Sonamukhi (community development block)

Sonamukhi is a community development block (CD block) that forms an administrative division in the Bishnupur subdivision of the Bankura district in the Indian state of West Bengal.

Sonamukhi
Community development block
Sonamukhi
Location in West Bengal, India
Sonamukhi
Sonamukhi (India)
Coordinates: 23.3°N 87.416667°E / 23.3; 87.416667
Country India
StateWest Bengal
DistrictBankura
Government
 • TypeRepresentative democracy
Area
 • Total368.30 km2 (142.20 sq mi)
Elevation
75 m (246 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total158,697
 • Density430/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Languages
 • OfficialBengali, English
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
722207 (Sonamukhi)
722110 (Dhansimla)
Telephone/STD code03243
ISO 3166 codeIN-WB
Vehicle registrationWB-67, WB-68
Literacy66.16%
Lok Sabha constituencyBishnupur
Vidhan Sabha constituencySonamukhi
Websitebankura.gov.in

History

From Bishnupur kingdom to the British Raj
Main article: History of Bankura district

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]

Geography
Map of Bankura District showing CD blocks and municipalities

Sonamukhi is located at 23°18′00″N 87°25′00″E.

Sonamukhi CD block is located in the eastern part of the district and belongs to the fertile low lying alluvial plains, similar to the predominating rice lands in the adjacent districts of West Bengal. Here, the eye constantly rests on wide expanses of rice fields, green in the rains but parched and dry in summer.[2][3]

Sonamukhi CD block is bounded by the Kanksa and Galsi I CD blocks, in Bardhaman district across the Damodar, on the north, Patrasayer CD block on the east, Bishnupur and Onda CD blocks on the south and Gangajalghati and Barjora CD blocks on the west.[4][5]

Sonamukhi CD block has an area of 378.85 km2. It has 1 panchayat samity, 10 gram panchayats, 120 gram sansads (village councils), 186 mouzas and 161 inhabited villages. Sonamukhi police station serves this block.[6] Headquarters of this CD block is at Sonamukhi.[7]

In Bankura district 148,177 hactres or 21.5% of total geographical area of the district is forested. The forests contain the best quality sal (Shorea robusta) trees. Large forest areas exist in Sonamukhi, Joypur, Bishnupur, Khatra and Ranibandh areas.[8][9]

Gram panchayats of Sonamukhi block/ panchayat samiti are: Dhansimla, Dhulai, Dihipara, Hamirhati, Kochdihi, Manikbazar, Panchal, Pearbera, Purbanabasan and Radhamohanpur.[10]

Demographics

Population

According to the 2011 Census of India, Sonamukhi CD block had a total population of 158,697, all of which were rural. There were 81,610 (51%) males and 77,087 (49%) females. Population in the age range of 0 to 6 years was 18,881. Scheduled Castes numbered 69,646 (43.89%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 5,560 (3.50%).[11]

According to the 2001 census, Sonamukhi block had a total population of 142,305, out of which 73,200 were males and 69,105 were females. Sonamukhi block registered a population growth of 15.07 per cent during the 1991-2001 decade. Decadal growth for the district was 15.15 per cent.[12] Decadal growth in West Bengal was 17.84 per cent.[13]

Large villages (with 4,000+ population) in Sonamukhi CD block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Dhan Simla (5,995).[11]

Other villages in Sonamukhi CD block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Kochdihi (3,296), Hamirhati (955), Pear Bera (2,761), Dihipara (1,574), Dhulai (2,607), Panchal (3,266) and Manik Bazar (1,757).[11]

Literacy

According to the 2011 census the total number of literates in Sonamukhi CD block was 92,500 (66.16% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 54,107 (75.23% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 38,393 (56.55%) of the female population over 6 years). The gender disparity (the difference between female and male literacy rates) was 18.69%.[11]

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

Language and religion

According to the District Census Handbook 2011, Bankura, as of 2001, Bengali was the mother-tongue of 89.9% of the population, followed by Santali (8.1%), Kurmali Thar (1.1%), Hindi (0.5%) and Telugu (0.1%).[14]

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.[15][16][17][18]

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.[19][20] However, as of 2019, there is no official / other reliable information about the areas covered.

Religion in Sonamukhi CD block
Hindu
 
 86.00%
Muslim
 
 12.13%
Christian
 
 0.01%
Others
 
 1.86%

In the 2011 census Hindus numbered 136,400 and formed 86.00% of the population in Sonamukhi CD block. Muslims numbered 19,236 and formed 12.13% of the population. Christians numbered 17 and formed 0.01% of the population. Others numbered 2,944 and formed 1.86% of the population.[21] Others include Addi Bassi, Marang Boro, Santal, Saranath, Sari Dharma, Sarna, Alchchi, Bidin, Sant, Saevdharm, Seran, Saran, Sarin, Kheria,[22] and other religious communities.[21]

Rural poverty

In Sonamukhi CD block 44.47% families were living below poverty line in 2007.[23]According to the Rural Household Survey in 2005, 28.87% of the total number of families were BPL families in the Bankura district.[24]

