A Study of Spatial Interdependence of Villages in Mokokchung District with Mokokchung Town, Nagaland

Prof. Sangyu Yaden¹, Dr. T Temsu Imti²

¹Head, Department of Geography, Nagaland University, Lumami, Nagaland

²Associate Professor, Department of Geography, Fazl Ali College, Mokokchung, Nagaland

*Corresponding Author E-mail: dr.sangyuyaden@yahoo.in

ABSTRACT:

In the spatial aspect of interdependence, the flow between urban and rural is the main focus. The main component is the people as all other elements ate inclining towards it. The flow of people as a focus in the interaction of rural and urban areas and a variety of elements are involved in the movement of people. There is a clear division in the nature of interdependence between rural and urban areas of developed and developing countries. In this study, the spatial interdependence of Mokokchung and sample villages is analyzed systematically. It is being revealed that the interaction of selected villages with mokokchung town by movement of people depicts an interesting result. The interaction is high with village located to be covered is lesser, whereas there is less interaction or spatial interdependence of villages with the urban centers when the distances are more.

KEYWORDS: Spatial, interdependence, interactive zones, flow, incline, movement, rural, urban, services, livelihood commuters, distance, centers, alternatives, demand and needs, proximity.

The state of Nagaland lies between 93°20’E-95°11’E and 25°6 – 27°4’ N longitude and latitude respectively. Nagaland is bounded by Assam in the west, Arunachal in the North, Myanmar in the East and Manipur in the South. She has a total land area of 16579 sq km. This study, geographically deals with the regionalization and its spatial differences in Mokokchung district.

Mokokchung the home district of Aos is one of the oldest district in Nagaland which is situated at the altitude of 1325 meters above main sea level with a geographical area of 1615 sq km. It was included as a sub-division with Naga Hills district of Assam on 28^th February 1890 during British rule. The present whole district of Wokha and Zunheboto, Chare region of Tuensang and Wakching of Mon district was initially under Mokokchung district. It has two ADC headquarters as Mangkolemba and Tuli with two SDO (C) namely Changtongya and Chuchuyimlang and 5 EAC headquarters and One Border magistrate. In the present study Mokokchung district is divided into three zone viz highly interactive zone, moderately interactive zone and less interactive zone where 4 villages are selected as Ungma in high, Akhoya in moderate and Satsukba and lirmen in less interactive zone. Data of 15% households were collected in Ungma and Akhoya , and in Satsukba and Lirmen 30 households from each village, were taken into account for the collection of data.

SPATIAL INTERDEPENDENCE

This type of category has several components to be focused in which different flows that inter - exchange between rural and urban areas. They are the flow of people, flow of goods and services, flow of idea and information, flow of funds and services and flow of culture. In the spatial aspect of interdependence between rural and urban settlement, the flow between urban and rural is the main focus (Potts 1995). In this the main component is the people as all other elements are inclining toward it. The flow of people is a focus in the interaction of rural and urban and a complex variety of elements are involved in the movement of people between rural and urban areas ( Akin 1967).

In the developing countries there is a clear division between rural and urban areas and rural areas depend on urban areas for schools, post and telephone, credit, agricultural expansion services, farm equipments, hospitals and government services as changes in economic realities are increasing due to movement of people, goods and services (Mylott 2009). As such,in India for the upliftment of rural poor different program were introduced in 10^th plan in order to provide self employment and wage employment to the rural poor (10^th 5 yr plan 2002 – 07) which is noticed in Nagaland too. The spatial interdependence of Mokokchung and its selected sample villages are analysed below as follows.

