For verification of this paper, please visit on http://www.socialresearchfoundation.com/anthology.php#8

There are many princely states in the Rajasthan state of India. Tonk District has special identity in the Rajasthan State. Tonk District has a historical significance of its own. Many rulers came here from ancient times to modern times. There are many possibilities of development because of Banas River . Here Bisalpur Dam built of Banas River. The Banas River quenches the thirst of Jaipur and Ajmer District along with Tonk. Tonk district’s social , economic, demographic characteristics have attracted people. Many minerals are found here. There are a lot wells, tanks and bawris. The farming is the main economic source here. Along with this fishing, dairy production other skill employment are mainly found. The history of Tonk District has been discussed in detail from ancient time to medieval and modern times before Independence and after Independence merger of Tonk Princely State with the Rajasthan State. Hindu, Muslim, Jain, Scheduled Castes and tribes etc. dwell here.

To identify Tonk District at the national and international level and explore the possibilities of development in Tonk.

Govt. of Rajasthan, 2005-06, Agriculture Census of Rajasthan-2005-06 published by Agriculture Census Department Govt. of India , 2001, Census of India -2001 published by Census Operation Department

Position Of Tonk District In Rajasthan 

Tonk District is spread in 2-10 percent  of the state area and population of the Tonk District  is quite proportionate with state average. Population of  of children  of  0.6  age group is lower  to state  average, which is due to low growth  rate of population. Sex  ratio  population  is higher  to state average while  sex ratio  of 0.6  age group  is slightly below  the state  average. Literacy rate is below  state averages among male  and females.  Population  growth rate of the district  is significantly lower than state averages. other social and economic  features  are also according to district area and population proportion.

Geographical Features

The district area of bears shape of kite or rhombus with its eastern and western  sides bending somewhat  inward and its south- eastern  portion protruding between Sawai Madhopur and Bundi  districts to touch  the northern  tip of Kota district,  while  the south- western  portion juts  out in Bhilwara  district. The district is flat at a general  elevation of about  274.32  meters  above sea level   with rocky  and shrubby hills , subdivided  by Banas   River  in two  distinct  portions . The soil  is fertile  but somewhat  sandy and sub-soil  water too is limited . The general  slope of the district is from the north west  to south to south eastern  side  of the district.

 Hydrologic Features

The rivers and streams of the district belong to Banas  system, which is seasonal river and its principal  tributary  Mashi river . During the monsoon  season the streams remain active. After construction  of Bisalpur dam,, the large  quantum  of rain water  enters  into dam, helpful  to charge  the ground water  level in the surrounding   wells. Bisalpur  dam was  primarily  constructed  to meet  irrigation  requirements  of the districts but  now the water meets  the requirements of urban area of Jaipur, Ajmer, Kishangarh cities creating  the problem  to agriculture system  of the the district. Ground water  charged in the streams  is helpful  in raising  sub-soil  water of wells  and harnessed to form tanks,  the biggest being Tordisagar.

Ground Water Status

Out of total geographical area of 7194 sq. kms  of Tonk District, 6820.72 sq. km area has been assessed as ground  water  potential  zone  in the  joint  survey  carried  out by Central ground  Water  Board and State Ground Water Department., Rajasthan  in the year 2004  and report was  published in 2005 .

Geology

There two major  geological  formations in the district  comprising  of Aravali  system  and Delhi  Super  Group . Aravali  system  consists of three  parallel  belts  running from north-east to south-west.

Mineral Wealth

Geological  formations of the district  have provided  some potential  of mineral  deposits.  The minerals  are of two  category  as well as minor  mineral  category  found in the district. Iron Ore, Feldspar, Garnet, Beryl, Aqua Marine, sand silica, Mica, corundum, Soapstone  etc. minerals are found here.

Earthquake

According to Earthquake Zoning Map, Tonk District and its  adjoining areas fall within  Earthquake Zone I and are liable to small  damage.

Historical Description

Ancient Period

In ancient period, Malavas were the earliest  people to inhabit  the area.  The Malavas set up their capital  at Malavanagar, which  has been  identified  as modern  Nagar  of Karkotnagar in Uniyara tehshi , about  40 Km.  to the south- south- east of Tonk  and about 72 km north-north-east  of Bundi.

