Hirbandh (community development block)

From Bishnupur kingdom to the British Raj

From around the 7th century AD till around the advent of British rule, for around a millennium, history of Bankura district is identical with the rise and fall of the Hindu Rajas of Bishnupur. The Bishnupur Rajas, who were at the summit of their fortunes towards the end of the 17th century, started declining in the first half of the 18th century. First, the Maharaja of Burdwan seized the Fatehpur Mahal, and then the Maratha invasions laid waste their country.

Bishnupur was ceded to the British with the rest of Burdwan chakla in 1760. In 1787, Bishnupur was united with Birbhum to form a separate administrative unit. In 1793 it was transferred to the Burdwan collectorate. In 1879, the district acquired its present shape with the thanas of Khatra and Raipur and the outpost of Simplapal being transferred from Manbhum, and the thanas of Sonamukhi, Kotulpur and Indas being retransferred from Burdwan. However, it was known for sometime as West Burdwan and in 1881 came to be known as Bankura district.

Geography

Hirbandh is located at 23°03′48″N 86°48′08″E

Hirbandh CD Block is located in the western part of the district and belongs to the hard rock area.

Hirbandh CD Block is bounded by Indpur CD Block on the north, Khatra CD Block on the east and on a part of the south, Ranibandh CD Blocks on the rest of the south and Manbazar I CD Block, in Purulia district, on the west.

It is located 41 km from Bankura, the district headquarters.

Hirbandh CD Block has an area of 190.97 km². It has 1 panchayat samity, 5 gram panchayats, 59 gram sansads (village councils), 121 mouzas and 116 inhabited villages. Hirbandh police station serves this block. Headquarters of this CD Block is at Hirbandh.

Gram panchayats of Hirbandh block/ panchayat samiti are: Baharamuri, Gopalpur, Hirbandh, Malian and Mashiara.

Population

As per the 2011 Census of India Hirbandh CD Block had a total population of 83,834, all of which were rural. There were 42,917 (51%) males and 40,917 (49%) females. Population below 6 years was 9,977. Scheduled Castes numbered 22,827 (27.23%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 23,806 (28.40%).

In the 2001 census, Hirbandh community development block had a total population of 72,499 of which 37,230 were males and 35,269 were females. Decadal growth for the period 1991-2001 was 16.53% for Hirdih, against 13.79% in Bankura district. Decadal growth in West Bengal was 17.84%.

Villages in Hirbandh CD Block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Hirbandh (1,733), Baharamuri (2,401), Malian (2,457), Gopalpur (999) and Mosiara (2,559).

Literacy

As per the 2011 census the total number of literates in Hirbandh CD Block was 47,399 (64.18% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 29,446 (77.80% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 17,953 (49.86%) of the female population over 6 years). The gender disparity (the difference between female and male literacy rates) was 27.94%.

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

Languages and religion

Bengali is the local language in these areas.

There is a tribal presence in many of the CD Blocks of the district. Santali is spoken by around 10% of the population in the district. Some people also speak Mundari.

In the 2011 census Hindus numbered 67,889 and formed 80.98% of the population in Hirbandh CD Block. Muslims numbered 1,945 and formed 2.32% of the population. Christians numbered 3 and formed 0.004% of the population. Others numbered 13,997 and formed 16.70% 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.

BPL families

In Hirbandh CD Block 49.95% families were living below poverty line in 2007.

Migration has been observed in the following CD Blocks of Bankura district: Bankura I, Chhatna, Saltora, Indpur, Ranibandh, Hirbandh, Khatra, Raipur and Sarenga. Although authentic figures are not available, a sample survey has been done. According to the sample survey, around 54.5% to 85.4% of the families on an average migrate from these blocks. Another study shows that around 23% of the people from the under-privileged blocks in the western and southern Bankura migrate. Those migrating belong mostly to the SC or ST population. They migrate for periods varying from 15 days to 6/8 months. Most people migrate to meet their food deficit and go to Bardhaman and Hooghly districts but some go to Gujarat and Maharashtra as construction labour.

Infrastructure

116 or 96% of mouzas in Hirbandh CD Block were electrified by 31 March 2014.

121 mouzas in Hirbandh CD Block had drinking water facilities in 2013-14. There were 33 fertiliser depots, 6 seed stores and 40 fair price shops in the CD Block.

Agriculture

In 2013-14, persons engaged in agriculture in Hirbandh CD Block could be classified as follows: bargadars 1.34%, patta (document) holders 10.28%, small farmers (possessing land between 1 and 2 hectares) 7.12%, marginal farmers (possessing land up to 1 hectare) 23.81% and agricultural labourers 57.45%.

In 2003-04 net area sown in Hirbandh CD Block was 11,062 hectares and the area in which more than one crop was grown was 2,561 hectares.

In 2013-14, the total area irrigated in Hirbandh CD Block was 3,209 hectares, out of which 929 hectares was by canal water, 1,050 hectares by tank water, 940 hectares by river lift irrigation, 70 hectares by open dug wells and 220 hectares by other methods.

In 2013-14, Hirbandh CD Block produced 19,285 tonnes of Aman paddy, the main winter crop, from 7,829 hectares, 107 tonnes of wheat from 50 hectares and 1,431 tonnes of potatoes from 53 hectares. It also produced pulses and mustard.

Handloom and pottery industries

The handloom industry engages the largest number of persons in the non farm sector and hence is important in Bankura district. The handloom industry is well established in all the CD Blocks of the district and includes the famous Baluchari saris. In 2004-05 Hirbandh CD Block had 407 looms in operation.

Bankura district is famous for the artistic excellence of its pottery products that include the famous Bankura horse. The range of pottery products is categorised as follows: domestic utilities, terracota and other decorative items and roofing tiles and other heavy pottery items. Around 3,200 families were involved in pottery making in the district in 2002. 95 families were involved in Hirbandh CD Block.

Banking

In 2013-14, Hirbandh CD Block had offices of 1 commercial bank and 3 gramin banks.

Transport

In 2013-14, Hirbandh CD Block had 6 originating/ terminating bus routes. The nearest railway railway station is 45 km from the CD Block headquarters.

State Highway 2 (West Bengal) running from Bankura to Malancha (in North 24 Parganas district) and State Highway 4 (West Bengal) running from Jhalda (in Purulia district) to Digha foreshore (in Purba Medinipur district) pass through this CD Block.

Education

In 2013-14, Hirbandh CD Block had 95 primary schools with 6,121 students, 9 middle schools with 1,342 students, 6 high schools with 4,424 students and 7 higher secondary schools with 4,581 students. Hirbandh CD Block had 78 institutions for special and non-formal education with 3,100 students.

Healthcare

In 2014, Hirbandh CD Block had 1 rural hospital and 2 prmary health centres with total 44 beds and 6 doctors. It had 18 family welfare sub centres and 1 family welfare centre. 2,991 patients were treated indoor and 171,046 patients were treated outdoor in the hospitals, health centres and subcentres of the CD Block.