Debra (community development block)

For other uses, see Debra (disambiguation).
Debra
ডেবরা
Community development block
সমষ্টি উন্নয়ন ব্লক
Debra

Location in West Bengal, India

Coordinates: 22°23′26″N 87°34′02″E / 22.3906°N 87.5673°E / 22.3906; 87.5673Coordinates: 22°23′26″N 87°34′02″E / 22.3906°N 87.5673°E / 22.3906; 87.5673
Country  India
State West Bengal
District Paschim Medinipur
Government
 • Type Community development block
Area
 • Total 342.41 km2 (132.21 sq mi)
Elevation 12 m (39 ft)
Population (2011)
 • Total 288,619
 • Density 840/km2 (2,200/sq mi)
Languages
 • Official Bengali, English
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
Telephone/STD code 03222
Literacy 82.03%
Lok Sabha constituency Ghatal
Vidhan Sabha constituency Debra
Website paschimmedinipur.gov.in

Debra is a community development block that forms an administrative division in the Kharagpur subdivision of Paschim Medinipur district in the Indian state of West Bengal.

History

Naxalite movement in Debra-Gopiballavpur

In 1968 many revolutionary intellectuals, broadly termed as Naxalites, settled in Gopiballavpur. Amongst them was Santosh Rana, who was a local person. In September 1969 a guerrilla squad killed an oppressive landlord. The landlords fled to the towns and a big peasant movement began. Landlords’ crops were forcibly harvested. Around 150 people were killed. Santosh Rana was the key figure in virtually “liberating” Debra, Gopiballavpur and neighbouring areas in West Bengal, as well as in Odisha and Jharkhand (then it was Bihar). The movement gradually split and collapsed in the early seventies.[1][2][3]

Geography

Overview

Paschim Medinipur, located in the south-western part of West Bengal, was created with the partition of the erstwhile Midnapore district, then the largest district of India, on 1st January 2002. It ranks second in terms of geographical area (9,295.28  km2) amongst the districts of the state, next to South 24-Parganas (9,960  km2). It ranks third in terms of rural population (4.58 million) following South 24-Parganas (5.82 million) and Murshidabad (5.13 million). It ranked fourth in terms of percentage of tribal population (14.87) following Jalpaiguri (18.87), Purulia (18.27) and Dakshin Dinajpur (16.12) in 2011.[4]

Broadly speaking, there are two natural divisions of the district. NH 14 and NH 16 (old numbering NH 60) from Bankura to Balasore, cuts across the district and roughly is the dividing line between the two natural divisions. To the east of this road, the soil is fertile alluvial and the area is flat. To the west, the Chota Nagpur Plateau gradually slopes down creating an undulating area with infertile laterite rocks/ soil. The landscape changes from dense dry deciduous forests in the west to marshy wetlands in the east.[4]

The alluvial portion may be further subdivided into two divisions. First, it is a strip of purely deltaic country nearer to the Hooghly and the Rupnarayan, intersected by numerous rivers and water courses subject to tidal influences. Second, it is rest of the eastern half of the district. It is a monotonous rice plain with numerous waterways and tidal creeks intersecting it. The tidal creeks are lined with embankments to prevent flooding of the fields. Much of the area is water-logged.[4]

In Debra CD Block 100% of the cultivated area has alluvial soil.[4]

Rivers

The river system of Paschim Medinipur district consists of the Rupnarayan, the Silabati or Silai, the Kangsabati or Kansai, the Subarnarekha and the Dulongs. The Silai enters the district from Bankura district, flows through the northern parts of Medinipur Sadar subdivision and then enters Ghatal subdivision and joins the Rupnarayan at Bhandar, 4 miles below Ghatal. The Kasai enters the district from Bankura district. It flows past Medinipur town, bifurcates into two channels, one of which joins the Rupnarayan. Purandar, Gopa, Chandaur and Kubai are important tributaries in the system. The Subarnarekha enters the district from East Singhbhum district in Jharkhand, flows through the southern part of Medinipur Sadar subdivision, intersects Gopiballavpur police station area, flows past Dantan town and enters Balasore district of Odisha.[4]