Mediaeval Period  

In the middle of twelfth century  Tonk and adjacent  villages  ruled  by Satoji, a Chauhan  Rajput in thirteenth century, Chauhans of Ranthambore  established  its sway  over the Tonk Region.  Iltutmish  the Sultan  of Delhi  captured  Ajmer and posted garrison at Lawa  in Tonk but after his death Chauhans again  resumed  the area  and also included  Kota,  Bundi  and Jalore .  In 1301  Chauhans  rulers of Ranthambore  were defeated  by Allauuddin Khilji , while Bundi  and Tonk  were also captured  in sequence. 

In the battle at Khanwa  against Babur  in 1527  AD, the rule of Lawa  in Tonk fought  on the side  of Rana Sanga.  During the reign  of Akbar , Tori  and Tonkra  were conquered  by Maharaja Man Singh  of Jaipur  and fall of Ranthambore  in 1569 brought the entire  territory  under the Mughals.

In the later duration  there were continuous struggle  and Tonk  remained  under  various  rulers from time to time. In 1798  AD,  Chevalier  Dadrenec , an officer  of Sindhia  Army, defeated  combined  forces  of Holkar  and Aamir Khan  of Maheshar,  was  sent by Jaswant Singh  to Govern Tonk and Rampura.  In 1806 , it was  given  to Aamir Khan  and Later  was confirmed  by treaty  the British  concluded  with Aamir Khan in 1817 .  The treaty  disbanded  army  of Amir Khan except for internal  management.

Modern Period

Amir Khan was succeeded  by Wazir  Mohammad Khan, the eldest  son amongst  twelve.  Upheaval   of 1857  battle took  in his regime. He  remained  loyal  to British  but his relations  revealed and troops mutinied. After death of Wazir  Mohammad Khan  on 18^th June  1864, Mohammad  Ali Khan  succeeded , but involved  in dispute with feudatory.

There was powerful  move  of non- cooperation and Khilafat movement form surroundings of British  Indian  territories.  The state  army  was also disturbed with high  prices  and low pay, the commanding  officer  was also charged with embezzlement of funds. Nawab expired in 1930  and his son  Hafiz  Mohammad  Sadat was given the throne. Majlis-I—Amma was set  up in 1939 by firman of ruler  composed of 26 officials and non-official members.

After independence  in 1947, Tonk state was merged with former  Rajasthan  on 25^th March 1948, which was second stage in the formation  of Rajasthan state. Various  parts of erstwhile princely state were  transferred  to other  districts  under reorganization of the state of Rajasthan.

Demographic Features of Tonk District

Demographic features of Tonk distirict  are evident  that the density  of population  of urban area has increased  but h highest density  exists  in Deoli followd by Uniyara and Tonk. Efforts were made to increase  urban of the district  but not sufficient  to urban requirements .  Similarly  the sex ratio  in urban areas is highest  in urban  area of Niwai tehsil for existence of Banasthali  Vidhypeeth for girls only, which  has become deemed university.

Socio-Economic Profile

Tonk district  is adjoinig  to state capital  Jaipur , but lacks in most  of the infrastructure  facilities  and basic  amenities. Bisalpur  dam  was constructed  to harvest rainwater from  surrounding  areas , which  could  have developed  irrigation facilities,  but the water is used for meeting  drinking water  requirements of Jaipur City  and urban  areas of Ajmer  district .

The Livestock  population  is 86.12 percent  to human population  and mostly accustomed  of open grazing. All the vegetation  grown on hills, mountains and open land is destructed  by grazing  livestock species. Socio- economic  conditions  of the people  in general  are quite deprived  due to  lack of resources . 

Working Population in Tonk  District

Before assessment of working populatin, it is essential to know the work as per criteria  adopted Census  Operations, where  work as been defined  as participation  in any economic  productive activity  with or without compensation , wages or profit . Such  participation may be physical or mental  in nature. Wok involves  not only actual work  but also  includes  effective  supervision  and direction  of work. It even  includes  part time help  or unpaid work  on farm, family  enterprise or in any other  economic activity. All  persons  engaged  in work  in the defined  manner are treated  as workers. Persons  who are  engaged in cultivation  or milk collection  even solely  for domestic consumption are also treated  as workers .

