsoon on 28 August 2003. 24 people were killed, 17 of them school children, when their vehicles plunged into the river. The government constructed a new bridge at a cost of 80 million rupees, but it, too, partially collapsed during torrential rains in August 2004. At present the bridge is open to two-wheeler and three-wheeler vehicles only.Now the New bridge is built up known as Rajeev Gandhi Setu for Heavy Vehicles. and the old bridges are kept closed for ever.
Further reading
- Andrada (undated). The Life of Dom John de Castro: The Fourth Vice Roy of India. Jacinto Freire de Andrada. Translated into English by Peter Wyche. (1664). Henry Herrington, New Exchange, London. Facsimilie edition (1994) AES Reprint, New Delhi. ISBN 81-206-0900-X.