Bhagabanpur I

Bhagabanpur 1
Community development block
Bhagabanpur 1 Location in West Bengal, India
Coordinates: 22°05′38″N 87°45′32″E / 22.094°N 87.759°E / 22.094; 87.759Coordinates: 22°05′38″N 87°45′32″E / 22.094°N 87.759°E / 22.094; 87.759
Country	India
State	West Bengal
District	Purba Medinipur
Government
• Type	Community development block
Area
• Total	174.24 km2 (67.27 sq mi)
Elevation	5 m (16 ft)
Population (2011)
• Total	234,432
• Density	1,300/km2 (3,500/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Bengali, English
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	721601 (Bhagwanpur) 721626 (Kalaberia)
Area code(s)	03220
ISO 3166 code	IN-WB
Vehicle registration	WB-29, WB-30, WB-31, WB-32, WB-33
Literacy	88.13%
Lok Sabha constituency	Kanthi
Vidhan Sabha constituency	Bhagabanpur, Chandipur
Website	purbamedinipur.gov.in

Bhagabanpur I (also spelt as Bhagawanpur) is a community development block that forms an administrative division in Egra subdivision of Purba Medinipur district in the Indian state of West Bengal.

History[edit]

Bhagwanpur is a historical place. A myth says it was 'sadar' of an old king, whose 'rajprasad' was at 'Kajlagarh' (which is a tourist place because of this 'rajprasad', 12 km away from Bhagabanpur). Also Bhagwanpur led all major freedom movements at the time of independence. Many people joined the 1942 Quit India movement. Many people struggled in the freedom movement and many of them were killed by the British forces. Gandhi visited Bhagwanpur, Kakra, etc. villages during "Laban Satyagraha" (Salt Movement).

See also: Kajlagarh Rajbari

Geography[edit]

Purba Medinipur district is part of the lower Indo-Gangetic Plain and Eastern coastal plains. Topographically, the district can be divided into two parts – (a) almost entirely flat plains on the west, east and north, (b) the coastal plains on the south. The vast expanse of land is formed of alluvium and is composed of younger and coastal alluvial. The elevation of the district is within 10 metres above mean sea level. The district has a long coastline of 65.5 km along its southern and south eastern boundary. Five coastal CD Blocks, namely, Khejuri II, Contai II (Deshapran}, Contai I, Ramnagar I and II, are occasionally affected by cyclones and tornadoes. Tidal floods are quite regular in these five CD Blocks. Normally floods occur in 21 of the 25 CD Blocks in the district. The major rivers are Haldi, Rupnarayan, Rasulpur, Bagui and Keleghai, flowing in north to south or south-east direction. River water is an important source of irrigation. The district has a low 899 hectare forest cover, which is 0.02% of its geographical area.^[1][2][3]

Bhagabanpur is located at 22°05′38″N 87°45′32″E / 22.094°N 87.759°E / 22.094; 87.759.

Bhagabanpur I CD Block is bounded by Moyna CD Block in the north, Chandipur CD Block in the east, Bhagabanpur II CD Block in the south and Sabang CD Block, in Paschim Medinipur district, and Patashpur II CD Block in the west.

It is located 27 km from Tamluk, the district headquarters.

Bhagabanpur I CD Block has an area of 174.24 km². It has 1 panchayat samity, 10 gram panchayats, 167 gram sansads (village councils), 167 mouzas and 164 inhabited villages. Bhagabanpur police station serves this block.^[4] Headquarters of this CD Block is at Bhagabanpur.^[5]

Gram panchayats of Bhagabanpur I block are: Benudia, Bhagbanpur, Bibhisanpur, Gurgram, Kajlagarh, Kakra, Koatbarh, Mahammadpur I, Mahammadpur II and Simulia.^[6]

There are sites those are popular and attract tourists: 1. Kali Temple, 2. Ram Temple and 3. Bhagabanpur Masjid 4.Syed Mazar 5. Kajlagarh Raj Palace 6. Temple at Bhimeswari. Apart from these there is a 'Sahid Bedi'. That is a temple like bedi, the top of which contains a pot. Myths say this 'bedi' is in the memory of the freedom fighters who died during a fight with the British Police in 1942 and the pot contains blood of those freedom fighters). A children's park is going to be set up 2 km from the Shib Bazar bus stand. Last but not the least, the scenic beauty of every village is a great treat to watch. Kalaberia bazar, Bhagabanpur bazar, Gopinathpur bazar and Bhimeswari bazar are famous in Bhagabanpur. Boating at Kalaberia is a great adventure.