1. FLOW OF PEOPLE

The interaction of selected villages with Mokokchung by movement of people depicts an interesting picture. The interaction is high with Ungma as it involves more of daily commuters because the distance to be covered is only 2 kms. About 59% of the households commute daily to Mokokchung. The purposes of daily movement of people are marketing, attending of office and business etc. Besides, 34% of the household visit Mokokchung within weekly basis but only 4% opined that they visit only sometimes, whereas the people of Ungma have no alternate place to visit for the purpose which shows that Ungma and Mokokchung interact very actively through movement of people. Akhoya and Mokokchung shows a very interesting picture that daily commuters are only 4% but 29% of the households visit Mokokchung town weekly and 47% compelled to go in a month. Only 8% of the households opined that they visit sometime as and when situation demands, at the same time they have alternative places like Changtongya and Halwading (Assam) to visit as the distance to Changtongya is 2km and Halwading is 50kms. Lirmen and Satsukba, as they lies on the less interactive or low volume of potentiality zone their daily interaction to Mokokchung is nil and only 6% and 9% respectively visit Mokokchung on a weekly basis. Out of 30 households in Lirmen 33% opined that they go to Mokokchung as and when needed and 29% out of 30 households in Satsukba also visit mokokchung depending on demand and needs. Lirmen and Satsukba have alternate place that is Assam as they are closer to it where they interact, as is being revealed by 34% and 36% respectively go to Assam for many a time. (Fig 1)

The flow of people between the selected villages and Mokokchung town is governed by the flow of means of transport between them. In case of Nagaland, the only means of transport is vehicles on the road where both private vehicles and commercial buses and taxis play vital role.

2. FLOW OF GOODS

As far as the flow of goods are concerned urban Mokokchung is fed by the rural area specially in agro-forest products like fuel wood and charcoal, vegetable – both agricultural product and forest product – building materials of forest product like log, timber, bamboo and bamboo products. In this regard, the inflow is within the proximity of 15 – 20 kms radius range. Vegetables of agro and forest products are marketed at Mokokchung within this proximity or in other words within the range of highly interactive zone. Important feeder villages transport these products and wholesale to vegetable vendors and finally disposed at local market of Mokokchung. These products are seasonal in nature and different varieties of vegetables are found in the market at different intervals of time within a year. One of the important examples of this aspect is that seasonal local chilly from Longsa village and tomatoes from Longkhum village dominate Mokokchung vegetable market, a period during the season within a year. Evaluating this aspect in Ungma, out of 15% households 68% do engage in agro-forest activity, out of which 28% maintain farm and plantation, of the remaining households, 45% household engage in cultivation and collection of vegetables of forest products and the rest is engaged on wood cutting, logging and production of local building materials. Out of the households engaged in cultivation, 23% commute to Mokokchung and sell its product in local market, and 30% do not sit in the market but sold out to the vendors and the rest do for own consumption and do sells within the village.

In this regard, the village located in the medium and less interactive zone do not flow it into Mokokchung but they dispose it in the roadside/ wayside marketing shed at cheaper rate. As proceeding towards Mariani road, a bunch of vegetable which cost Rs. 30 at Mokokchung is sold for Rs. 20 at Satsukba junction and for Rs.10 at Aosenden roadside marketing shed. Besides, villagers do not transport it to Mokokchung but they supply it to the local roadside marketing shed where they dispose. Satsukba is a small agricultural village where the households are engaged casually in agro – forest products that they dispose off at Satsukba junction of Mariani road marketing shed as such there is no permanent household that occupy the market shed. The reason why they could not flow it in to Mokokchung market is the burden of cost of transportation.(Plate.1)

Akhoya engaging casually in this activity is very less as out of 30 households only 9 households are noticed of engaging in other activities for means of livelihood. In regard to inflow of fuel wood, log for mini saw mills and local building materials like bally post, Bamboo etc., Ungma is a major contributors as it alone accounted a major segment of households that are totally inclined in this activity, and also the other village that located within the zone of high interactive. Besides, it is worth mention that Longkong village supplies Charcoal to Mokokchung which produce high quality charcoal and the village alone account about 80% of its input.

