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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2017}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Basanti
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| other_name =
| nickname =
| settlement_type = Census Town
| image_skyline =
| image_alt =
| imagesize = 300px
| image_caption =
| pushpin_map = India West Bengal#India
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_mapsize = 300
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in West Bengal##Location in India
| coordinates = {{coord|22.1983|N|88.7139|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = {{flagicon image|Emblem of West Bengal (Banglarmukh) before 2018.png}} [[West Bengal]]
| subdivision_type2 = District
| subdivision_name2 = [[South 24 Parganas]]
| subdivision_type3 = CD block
| subdivision_name3 = [[Basanti (community development block)|Basanti]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 = 2.32
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 6
| population_total = 6625
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Bengali language|Bengali]]<ref name="wblangoff">{{cite web|title=Fact and Figures|url=https://wb.gov.in/portal/web/guest/facts-and-figures;jsessionid=JzdD9RHb7aMY5esZPtcsIVLy|website=Wb.gov.in|access-date=5 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=52nd Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India|url=http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf|website=Nclm.nic.in|publisher=[[Ministry of Minority Affairs]]|access-date=5 July 2019|page=85|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525141614/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf|archive-date=25 May 2017}}</ref>
| demographics1_title2 = Additional official
| demographics1_info2 = [[English language|English]]<ref name="wblangoff"/>
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = PIN
| postal_code = 743312
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| area_code = +91 3218
| registration_plate = [[List of Regional Transport Office districts in India#WB.E2.80.94West Bengal|WB]]-19 to [[List of Regional Transport Office districts in India#WB.E2.80.94West Bengal|WB]]-22, [[List of Regional Transport Office districts in India#WB.E2.80.94West Bengal|WB]]-95 to [[List of Regional Transport Office districts in India#WB.E2.80.94West Bengal|WB]]-99
| blank1_name_sec1 = Lok Sabha constituency
| blank1_info_sec1 = [[Jaynagar (Lok Sabha constituency)|Jaynagar (SC)]]
| blank2_name_sec1 = Vidhan Sabha constituency
| blank2_info_sec1 = [[Basanti (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Basanti (SC)]]
| website = {{URL|www.s24pgs.gov.in}}
| footnotes =
}}

'''Basanti''' is a [[census town]] and a [[gram panchayat]] within the jurisdiction of the Basanti police station in the [[Basanti (community development block)|Basanti]] [[Community development block in India|CD block]] in the [[Canning subdivision]] of the [[South 24 Parganas]] district in the [[India]]n [[States and territories of India|state]] of [[West Bengal]].

