District Bankura PIN 722 143 (Mejhia) Elevation 92 m Literacy 66.8% Area code 03241 | Time zone IST (UTC+5:30) Telephone/STD code 03241 Area 162.9 km² Population 86,188 (2011) | |
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Weather 29°C, Wind NW at 10 km/h, 36% Humidity | ||
Mejia (also spelled Mejhia) is a community development block that forms an administrative division in Bankura Sadar subdivision of Bankura district in the Indian state of West Bengal.
Contents
From Bishnupur kingdom to the British Raj
From around 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
Mejia is located at 23.57°N 87.10°E / 23.57; 87.10. It has an average elevation of 77 m (253 ft).
Mejia CD Block is located in the north-western part of the district. The Main Bankura Upland, of which Mejia CD Block is a part, is characterised by undulating terrain with many hills and ridges. The area is having a gradual descent from the Chota Nagpur Plateau. There are coal mines in Saltora, Mejia and Barjora. The soil is laterite red and hard beds are covered with scrub jungle and sal wood.
Mejia CD Block is bounded by Raniganj and Andal CD Blocks, in Bardhaman district, across the Damodar on the north, Barjora CD Block on the east, Gangajalghati CD Block on the south and Saltora CD Block on the west.
It is located 44 km from Bankura, the district headquarters.
Mejia CD Block has an area of 162.87 km2. It has 1 panchayat samity, 5 gram panchayats, 65 gram sansads (village councils), 75 mouzas and 72 inhabited villages. Mejia police station serves this block.Headquarters of this CD Block is at Mejia.
Gram panchayats of Mejia block/ panchayat samiti are: Ardhagram, Banjora, Kustora, Mejia and Ramchandrapur.
Population
As per the 2011 Census of India Mejhia CD Block had a total population of 86,188, all of which were rural. There were 44,575 (52%) males and 41,613 (48%) females. Population below 6 years was 11,002. Scheduled Castes numbered 29,956 (34.19%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 2,114 (2.45%).
Large villages (with 4,000+ population) in Mejia CD Block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Mejhia (5,308) and Tarapur (4,611).
Other villages in Mejia CD Block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Ramchandrapur (2,680), Banjora (1,529), Kustor (3,278) and Arddhagram (1,189).
Literacy
As per the 2011 census the total number of literates in Mejia CD Block was 50,244 (66.83% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 30,291 (77.88% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 19,953 (54.98%) of the female population over 6 years). The gender disparity (the difference between female and male literacy rates) was 22.89%.
See also – List of West Bengal districts ranked by literacy rate
Language and religion
Bengali is the local language in these areas.
In the 2011 census Hindus numbered 81,428 and formed 94.48% of the population in Mejia CD Block. Muslims numbered 2,953 and formed 3.43% of the population. Christians numbered 11 and formed 0.01% of the population. Others numbered 1,796 and formed 2.08% 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 Mejia CD Block 45.75% families were living below poverty line in 2007.
Infrastructure
72 or 96% of mouzas in Mejia CD Block were electrified by 31 March 2014.
75 mouzas in Mejia CD Block had drinking water facilities in 2013-14. There were 12 fertiliser depots, 5 seed stores and 34 fair price shops in the CD Block.
Coal
Coal in Raniganj formation is found in Mejia CD Block. The seams at shallow depth have non-coking coal suitable for use in thermal power plants. As per the Geological Survey of India, proved reserve is 13.14 million tonnes and indicated reserve is 197.37 million tonnes.
Mejia Cement Plant
Mejia Cement Plant of Lafarge India is a grinding unit with an annual capacity of 1 million tonnes of cement. It has been operational from March 2009.
Ferrous industries
Sova Ispat Limited, at Mejia, produces sponge iron, rolled products, ferro alloys and pig iron and has a captive power plant. It employs 5,000 people. Ma Amba Sponge Iron Pvt. Ltd. employs 250 people.
Agriculture
In 2013-14, persons engaged in agriculture in Mejia CD Block could be classified as follows: bargadars 8.37%, patta (document) holders 20.16%, small farmers (possessing land between 1 and 2 hectares) 4.72%, marginal farmers (possessing land up to 1 hectare) 29.47% and agricultural labourers 37.28%.
In 2013-14, the total area irrigated in Mejia CD Block was 2,853 hectares, out of which 1,556 hectares by tank water, 720 hectares by river lift irrigation, 327 hectares by shallow tubewells, 100 hectares by open dug wells and 150 hectres by other methods.
In 2013-14, Mejia CD Block produced 2,858 tonnes of Aman paddy, the main winter crop, from 1,371 hectares and 12 tonnes of wheat from 6 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 Mejia CD Block had 169 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. 116 families were involved in Mejia CD Block.
Banking
In 2013-14, Mejia CD Block had offices of 2 commercial banks and 2 gramin banks.
Transport
In 2013-14, Mejia CD Block had 3 ferry services and 7 originating/ terminating bus routes.
NH 14, (old numbering NH 60), running from Morgram to Kharagpur, passes through this CD Block.
There is a bridge across the Damodar River. [1] It is 35 km from Durgapur.
Education
In 2013-14, Mejia CD Block had 75 primary schools with 6,657 students, 12 middle schools with 1,609 students, 4 high schools with 3,236 students and 6 higher secondary schools with 5,275 students. Mejia CD Block had 125 institutions for special and non-formal education with 4,022 students. Mejia CD Block had 5 mass literacy centres.
Healthcare
In 2014, Mejia CD Block had 1 rural hospital, 1 block primary health centre and 3 primary health centres with 44 beds and 5 doctors. It had 15 family welfare sub centres and 1 family welfare centre. 4,646 patients were treated indoor and 125,672 patients were treated outdoor in the hospitals, health centres and subcentres of the CD Block.