Akhoya is located in zone of moderate interactive, where 30 households are accounted of which 19% households do vegetables vendor of agro – forest products. One of the important and interesting features that notice here is that this is a weaver village and they do interact with Mokokchung in this aspect. It is done among the womenfolk in such a process that raw yarns is brought from Mokokchung and send the finished products to its district headquarter and several other places. They do supply finished products on wholesale basis too. The man folk engage in activities of quarrying, wood cutting, logging, collection of local building materials of wood and bamboos. However, they have less interaction with Mokokchung in this aspect. Weaving by the women folk is that out of the households interviewed, at least one women of 90% households is a weaver however, they do loin loomed for someone who is a wholesaler, on per shawl basis or in other words they weave for 7% of household who dispose the finished products to Mokokchung and Dimapur.(Plate.3). Even if they seldom interact in other aspect, tying up in this activity from this village is very strong.

In the present century lot offarmers is trying to do away from the traditional practice of jhumming rather they preserve forest and let ecosystem rejuvenated by means of adopting other activity for livelihood.

Apart from the flow of goods from the rural areas, Mokokchung town has also having the carrying capacity to feed the rural areas by means of interaction. Some of the components that is supplied by Mokokchung town are consumer goods, clothing, hardware, medicine and building materials like iron rod, cement, bricks etc. The rate of intake by the villages is also on the basis of the zone of interaction. Highly interactive zones are the major receiver as it is decreases away to the moderate and further to less interactive zone.

Plate 3 Rural livelihood and its product in which urban centers are dependent in Mokokchung District.

Table- Showing marketing of goods in Mokokchung and outside (in %)

Village	Items / goods
	Consumer goods			Clothing			Hardware			Medicine			Building material
	1	2	3	1	2	3	1	2	3	1	2	3	1	2	3
Ungma	99	01	-	58	42	-	96	04	-	98	02	-	9	64	27
Akhoya	05	95	-	86	14	-	57	43	-	56	44	-	-	11	89
Lirmen	-	100	-	11	89	-	-	100	-	2	98	-	-	39	61
Satsukb	03	97	-	21	79	-	03	97	-	02	98	-	-	7	93

Source: - Field survey, 2010.; 1= Mkg, 2= Other, 3= Don’t Buy

From the table above it is revealed that as Ungma is located in the active zone and it receives all goods that are supplied by Mokokchung. Goods that received by 90% and above households are consumer goods, hardware and medicines. Getting of consumer goods, hardware, medicine and building materials from a place other than Mokokchung town is negligible as 01%, 04%, 02% and 09% household respectively and cloths and garments are equally shared between Mokokchung and other places. However, about 64% get building materials from outside in Ungma. At Akhoya 86% and 57% households are the receiver of cloths and garment and hardware respectively from Mokokchung whereas the percentage of households opt for building material like iron rod, cement, sand, bricks etc., is nil. As far as the consumer goods are concerned, only 5% of the households go to Mokokchung for the same. In case of Lirmen the household receive consumer goods, hardware and building materials are nil and only 2% of household obtain medicine from Mokokchung which is negligible. For consumer goods and hardware they depend totally on other places in Assam. Satsukba interact with Mokokchung as consumer goods, hardware and medicine are received by 03%, 03% and 2% of households respectively. In regard to this village 21% of households receive cloths and garment from Mokokchung which is also negligible. For building materials like cement, iron rods, sand, bricks; Lirmen and Satsukba totally depend on a place other the Mokokchung which is also 39% and 7% respectively and the rest do not go for it. (SeeTable above)

3. FLOW OF IDEAS AND INFORMATION:

Another component of rural – urban interaction types are flow of ideas and information. Flow of these aspects is generally disseminated from the urban hubs of Mokokchung. Ideas are generally the knowledge on environmental awareness like preservation and conservation of environment, adverse effect of jhuming, setting up of plantation such as rubber, tea and coffee, bamboo and tree plantation and also protection of wildlife of both terrestrial and marine. Regarding the flow of information, it is implicated mainly with the process of administration which is centralized at Mokokchung. It flows-in to rural area directly from Mokokchung and also through channel of administrative circles. Components of this aspect are like information on administrative process that is law and order, orders on conservation and protection of environment like total or seasonal banning of hunting and fishing of wild animals or forest fire, prohibition on sale of liquor and narcotics. In the month of July 2013, the Mokokchung DPDB meeting resolved to ban on hunting in the entire district where Deputy Commissioner was asked to call a meeting of all the village councils and ward councils to pass on the information and finally execute the resolution of D.P.D.B, meeting. Besides, information on the awareness of healthcare like HIV/AIDS, TB, leprosy, family planning and cleanliness and nutritional programs and educational programs like non- detention policy, mid-day meal program and other program like preparation and preservation of nutritional food items like agro products, forest products and fruits are also flew-in from government departments, agencies and various NGOs.

