Role of Small Towns for Integrated Development of Sub-Region: A Case of Siraha District

Abstract

The uncontrolled urbanization and rural-to-urban migration have increased the possibility of expansion and provided much greater levels of social and economic benefits in large cities. It has increased the gap between small towns/market center and their hinterlands village. By supporting small towns and upgrading their amenities, these issues can be resolved. The current research examines the role of small towns for integrated growth of sub-region by studying the small towns within Siraha district. The Siraha district contains 17 small towns. Small towns are identified based on the population size and functional unit along with growth potential of the towns. Due to their backward and forward linkages, towns primarily function as market centers for the surrounding villages. In this article, questionnaire survey was conducted through random sampling method and altogether 233 people were interviewed with 119 from traders or shopkeepers and 114 from customers/farmers. The data was analyzed using MS Excel, SPSS, and QGIS software. If strengthening the small towns within the district then towns act as market center, service center and creating industrial and other off-farm employment for their surrounding areas. 17 small towns are divided into 4 groups. Out of these 4 groups, the 5 market towns such as Lahan, Mirchaiya Golbazaar, Dhangadhimai and Bandipur are located around the east-west highway can be considered the largest and most developed group in the district, while the group of Bhagwanpur, Bariyarpatti, Nawarajpur and Aurahi markets on the India border of the district can be considered the smallest. Kalyanpur, the only market towns in this district, exists as a separate town without falling within these four groups. Sukhipur Bazar is located in the central part of the district. The market towns are not found in north eastern part. Lahan is a market town with 1050 commercial units among them. Siraha, Mirchaiya, and Golbazar are market centers with 500 to 750 commercial functions, while Dhangadhimai, Sukhipur, Kalyanpur, Karjanha, Bishnupur, and Nahara are market centers with 100 to 300 commercial functions. Bhagwanpur, Aarnama, Nawarajpur, Aurahi, Bariyanpatti, and Laxmipur Patari are market centers with 50 to 100 commercial functions. The locational pattern of market centres in the district is conditioned by two factors, marketing and transportation. The influence of transportation principle is clearly seen in areas where market towns are located linearly along the major roads.