Country India District Purulia Assembly constituency Raghunathpur Elevation 176 m Population 117,760 (2011) | State West Bengal Parliamentary constituency Bankura Time zone IST (UTC+5.30) Area 201.8 km² Area code 03251 | |
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Raghunathpur I is a community development block that forms an administrative division in Raghunathpur subdivision of Purulia district in the Indian state of West Bengal.
Contents
Background
The Jaina Bhagavati-Sutra of the 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
Raghunathpur is located at 23°32′20″N 86°40′41″E.
Raghunathpur I CD Block is located in the central part of the district. The Damodar Dwaraka upland is an extension of the Chota Nagpur Plateau. The area is undulating with hillocks of hard rocks.
Raghunathpur I CD Block is bounded by Raghunathpur II and Neturia CD Blocks on the north, Santuri CD Block on the east, Kashipur CD Block on the south and Para CD Block on the west.
It is located 46 km from Purulia, the district headquarters.
Raghunathpur I CD Block has an area of 201.82 km2. It has 1 panchayat samity, 7 gram panchayats, 89 gram sansads (village councils), 106 mouzas, 90 inhabited villages and 1 census town. Raghunathpur police station serves this block. Headquarters of this CD Block is at Raghunathpur.
Gram panchayats of Raghunathpur I block/panchayat samiti are: Arrah, Barugram, Bero, Chorpahari, Khajura, Nutandih and Sanka.
Population
As per the 2011 Census of India Raghunathpur I CD Block had a total population of 117,760, of which 96,488 were rural ad 21,272 were urban. There were 60,897 (52%) males and 56,863 (48%) females. Population below 6 years was 14,723. Scheduled Castes numbered 41,649 (35.37%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 12,599 (10.70%).
As per 2001 census, Raghunathpur I block had a total population of 103,620, out of which 53,416 were males and 50,204 were females. Raghunathpur I block registered a population growth of 12.12 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 Raghunathpur I CD Block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Arra (21,272).
Large villages (with 4,000+ population) in Raghunathpur I CD Block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Shanka (4,233) and Paschim Bero (5,699).
Other villages in Raghunathpur I CD Block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Purbbo Bero (2,956), Khajura (1,871) and Chorpahari (1,103).
Literacy
As per the 2011 census the total number of literates in Raghunathpur I CD Block was 69,408 (67.36% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 42,030 (78.73% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 27,378 (55.14%) of the female population over 6 years). The gender disparity (the difference between female and male literacy rates) was 23.60%.
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 101,047 and formed 85.80% of the population in Raghunathpur I CD Block. Muslims numbered 11,776 and formed 10.00% of the population. Christians numbered 656 and formed 0.56% of the population. Others numbered 4,281 and formed 3.64% 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
80 mouzas in Raghunathpur I CD Block were electrified by 31 March 2014.
Industries
Raghunathpur Thermal Power Station of Damodar Valley Corporation has a capacity of 1,200 MW (2x600). Both the units have gone into commercial operations in March 2016.
Land was sold in Raghunathpur industrial park to Jai Balaji group, Adhunik Corporation, Shyam Steel and other companies. The land had been acquired between 2007 and 2010. However, none of the projects have matured, till September 2016, because of a slump in the steel industry.
Agriculture
In 2013-14, persons engaged in agriculture in Raghunathpur I CD Block could be classified as follows: bargadars 6.62%, patta (document) holders 13.16%, small farmers (possessing land between 1 and 2 hectares) 3.53%, marginal farmers (possessing land up to 1 hectare) 32.94% and agricultural labourers 43.74%.
In 2013-14, the total area irrigated in Raghunathpur I CD Block was 9,075.24 hectares, out of which 7,749.54 hectares by tank water, 47.00 hectares by river lift irrigation, 243.20 hectares by open dug wells and 1,035.50 hectares by other means.
In 2013-14, Raghunathpur I CD Block produced 3,158 tonnes of Aman paddy, the main winter crop, from 1,540 hectares. It also produced wheat, maskalai and mustard.
Banking
In 2013-14, Raghunathpur I CD Block had offices of 8 commercial banks and 5 gramin banks.
Transport
In 2013-14, Raghunathpur I CD Block had 8 originating/ terminating bus routes.
State Highway 8 (West Bengal) running from Santaldih (in Purulia district) to Majhdia (in Nadia district) and State Highway 5 (West Bengal) running from Rupnarayanpur (in Bardhaman district) to Junput (in Purba Medinipur district) cross at Raghunathpur.
The Asansol-Adra line of South Eastern Railway passes through this block and there is a station at Joychandi Pahar.
Education
In 2013-14, Raghunathpur I CD Block had 105 primary schools with 7,971 students, 19 middle schools with 1,319 students, 5 high schools with 2,642 students and 6 higher secondary schools with 6,592 students. Raghunathpur I CD Block had 1 professional/ technical institute with 96 students and 226 institutions with 8,129 students for special and non-formal education. Raghunathpur (municipal town, outside the CD Block) had 1 general college with 3,140 students.
Healthcare
In 2014, Raghunathpur I CD Block had 1 block primary health centre and 2 primary health centres, with total 31 beds and 3 doctors. 1,913 patients were treated indoor and 152,413 patients were treated outdoor in the health centres and subcentres of the CD Block.