Population resources and development in Indian desert

Population and resources are two components of development. The study of desert resources and population with their components and spatial variations in them, provide background to disparities in the levels of overall development. To my mind sectoral shifts specially in the desert region is a variable which tells the amount and direction of transformation in the economy taking place and the regional disparities. Hence, this theme is high-lighted with spatial organisation in this study for the entire region and its 12 sub-regions. The selection of variables of demographic, social and economic development are choosen looking at the desert economy and availability of data on desert region.
Emphasis is given on display of data of all variables in beautiful maps with statistical notes and a brief description on the peculiarities in the regional pattern of the individual variable. Latest techniques have been used to arrive at sophisticated results by through processing of data at Computer Centre, JNU, New Delhi and Bits and Bytes, Jaipur.
Regarding organisation of present study it is divided in 8 chapters in 124 pages supplemented with 46 plates having 82 maps and 3 appendices. The study is focused on the western 11 districts of Rajasthan considered as major parts of Indian desert. The total number of observations are 64 tehsils and the number of parameters are 60.
Chapter-1 describes the introduction to the study with a review of literature, objectives, hypothesis, data base and methodology used. A note on Census concepts is also incorporated.
Chapter-11 gives geographical back ground to Indian desert with a note on Indira Gandhi Canal Region, desertification, review of development works and an exercise of geo-politico economic regions.