Purulia II

Background

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.

Geography

Golamara, a constituent panchayat of Purulia II block, is located at 23°25′48″N 86°22′38″E.

Purulia II CD Block is located in the central part of the district. The Kangsabati River forms the boundary between Purulia II and Purulia I 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.

Purulia II CD Block is bounded by Para CD Block, on the north, Hura CD Block, on the east, Purulia I CD Block on the south and a part of the west and Chandankiyari CD Block, in Bokaro district of Jharkhand, on the west.

Purulia II CD Block has an area of 310.10 km². It has 1 panchayat samity, 9 gram panchayats, 114 gram sansads (village councils), 116 mouzas, 101 inhabited villages and 2 census towns. Purulia (Muffasil) (partly) and Purulia (Town) (partly) police stations serve this block. Headquarters of this CD Block is at Village – Bongabari, PO – Vivekanandanagar.

Gram panchayats of Purulia II block/panchayat samiti are: Agoya-Narra, Belma, Bhangra, Chhara-Dumdumi, Ghonga, Golamara, Hutmura, Pindra and Raghabpur.

Population

As per the 2011 Census of India Purulia II CD Block had a total population of 169,488, of which 157,862 were rural and 11,626 were urban. There were 86,462 (51%) males and 83,026 (49%) females. Population below 6 years was 25,437. Scheduled Castes numbered 46,039 (27.16%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 8,213 (4.85%).

As per 2001 census, Purulia II block had a total population of 142,700, out of which 73,407 were males and 69,293 were females. Purulia II block registered a population growth of 16.50 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 Purulia II CD Block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Raghabpur (5,748) and Hutmura (5,878).

Large villages (with 4,000+ population) in Purulia II CD Block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Bongabari (4,215), Sihuli (4,551) and Chharra (6,131).

Other villages in Purulia II CD Block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Pindra (2,512), Bhangra (2,824), Belma (2,773), Dumdumi (3,768), Ghongha (3,803), Golamara (2,954) and Agoa (471).

Literacy

As per the 2011 census the total number of literates in Purulia II CD Block was 91,314 (63.39% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 56,377 (76.72% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 34,937 (49.51%) of the female population over 6 years). The gender disparity (the difference between female and male literacy rates) was 27.21%.

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 141,656 and formed 83.57% of the population in Purulia II CD Block. Muslims numbered 13,776 and formed 8.13% of the population. Christians numbered 77 and formed 0.05% of the population. Others numbered 13,979 and formed 8.25% 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

102 mouzas in Purulia II CD Block were electrified by 31 March 2014. The total consumption of electricity in Purulia district in 2013-14 was 228,350 KWH, out of which 130,376 KWH was domestic consumption and 925 KWH was for agricultural irrigation and dewatering.

Agriculture

In 2013-14, persons engaged in agriculture in Purulia II CD Block could be classified as follows: bargadars 2.24%, patta (document) holders 7.22%, small farmers (possessing land between 1 and 2 hectares) 3.61%, marginal farmers (possessing land up to 1 hectare) 19.00% and agricultural labourers 67.92%.

In 2013-14, the total area irrigated in Purulia II CD Block was 7,221.37 hectares, out of which 2,378 hectares were by canals, 4,141.91 hectares by tank water, 49.66 hectares by river lift irrigation, 186.80 hectares by open dug wells and 465.00 hectares by other means.

In 2013-14, Purulia II CD Block produced 2,668 tonnes of Aman paddy, the main winter crop from 1,795 hectares. It also produced wheat, maskalai, mustard and potatoes.

Banking

In 2013-14, Purulia II CD Block had offices of 8 commercial banks and 1 gramin bank.

Transport

In 2013-14, Purulia II CD Block had 6 originating/ terminating bus routes.

State Highway 5 (West Bengal) running from Rupnarayanpur (in Bardhaman district) to Junput (in Purba Medinipur district) passes through this CD Block.

The Adra-Chandil section of the Asansol-Tatanagar-Kharagpur line of South Eastern Railway passes through this CD Block and there is a station at Charra.

Education

In 2013-14, Purulia II CD Block had 149 primary schools with 18,147 students, 23 middle schools with 1,588 students, 7 high schools with 3,534 students and 17 higher secondary schools with 18,024 students. Purulia II CD Block had 2 professional/ technical institutions with 977 students and 225 institutions with 10,461 students for special and non-formal education. Purulia city (outside the CD Block) had a university, 2 general colleges and 5 professional/ technical institutions.

Healthcare

In 2014, Purulia II CD Block had 1 block primary health centre, 3 primary health centres and 1 private nursing home with total 40 beds and 4 doctors. 3,791 patients were treated indoor and 203,229 patients were treated outdoor in the health centres and subcentres of the CD Block.