The main and marginal  workers  are two distinguished categories , which differ in nature, as more than  70 percent  of working force are associated  with agriculture, livestock, fisheries  and similar rural activities  for livelihood.

Occupational Distribution  of Workinng Popualation

Cultivation is the main occupational activity here. There are some activities  available for some duration  like mining, agriculture labour,  unskilled  labour  in construction activity etc. 

Religious Distribution of Population

There are mainly followers of  Hindu, Muslim and Jainism, while  other religions  have meager presence. Concentration  of Hindu  population is highest  of 94.44 percent in Deoli tehsil , While  Muslim population highest in Tonk  tehsil. Concentration of Jain popualation is highest of 2.70 percent  in Uniara tehsil .

Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in Tonk District  

Usually population  of scheduled tribes exists in hilly areas and Niwai, Deoli and Uniara  have higher  concentration of scheduled tribe population for presence of dense forests or tree cover  in hilly areas.

Livestock Population  of District

In drought conditions , the livestock provide  economic support to poor people as drought proofing measures  of state help  the people to face challenges of nature  in adverse  climatic conditions. Population of cattle, buffalo, sheep , goat , camel  and others  is 20.25, 25.30, 20.92, 32.46,  0.18 and 0.89  percent  of the district livestock. Milk production  of Tonk  district  was 2.03 lakh  tonnes  in 2008-09.

Climate

Climate of Tonk district is generally dry except in south-west monsoon  season, starts  in the third  week of June  and continues  till middle  of September.  From mid-September  to November  remains post monsoon  seasons  having hot son rays helpful  for drying  of crop  grains.  Winter  season  remains  during December to February , When  post monsoon  crops are raised in the water  assured  fields.

Soils

Soils  of Tonk District  are yellowish  brown covering  areas  of Niwai, Malpura,  Todaraisingh  and Duni. Detailed  descrition  of soils  reveals  area specific  features  where sandy  to clayey  soil  found  in Tonk panchayat  Samity  covering  an area of  146695 hectare.

National  Council  of Applied  Economic  Research  regards  the district  as having  undifferentiated  alluvial  soils , which  are variable in composition  but  are more productive  for retention  capacity  or water.  Clay  loam soils  are suitable  of wheat, barley , maize , cotton,sugarcane, Jowar etc.

Land Use Pattern

The land use pattern of Tonk district for the year  2007-08 is evident  that forest  area of  the district  is 3.83 percent of total  reporting  area, though  efforts  have been made  to increase forest area  every year, but it is quite meager  to meet the environment requirements  of the district.  Area under  habitations , government  structures  is 6-76  percent  showing  increasing trend  in view  of urbanization  and industrialization  in the cities. The land use pattern of the district  is quite  disturbed as meager land reamained  under forest  and plantation  with low tree density . 

The information  available  for the year  2005-06 reveals  that 70.91 percent cultivable  land is  owned by farmers  of all categories  comprising  of individual, joint  and institutional  basis.

Cropping pattern and production

Monsoon crops are  sown in larger  area in the district, while  rabi  crops are possible with the help  of available  water  for meeting  irrigation  requirements . in that duration  there are quite  meager  chances  of rains  in Rajasthan  and Tonk District.

Irrigation

This situation is evident that there is very little  water available for post rainfall  crop in all the sources  and farmers  prefer to keep  available water for rabi crop to get maximum yield from water. Maximum  irrigation  facilities are available in Uniara tehsil , followed by Tonk and Deoli  , while Peeplu  tehsil  has least  irrigation facilities.

Natural Flora

About  3.83  percent of total  area of Tonk  District  is forest  mostly  located  near Tonk City ., Sohela , Kakore, Banetha Nagar , Amli, Todaraisingh , Raj Mahal , Niwai and Siras .

