Raniganj (community development block)

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For other places with same/similar name, see Raniganj (disambiguation).
Raniganj
Community development block
Raniganj is located in West Bengal
Raniganj
Raniganj
Location in West Bengal
Coordinates: 23°37′44″N 87°06′54″E / 23.62889°N 87.11500°E / 23.62889; 87.11500
Country India
StateWest Bengal
DistrictPaschim Bardhaman
Parliamentary constituencyAsansol
Assembly constituencyAsansol Dakshin, Jamuria
Area
 • Total22.50 sq mi (58.28 km2)
Elevation
302 ft (92 m)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total106,441
 • Density4,700/sq mi (1,800/km2)
Time zoneUTC+5.30 (IST)
PIN
713347 (Raniganj)
713358 (Searsole Rajbari)
713323 (Ballavpur)
Telephone/STD code0341
Vehicle registrationWB-37,WB-38,WB-41,WB-42,WB-44
Literacy Rate73.86 per cent
Websitehttp://bdoraniganj.in/

Raniganj is a community development block that forms an administrative division in Asansol subdivision of Paschim Bardhaman district in the Indian state of West Bengal.

Geography[edit]

Searsole Rajbari is located at 23°37′44″N 87°06′54″E / 23.629°N 87.115°E / 23.629; 87.115.

Map of Paschim Bardhaman district

Raniganj CD Block is part of the Ajay Damodar Barakar tract. This area is sort of an extension of the Chota Nagpur Plateau. It is a rocky undulating area with laterite soil, with the Ajay on the north, the Damodar on the south and the Barakar on the west. For ages the area was heavily forested and infested with plunderers and marauders. The discovery of coal, in the eighteenth century, led to industrialisation of the area and most of the forests have been cleared.[1][2]

Raniganj CD Block is bounded by Asansol (municipal corporation)/ Raniganj and Jamuria CD Block on the north, Andal CD Block on the east, Mejia CD Block, in Bankura district, on the south and Asansol (municipal corporation)/ Barabani CD Block on the west.[3]

Raniganj CD Block has an area of 58.28 km2. It has 1 panchayat samity, 6 gram panchayats, 74 gram sansads (village councils), 12 mouzas and 12 inhabited villages. Asansol North and Raniganj police stations serve this block.[4] Headquarters of this CD Block is at Raniganj.[5]

Nunia, a small stream about 40 km long has its origin near Adra village in the Salanpur area, flows through the Barabani area, past Asansol and joins the Damodar in the Raniganj area.[6]

Gram panchayats of Raniganj block/panchayat samiti are: Amrasota, Ballavpur, Egara, Jemari, Ratibati and Tirat.[7]

Demographics[edit]

Population[edit]

As per the 2011 Census of India Raniganj CD Block had a total population of 106,441, of which 23,023 were rural and 83,418 were urban. There were 55,835 (52%) males and 50,606 (48%) females. Population below 6 years was 12,885. Scheduled Castes numbered 37,491 (35.22%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 9,982 (9.38%). [8]

As per 2001 census, Raniganj block had a total population of 101,678, out of which 55,160 were males and 46,518 were females. Raniganj block registered a population growth of -20.45 per cent during the 1991-2001 decade. Decadal growth for Bardhaman district was 14.36 per cent.[9] Decadal growth in West Bengal was 17.84 per cent.[10] Scheduled castes at 33,515 formed around one-third the population. Scheduled tribes numbered 9,761.[11]

Census Towns in Raniganj CD Block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Ratibati (4,508), Chapui (5,358), Jemari (J.K. Nagar Township) (13,179), Banshra (5,703), Belebathan (4,459), Chelad (7,471), Murgathaul (7,371), Amkula (5,445), Baktarnagar (5,112), Egara (7,623), Sahebganj (4,715), Raghunathchak (6,006) and Ballavpur (6,468).[8]

Large villages (with 4,000+ population) in Raniganj CD Block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Tirat (4,224).[8]

Other villages in Raniganj CD Block are (2011census figures in brackets): Saora (2,191), Kumardiha (2,142), Chalbalpur (3,567), Harabhanga (1,907), Damalia (1,118), Narankuri (2,176), Nimcha (2,065), Chak Janadhara (343), Sonachora (11), Chak Brindabanpur (818) and Napur (2,461).[8](All villages included in 2011 census data are mentioned here. Other villages or localities, if any, are parts of these villages.)

