Bandwan (community development block)

Background

The Jaina Bhagavati-Sutra of 5th century AD mentions that Purulia was one of the sixteen mahajanapadas and was a part of the kingdom known as Vajra-bhumi in ancient times. In 1833, Manbhum district was carved out of Jungle Mahals district, with headquarters at Manbazar. In 1838, the headquarters was transferred to Purulia. In 1956, Manbhum district was partitioned between Bihar and West Bengal under the States Reorganization Act and the Bihar and West Bengal (Transfer of Territories) Act 1956.

Maoist activities

Banduan, along with certain other areas such as Manbazar, Jhalda, and Jaipur, was part of the area affected by the violent activities of Indian Maoists, also referred to as Naxalites.

Red corridor

106 districts spanning 10 states across India, described as being part of the Left Wing Extremism activities, constitutes the Red corridor. In West Bengal the districts of Paschim Medinipur, Bankura, Purulia and Birbhum are part of the Red corridor. However, as of July 2016, there had been no reported incidents of Maoist related activities from these districts for the previous 4 years.

The CPI (Maoist) extremism affected CD Blocks in Purulia district were: Jhalda I, Jhalda II, Arsha, Baghmundi, Balarampur, Barabazar, Manbazar II and Bandwan. Certain reports also included Manbazar I and Joypur CD Blocks and some times indicted the whole of Purulia district.

The Lalgarh movement, which started attracting attention after the failed assassination attempt on Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, then chief minister of West Bengal, in the Salboni area of Paschim Medinipur district, on 2 November 2008 and the police action that followed, had also spread over to these areas. The movement was not just a political struggle but an armed struggle that concurrently took the look of a social struggle. A large number of CPI (M) activists were killed. Although the epi-centre of the movement was Lalgarh, it was spread across 19 police stations in three adjoining districts – Paschim Medinipur, Bankura and Purulia, all thickly forested and near the border with Jharkhand. The deployment of CRPF and other forces started on 11 June 2009. The movement came to an end after the 2011 state assembly elections and change of government in West Bengal. The death of Kishenji, the Maoist commander, on 24 November 2011 was the last major landmark.

Geography

Bandwan is located at 22°52′34″N 86°30′25″E.

Bandwan CD Block is located in the south-eastern part of the district. The Bagmundi-Bandwan uplands is an area that has descended from the Ranchi Plateau.

Bandwan CD Block is bounded by Manbazar II CD Block on the north, Ranibandh CD Block, in Bankura district, and Binpur II CD Block, in Paschim Medinipur district, on the east, Golmuri-cum-Jugsalai and Ghatshila CD Blocks, in East Singhbhum district of Jharkhand, on the south and Patamda CD Block, in East Singhbhum district of Jharkhand, on the west.

It is located 61 km from Purulia, the district headquarters.

Bandwan CD Block has an area of 351.25 km². It has 1 panchayat samity, 8 gram panchayats, 69 gram sansads (village councils), 135 mouzas and 131 inhabited villages. Bandwan police station serves this block. Headquarters of this CD Block are at Bandwan.

Gram panchayats of Bandwan block/ panchayat samiti are: Bandwan, Chirudih, Dhadka, Gurur, Kuilapal, Kumra, kunchia and Supudih.

Population

As per the 2011 Census of India Bandwan CD Block had a total population of 94,929, of which 88,936 were rural and 5,993 were urban. There were 47,798 (50%) males and 47,131 (50%) females. Population below 6 years was 12,150. Scheduled Castes numbered 5,630 (5.93%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 49,232 (51.86%).

As per 2001 census, Bandwan block had a total population of 83,678, out of which 42,246 were males and 41,427 were females. Bandwan block registered a population growth of 14.55 per cent during the 1991-2001 decade. Decadal growth for Purulia district was 13.96 per cent. Decadal growth in West Bengal was 17.84 per cent.

Census Towns in Bandwan CD Block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Bandoan (5,993).

Villages in Bandwan CD Block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Dhadka (1,896), Kunchia (2,279), Kumra (631), Chirudih (1,415), Supudih (2,567), Gurur (1,500) and Kuilapal (985).

Literacy

As per the 2011 census the total number of literates in Bandwan CD Block was 50,810 (61.38% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 31,016 (74.61% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 19,794 (48.03%) of the female population over 6 years). The gender disparity (the difference between female and male literacy rate was 26.58%.

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

Languages and religions

Bengali is the local language in these areas.

There is a tribal presence in many of the CD Blocks of the district. Santali was spoken by around 14% of the population of the earlier Manbhum district. Some people also speak Mundari or Kolarian languages such as Kurmali, Mundari and the languages of the Bhumij or Mahli.

In the 2011 census Hindus numbered 52,950 and formed 55.78% of the population in Bandwan CD Block. Muslims numbered 558 and formed 0.59% of the population. Christians numbered 153 and formed 0.16% of the population. Others numbered 41,268 and formed 43.47% of the population. Others include Addi Bassi, Marang Boro, Santal, Saranath, Sari Dharma, Sarna, Alchchi, Bidin, Sant, Saevdharm, Seran, Saran, Sarin, Kheria, and other religious communities.

Infrastructure

132 mouzas in Bandwan CD Block were electrified by 31 March 2014.

Agriculture

In 2013-14, persons engaged in agriculture in Bandwan CD Block could be classified as follows: bargadars 0.56%, patta (document) holders 10.40%, small farmers (possessing land between 1 and 2 hectares) 6.00%, marginal farmers (possessing land up to 1 hectare) 40.37% and agricultural labourers 42.67%.

In 2013-14, the total area irrigated in Bandwan CD Block was 7,334.14 hectares, out of which 1,694.00 hectares were by canal irrigation, 4,833.90 hectares by tank water, 58.84 hectares by river lift irrigation, 122.80 hectares by open dug wells and 624.60 hectares by other means.

In 2013-14, Bandwan CD Block produced 3,533 tonnes of Aman paddy, the main winter crop, from 1,739 hectares, 29 tonnes of Boro paddy, the summer crop, from 16 hectares, 18 tonnes of wheat from 9 hectares, 2,286 tonnes of maize from 1,636 hectares and 10,574 tonnes of potato from 372 hectares. It also produced khesari, and mustard.

Transport

In 2013-14, Bandwan CD Block had 4 originating/ terminating bus routes. The nearest railway station was 29 km from the CD Block headquarters.

SH 5 running from Rupnarayanpur (in Bardhaman district) to Junput (in Purba Medinipur district) passes through this block.

Education

In 2013-14, Bandwan CD Block had 133 primary schools with 8,505 students, 19 middle schools with 442 students, 2 high schools with 868 students and 11 higher secondary schools with 9,109 students. Bandwan CD Block had 1 general college with 500 students, 1 professional/ technical institution with 62 students and 314 institutions with 6,967 students for special and non-formal education.

Healthcare

In 2014, Bandwan CD Block had 1 block primary health centre and 3 primary health centres, with total 48 beds and 6 doctors. 10,609 patients were treated indoor and 177,339 patients were treated outdoor in the health centres and subcentres of the CD Block.