According to Champion’ s classification of forest type,  Tonk  district  comes under the  subsidiary  edaphic type  of dry  tropical  forest,  the main species  being Anogeissus  pendula. Other  species  of this region  are Acacia  Catechu,  Acacia  Senegal ,  Acacia  leucophloea,  Prosopis Spicigera, Dichrostachys cinerea, Melia  Indica,  Capparis ,  aphylla, Greevia tenaz,  Grewia  flavescens,  Celastrus  senegalens,  Commiphora mukul.  On higher  ground few  Boswellia  serratta,  Wrightia  tomentosa ,  Dendrocalamus  strictus or bamboo are found.

An important tree is  Crataevea Religiosa,  which is  not so common in Anogeissus  pendula  forest. Its  general  height  is about  six  to 7.5  metres. Among shrub  the common  ones are  Grewa  flavescens, Rhus mysurensis and Euphorbia nivulia. Browsed bushes  of Anogeissus pendula  are at common sites.  Gymnosporia  Montana and Leptadenia sparitum type species  are found  on sandy  deposits in small  patches  in the foot hills  of Todaraisingh  and Niwai.

Natural Fauna

In the former  Tonk State, usual  small  game , antelope , deer  and  nilgai  or Boselaphus  tragocamelus  were common  in plains  and leopard , sambar  or Ceruns  unicolor and wild hog  were found in hills. An occasional tiger could be met within  south-east  of Aligarh, the north-east  of Nimbaherra and parts of  Pirawa and Sironj.  In present  regime , Tonk  district,  fauna  is considerably  reduced.  Only deer , hare, grey partridges  and small  sand grouse  are still seen  quite  rarely. During  winter  months  numerous  tanks  are usually  full of  wild fowls. The pools provide  good fishing  but due to dwindling wild life , permission  for shooting  is not given. 

In conclusion , we can say that the Tonk District , Rajasthan state was spread before independence to Nimbaherra and Madhya Pradesh. Many dynasties ruled here since ancient time. Here Bisalpur dam and Tordi Sagar , Moti Sagar and Isarda dam etc have been built on the Banas River. Demographic and Hydrologic features in Tonk district hold many possibilities of development due to its characteristic, flora and fauna, soil, irrigation conditions and mineral wealth etc. But even after merging with the princely state, Tonk district is still backward. There is no industrial development here. There is a constant lack of resources here. Till now train has not even arrived in this district. Govt. and administration need to pay attention to this.

1. Govt. of Rajasthan, 2005-06, Agriculture Census of Rajasthan-2005-06 published by Agriculture Census Department 2. Govt. of India , 2001, Census of India -2001 published by Census Operation Department 3. Singh AK, Singh Ram Bir & Banerjee SK, 1998, Possible role of water and nutrients concerning the mortality of Sal ( Shorea Robusta ) in South Raipur in Indian Journal of forestry. 4. Aggarwal Manju and Kaul BL, 1998, Heat shock proteins and effect of heat shock in Barly in Indian Journal of Forestry . 5. Sharma A, Kukkadia MU, Jadeja DB and Vashi BG, 1998, Effiect of different salinity levels on germination and initial growth parameters of different agro- forestry tree species in nursery stage in India Journal of Forestry 6. Babu T H (ed), 1994 National Workshop on Agro –forestry for sustainable development , Indian Institute of forest Management Bhopal pp1-91 7. Cacho O, 2001, Analysis of Externalities in Agro- forestry system in the presence of land degradation, Ecological Economics 39 (1) 131-41 8. Govt. of Rajasthan, 2001 , Gazetteers of Tonk district , Directorate of Gazetteers, Govt. of Rajasthan 9. Govt. of Rajasthan, 2007, 2008, 2009 ,District Outline 2007, 2008 and 2009 of Tonk district, Directorate of Economics and Statistics 10. Govt. of Rajasthan, 20011 , Statistical Abstract Rajasthan 2011, Directorate of Economics and Statistics 11. Mann HS and Saxena (ed) 1980, Role of Khejri in Agro- forestry in India- Desertification and its role in Agro- forestry 12. Vyas NN (ed), 1981, Social Forestry in Tribal Development TAD, Udaipur, India