Literacy[edit]

As per the 2011 census the total number of literates in Raniganj CD Block was 69,098 (73.86% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 40,733 (82.90% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 28,365 (63.86% of the female population over 6 years). The gender disparity (the difference between female and male literacy rates) was 19.04%.[8]

As per 2001 census, Raniganj block had a total literacy of 65.85 per cent for the 6+ age group. While male literacy was 76.59 per cent female literacy was 52.97 per cent. Bardhaman district had a total literacy of 70.18 per cent, male literacy being 78.63 per cent and female literacy being 60.95 per cent.[12]

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

Template:Literacy in CD Blocks of Bardhaman district

Language and religion[edit]

As per census definition, mother-tongue is the language spoken in childhood by the person's mother to the person. As a mother-tongue, Bengali has decreased its share from 82.3% of the population of Bardhaman district in 1961 to 79.9% in 2001, Hindi has increased its share from 8.5% in 1961 to 10.9% in 2001 Santali has remained steady at around 4.9% during the period, and Urdu has increased its share from 2.4% in 1961 to 2.6% in 2001. Other mother-tongues spoken in 2001 were: Odiya (0.3%), Punjabi (0.2%), Koda/Kora (0.2%), Telugu (0.1%), Bhojpuri (0.1%), Nepali (0.1%) and Kurukh/ Oraon (0.1%).[13]

As of 2017, CD Block-wise/ other region-wise break-up of mother tongue is not available in census/ other official sources. There have been reports in the media about the Hindi speaking population being substantial in the Asansol (Lok Sabha constituency).[14][15] Bardhaman district provided attractive livelihood opportunities for immigrants from Bihar/ Jharkhand.[16]

According to the West Bengal Official Language Act 1961 and the West Bengal Official Language (Amendment Act) 2012, the Bengali language is to be used for official purposes in the whole of West Bengal. In addition to Bengali, the Nepali language is to be used for official purposes in the three hills subdivisions, namely Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong, in the district of Darjeeling, and Urdu is to be used for official purposes in district/subdivision/ block/ municipality where the population speaking Urdu exceeds 10% of the total population. The English language will continue to be used for official purposes as it was being used prior to the enactment of these laws.[17][18][19][20]

The West Bengal Official Language (Second Amendment) Bill, 2012, included Hindi, Santhali, Odiya and Punjabi as official languages if it is spoken by a population exceeding 10 per cent of the whole in a particular block or sub-division or a district. Subsequently, Kamtapuri, Rajbanshi and Kurmali were also included in the list of minority languages by the West Bengal Official Language (Second Amendment) Bill, 2018.[21][22] However, as of 2019, there is no official / other reliable information about the areas covered.

Religion in Raniganj CD Block
Hindu
 
 90.87%
Muslim
 
 6.42%
Christian
 
 0.41%
Others
 
 2.30%

In the 2011 census Hindus numbered 96,719 and formed 90.87% of the population in Raniganj CD Block. Muslims numbered 6,837 and formed 6.42% of the population. Christians numbered 441 and formed 0.41% of the population. Others numbered 2,444 and formed 2.30% of the population.[23]

Rural poverty[edit]

As per poverty estimates obtained from household survey for families living below poverty line in 2005, rural poverty in Raniganj CD Block was 13.66%.[24]

Economy[edit]

Livelihood[edit]

Livelihood
in Raniganj CD Block

  Cultivators (1.69%)
  Agricultural labourers (4.15%)
  Household industries (1.96%)
  Other Workers (92.19%)

In Raniganj CD Block in 2011, amongst the class of total workers, cultivators numbered 584 and formed 1.69% of the total workers, agricultural labourers numbered 1,386 and formed 4.15%, household industry workers numbered 655 and formed 1.96% and other workers numbered 30,756 and formed 92.19%. Total workers numbered 33,361 and formed 31.34% of the total population, and non-workers numbered 73,080 and formed 68.66% of the population.[25]

Coalmines are spread across the Andal, Pandaveswar, Raniganj, Jamuria, Barabani and Salanpur region, including municipal areas. Livelihood in this region is coal-centred. The area does not produce much of agricultural products. Overall work participation rate, and female work participation rate, in the mining area are low. Interestingly the work participation rate in the predominantly agricultural rural areas of erstwhile Bardhaman district is higher than in the predominantly urbanised mining area. Human development in the mining area does not at all look good. However, in the composite livelihood index the mining area performs much better than the non-mining areas of erstwhile Bardhaman district. The decadal (1991-2001) change in composition of workers shows the growing pressure of population growth, as well as of migrants from adjacent Jharkhand.[26]

Note: In the census records a person is considered a cultivator, if the person is engaged in cultivation/ supervision of land owned by self/government/institution. When a person who works on another person's land for wages in cash or kind or share, is regarded as an agricultural labourer. Household industry is defined as an industry conducted by one or more members of the family within the household or village, and one that does not qualify for registration as a factory under the Factories Act. Other workers are persons engaged in some economic activity other than cultivators, agricultural labourers and household workers. It includes factory, mining, plantation, transport and office workers, those engaged in business and commerce, teachers, entertainment artistes and so on.[27]