Floods and drought

Paschim Medinipur district is subject to both floods and drought. Ghatal and parts of Kharagpur subdivision covering an area of 142,647 hectares (1,426.47 km2) are flood prone. Water logging during the rainy season affects Ghatal and the southern parts of Kharagpur subdivion and results in loss of crops in such areas as Sabang, Pingla and Narayangarh CD Blocks.335,248 hectares (3,352.48 km2) in Jhargram and Medinipur Sadar subdivisions are drought prone. The drought situation is particularly severe in Jhargram subdivision. Although the district is away from the sea, cyclones hit it frequently in October-November.[4]

Location

Debra is located at 22°23′26″N 87°34′02″E / 22.3906°N 87.5673°E / 22.3906; 87.5673.

Debra CD Block is bounded by Daspur I CD Block in the north, Panskura CD Block, in Purba Medinipur district, in the east, Pingla CD Block in the south and Kharagpur II and Keshpur CD Blocks in the west.[5][6]

It is located 28 km from Midnapore, the district headquarters.[5]

Area and administration

Debra CD Block has an area of 342.41 km2. It has 1 panchayat samity, 14 gram panchayats, 214 gram sansads (village councils), 477 mouzas and 460 inhabited villages. Debra police station serves this block.[7] Headquarters of this CD Block is at Balichak.[8]

Gram panchayats

Gram panchayats of Debra block/ panchayat samiti are: Bhabanipur, Bharatpur, Debra I, Debra II,Duan I,Duan II, Golgram, Jalimanda, Khanamohan, Malighati, Radhamohanpur I, Radhamohanpur II, Satyapur and Snarpur Lowada.[9]

Demographics

Population

As per the 2011 Census of India Debra CD Block had a total population of 288,619, of which 274,835 were rural and 13,784 were urban. There were 145,559 (50%) males and 143,060 (50%) females. Population below 6 years was 31,859. Scheduled Castes numbered 37,503 (12.99%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 59,122 (20.48%).[10]

As per 2001 census, Debra block had a total population of 255,196, out of which 129,109 were males and 126,087 were females. Debra block registered a population growth of 15.80 per cent during the 1991-2001 decade. Decadal growth for the combined Midnapore district was 14.87 per cent.[11] Decadal growth in West Bengal was 17.45 per cent.[12]

Census Towns and villages

Census Towns in Debra CD Block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Balichak (13,784).[10]

Large villages (with 4,000+ population) in Debra CD Block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Baragar (4,329).[10]

Other villages in Debra CD Block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Debra (2,347), Bhawanipur (1,700), Bharatpur (826), Golgram (3,984), Malighati (2,379), Satyapur (3,091), Jalimanda (2,263), Duan (3,497), Radhamohanpur (3,604), Khana Mohan (559) and Shanrpur (1,252).[10]

Literacy

As per the 2011 census the total number of literates in Debra CD Block was 210,618 (82.03% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 114,992 (88.78% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 95,626 (75.16% of the female population over 6 years). The gender gap in literacy rates was 13.62%.[10]

As per the 2011 census, literacy in Paschim Medinipur district was 78.00%.[13] Literacy in West Bengal was 77.08% in 2011.[14] Literacy in India in 2011 was 74.04%.[14]

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

Languages

Bengali is the local language in these areas.[5]

Religion

Religion in Debra CD Block
Hindu
  
 88.16%
Muslim
  
 10.34%
Others
  
 1.50%

In the 2011 census Hindus numbered 254,459 and formed 88.16% of the population in Debra CD Block. Muslims numbered 29,838 and formed 10.34% of the population. Others numbered 4,322 and formed 1.50% of the population.[15] Others include Addi Bassi, Marang Boro, Santal, Saranath, Sari Dharma, Sarna, Alchchi, Bidin, Sant, Saevdharm, Seran, Saran, Sarin, Kheria,[16] Christian and other religious communities.[15]