==Geography==
{{OSM Location map
| width=380| height=450| zoom=10
| coord={{coord|22|15|0|N|88|41|0|E}}| float=left|caption='''Places in Canning subdivision (Canning I & II, Basanti, Gosaba CD blocks) in South 24 Parganas district''' R: rural/ urban centre Places linked with coastal activity are marked in blue Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly
|mark-coord1={{coord|22|23|7|N|88|31|11|E}} | label-pos1=left|label1= Kalaria| numbered1=CT| mark-title1= [[Kalaria]] (CT)|label-color1= #800000 |label-size1=11| mark-size1=12|shape1=l-circle|shape-color1=#A40000|shape-outline1=white|label-offset-x1=2
|mark-coord2={{coord|22|22|20|N|88|31|48|E}} | label-pos2=left|label2=Gaur Daha| numbered2=CT| mark-title2= [[Gaur Daha]] (CT)
|mark-coord3={{coord|22|22|6|N|88|32|57|E}} | label-pos3=right|label3=Banshra| numbered3=CT| mark-title3= [[Banshra, Canning]] (CT)
|mark-coord4={{coord|22|20|0|N|88|36|9|E}} | label-pos4=left|label4=Rajapur| numbered4=CT| mark-title4= [[Rajapur, Canning]] (CT)
|mark-coord5={{coord|22|20|45|N|88|36|23|E}} | label-pos5=left|label5=Taldi| numbered5=CT| mark-title5= [[Taldi]] (CT)
|mark-coord6={{coord|22|20|10|N|88|37|17|E}} | label-pos6=right|label6=Bayarsingh| numbered6=CT| mark-title6= [[Bayarsingh]] (CT)
|mark-coord7={{coord|22|19|24|N|88|38|52|E}} | label-pos7=right|label7=Matla| numbered7=CT| mark-title7= [[Matla, Canning]] (CT)
|mark-coord8={{coord|22|17|50|N|88|40|4|E}} | label-pos8=left|label8=Dighirpar| numbered8=CT| mark-title8= [[Dighirpar]] (CT)
|mark-coord9={{coord|22|18|37|N|88|39|28|E}} | label-pos9=right|label9= Canning| numbered9=R| mark-title9= [[Canning, South 24 Parganas]] (R)|shape-color9=#C42222
|mark-coord10={{coord|22|25|20|N|88|39|53|E}} | label-pos10=right|label10= Jibantala| numbered10=R| mark-title10= [[Jibantala]] (R)|shape-color10=#C42222
|mark-coord11={{coord|22|18|33|N|88|37|18|E}} | label-pos11=left|label11= Tangrakhali| numbered11=R| mark-title11= [[Tangrakhali]] (R)|shape-color11=#C42222
|mark-coord12={{coord|22|22|50|N|88|33|15|E}} | label-pos12=right|label12=Makhal Tala| numbered12=CT| mark-title12= [[Makhal Tala]] (CT)
|mark-coord13={{coord|22|28|1|N|88|41|46|E}} | label-pos13=right|label13= Deuli| numbered13=R| mark-title13= [[Deuli, Canning]] (R)|shape-color13=#C42222
|mark-coord14={{coord|22|11|53|N|88|42|50|E}} | label-pos14=left|label14=Basanti| numbered14=CT| mark-title14= Basanti, South 24 Parganas (CT)|shape-color14=black| label-size14=13|label-color14=black 
|mark-coord15={{coord|22|12|45|N|88|42|47|E}} | label-pos15=top|label15= Sonakhali| numbered15=R| mark-title15= [[Sonakhali, Basanti]] (R)|shape-color15=#C42222
|mark-coord16={{coord|22|16|52|N|88|41|3|E}} | label-pos16=right|label16= Bhangonkhali| numbered16=R| mark-title16= [[Bhangonkhali]] (R)|shape-color16=#C42222
|mark-coord17={{coord|22|1|34|N|88|41|12|E}} | label-pos17=right|label17= Jharkhali| numbered17=R| mark-title17= [[Jharkhali]] (R) |shape-color17=#0048BA
|mark-coord18={{coord|22|9|54|N|88|48|28|E}} | label-pos18=right|label18= Gosaba| numbered18=R| mark-title18= [[Gosaba]] (R)|shape-color18=#C42222
|mark-coord19={{coord|22|12|29|N|88|45|6|E}} | label-pos19=right|label19= Pathankhali| numbered19=R| mark-title19= [[Pathankhali]] (R)|shape-color19=#C42222
|mark-coord20={{coord|22|13|19|N|88|53|44|E}} | label-pos20=left|label20= Chhota Mollakhali| numbered20=R| mark-title20= [[Chhota Mollakhali]] (R) |shape-color20=#0048BA
|mark-coord21={{coord|22|22|42|N|88|44|41|E}} | label-pos21=right|label21= Matherdighi| numbered21=R| mark-title21= [[Matherdighi]] (R) |shape-color21=#C42222
|mark-coord22={{coord|22.0482 |N|88.7552|E}}| label22=Sundarbans National Park| label-color22 = Black| label-angle22=-0| label-pos22=right| label-size22=10| mark-size22=0| mark-title22=none
|mark-coord23={{coord|22.0882 |N|88.7068|E}}| label23=Bidyadhari River| label-color23 = #77A1CB| label-angle23=-50| label-pos23=right| label-size23=10| mark-size23=0| mark-title23=none
|mark-coord24={{coord|22.1182|N|88.6282|E}}| label24=Matla River| label-color24 = #77A1CB| label-angle24=-60| label-pos24=right| label-size24=10| mark-size24=0| mark-title24=none}}