Demographics[edit]

Population[edit]

As per 2011 Census of India Bhagawanpur I CD Block had a total population of 234,432, of which 222,677 were rural and 11,755 were urban. There were 121,301 (52%) males and 113,131 (48%) females. Population below 6 years was 28,910. Scheduled Castes numbered 33,435 (14.26%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 411 (0.18%).^[7]

As per 2001 census, Bhagabanpur I block had a total population of 198,868, out of which 101,548 were males and 97,320 were females. Bhagabanpur I block registered a population growth of 13.59 per cent during the 1991-2001 decade. Decadal growth for the combined Midnapore district was 14.87 per cent.^[8]Decadal growth in West Bengal was 17.84 per cent.^[9]

Large villages (with 4,000+ population) in Bhagabanpur I CD Block (2011 census figures in brackets): Mahammadpur (9,438), Gur Gram (9,028), Kakra (4,887), Bibhisanpur (6,311), Simulia (4,733), Betulya Chaklalpur (4,653), Kotbar (4,737), Sar Berya (5,903) and Narayan Danri (5,069).^[7]

Other villages in Bhagabanpur CD Block (2011 census figure in brackets) : Bhagabanpur (2,566), Kalaberia (3,276).^[7]

Literacy[edit]

As per 2011 census the total number of literates in Bhagabanpur I CD Block was 181,121 (88.13% of the population over 6 years) out of which 99,276 (55%) were males and 81,845 (45%) were females.^[7]

As per 2011 census, literacy in Purba Medinipur district was 87.02%.^[10] Purba Medinipur had the highest literacy amongst all the districts of West Bengal in 2011.^[11]

See also – List of West Bengal districts ranked by literacy rate

Language and religion[edit]

Bengali is the local language in these areas.

In 2011 census Hindus numbered 201,802 and formed 86.08% of the population in Bhagabanpur I CD Block. Muslims numbered 32,389 and formed 13.82% of the population. Others numbered 241 and formed 0.10% of the population.^[12]

Rural poverty[edit]

The District Human Development Report for Purba Medinipur has provided a CD Block-wise data table for Modified Human Poverty Index of the district. Bhagabanpur I CD Block registered 27.81 on the MHPI scale. The CD Block-wise mean MHPI was estimated at 24.78. Eleven out of twentyfive CD Blocks were found to be severely deprived in respect of grand CD Block average value of MHPI (CD Blocks with lower amount of poverty are better): All the CD Blocks of Haldia and Contai subdivisions appeared backward, except Ramnagar I & II, of all the blocks of Egra subdivision only Bhagabanpur I appeared backward and in Tamluk subdivision none appeared backward.^[13]

Economy[edit]

Livelihood[edit]

In Bhagabapur I CD Block in 2011, total workers formed 38.56% of the total population and amongst the class of total workers, cultivators formed 15.87%, agricultural labourers 48.98%, household industry workers 10.24% and other workers 24.90%.^[14]

Infrastructure[edit]

166 or 99% of mouzas in Bhagabanpur I CD Block were electrified by 31 March 2014.^[14]In 2007-08, around 40% of rural households in the district had electricity.^[15]

All 167 mouzas in Bhagabanpur I CD Block had drinking water facilities in 2013-14. There were 47 fertiliser depots, 5 seed stores and 37 fair price shops in the CD Block.^[14]

Agriculture[edit]

According to the District Human Development Report of Purba Medinipur: The agricultural sector is the lifeline of a predominantly rural economy. It is largely dependent on the Low Capacity Deep Tubewells (around 50%) or High Capacity Deep Tubewells (around 27%) for irrigation, as the district does not have a good network of canals, compared to some of the neighbouring districts. In many cases the canals are drainage canals which get the backflow of river water at times of high tide or the rainy season. The average size of land holding in Purba Medinipur, in 2005-06, was 0.73 hectares against 1.01 hectares in West Bengal.^[15]

In 2013-14, the total area irrigated in Bhagabanpur I CD Block was 9,910 hectares, out of which 260 hectares were irrigated by canal water, 2,200 hectares by tank water and 7,450 hectares by deep tube well.^[14]

In 2003-04 net area sown in Bhagabanpur I CD Block was 16,441 hectares and the area in which more than one crop was grown was 12,460 hectares.^[16] Although the Bargadari Act of 1950 recognised the rights of bargadars to a higher share of crops from the land that they tilled, it was not implemented fully. Large tracts, beyond the prescribed limit of land ceiling, remained with the rich landlords. From 1977 onwards major land reforms took place in West Bengal. Land in excess of land ceiling was acquired and distributed amongst the peasants.^[17]Following land reforms land ownership pattern has undergone transformation. In 2013-14, persons engaged in agriculture in Bhagabanpur I CD Block could be classified as follows: bargadars 10.74%, patta (document) holders 10.42%, small farmers (possessing land between 1 and 2 hectares) 1.64%, marginal farmers (possessing land up to 1 hectare) 33.39% and agricultural labourers 43.81%.^[14]

In 2013-14, Bhagabanpur I CD Block produced 9,783 tonnes of Aman paddy, the main winter crop, from 10,275 hectares, 33,686 tonnes of Boro paddy, the spring crop, from 11,946 hectares, 332 tonnes of Aus paddy, the summer crop, from 476 hectares, 14 tonnes of jute from 1 hectares and 1,221 tonnes of potatoes from 85 hectares. It also produced pulses and oilseeds.^[14]

Betelvine is a major source of livelihood in Purba Medinipur district, particularly in Tamluk and Contai subdivisions. Betelvine production in 2008-09 was the highest amongst all the districts and was around a third of the total state production. In 2008-09, Purba Mednipur produced 2,789 tonnes of cashew nuts from 3,340 hectares of land.^[15]