Economy

Livelihood

Livelihood
in Sonamukhi CD block

  Cultivators (25.26%)
  Agricultural labourers (52.85%)
  Household industries (3.77%)
  Other Workers (18.12%)

In the Sonamukhi CD block in 2011, among the class of total workers, cultivators numbered 18,332 and formed 25.26%, agricultural labourers numbered 38,357 and formed 52.85%, household industry workers numbered 2,737 and formed 3.77% and other workers numbered 13,155 and formed 18.12%.[25]Total workers numbered 72,581 and formed 45.74% of the total population, and non-workers numbered 86,116 and formed 54.26% of the population.[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

There are 161 inhabited villages in the Sonamukhi CD block, as per the District Census Handbook, Bankura, 2011. 100% villages have power supply. 158 villages (98.14%) have drinking water supply. 22 villages (13.66%) have post offices. 156 villages (96.89%) have telephones (including landlines, public call offices and mobile phones). 54 villages (33.54%) have pucca (paved) approach roads and 67 villages (41.61%) have transport communication (includes bus service, rail facility and navigable waterways). 23 villages (14.29%) have agricultural credit societies and 6 villages (3.73%) have banks.[28]

Agriculture

There were 113 fertiliser depots, 20 seed stores and 43 fair price shops in the CD block.[29]

In 2013-14, persons engaged in agriculture in Sonamukhi CD block could be classified as follows: bargadars 16.33%, patta (document) holders 15.97%, small farmers (possessing land between 1 and 2 hectares) 4.70%, marginal farmers (possessing land up to 1 hectare) 1.43% and agricultural labourers 61.57%.[29]

In 2003-04 net area sown Sonamukhi CD block was 17,348 hectares and the area in which more than one crop was grown was 14,119 hectares.[30]

In 2013-14, the total area irrigated in Sonamukhi CD block was 21,675 hectares, out of which 14,900 hectares was by canal water, 250 hectares by tank water, 580 hectares by river lift irrigation, 866 hectares by deep tube well, 4,825 hectares by shallow tubewell, 12 hectares by open dug wells and 242 hectares by other methods.[29]

In 2013-14, Sonamukhi CD block produced 45,542 tonnes of Aman paddy, the main winter crop, from 17,209 hectares, 1,466 tonnes of Aus paddy from 662 hectares, 32,128 tonnes of Boro paddy from 11,216 hectares, 766 tonnes of wheat from 404 hectares and 29,573,000 tonnes of potatoes from 2,843 hectares. It also produced pulses and mustard.[29]

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 Sonamukhi CD block had 79 silk looms in operation. In Sonamukhi municipal area (outside the CD block) there were 527 looms in operation.[31]

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. 76 families were involved in Sonamukhi CD block.[32]

Banking

In 2013-14, Sonamukhi CD block had offices of 2 commercial banks and 3 gramin banks.[29]

Backward Regions Grant Fund

The Bankura district is listed as a backward region and receives financial support from the Backward Regions Grant Fund. The fund, created by the Government of India, is designed to redress regional imbalances in development. As of 2012, 272 districts across the country were listed under this scheme. The list includes 11 districts of West Bengal.[33][34]

Transport

In 2013-14, Sonamukhi CD block had 4 ferry services and 10 originating/ terminating bus routes.[29]

DEMU services are available between Bankura and Masagram on the Bankura-Masagram line.[38]There are stations at Dhansimla, Sonamukhi, Hamirhati, Srirampur and Brindabanpur.[39][40]

State Highway 8 (West Bengal) running from Santaldih (in Purulia district) to Majhdia (in Nadia district) passes through this CD block.[41]

Education

In 2013-14, Sonamukhi CD block had 155 primary schools with 11,196 students, 14 middle schools with 1,426 students, 5 high schools with 2,290 students and 12 higher secondary schools with 10,359 students. Sonamukhi CD block had 280 institutions for special and non-formal education with 11,066 students. Sonamukhi (municipal town) had a general college outside the CD block. Sonamukhi CD block had 9 mass literacy centres.[42]

See also – Education in India

According to the 2011 census, in the Sonamukhi CD block, among the 161 inhabited villages, 25 villages did not have a school, 37 villages had two or more primary schools, 38 villages had at least 1 primary and 1 middle school and 17 villages had at least 1 middle and 1 secondary school.[43]

Sonamukhi College was established in 1966.

Healthcare

In 2014, Sonamukhi CD block had 1 rural hospital and 4 primary health centres with total 72 beds and 5 doctors. It had 26 family welfare sub centres and 1 family welfare centre. 10,588 patients were treated indoor and 229,493 patients were treated outdoor in the hospitals, health centres and subcentres of the CD block and municipal town.[44]

Sonamukhi Rural Hospital, with 30 beds at Sonamukhi, is the major government medical facility in the Sonamukhi CD block. There are primary health centres at Dhulai (Gopikantapur) (with 6 beds), Panchal (with 6 beds), Kundu Pushkarini (with 10 beds) and Sitaljhore (with 6 beds).[45][46]