===Area overview===
Canning subdivision has a very low level of urbanization. Only 12.37% of the population lives in the urban areas and 87.63% lives in the rural areas. There are 8 [[census town]]s in Canning I CD block and only 2 in the rest of the subdivision. The entire district is situated in the [[Ganges Delta]] with numerous islands in the southern part of the region. The area (shown in the map alongside) borders on the [[Sundarbans National Park]] and a major portion of it is a part of the [[Sundarbans settlements]]. It is a flat low-lying area in the South Bidyadhari plains. The [[Matla River]] is prominent and there are many streams and water channels locally known as ''khals''. A comparatively recent country-wide development is the guarding of the coastal areas with a special coastal force.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://wbpspm.gov.in/publications/District%20Statistical%20Handbook |title = District Statistical Handbook 2014 South Twety-four Parganas |work = Table 2.1, 2.2, 2.4b |publisher = Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of West Bengal |access-date = 5 December 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190121045803/http://www.wbpspm.gov.in/publications/District%20Statistical%20Handbook |archive-date = 21 January 2019 |url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/DCHB_A/19/1917_PART_A_DCHB_SOUTH%20TWENTY%20FOUR%20PARGANAS.pdf| title = Census of India 2011, West Bengal, District Census Handbook, South Twentyfour Parganas, Series – 20, Part XII-A, Village and Town Directory |work= Page 19, Physiography| publisher = Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal |access-date = 5 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://wbplan.gov.in/HumanDev/DHDR/24%20pgsSouth/s24prg_main.htm | title = District Human Development Report: South 24 Parganas | work = Chapter 9: Sundarbans and the Remote Islanders, p 290-311 | publisher = Development & Planning Department, Government of West Bengal, 2009 | access-date = 5 December 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161005044029/http://wbplan.gov.in/HumanDev/DHDR/24%20pgsSouth/s24prg_main.htm | archive-date = 5 October 2016 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

Note: The map alongside presents some of the notable locations in the subdivision. All places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map.

===Location===
Basanti is located at {{coord|22.1983|N|88.7139|E|source:yahoomaps_region:IN-WB|format=dms}}. It has an average elevation of {{convert|6|m}}.

Basanti is one of the main deltaic islands in the [[Sundarbans]] region, bounded by the [[Matla River|Matla]] and [[Vidyadhari River|Vidyadhari]] rivers. [[Sonakhali, Basanti|Sonakhali]], opposite Basanti, is 100 km from Kolkata. Sonakhali and Basanti is connected by Hogol Bridge.<ref>{{Citation|last=Ganguly|first=Biswarup|title=English: Photographed at South 24 Parganas.|date=2016-07-10|url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hogal_Bridge_Inaugural_Plaque_-_Basanti_-_South_24_Parganas_2016-07-10_5038.JPG|access-date=2021-10-04}}</ref> Basanti Road is linked to the [[Eastern metropolitan bypass]] near Science City in Kolkata. Sundarbans bypass project, costing Rs 2.29 crore has been under implementation since 2002. It will reduce the distance between [[Kolkata]] and Basanti by 25 km. The 12-km bypass will connect Dhuri and Jibantala. The [[Sundarbans settlements]], being full of creeks and rivers, need more bridges, especially across the Matla.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=6&id=23956&usrsess=1| title = CM impetus to roads for Sunderbans | access-date = 22 September 2007 | publisher = The Statesman, 3 January 2002}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

==Demographics==
According to the [[2011 Census of India]], Basanti had a total population of 6,625, of which 3,447 (52%) were males and 3,178 (48%) were females. There were 728 persons in the age range of 0 to 6 years. The total number of literate persons in Basanti was 4,729 (80.19% of the population over 6 years).<ref name=census2011>{{cite web| url = http://censusindia.gov.in/pca/cdb_pca_census/Houselisting-housing-WB.html |title = C.D. Block Wise Primary Census Abstract Data(PCA) | work= 2011 census: West Bengal – District-wise CD Blocks|publisher= Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India | access-date = 26 April 2016}}</ref>