Pisciculture[edit]

Purba Medinipur’s net district domestic product derives one fifth of its earnings from fisheries, the highest amongst all the districts of West Bengal.^[15]The nett area available for effective pisciculture in Bhagabanpur I CD Block in 2013-14 was 900.23 hectares. 5,668 persons were engaged in the profession and approximate annual production was 34,299 quintals.^[14]

Banking[edit]

In 2013-14, Bhagabanpur I CD Block had offices of 6 commercial banks and 3 gramin banks.^[14]

Transport[edit]

[ v t e ] Howrah–Kharagpur line

Legend to Asansol-Tatanagar-Kharagpur line Kalaikunda Nimpura Giri Maidan / to Adra-Kharagpur line Hijli / to Kharagpur-Puri line 0 Kharagpur NH 60 7 Jakpur 13 Madpur 19 Shyam Chak 24 Balichak 27 Duan 30 Radhamohanpur 35 Haur 39 Khirai Kangsabati River 44 / 12 Panskura 81 Haldia Haldia Dock Complex 79 Bandar IOC Haldia Refinery Haldia Petrochemicals 74 Durgachak Town 71 Durgachak / Tata Chemicals 66 Basulyasutahata 60 Barda 51 Mahisadal 49 Satish Samanta halt 43 Keshabpur 94 Digha 88 Tikra Talga Chhari River Ramnagar 78 Badalpur Ashapurna Devi 71 Sujalpur 69 Sitalpur 63 Kanthi 52 Nachinda 39 Henria 33 Deshapran 21 Laban Satyagraha Smarak Haldi River NH 41 10 Nandakumar 36 / 0 Tamluk 33 Saheed Matangini 28 Rajgoda 20 Raghunathbari 48 / 9 Narayan Pukuria Narail 51 / 5 Bhogpur 54 / 3 Nandaigajan 57 / 0 Mecheda Kolaghat TPS 60 Kolaghat Rupnarayan River 64 Deulti 67 Ghoraghata 70 Bagnan Damodar River 78 Kulgachia 79 Bir Shibpur 83 Uluberia 85 Phuleswar 88 Chengel 91 Bauria 95 Nalpur Ambuja Cement 97 Abada / Abada yard 99 Sankrail Delta Jute Mill Rajchandrapur to Dum Dum-Dankuni Calcutta Chord Bhattanagar to Santragachi-Amta line Bankranayabaz 103 Andul 105 Mourigram NH 117 / Kona Expressway 108 Santragachi Hindustan Industries and Engineering Paddapukur GKW Shalimar / Shalimar rail yard NH 117 / Kona Epressway 109 Ramrajatala 111 Dasnagar 112 Tikiapara to Bardhaman via Main / Chord 115 Howrah Source:Google maps, Kharagpur-Howrah Local 38606 Indiarailinfo, Howrah-Haldia Local 68689 =>38089 Indiarailinfo Santragachi-Digha EMU 78001 => 68687 Indiarailinfo

Bhagabanpur I CD Block has 2 ferry services and 3 originating/ terminating bus routes.^[14]

Deshapran is a station on the Tamluk-Digha line, constructed in 2003-04.^[18][19]

SH 4 connecting Jhalda (in Purulia district) and Digha (in Purba Medinipur district) passes through this block.^[20]

The place is accessible by bus. Direct buses are plying from Howrah, Kolkata, Mecheda, Tamluk, Egra, Jaleswar, Baleswar, Puri, Midnapore city via Kharagpur city. The nearest railway station is Bajkul (Deshpran rail station) which is almost 1.5 km away from the place. From there, Bhagwanpur can be reached by bus, taxi, tracker, etc. The name of the bus stand is Shibbazar (named after a lord Shiba temple at the bus stand).

Education[edit]

In 2013-14, Bhagabanpur I CD Block had 159 primary schools with 12,893 students, 12 middle schools with 1,784 students, 9 high schools with 7,435 students and 17 higher secondary schools with 18,798 students. Bhagabanpur I CD Block had 1 general college with 3,235 students and 328 institutions for special and non-formal education with 14,285 students.^[14]

Bajkul Milani Mahavidyalaya was established at Tethi Bari mouza, PO Kismat Bajkul, in 1964. It is affiliated to Vidyasagar University.^[21]

Healthcare[edit]

In 2014, Bhagabanpur I CD Block had 1 rural hospital, 3 primary health centres and 3 nursing homes with total 60 beds and 5 doctors (excluding private bodies). It had 35 family welfare sub centres. 2,670 patients were treated indoor and 100,040 patients were treated outdoor in the hospitals, health centres and subcentres of the CD Block.^[14]

Culture[edit]

There are temples of Bhagwan Ramji, Mata Sitarani and Brother Laksman besides the Bajkul-Egra road at Bhagwanpur bus stand, Kali Mandir(behind Bhagwanpur High School), Shiva Mandir on Shib Bazar bus-stand. Amongst the temples at Kajlagarh, Bhimeswari is famous. During Makar Sankranti, various melas and gramin melas are organized.

References[edit]