It is important to analyze the ecological factors such as climate, soil and topography. As far as the plantation is concerned, rubber, tree, bamboo, tea and coffee plantations are done where geographical and climatic conditions do suits. Rubber and teak plantation are mostly done in Lirmen village as it comes under humid climatic zone. Afforestation programs are funded by government department from Mokokchung, whereas ideas on rubber plantation are done and also partially financed by Rubber Board headquartered at Jorhat. It indicates that this village lies on the less interactive zone of Mokokchung district. About 80% of rubber grower of this village obtained subsidies loan from the board. Government agencies and departmental headquarters at Mokokchung assist projects on tree plantations. Secondly, in the moderate interacted zone Akhoya also shows that geographically this is located in temperate zone as govern by an average altitude of 900m above main sea level. Similarly, bamboo plantation and coffee plantation are suited in this zone. In this village bamboo grower association is formed and received financial aid from Bamboo Mission and also Coffee Grower Association that assisted by Coffee Board stationed at Mokokchung. In these villages people do as wage earners in these projects because the people have shifted their activities from jhumming as discouraged, (Plate.4), which is the ideas that flow-in from district urban centre. Thirdly, an example of flow-in of idea to village on preservation is that in Ungma village jurisdiction there

Plate.4. Converted jhumland to forested land through tree plantion in Akhoya village within moderately interactive zone in Mokokchung District.

Is a project which is called “Dikhu Green Zone” where all forest based activities are banned. A particular definite area is demarcated within the territory of two villages (Ungma and Longsa) and hunting, fishing and collection of forest product is prohibited where an amount of Rs.50,000 is fined to the defaulter that considered as income to the management committee.

As far as the flow of information and services is concerned, Mokokchung based government agencies, NGOs reach out the nearer villages for more number of times. At the same time the villagers also get information from Mokokchung depending on the number of their visit of their friends and relatives.

To analyse the flow of information and ideas, the data show the information that is being received by the villagers within the village which is directly brought from either of Mokokchung or others through seminars, workshop etc. The villagers also obtained imformation and ideas from outside of the village. More percentage from Mokokchung means more interaction with it that either brought into the village through government agencies and NGOs or they received during a visit to Mokokchung from government agencies, NGOs, friends and relatives. Ungma shows higher interaction with Mokokchung as 71%, 86%, 85% and 90% of households received from Mokokchung on environment, health care, social evils and disaster respectively. The data reveals that in case of Akhoya, information received for healthcare, social evils and disaster are more from Mokokchung as 94%, 84% and 91% respectively. In Lirmen, out of 30 households that accounted, 51% about health care, 45% about environment, 56% of social evils, 49% of disaster is received from Mokokchung in either ways. Satsukba also show similar picture as out of the household interviewed, 42%, 55%, 49%, 57% received information and services from Mokokchung about environment, health care, social evils and disaster respectively. In these two cases (i.e., Lirmen and Satsukba); they received information and ideas from other places equally with Mokokchung. Therefore, this aspect also shows that shorter the distance more is the interaction as Ungma, Akhoya, Lirmen and Satsuk and their interface with Mokokchung is depend on their location as the zones of highly interactive, moderate and less interactive. Here one thing is clear that information and services receive by the village is not only that directly flow in from Mokokchung but also that obtain during a visit to Mokokchung by the villagers in which they are dependant.(Fig4)