==Civic administration==
===Police station===
Basanti police station covers an area of 428 km2. It has jurisdiction over parts of the Basanti CD block.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://baruipurpolicedistrict.org/maipith_coastal.php | title = Maipith Coastal Police Station | work = Baruipur police district | publisher = West Bengal police | access-date = 21 October 2019 | archive-date = 18 October 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191018003301/https://baruipurpolicedistrict.org/maipith_coastal.php | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://wbpspm.gov.in/publications/District%20Statistical%20Handbook | title = District Statistical Handbook 2014 South 24 Parganas | work = Table No. 2.1 | publisher = Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of West Bengal | access-date = 23 October 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190121045803/http://www.wbpspm.gov.in/publications/District%20Statistical%20Handbook | archive-date = 21 January 2019 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

==Infrastructure==
According to the District Census Handbook 2011, Basanti covered an area of 2.3176 km2. Among the civic amenities, the protected water supply involved overhead tank and service reservoir. It had 315 domestic electric connections. Among the medical facilities it had was 1 hospital, 3 dispensaries/ health centres, 2 family welfare centres, 16 medicine shops. Three important commodities it produced were cashew processing, bamboo products, rice.<ref>{{cite web | url =http://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/DCHB_A/19/1917_PART_A_DCHB_SOUTH%20TWENTY%20FOUR%20PARGANAS.pdf | title = District Census Handbook South Twenty Four Parganas, Census of India 2011, Series 20, Part XII A | work= Section II Town Directory, Pages 999-1006 Statement I: Status and Growth History, Pages 1006-1010; Statement II: Physical Aspects and Location of Towns, Pages 1010-1015; Statement III: Civic and other Amenities, Pages 1015-1019; Statement IV: Medical Facilities 2009, Pages 1019-1027 Statement V: Educational, Recreational and Cultural Facilities, Pages 1027- 1029: Statement VI: Industry and Banking | publisher = Directorate of Census Operations V, West Bengal |access-date = 28 November 2019}}</ref>

==Economy==
===Agriculture===
The state government has initiated two plans for agricultural improvement. The "''amar bon''" (my forest) project aims at planting more trees in the area as a preventive measure towards global warming. Over 14,000,000 saplings will be planted in various places through women, children and NGOs. As the area is surrounded by saline waters in the creeks, the "Rainwater harvesting through Land Shaping" project aims at construction of ponds on 1/5 of the agricultural land and rest of the land is spared for agriculture. The target is to construct 50,000 such ponds.
<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=6&id=190594&usrsess=1
| title = Agri-boost for Sunderbans | access-date = 22 September 2007 | publisher = The Statesman, 19 July 2007}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

===Honey collection===
Around 20,000 kg of honey is collected every year from forests of Sundarbans. Mostly people from the [[Canning, South 24 Parganas|Canning]], Basanti, [[Gosaba]], [[Kultali]], [[Mathurapur, South 24 Parganas|Mathurapur]], [[Patharpratima]], [[Namkhana]], [[Sagar Island|Sagar]] and [[Kakdwip]] are honey collectors. The number of honey collectors have dwindled from around 1,500 a few years back to around 700 in 2007. From 1985 until 2004, about 75 honey collectors were killed by tigers in the forests.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}} Now all honey collectors are insured for Rs. 50,000. The forest department has also intensified vigilance during the honey collection period. The range officers and guards are on full alert. No deaths have been reported since 2004.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=23&id=181947&usrsess=1| title = Honey come lately | access-date = 22 September 2007 | publisher = The Statesman, 24 April 2007}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

===Power===
West Bengal Renewable Energy Development Agency (WBREDA) has installed a solar-power village electrification programme at Nafarganj village in the Basanti block. A Rs 250 crore rural electrification project is being implemented on the islands to provide the people of the area with power through non-conventional energy sources, as conventional grid supply is not feasible.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=6&id=102276&usrsess=1 | title = WBREDA asked to evolve power model for Sunderbans | access-date = 22 September 2007 | publisher = The Statesman, 14 April 2005}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