Infrastructure[edit]

All 12 or 100% of mouzas in Raniganj CD Block were electrified by 31 March 2014.[28]

All 12 mouzas in Raniganj CD Block had drinking water facilities in 2013-14. There were 5 fertiliser depots, 3 seed stores and 38 fair price shops in the CD Block.[28]

Coal mining[edit]

Nimcha open cast project in Satgram Area of Eastern Coalfields has a mineable reserve of 8.70 million tonnes.[29]

Damalia open cast project in Satgram Area of Eastern Coalfields has a mineable reserve of 0.44 million tonnes.[29]

The coal-bed methane gas block of Essar Group, the largest CBM player in India, in Raniganj is close to commercial production.[30]

See also – Satgram Area and Kunustoria Area of Eastern Coalfields

Industries[edit]

Asansol-Durgapur Development Authority (ADDA) has developed the Managalpur Industrial Estate.[31]

Agriculture[edit]

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 fully. 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.[32] Following land reforms land ownership pattern has undergone transformation. In 2013-14, persons engaged in agriculture in Raniganj CD Block could be classified as follows: bargadars 15.92%, patta (document) holders 35.80%, small farmers (possessing land between 1 and 2 hectares) 2.06%, marginal farmers (possessing land up to 1 hectare) 26.67% and agricultural labourers 19.55%.[28]

In 2003-04 net cropped area in Raniganj CD Block was 2,434 hectares and the area in which more than one crop was grown was 770 hectares.[33]

In 2013-14, Raniganj CD Block produced 4,016 tonnes of Aman paddy, the main winter crop, from 1,475 hectares. It also produced pulses and oilseeds.[28]

Banking[edit]

In 2013-14, Raniganj CD Block had offices of 12 commercial banks and 2 gramin banks.[28]

Transport[edit]

Narayankuri ghat, on the Damodar, was used by M/s Carr Tagore & Company for transporting coal to Kolkata by boat in the middle of the nineteenth century.[34] Varying levels of water in the Damodar posed problems for transportation. In order to capture the lucrative coal transport business, East Indian Railway laid lines up to Raniganj in 1855.[34] It captured the entire coal transport business. The line was extended to Asansol in 1863.[34]

The Bardhaman-Asansol section, which is a part of Howrah-Gaya-Delhi line, Howrah-Allahabad-Mumbai line and Howrah-Delhi main line, passes through this CD Block and there is a station at Raniganj.[40]

Raniganj CD Block has 12 originating/ terminating bus routes.[28]

NH 19 (old number NH 2) and NH 14 (old number NH 60) cross at Raniganj.[41]

Education[edit]

In 2013-14, Raniganj CD Block had 46 primary schools with 5,807 students, 7 middle schools with 732 students, 1 high school with 688 students and 5 higher secondary schools with 6,042 students. Raniganj CD Block had 181 institutions for special and non-formal education with 5,723 students. Raniganj (then a municipal town, outside the CD Block) had 2 general colleges with 6,235 students.[28]

Healthcare[edit]

In 2014, Raniganj CD block had 1 rural hospital, 1 block primary health centre, 2 primary health centres, 1 central government/ PSU medical centre and 4 private nursing homes with total 107 beds and 8 doctors (excluding private bodies). It had 20 family welfare sub centres. 5,522 patients were treated indoor and 191,301 patients were treated outdoor in the hospitals, health centres and subcentres of the CD Block.[28]

Ballavpur Rural Hospital, with 50 beds at Ballavpur, is the major government medical facility in the Raniganj CD block. Raniganj Block Primary Health centre at Raniganj functions with 25 beds. There are primary health centres at Baktarnagar (with 6 beds) and Tirat (with 6 beds).[42][43] ECL Banshra Hospital at Banshra functions with 50 beds.[44]

Politics[edit]

Raniganj (West Bengal Vidhan Sabha constituency) is the assembly constituency.

References[edit]