In 2011, Hindus numbered 5,056,953 and formed 85.52% of the population in Paschim Medinipur district. Muslims numbered 620,554 and formed 10.49% of the population. Others (including Christians) numbered 235,950 and formed 3.99% of the population. Christians numbered 23,287 and formed 0.39% of the population. In West Bengal, Hindus numbered 64,385,546 and formed 70.53% of the population. Muslims numbered 24,654,825 and formed 27.01% of the population.[15]

Human Development Report

According to the District Human Development Report of Paschim Medinipur: The district represents regional diversity in terms of physiographic, agro-climatic characteristics, economic development, social composition etc. Over 7,500 inhabited villages of the district reflect highly differential features and indicators of human development. There are pockets of prosperity in the eastern part and areas of distress in the western part. From 2009 Maoist violence rapidly spread across eleven western CD Blocks of the district: Binpur I, Binpur II, Salboni, Grahbeta II, Jamboni, Jhargram, Midnapore Sadar, Gopiballavpur I, Gopiballavpur II, Sankrail and Nayagram.[17]

The level of urbanisation in the district is low. In 2001 the percentage share of the urban population in the district was 11.90 against 27.96 in the state as a whole. Population density at 531 persons per  km2 was lower than the West Bengal average of 903 persons per  km2. The literacy rate has increased significantly from 39.80% in 1981 to 70.41% in 2001, but the gender gap in literacy rate (difference between female and male literacy rates) is substantial.[17]

There is high agricultural productivity differential across 29 blocks of the district. The differential being high across drought prone blocks of the western part of the district and substantially irrigated blocks of its eastern part. Low productivity of agriculture has considerable relevance for high level of poverty among households in the drought prone regions specially among the SCs and STs. The district is relatively backward in the development of infrastructure.[17]

Electrification was extended to 76.79% mouzas of the district by 2007. In Debra CD Block electricity was extended to 89.31% of the mouzas by 2007.[17]

The United Nations Development Programme considers the combined primary and secondary enrolment ratio as the simple indicator of educational achievement of the children in the school going age. The infrastructure available is important. In Debra CD Block out of the total 206 primary schools in 2008-2009, 76 had pucca buildings, 54 partially pucca, 6 kucha and 70 multiple type. In the district as a whole 43.6% of primary schools and 88.38% of upper primary schools had libraries, 30.99% primary schools (classes I – V) and 78.37% upper primary schools (classes VI to VIII) had play grounds, and 20.83% upper primary schools had computers. 62,697 sudents of primary schools and 242,728 students of upper primary schools were covered under the Midday Meal Scheme. Nayagram and Gopiballavpur I CD Blocks have been identified as educationally backward blocks and special efforts are being made through National Programme of Education for Girls at Elementary Level and Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya hostels. These are the hostels for accommodating girl students from weaker sections of the society and all costs relating to their livelihood are borne by the government so that they are not to be deprived of availing elementary education for want of money or other social issues.[17]

As per the Rural Household Survey conducted in 2005 by the Department of Panchayats and Rural Development, Government of West Bengal, 43.79% of rural houselds in the district were Below Poverty Line against 34.12% in West Bengal.[17]

The 29 CD Blocks of the district were classified into four categories based on the poverty ratio. Nayagram, Binpur II and Jamboni CD Blocks have very high poverty levels (above 60%). Kharagpur I, Kharagpur II, Sankrail, Garhbeta II, Pingla and Mohanpur CD Blocks have high levels of poverty (50-60%), Jhargram, Midnapore Sadar, Dantan I, Gopiballavpur II, Binpur I, Dantan II, Keshiari, Chandrakona I, Gopiballavpur I, Chandrakona II, Narayangarh, Keshpur, Ghatal, Sabang, Garhbeta I, Salboni, Debra and Garhbeta III CD Blocks have moderate levels of poverty (25-50%) and Daspur II and Daspur I have low levels of poverty (below 25%).[17]