4. FLOW OF FUNDS:

The flow of funds is one of the important components of the rural – urban independence and also can be termed as one of the types of it. In this study, flow of funds indicates financial received by the rural areas from Mokokchung and also remittance of it includes as the funds from government, banks, co-operative societies, NGOs where church is also one, and even from friends and relatives. The urban area also receives it from many sources. Government also remits it through Village Development Board (V.D.B) funds, BPL cards, ration cards, kerosene cards etc. Even nationalized bank and co-operative banks remits a subsidized loan to different co – operative societies and SHGs. Remittance is also done through churches especially in Nagaland as tithes, donations and offerings from urban centers which are utilized by church for the welfare of the villagers. Friends and relatives also financially assist households as goodwill donations especially during the time of hardship faced by the villagers. There is existence of kins, clans and family groups which are generally being financially supported by urban dwellers. During special occasions within the village like celebration of traditional festival of Moatsu and Tsungremmong, Christmas and other anniversary/ celebrations in the villages, a lot of funds flow-in to the villages from different source by means of contribution, donation and gifts. Sometimes villagers remit money to their relatives in the urban center as the urban counterpart look after their children for education. From the table below it is understood that how a rural area receives funds from Mokokchung and other sources and reached out to their households as a consequence the intensity of interaction with its urban headquarter is determined. Here the fund is inclusive of government, NGOs, financial institution and friends and relatives.

To analyse, it is necessary to see the flow of funds between Mokokchung and Ungma. Out of the 100% fund receive 52% household in Ungma get from Mokokchung and also 37% of households get their income from the total income generated within their own village and 11% of households obtain from other places. It is revealed that the interiewed households in Ungma gets more than 50% of their income from Mokokchung and less than 50% obtain from places other than Mokokchung and its own village. So with regard to this analysis Ungma depend less on other places rather rely more in Mokokchung and its own village.

Akhoya also depict a suitable picture on its interaction with Mokokchung which proves that it lies in the moderately interactive zone of the district. Out of the total amount of the funds, 32% of households receive from Mokokchung. Akhoya does not get higher income from Mokokchung because 56% of households get from its own village. Besides, only 12% of the total households depend on places other than Mokokchung. Out of the total income generated in the village through different means based on agro – forest activities 56% of the households obtain from its own village.

Lirmen and Satsukba show that their dependable in Mokokchung is 20% and 23% of households respectively which is low. They have equal share of fund receive from other places which accounts for 34% and 36% of the households respectively. One important feature observe here is that as they depend less on Mokokchung and depend more on their own generated income as 46% households and 45% of households interviewed in Lirmen and Satsukba, get income from their own generated resources. It is understandable that as these two villages located at the zones of low interactive of rural and urban interdependence in Mokokchung district, they show less tie up with Mokokchung as they receive less fund from Mokokchung which is 20% and 23% respectively i.e., inclusive of all sources.(Fig 5).

As far as the flow of funds to the villages of Mokokchung district from government through Rural Development Department concerned, it is being disbursed by DRDA under Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) for the year 2009 – 2010. For Mokokchung district the total amount was Rs74.31 lakhs where the total expenditure has incurred to Rs 64.96 lakhs in which 72 individuals are assisted. Besides, under Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY ) total allocation was 298.57 lakhs out of which 267.86 lakhs has been released, under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme ( MGNREGS ) 28927 job cards were issued and 100% employment is provided out of which 26034 has completed 100 days work. Apart from this under Grant – In – Aid ( GIA ) Mokokchung received Rs 852961 for approach road, 1832623 for soiling and metalling of road, Rs 940245 for cash crops, Rs 41292 for social forestry, Rs 2705104 for footsteps, Rs 686807 for culvert/drainage, Rs 1549641 for play ground, Rs 441425 for water tank, Rs 125699 for rural housing, Rs 622216 for marketing/resting shed, Rs 691037 for purchase of vehicles, Rs 645440 for piggery, Rs259749 for fishery and Rs 162050 for weaving and handicraft etc., where total fund credited to VDBs was Rs 2,61,91,000, in Mokokchung district. (Statistical Handbook of Nagaland, 2010). On random evaluation of this for the selected villages, some households are found to be ever benefited at least either by rural housing scheme where one unit of CGI sheet is distributed or by MRNREG scheme by means of availing job card and man days employment.