References
  1. O’Malley, L.S.S. "Bengal District Gazetteers: Bankura". Bankura District Authorities. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  2. "District Census Handbook Bankura" (PDF). pages 13-17. Directorate of Census Operations West Bengal. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  3. O’Malley, L.S.S., ICS, Bankura, Bengal District Gazetteers, pp. 1-20, first published 1908, 1995 reprint, Government of West Bengal
  4. "District Census Handbook Bankura, Census of India 2011, Series 20, Part XII A" (PDF). Map on fifth page. Directorate of census Operations V, West Bengal. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  5. "Bardhaman Tehsil Map". Maps of India. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  6. "District Statistical Handbook 2014 Bankura". Tables 2.1, 2.2. Department of Planning and Statistics, Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  7. "District Census Handbook: Bankura" (PDF). Map of Bankura with CD Block HQs and Police Stations (on the fifth page). Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal, 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  8. "Official Website of Bankura district". Natural Resources - Forestry. Bankura District Administration. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  9. "Brief Industrial Profile of Bankura District, West Bengal" (PDF). Forests. MSME Development Institute, Kolkata. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  10. "Directory of District, Subdivision, Panchayat Samiti/ Block and Gram Panchayats in West Bengal". Bankura - Revised in March 2008. Panchayats and Rural Development Department, Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  11. "C.D. block Wise Primary Census Abstract Data(PCA)". 2011 census: West Bengal – District-wise CD blocks. Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  12. "Provisional population totals, West Bengal, Table 4, Bankura District". Census of India 2001. Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  13. "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.
  14. "District Census Handbook Bankura, Census of India 2011, Series 20, Part XII A" (PDF). Page 48: Mother tongue. Directorate of census Operations V, West Bengal. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  15. "West Bengal Official Language Act 1961". Latest Laws.com. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  16. "The West Bengal Official Language Act 1961". Advocate Tanmoy Law Library. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  17. "The West Bengal Official Language Act, 1961" (PDF). Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  18. "Official status for Urdu in some West Bengal Areas". The Hindu, 2 April 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  19. "Multilingual Bengal". The Telegraph, 11 December 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  20. "Kamtapuri, Rajbanshi make it to the list of official languages in Bengal". Outlook, 28 February 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  21. "C1 Population by Religious Community". West Bengal. Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  22. "ST-14 A Details Of Religions Shown Under 'Other Religions And Persuasions' In Main Table". West Bengal. Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  23. "District Human Development Report: Bankura" (PDF). April 2007. Page 27, Pages 237-244. Development & Planning Department, Government of West Bengal. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 February 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  24. "West Bengal Summary". Rural Household Survey 2005. Department of Panchayat & Rural Development, Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  25. "District Census Handbook Bankura, Census of India 2011, Series 20, Part XII A" (PDF). Table 33: Distribution of Workers by Sex in Four Categories of Economic Activity in Sub-district 2011. Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  26. "District Census Handbook Bankura, Census of India 2011, Series 20, Part XII A" (PDF). 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 8 April 2020.
  27. "District Census Handbook Bankura, Census of India 2011, Series 20, Part XII A" (PDF). Census Concepts and Definitions, Page 27. Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  28. "District Census Handbook, Bankura, 2011, Series 20, Part XII A" (PDF). Page 83, Table 36: Distribution of villages according to availability of different amenities, 2011. Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  29. "District Statistical Handbook 2014 Bankura". Tables 8.2, 17.2, 18.2, 18.1, 20.1, 21.2, 4.4, 3.1, 3.3 – arranged as per use. Department of Planning and Statistics, Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  30. "District Human Development Report: Bankura" (PDF). April 2007. Page: 58. Development & Planning Department, Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
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  32. "District Human Development Report: Bankura" (PDF). April 2007. Pages: 83-84. Development & Planning Department, Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  33. "Backward Regions Grant Funds: Programme Guidelines" (PDF). Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 October 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  34. "Backward Regions Grant Fund". Press Release, 14 June 2012. Press Information Bureau, Government of India. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  35. "Bankura-Masagram DEMU 78052". India Rail Info.
  36. "Adra Division Railway Map". South Eastern Railway.
  37. "South Eastern Railway Pink Book 2017-18" (PDF). Indian Railways Pink Book.
  38. "78056 Bankura-Masagram DEMU". India Rail Info. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  39. Google maps
  40. "District Census Handbook Bankura, Series 20 Part XII A, Census of India 2011" (PDF). Page 545: Map of Sonamukhi CD Block and alphabetical list of villages. Directorate of Census Operations 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  41. "List of State Highways in West Bengal". West Bengal Traffic Police. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  42. "District Statistical Handbook 2014 Bankura". Tables 4.4, 4.6. Department of Planning and Statistics, Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  43. "District Census Handbook, Bankura, 2011, Series 20, Part XII A" (PDF). Page 1293, Appendix I A: Villages by number of Primary Schools and Appendix I B: Villages by Primary, Middle and Secondary Schools. Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  44. "District Statistical Handbook 2014 Bankura". Tables 3.1, 3.2, 3.3. Department of Planning and Statistics, Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  45. "Health & Family Welfare Department" (PDF). Health Statistics – Rural Hospitals. Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  46. "Health & Family Welfare Department" (PDF). Health Statistics – Primary Health Centres. Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
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