The loco shops of South Eastern Railway employed 3,983 persons, the carriage shops of South Eastern Railway employed 2,189 persons, the wagon repair shops of South Eastern Railway employed 1,700 persons. There were 14 units employing between 250 and 1,000 persons. All other industrial establishments in Paschim Medinipur employed less than 250 persons. More than 80% of Paschim Medinipur’s population depend on agricultural activities for a living.[17]

The dominant SC gropus in the district are Bagdi Dule, Dom, Jalia Kaibarta, Mal, Rajbanshi, Rajoyar, Keora, Bhimali, Bauri, and Tiyar. Ghatal sub-division has highest concentration of 24.95% SC population. The western part of the district shows more dense ST population. The Jhargram sub division has the highest concentration, i.e. 30.02% of total ST population. The major tribal communities of the district are Santhal, Bhumij, Munda, Lodha, Kora and Mahali. Among them, Lodha only belong to the primitive tribal group. Most of the STs live on agricultural labour. Many ST families move to the neighbouring districts in search of work, particularly during the cultivation season.[17]

(Note: Certain topics, such as Geography, Literacy, Education, Healthcare etc., are not/not fully covered here and are covered elsewhere in this page.)

Economy

Infrastructure

in 2003-04, in Debra CD Block had 8,250 hectares of canals, 2,000 hectares were irrigated with tank water, 4,680 hecatres by deep tube wells and 4,620 hectares by shallow tube wells.[18] In 2006-07 in Debra CD Block 47.60% of the gross cropped area had facilities for irrigation.[19]

In 2003-04 Debra CD Block had 62 km of surfaced roads under PWD, 8 km surfaced roads and 13 km unsurfaced roads under Zilla Parishad and 379 km surfaced roads and 348 km unsurfaced roads under Gram Panchayat and Panchayat Samiti.[18]

Agriculture

In 2003-04 the farmers of Debra CD Block could be classified as follows: Bargadars 7.31%, patta (document) holders 20.64%, small farmers 26.52%, marginal farmers 6.42% and agricultural labourers 39.10%.[18]

Although the Bargadari Act of 1950 recognised the rights of bargadars to a higher share of crops from the land that they tilled, it was not implemented. Large tracts, beyond the prescribed limit of land ceiling, remained with the rich landlords. From 1977 onwards major land reforms took place in West Bengal. Land in excess of land ceiling was acquired and distributed amongst the peasants.[20] As of 2003-04, Debra CD Block had 2,109 hectares vested land, out of which 1,901 hectares were distributed amongst 25,931 persons.[18]

In 2003-04 net area sown in Debra CD Block was 27,247 hectares and the area in which more than one crop was grown was 21,050 hectares.[18]

In 2003-04 Debra CD Block produced 1,650 tonnes of Aus paddy from 690 hectares, 55,380 tonnes of Aman paddy from 26,050 hectares, 50,030 tonnes Boro paddy from 15,470 hectares, 780 tonnes jute from 80 hectares, 520 tonnes wheat from 290 hectares and 3,150 tonnes potatoes from 150 hectares.[18]

Pisciculture

In Debra CD Block 905 hectares was the nett area under effective pisiculture. 1,165 persons were engaged in the profession. Approximate annual production in 2003-04 was 15,402 qtl.[18]

Welfare Organisations

Lowada Cactus Welfare Association, Lowada,Debra (community development block), Paschim Medinipur district, WestBengal, Pin-721136

Transport

Debra CD Block has 5 ferry services and 10 originating/ terminating bus routes.[18]

