Para (community development block)

Para
Community development block
Para

Location in West Bengal

Coordinates: 23°31′00″N 86°31′00″E / 23.51667°N 86.51667°E
Country  India
State West Bengal
District Purulia
Parliamentary constituency Purulia
Assembly constituency Para
Area
  Total 117.89 sq mi (305.34 km2)
Population (2001)
  Total 174,596
  Density 1,480/sq mi (572/km2)
Time zone IST (UTC+5.30)
Literacy Rate 58.09 per cent
Website http://purulia.gov.in/

Para (community development block) (Bengali: পারা সমষ্টি উন্নয়ন ব্লক) is an administrative division in Raghunathpur subdivision of Purulia district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Para and Santaldih police stations serve this block. Headquarters of this block is at Para. Santaldih and Chapari are urban area in this block.[1][2]

History

Jaina Bhagavati-Sutra of 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.[3]

Geography

Para is located at 23°31′N 86°31′E / 23.52°N 86.52°E.

Para community development block has an area of 305.34  km2.[2]

The area forms the lowest step of the Chota Nagpur Plateau. The general scenario is undulating land with scattered hills.[4]

Gram panchayats

Gram panchayats of Para block/panchayat samiti are: Anara, Bahara, Deoli, Dubra, Jabarra Jhapra I, Jabara Jhapra II, Nadiha Surulia, Para and Udaipur-Joinagar.[5]

Demographics

As per 2001 census, Para block had a total population of 174,596, out of which 90,259 were males and 84,337 were females. Para block registered a population growth of 15.45 per cent during the 1991-2001 decade. Decadal growth for Purulia district was 13.96 per cent.[2]Decadal growth in West Bengal was 17.84 per cent.[6]

Scheduled castes at 57,968 formed around one-third the population. Scheduled tribes numbered 10,100.[7]

Literacy

As per 2001 census, Para block had a total literacy of 58.09 per cent for the 6+ age group. While male literacy was 76.35 per cent female literacy was 38.48 per cent. Purulia district had a total literacy of 55.57 per cent, male literacy being 73.72 per cent and female literacy being 36.50 per cent.[8]

Economy

West Bengal Power Development Corporation operates the Santaldih Thermal Power Station at Santaldih.[9]

References

  1. "Contact details of Block Development Officers". Purulia district. West Bengal Government. Retrieved 2011-08-08.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Provisional population totals, West Bengal, Table 4, Purulia District". Census of India 2001. Census Commission of India. Retrieved 2011-08-08.
  3. "Historical background". Purulia District. Archived from the original on 2008-01-03. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
  4. Houlton, Sir John, Bihar, the Heart of India, 1949, p. 170, Orient Longmans Ltd.
  5. "Annexure A to G.O No.121(Sanction)-RD/CCA/BRGF/1C-5/08". Allotment under BRGF Fund 1st Instalment 2010-11 – Purulia District. Government of West Bengal - Department of Panchayats & Rural Development. Retrieved 2011-08-04.
  6. "Provisional Population Totals, West Bengal. Table 4". Census of India 2001. Census Commission of India. Retrieved 2011-08-04.
  7. "TRU for all Districts (SC & ST and Total)". Census 2001. Census Commission of India. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
  8. "Provisional population totals, West Bengal, Table 5, Purulia District". Census of India 2001. Census Commission of India. Retrieved 2011-08-08.
  9. "Santaldih Thermal Power Station". Census of India 2001. WBPDCL. Retrieved 2011-09-04.