Raipur, Bankura (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.

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 which started in the district in the mid-nineties was mainly concentrated in five police station areas of Khatra subdivision – Sarenga, Barikul, Ranibandh, Raipur and Simlapal. They also functioned across the adjoining areas of Paschim Medinipur and Purulia districts.

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

Raipur is located at 22°48′N 86°57′E.

Raipur CD Block is located in the south-eastern part of the district and belongs to the hard rock area. There are picturesque low hills, locally called masaker pahar.

Raipur CD Block is bounded by Khatra CD Block on the north, Sarenga CD Block on the east, Binpur II CD Block, in Paschim Medinipur, on the south and Ranibandh CD Block on the west.

It is located 57 km from Bankura, the district headquarters.

Raipur CD Block has an area of 369.92 km². It has 1 panchayat samity, 10 gram panchayats, 131 gram sansads (village councils), 206 mouzas, 197 inhabited villages and 1 census town. Raipur police station serves this block. Headquarters of this CD Block is at Gar Raipur.

Gram panchayats of Raipur block/ panchayat samiti are: Dundar, Dhanara, Dheko, Mandalkuli, Matgoda, Melera, Phulkusma, Raipur, Shyamsundarpur and Sonagara.

Population

As per the 2011 Census of India Raipur CD Block had a total population of 171,377, of which 165,097 were rural and 6,280 were urban. There were 87,339 (51%) males and 84,038 (49%) females. Population below 6 years was 19,702. Scheduled Castes numbered 37,457 (21.86%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 47,398 (27.66%).

As per 2001 census, Raipur block had a total population of 151,274, out of which 77,184 were males and 74,090 were females. Raipur block registered a population growth of 40.13 per cent during the 1991-2001 decade. Decadal growth for the district was 13.79 per cent. Decadal growth in West Bengal was 17.84 per cent.

Census Towns in Raipur CD Block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Raipur Bazar (6,280).

Large villages (with 4,000+ population) in Raipur CD Block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Matgoda (5,197), Mandankuli (4,011) and Phulkusma (4,003).

Other villages in Raipur CD Block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Melera (2,066), Shyamsundarpur (2,268), Sonagara (2,395), Dundar (1,677), Dhanara (1,832) and Dheko (1,537).

Literacy

As per the 2011 census the total number of literates in Raipur CD Block was 108,188 (71.33% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 63,645 (82.53% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 44,543 (59.74%) of the female population over 6 years). The gender disparity (the difference between female and male literacy rates) was 22.79%.

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.

Sabars, a primitive tribe, are the most backward amongst the tribals. The concentration of Sabar people is high in Ranibandh and Raipur CD Blocks.

In the 2011 census Hindus numbered 121,261 and formed 70.76% of the population in Raipur CD Block. Muslims numbered 2,221 and formed 1.30% of the population. Christians numbered 82 and formed 0.05% of the population. Others numbered 47,813 and formed 27.90% 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 Raipur CD Block 49.98% 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

197 or 96% of mouzas in Raipur CD Block were electrified by 31 March 2014.

206 mouzas in Simlapal CD Block had drinking water facilities in 2013-14. There were 69 fertiliser depots, 13 seed stores and 67 fair price shops in the CD Block.

Agriculture

In 2013-14, persons engaged in agriculture in Raipur CD Block could be classified as follows: bargadars 2.31%, patta (document) holders 18.47%, small farmers (possessing land between 1 and 2 hectares) 5.25%, marginal farmers (possessing land up to 1 hectare) 18.47% and agricultural labourers 55.50%.

In 2003-04 net area sown Raipur CD Block was 11,256 hectares and the area in which more than one crop was grown was 10,682 hectares.

In 2013-14, the total area irrigated in Raipur CD Block was 18,927 hectares, out of which 14,072 hectares was by canal water, 2,030 hectares by tank water, 1,360 hectares by river lift irrigation, 385 hectares by shallow tubewell, 480 hectares by open dug wells and 600 hectares by other methods.

In 2013-14, Raipur CD Block produced 44,430 tonnes of Aman paddy, the main winter crop, from 16,373 hectares, 84 tonnes of Aus paddy from 31 hectares, 840 tonnes of Boro paddy from 363 hectares, 939 tonnes of wheat from 666 hectares and 39,760,000 tonnes of potatoes from 1,883 hectares. It also produced maize, 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 Raipur CD Block had 251 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. 128 families were involved in Raipur CD Block.

Banking

In 2013-14, Raipur CD Block had offices of 6 commercial banks and 4 gramin banks.

Transport

In 2013-14, Raipur CD Block had 11 originating/ terminating bus routes. The nearest railway railway station is 65 km from the CD Block headquarters.

State Highway 4 (West Bengal) running from Jhalda (in Purulia district) to Digha foreshore (in Purba Medinipur district) and State Highway 9 (West Bengal) from Durgapur (in Bardhaman district) to Nayagram (in Paschim Medinipur) cross at Raipur Bazar.

Education

In 2013-14, Raipur CD Block had 199 primary schools with 15,846 students, 15 middle schools with 2,229 students, 3 high schools with 1,506 students and 26 higher secondary schools with 18,346 students. Raipur CD Block had 1 general college with 1,084 students and 465 institutions for special and non-formal education with 8,013 students.

Pandit Raghunath Murmu Smriti Mahavidyalaya was established in 1986 at Baragari village near the Pirolgari Morh crossing of SH 4 amd SH 9.

Raipur Block Mahavidyalaya was established in 2010 at Kharigerya.

Healthcare

In 2014, Raipur CD Block had 1 rural hospital and 3 primary health centres with total 64 beds and 10 doctors. It had 33 family welfare sub centres and 1 family welfare centre. 7,658 patients were treated indoor and 153,930 patients were treated outdoor in the hospitals, health centres and subcentres of the CD Block.