  1. ↑ "Census of India 2011, West Bengal: District Census Handbook, Barddhaman" (PDF). Physiography, pages 13-14. Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  2. ↑ Chattopadhyay, Akkori, Bardhaman Jelar Itihas O Lok Sanskriti (History and Folk lore of Bardhaman District.), (in Bengali), Vol I, pp 14-15, Radical Impression. ISBN 81-85459-36-3
  3. ↑ "Tehsil Map of Barddhaman". CD Block/ Tehsil. Maps of India. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  4. ↑ "District Statistical Handbook 2014 Burdwan". Tables 2.1, 2.2. Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of West Bengal. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  5. ↑ "District Census Handbook: Barddhaman". Map of Barddhaman with CD Block HQs and Police Stations (on the fourth page). Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal, 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  6. ↑ Chattopadhyay, Akkori, pp 26-27
  7. ↑ "Directory of District, Subdivision, Panchayat Samiti/ Block and Gram Panchayats in West Bengal". Bardhaman - Revised in March 2008. Panchayats and Rural Development Department, Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 "C.D. Block Wise Primary Census Abstract Data(PCA)". 2011 census: West Bengal – District-wise CD Blocks. Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  9. ↑ "Provisional population totals, West Bengal, Table 4, Barddhaman District". Census of India 2001. Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  10. ↑ "Provisional Population Totals, West Bengal. Table 4". Census of India 2001. Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  11. ↑ "TRU for all Districts (SC & ST and Total)". Census 2001. Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  12. ↑ "Provisional population totals, West Bengal, Table 5, Bardhaman District". Census of India 2001. Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2011-09-28. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  13. ↑ "Census of India 2011, West Bengal: District Census Handbook, Barddhaman" (PDF). Mother-tongue: Table 11, page 51. Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  14. ↑ "Red Corridors in West Bengal a Headache for EC". The New Indian Express, 7 May 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  15. ↑ "Hindi speaking voters 'Modi'fied, Didi looks for answers". Maps of India, 1 April 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  16. ↑ "District Human Development Report: Bardhaman" (PDF). Chapter I, Page 8. Development and Planning Department, Government of West Bengal, 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2017.
  17. ↑ "West Bengal Official Language Act 1961". Latest Laws.com. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  18. ↑ "The West Bengal Official Language Act 1961". Advocate Tanmoy Law Library. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  19. ↑ "The West Bengal Official Language Act, 1961" (PDF). Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  20. ↑ "Official status for Urdu in some West Bengal Areas". The Hindu, 2 April 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  21. ↑ "Multilingual Bengal". The Telegraph, 11 December 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  22. ↑ "Kamtapuri, Rajbanshi make it to the list of official languages in Bengal". Outlook, 28 February 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  23. ↑ "C1 Population by Religious Community". West Bengal. Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  24. ↑ "District Human Development Report: Bardhaman" (PDF). Table 4.2: Empirical Measurement of Rural Poverty in Bardhaman 2005, page 94. Development and Planning Department, Government of West Bengal, 2011. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  25. ↑ "District Census Handbook Bardhaman, Census of India 2011, Series 20, Part XII A" (PDF). Page 96, Table 33: Distribution of Workers by Sex in Four Categories ofEconomic Activity in Sub-district 2011; Page 86, Table 30: Number and Percentage of Main Workers, Marginal Workers and Non-workers by sex in sub-districts, 2011. Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  26. ↑ "District Human Development Report: Bardhaman". Pages 294-300. Department of Planning, Statistics and Programme monitoring, Government of West Bengal, 2011. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  27. ↑ "District Census Handbook Bardhaman, Census of India 2011, Series 20, Part XII A" (PDF). Census Concepts and Definitions, Page 33. Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 28.4 28.5 28.6 28.7 "District Statistical Handbook 2014 Bardhaman". Tables 2.7, 2.1, 8.2, 16.1, 17.2, 18.1, 18.2, 20.1, 21.2, 4.4, 3.1, 3.3 – arranged as per use. Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 "Planning". Eastern Coalfields Limited. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  30. ↑ "Oil and Gas". Largest CBM player in India. Essar. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  31. ↑ "Promotion of West Bengal as an investment destination". Asansol-Durgapur Development Authority. WBIDC. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  32. ↑ "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.
  33. ↑ "District Human Development Report, Bardhaman" (PDF). Table 3.10, Gross Cropped Area, Net Cropped Area and Cropping Intensity of different blocks of Bardhaman district 2003-04, Page 53. Development and Planning Department, Government of West Bengal, May 2011. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 "Asansol". railindia. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  35. ↑ "Bardhaman-Asansol MEMU 63505". India Rail Info.
  36. ↑ "Asansol Division System Map". Eastern Railway. Archived from the original on 26 April 2016.
  37. ↑ "South Eastern Railway Pink Book 2017-18" (PDF). Indian Railways Pink Book.
  38. ↑ "Asansol Division Railway Map". Eastern Railway.
  39. ↑ "Adra Division Railway Map". South Eastern Railway.
  40. ↑ "63509 Bardhaman-Asansol MEMU". Time Table. indiarailinfo. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  41. ↑ "Rationalisation of Numbering Systems of National Highways" (PDF). New Delhi: Department of Road Transport and Highways. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  42. ↑ "Health & Family Welfare Department" (PDF). Health Statistics – Rural Hospitals. Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  43. ↑ "Health & Family Welfare Department" (PDF). Health Statistics – Primary Health Centres. Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  44. ↑ "Health & Family Welfare Department" (PDF). Health Statistics - Hospitals. Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 12 May 2020.

External links[edit]

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