The Howrah-Kharagpur line passes through this CD Block. Balichak is a station on this line.[21]

The Dankuni-Kharagpur sector of NH 16 (old number NH 6) passes through this block.[22]

Education

In 2003-04, Debra CD Block had 206 primary schools with 18,758 students, 8 middle schools with 1,769 students, 21 high schools with 14,190 students and 10 higher secondary schools with 8,591 students. Debra CD Block had 1 professional and technical institution with 150 students, 418 institutions with 14,322 students for special and non-formal education. Debra CD Block had 200 mass literacy centres.[18]

Healthcare

Debra CD Block had 1 hospital, 4 health centres, 40 clinics and 3 dispensaries with 47 beds and 11 doctors in 2003.[18]

References

  1. ↑ "30 Years of Naxalbari". Naxalbari-type Upsurge – (3) Debra-Gopiballavpur. Revolutionary Publications. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  2. ↑ Chaudhuri, Arindam. "Santosh Rana". Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  3. ↑ "Interview with Santosh Rana". Seminar, March 2010 (issue on Red Resurgence). Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "District Human Development Report: Paschim Medinipur" (PDF). Chapter I Introduction and Human Development Indices for Paschim Mednipur. Development and Planning Department, Government of West Bengal, 2011. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 "Debra Block". onefivenine. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  6. ↑ "District Map Paschim Medinipur". Maps. Paschim Medinipur district administration. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  7. ↑ "District Statistical Handbook 2014 Paschim Medinipur". Tables 2.1, 2.2. Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  8. ↑ "District Census Handbook: Paschim Medinipur" (PDF). Map of Paschim Medinipur with CD Block HQs and Police Stations (on the fifth page). Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal, 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  9. ↑ "Directory of District, Subdivision, Panchayat Samiti/ Block and Gram Panchayats in West Bengal". Purba Medinipur - Revised in March 2008. Panchayats and Rural Development Department, Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 "C.D. Block Wise Primary Census Abstract Data(PCA)". 2011 census: West Bengal – District-wise CD Blocks. Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  11. ↑ "Provisional population totals, West Bengal, Table 4, (erstwhile) Medinipur District". Census of India 2001. Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  12. ↑ "Provisional Population Totals, West Bengal. Table 4". Census of India 2001. Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  13. ↑ "Paschim Medinipur (West Midnapore) District: Census 2011 data". 2016 Digital Trends. Census Population 2015 Data. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  14. 1 2 "Provisional population tables and annexures" (PDF). Census 2011:Table 2(3) Literates and Literacy rates by sex. Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  15. 1 2 3 "C1 Population by Religious Community". West Bengal. Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  16. ↑ "ST-14 A Details Of Religions Shown Under 'Other Religions And Persuasions' In Main Table". West Bengal. Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "District Human Development Report: Paschim Medinipur" (PDF). May 2011. Pages: 4-16, 38, 60-75, 176-178, 251, 263,271. Development & Planning Department, Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "District Statistical Handbook – 2004 – Paschim Medinipur" (PDF). 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 4.4, 4.6, 8.2, 17.2, 18.1, 18.2, 18.3, 18.4, 20.1, 21.1, 21.2. Bureau of Applied Economics and Statistics, Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  19. ↑ "District Human Development Report: Paschim Medinipur" (PDF). Page 146, Table 5.19, Percentage Share of Irrigated Area. Development and Planning Department, Government of West Bengal, 2011. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  20. ↑ "District Human Development Report: South 24 Parganas". (1) Chapter 1.2, South 24 Parganas in Historical Perspective, pages 7-9 (2) Chapter 3.4, Land reforms, pages 32-33. Development & Planning Department, Government of West Bengal, 2009. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  21. ↑ "Kharagpur-Howrah Local 38606". Indiarailinfo. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  22. ↑ "Rationalisation of Numbering Systems of National Highways" (PDF). New Delhi: Department of Road Transport and Highways. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
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