5. FLOW OF CULTURE

Generally urban set up is a multicultural society with components like language, religion, marriages, food habits, clothing fashion etc., where these culture is diffused as it flow-in to a particular village by means of interacting with a particular community that is being exists in the urban center. Cultural interdependency among Aos is a practice since historical point of time as many villagers has a particular distinct culture like design of shawls, cloths, baskets etc., which was exchanged in the olden days that still exist a regular practice. At present these exchanges as their interdependency is a practice not only among the Aos but with other communities of Nagaland, India and even abroad. Mokokchung is a multicultural place, so it has the potentiality to disseminate and finally became dependable to its culture by the rural areas basing on the distances between them. It is to be noted that this process of cultural flow is not only with the Mokokchung and its rural area in the district but even with other places which is clearly comprehend by analyzing the level of interaction or interdependence of Mokokchung and its villages. For instance, in an Ao village the people enjoys a Bengali dish or a south Indian dish whereas in Mokokchung a Marwari wear ‘Tsungko su’(Tsungko shawl woven for manfolk) or a Garo lady put on ‘Watsu mekhala’. So for the village to prepare a particular non Ao dish the component is flown-in from an urban centre both abstract and concrete. Similarly, within the ‘Tsungko su’ or ‘Watsu mekhala,’ it is woven in a village and flow-in to Mokokchung urban centre. Besides, a beautiful cultural troop walkout from a village to Mokokchung to make a presentation during a visit of central government dignitary on the occasion of moatsu festival and also an Ao Naga dao was presented to him as a gift. Besides, on commercial purpose the exchange and interdependence of their cultural items is going on. Akhoya one of the sample villages for the study where at least one in the 90% of the household is a weaver, and they weave several cultural shawls, mekhala, longi, bags etc., and send it to Mokokchung and places other than Mokokchung for various purposes. In Ungma different kinds of woodcraft are produced which is an end commodity in Mokokchung. Besides, a Sumi speaks Ao dialect in Mokokchung and an old lady of an Ao village speak nagamese whereas a maths teacher of a school in a village teaches in English medium. So it reveals that culture is exchanged and very well fabricated in Ao society of which 50% of credit is taken over by Mokokchung urban headquarter.

By analyse the level of interaction and interdependence of Mokokchung and its rural settlements, the component of cultural interaction of its people is worth understood. By means of interaction with others make diffused culture and finally resulted to flow of it.

Analyzing the aspect, interaction by the people of the selected village the data reveals that Ungma as it is only 2kms away from Mokokchung they have constant tie up with it and the inflow of different culture is very active. They interact with different communities mainly from Mokokchung i.e., 100% of the households, 100% of the households and 99% of households with Aos other than Ungma, Nagas other than Aos and Indian other than Nagas respectively. Akhoya, from the table above reveal that interaction with Aos, other than Akhoya in Mokokchung is only 9% of the households as they have alternative Changtongya town which account 91% of the households. However, in case of other Naga tribes, they meet them mostly in Mokokchung by 81% of the households. Indian other than Nagas whom Akhoya interact is 96% from place other than Mokokchung that is Changtongya town. In case of Lirmen, even Aos are meeting from places other than the Mokokchung like Mangkolemba, Dimapur and neighbouring villages which account for 87% of the households. About 51% of households interact with other Naga tribes in several other places rather than Mokokchung. One of the interesting features here is that the Indian community other than Nagas is being mostly interacted by 52% of the households within the village as these communities are residing in the village because the village is bordering with Assam. Satsukba is one of the interior villages located in less interactive zone where 87% of households interfaced with Aos in a place other than Mokokchung. But interestingly 71% of the households have closed tie up with the community of India other than Naga within the village itself as the said community is residing in the village itself. Based on the above, it is being revealed that the zone of interdependency is operational even in case of cultural flow between Mokokchung town and its rural settlements (see table above).

