Ranibandh (community development block)

Ranibandh রাণীবাঁধ
Community development block সমষ্টি উন্নয়ন ব্লক
Ranibandh Location in West Bengal, India
Coordinates: 22°51′50″N 86°47′05″E / 22.8639200°N 86.7846070°E / 22.8639200; 86.7846070Coordinates: 22°51′50″N 86°47′05″E / 22.8639200°N 86.7846070°E / 22.8639200; 86.7846070
Country	India
State	West Bengal
District	Bankura
Government
• Type	Community development block
Area
• Total	428.40 km2 (165.41 sq mi)
Elevation	83 m (272 ft)
Population (2011)
• Total	119,089
• Density	280/km2 (720/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Bengali, English
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	722148 (Ranibandh)
Telephone/STD code	03243
ISO 3166 code	IN-WB
Vehicle registration	WB-67, WB-68
Literacy	68.53%
Lok Sabha constituency	Bankura
Vidhan Sabha constituency	Ranibandh
Website	bankura.gov.in

Ranibandh is a community development block that forms an administrative division in Khatra subdivision of Bankura district in the Indian state of West Bengal.

History

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.^[1]

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.^[1]

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.^[2]

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.^[3]

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.^[4] 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.^[4][5]

Geography

Ranibandh is located at 22°51′50″N 86°47′05″E / 22.8639200°N 86.7846070°E / 22.8639200; 86.7846070.

Ranibandh CD Block is located in the south-western part of the district and belongs to the hard rock area.^[6]

Ranibandh CD Block is bounded by Khatra and Hirbandh CD Blocks on the north, Raipur on the east, Binpur II CD Block, in Paschim Medinipur district, on the south and Manbazar I, Manbazar II and Bandwan CD Blocks, in Purulia district, on the west.^[7][8]

It is located 41 km from Bankura, the district headquarters.^[7]

Ranibandh CD Block has an area of 428.51 km². It has 1 panchayat samity, 8 gram panchayats, 90 gram sansads (village councils), 186 mouzas and 169 inhabited villages. Ranibandh and Barikul police stations serve this block.^[9]Headquarters of this CD Block is at Ranibandh.

Large forests areas exist in Sonamukhi, Joypur, Bishnupur, Khatra and Ranibandh areas.^[10][11]

Gram panchayats of Ranibandh block/ panchayat samiti are: Ambikanagar, Barikul, Haludkanali, Puddi, Rajakata, Ranibandh, Routora and Rudra.^[12]

Demographics

Population

As per the 2011 Census of India Ranibandh CD Block had a total population of 119,089, all of which were rural. There were 60,290 (51%) males and 58,799 (49%) females. Population below 6 years was 13,922. Scheduled Castes numbered 13,641 (11.45%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 56,061 (47.07%).^[13]

Villages in Ranibandh CD Block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Ranibandh (2,366), Rautara (1,384), Rudra (2,876), Ambikanagar (3,228), Haludkanali (530), Barikul (988) and Rajakata (2,077).^[13]

Literacy

As per the 2011 census the total number of literates in Ranibandh CD Block was 72,070 (68.53% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 43,074 (81.03% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 28,996 (55.75%) of the female population over 6 years). The gender disparity (the difference between female and male literacy rates) was 25.29%.^[13]

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

Languages

Bengali is the local language in these areas.^[7]

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.^[14]

The concentration of Sabar people, a primitive tribe, is high in Ranibandh and Raipur CD Blocks.^[15]

Religion

In the 2011 census Hindus numbered 70,145 and formed 58.90% of the population in Ranibandh CD Block. Muslims numbered 1,604 and formed 1.35% of the population. Christians numbered 301 and formed 0.25% of the population. Others numbered 47,039 and formed 39.50% of the population.^[16] Others include Addi Bassi, Marang Boro, Santal, Saranath, Sari Dharma, Sarna, Alchchi, Bidin, Sant, Saevdharm, Seran, Saran, Sarin, Kheria,^[17] and other religious communities.^[16]

BPL families

In Ranibandh CD Block 41.57% families were living below poverty line in 2007.^[18]

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.^[18]

Economy

Infrastructure

169 or 91% of mouzas in Ranibandh CD Block were electrified by 31 March 2014.^[19]

169 mouzas in Ranibadh CD Block had drinking water facilities in 2013-14. There were 34 fertiliser depots, 5 seed stores and 45 fair price shops in the CD Block.^[19]

Agriculture

In 2013-14, persons engaged in agriculture in Ranibandh CD Block could be classified as follows: bargadars 2.63%, patta (document) holders 7.50%, small farmers (possessing land between 1 and 2 hectares) 4.84%, marginal farmers (possessing land up to 1 hectare) 25.62% and agricultural labourers 59.40%.^[19]

In 2003-04 net area sown in Ranibandh CD Block was 15,128 hectares and the area in which more than one crop was grown was 4,389 hectares.^[20]

In 2013-14, the total area irrigated in Ranibandh CD Block was 4,045 hectares, out of which 2,890 hectares was by canal water, 260 hectares by tank water, 800 hectares by river lift irrigation and 95 hectares by open dug wells.^[19]

In 2013-14, Ranibandh CD Block produced 46,199 tonnes of Aman paddy, the main winter crop, from 17,982 hectares, 110 tonnes of Aus paddy from 74 hectares, 16 tonnes of wheat from 9 hectares, 206 tonnes of maize from 112 hectares and 6,052 tonnes of potatoes from 207 hectares. It also produced pulses and mustard.^[19]

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 Ranibandh CD Block had 177 looms in operation.^[21]

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. 285 families were involved in Ranibandh CD Block.^[22]

Banking

In 2013-14, Ranibandh CD Block had offices of 5 commercial banks and 1 gramin bank.^[19]

Transport

In 2013-14, Ranibandh CD Block had 1 ferry service, 7 originating/ terminating bus routes. The nearest railway railway station is 60 km from the CD Block headquarters.^[19]

State Highway 4 (West Bengal) running from Jhalda (in Purulia district) to Digha foreshore (in Purba Medinipur district) and State Highway 5 (West Bengal) running from Rupnarayanpur (in Bardhaman district) to Junput (in Purba Medinipur district) pass through this CD Block.^[23]

Education

In 2013-14, Ranibandh CD Block had 159 primary schools with 11,066 students, 17 middle schools with 2,198 students, 4 high schools with 2,300 students and 13 higher secondary schools with 11,007 students. Ranibandh CD Block had 1 general college with 527 students and 339 institutions for special and non-formal education with 7,259 students.^[24]

Birsha Munda Memorial College was established in 2010 at Village Pirrah, PO Haludkanali.^[25]

Government General Degree College, Ranibandh has been started in 2015 at Rautara.^[26]

Healthcare

In 2014, Ranibandh CD Block had 1 rural hospital and 4 primary health centres with total 84 beds and 8 doctors. It had 26 family welfare sub centres and 1 family welfare centre. 4,708 patients were treated indoor and 125,317 patients were treated outdoor in the hospitals, health centres and subcentres of the CD Block.^[27]

References