Chandel district is one of the 16 districts of Manipur state in northeastern India. Its headquarters is the town of Chandel. In December 2016, a part of the district was split to establish the new Tengnoupal district. The district is mainly populated by Kuki-Zo and Old Kuki/Naga tribal people.
History
In 1974, the Chandel district was formed under the name "Tengnoupal district". In 1983, the name was changed to Chandel district, as the district headquarters was located at Chandel. In December 2016, the present-day Tengnoupal district was split from the Chandel district.
Economy
In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Chandel as one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640). It was then one of the three districts in Manipur receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).
Demographics
| Religion | Percent | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christianity | 93.20% | |||
| Hinduism | 5.75% | |||
| Islam | 0.66% | |||
| Other or not stated | 0.39% | |||
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 24,049 | — |
| 1961 | 27,679 | +15.1% |
| 1971 | 38,723 | +39.9% |
| 1981 | 56,444 | +45.8% |
| 1991 | 71,014 | +25.8% |
| 2001 | 118,327 | +66.6% |
| 2011 | 144,182 | +21.9% |
| 2011 Chandel district (includes the present Tengnoupal district) Source: Census of India | ||
According to the 2011 census, the undivided Chandel district hads a population of 144,182. This gives it a ranking of 602nd in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of 43 inhabitants per square kilometre (110/sq mi). Its population growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was 21.72%. Chandel has a sex ratio of 932 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 70.85%. The tribal composition of the district in 2011 is as below:
| Population | Percentage
of Total Pop. | |
|---|---|---|
| All Scheduled Tribes | 128,280 | 89.0% |
| Kuki-Zo tribes | 59,910 | 41.6% |
| Naga tribes | 24,270 | 18.9% |
| Old Kuki/Naga | 63,044 | 33.6% |
After the separation of Tengnoupal district 2016, the residual district has a population of 85,072, which is entirely rural. it has a sex ratio of 921 females per 1000 males. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes made up 0.09% and 92.56% of the population respectively.
Languages
The main languages in the district are Thadou (a "New Kuki" language), Anal (an "Old Kuki" language), Maring (a Naga language). Other Old kuki languages spoken include Lamkang, Moyon, Monsang, Chothe, Tarao, Khoibu, etc.
At the time of the 2011 census, 37.69% of the population spoke Thadou, 30.26% Anal, 4.74% Zou, 2.77% Ao, 2.26% Maring, 1.99% Hindi and 1.93% Kom as their first language. 12.05% of the population spoke languages classified as 'Others' on the census because they had fewer than 10,000 speakers in the country.
Flora and fauna
In 1989, the Chandel district (which then included the Tengnoupal district) became home to the Yangoupokpi-Lokchao Wildlife Sanctuary, which has an area of 185 km2 (71.4 mi2).
Autonomous district council
At the district level there is the Chandel Autonomous District Council.