90% of the islands remain in darkness after sunset, although efforts are on to provide power to the islands. The state government had appointed the WBREDA as the nodal agency for its solar power project for the Sundarbans. Part of the project cost under the low cost non-conventional energy project was shared by the central government. There are two schemes under the project. Under the first, a small unit priced at Rs. 14,000 each was provided to domestic consumers who had to pay Rs. 3,000 for it while the rest was equally shared between the centre and the state. For the other, consumers have to pay Rs. 8,500 for a big unit while the central government provides a subsidy of Rs. 10,000 and the state shells out Rs. 5,500.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=23&id=9314&usrsess=1 | title = Sunderbans gropes in the dark | access-date = 22 September 2007 | last = Ghosh | first = Kaushik | publisher = The Statesman, 7 March 2003}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

==Transport==
Basanti is on the [[State Highway 3 (West Bengal)|State Highway 3]].

==Healthcare==
===Rural hospital===
Basanti Rural Hospital at Basanti, with 30 beds, is the major government medical facility in the Basanti CD block.<ref>{{cite web | url =https://www.wbhealth.gov.in/other_files/RH.pdf | title =Health & Family Welfare Department | work =Health Statistics – Rural Hospitals | publisher =Government of West Bengal | access-date =29 November 2019 | archive-date =8 October 2022 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20221008143352/https://www.wbhealth.gov.in/other_files/RH.pdf | url-status =dead }}</ref>

===Dominique Lapierre's floating hospitals===
Four launches with doctors carrying medicines, sophisticated portable X-ray and echo-cardiograph machines, provided by the French author [[Dominique Lapierre]] move along the waterways of the Sundarbans to its furthest corners. Residents of such places as [[Sandeshkhali]], Basanti, [[Gosaba]] and [[Kultali]] have expressed their gratitude to him for his support when he came in 2004.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.telegraphindia.com/1041130/asp/bengal/story_4066942.asp | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20041209223600/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1041130/asp/bengal/story_4066942.asp | url-status = dead | archive-date = 9 December 2004 | title = Sundarbans gratitude to Lapierre | access-date = 22 September 2007 | publisher = The Telegraph, 30 November 2004 | location=Calcutta, India | date=30 November 2004}}</ref> Since 1981, Lapierre has dedicated half of his royalty earnings from his books to sustain a humanitarian movement in the slums of Kolkata and the deprived areas of rural Bengal. For his work, Lapierre was made a citizen of honour of Kolkata.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=22&id=72042&usrsess=1 | title = Lapierre comes with Kolkata in pocket | access-date = 22 September 2007 | publisher = The Statesman, 21 May 2004}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070325/asp/7days/story_7561727.asp
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110525185020/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070325/asp/7days/story_7561727.asp
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 25 May 2011
| title = Writer's Block | access-date = 22 September 2007 | publisher = The Telegraph, 25 March 2007 | location=Calcutta, India | date=25 March 2007}}</ref>

===Arsenic contamination===
A study of the School of Environmental Studies, most of whose surveyors are [[Jadavpur University]] scholars, shows the extent of [[Arsenic contamination of groundwater|arsenic contamination]] in the ground water of South 24-Parganas is shocking. High levels of arsenic in ground water was found in 12 blocks of the district. Water samples collected from tubewells in the affected places contained arsenic above the normal level (10 microgram a litre as specified by the World Health Organization). The affected blocks include Basanti.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=23&id=183781&usrsess=1 |title=High arsenic levels in South |access-date=22 September 2007 |publisher=The Statesman, 15 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929091658/http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=23&id=183781&usrsess=1 |archive-date=29 September 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|3}}

{{South 24 Parganas}}
{{South 24 Parganas topics}}

[[Category:Cities and towns in South 24 Parganas district]]

Basanti, South 24 Parganas - Revision history

ClaudiaChilds56: adding a post