Table Showing different community ever interacted mostly by the head of the household in Mokokchung and other places. (in %)

Village	Place where meet	Communities
Village	Place where meet	Aos other than villager	Nagas other Than Aos	Indian other than Nagas	*Foreign nationals
Ungma	Mokokchung	100	100	99	2
	Other	-	-	-	3
	Village	-	-	1	-
	Never	-	-	-	95
Akhoya	Mokokchung	9	81	4	-
	Other	91	19	96	5
	Village	-	-	-	-
	Never	-	-	-	95
Lirmen	Mokokchung	11	46	9	-
	Other	87	51	39	4
	Village	2	3	52	-
	Never	-	-	-	96
Satsuk	Mokokchung	12	39	27	-
	Other	87	57	2	3
	Village	1	4	71	-
	Never	-	-	-	97

Source: Field survey, 2010. *Foreign nationals exclusive of Bangladeshis and Nepalese.

FINDINGS:

As focus on the details of the frequency of visit by the households of villages to mokokchung the distance matters as the village nearer to Mokokchung eg.Ungma daily commuters are more which accounts 59% against 0% of daily commuters in Lirmen and Satsukba which are located farther from Mokokchung. As they are located at farther distance from Mokokchung can be termed as in less interactive zone they have alternate urban center other than Mokokchung which accounts higher percentage of households. As far as the flow of goods is concerned Mokokchung is fed by rural areas especially in agro forest product within the proximity of 15 – 20 kms radius as active interdependence zone. Besides, in regard to disposal of agro-forest products are concerned, households of villages like Lirmen and Satsukba sells their products at the roadside marketing shed within the village locality at cheaper prices which indicates that it lies in the zone of less interactive zone. Therefore the study of the spatial interdependence of mokokchung and its villages reveals that there is zone of interdependence within the district based on the distance between them as highly interactive, moderately interactive and less interactive zone. As ungma located nearer to Mokokchung and located in the highly interactive zone, participation of higher percentage of households in all the types of interdependence is noticed and found that they have no other urban center to interact except Mokokchung. Akhoya as located in the moderate zone of interdependence have equally interaction with Mokokchung and other urban centers. Besides, Lirmen and Satsukba in less interactive zone and as located in the zone bordering Assam which is comparatively more developed, they find alternate urban center in Assam to be interacted rather than Mokokchung. Therefore it is finally found that the geographical location of the villages based on the distance to urban center of Mokokchung and others, and also the level of development of the urban centers governs the intensity of interdependence.

REFERENCES:

Akin, L.M (1969, ”System approach to a theory of rural – urban migration” Paper presented at 10^th annual conference of the African Studies Association, New York. Available online.

Mylott, Elizabeth (2009), Urban – rural commutation. Available online. http//ir.library.oregonstate.edu/xmlui/handle/1957/10574.

Potts, D (1995), Shall we go home? Increasing urban poverty in African cities and migration process. The Geographic Journal, 161 pp 245 – 264.

Tenth Five Years Plan (2002 – 2007), Poverty Alleviation in rural India: Stategy and Programs. Chapter 3.2, available online, www.planing commission.nic.in/plan/planel/fiveyr/…/VL…ch 3.2.

Statiscal Handbook of Nagaland (2006)(2010), Directorate of Economics and Statistics. Nagaland:Kohima.

Received on 04.08.2016 Modified on 11.09.2016

Int. J. Rev. and Res. Social Sci. 4(3): July-Sept., 2016; Page 159-167.

DOI: 10.5958/2454-2687.2016.00007.1


Plate 1. Disposal and sale of Agro-Forest product vegetables at Roadside market shed of less interactive zone in Mokokchung District.

Plate 2 Disposal and sale of agro-forest product vegetables at roadside market shed in moderately interactive zone of Mokokchung District.