Joypur, Purulia (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.

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

Joypur is located at 23°26′00″N 86°08′00″E.

Joypur CD Block is bounded by Chas CD Block, in Bokaro district of Jharkhand, on the north and a part of the east, Purulia I CD Block, on the east, Arsha CD Block on the south and Jhalda II CD Block and Jaridih CD Block, in Bokaro district of Jharkhand, on the west.

It is located 28 km from Purulia, the district headquarters.

Joypur CD Block is located in the western part of the district. The Kangsabati River forms the boundary between Joypur and Arsha CD Blocks. The upper Kangsabati basin has undulating land and the elevation rises from 200 to 300 m and the general slope is from west to east and south-east.

Joypur CD Block has an area of 230.47 km². It has 1 panchayat samity, 7 gram panchayats, 90 gram sansads (village councils), 113 mouzas, 109 inhabited villages and 1 census town. Joypur police station serves this block. Headquarters of this CD Block is at Joypur.

Gram panchayats of Joypur block/panchayat samiti are: Baragram, Ghagra, Joypur, Mukundapur, Ropo, Sidhi-Jamra and Upar-Kahan.

Population

As per the 2011 Census of India Joypur CD Block had a total population of 133,349, of which 123,090 were rural and 10,259 were urban. There were 68,977 (52%) males and 64,372 (48%) females. Population below 6 years was 21,079. Scheduled Castes numbered 19,162 (14.37%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 13,074 (9.80%).

As per 2001 census, Joypur block had a total population of 111,715, out of which 58,132 were males and 53,583 were females. Joypur block registered a population growth of 17.97 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 Joypur CD Block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Jaypur (10,259).

Large villages (with 4,000+ population) in Joypur CD Block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Sidhi (4,665) and Barbenda (5,107).

Other villages in Joypur CD Block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Mukundpur (2,076), Baragram (2,811), Rop (3,340), Jamra (1,591), Gaghra (1,993) and Upar Kahan (2,960).

Literacy

As per the 2011 census the total number of literates in Joypur CD Block was 65,044 (57.94% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 41,848 (72.06% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 23,196 (42.80% of the female population over 6 years). The gender disparity (the difference between female and male literacy rates) was 29.26%.

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

Languages and religions

Bengali is the local language in these areas.

In the 2011 census Hindus numbered 99,441 and formed 74.57% of the population in Joypur CD Block. Muslims numbered 12,769 and formed 9.58% of the population. Christians numbered 82 and formed 0.06% of the population. Others numbered 21,057 and formed 15.79% 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

110 mouzas in Joypur CD Block were electrified by 31 March 2014.

Agriculture

In 2013-14, persons engaged in agriculture in Joypur CD Block could be classified as follows: bargadars 0.79%, patta (document) holders 18.13%, small farmers (possessing land between 1 and 2 hectares) 6.27%, marginal farmers (possessing land up to 1 hectare) 29.91% and agricultural labourers 44.91%.

In 2013-14, the total area irrigated in Joypur CD Block was 4,372.98 hectares, out of which 300 hectares were by canals, 2,866.6 hectares by tank water, 66.38 hectares by river lift irrigation, 124.20 hectares by open dug wells and 715.80 hectares by other means.

In 2013-14, Joypur CD Block produced 23,025 tonnes of Aman paddy, the main winter crop from 10,593 hectares. It also produced maize, maskalai, mustard and potatoes.

Banking

In 2013-14, Joypur CD Block had offices of 5 commercial banks and 1 gramin bank.

Transport

In 2013-14, Joypur CD Block had 3 originating/ terminating bus routes.

SH 4A running from Tulin to Chas Morh (both in Purulia district) passes through this block.

The Purulia-Kotshila branch line of South Eastern Railway passes through this CD Block and there is a station at Garh Jaipur.

Education

In 2013-14, Joypur CD Block had 116 primary schools with 13,991 students, 21 middle schools with 1,433 students, 1 high school with 561 students and 9 higher secondary schools with 11,974 students. Joypur CD Block had 2 general colleges with 708 students and 179 institutions with 7,972 students for special and non-formal education.

Culture

Ruins of three identical Bholababa temples are located at Boram, near Jaipur.

Healthcare

In 2014, Joypur CD Block had 1 block primary health centre and 3 primary health centres with total 44 beds and 3 doctors. 5,122 patients were treated indoor and 222,090 patients were treated outdoor in the health centres and subcentres of the CD Block.