Binpur I

The Lalgarh movement started attracting attention after the failed assassination attempt on Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, then chief minister of West Bengal, in the Salboni area, on 2 November 2008 and the police action that followed. 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, and others active in different political parties, 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.[1][2]

From 2009 Maoist violence had rapidly spread across eleven western CD blocks of the district: Binpur I, Binpur II, Salboni, Grahbeta II, Jamboni, Jhargram, Midnapore Sadar, Gopiballavpur I, Gopiballavpur II, Sankrail and Nayagram.[3]

Indiscriminate firing allegedly from a CPI (M) activist's house killed 9 people in Netai village on 7 January 2011. As of 2016, the case is sub-judice.[4][5]

106 districts spanning 10 states across India, described as being part of Left Wing Extremism activities, constitute 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 has been no reported incidents of Maoist related activities from these districts for the previous 4 years.[6] In the period 2009-2011 LWE violence resulted in more than 500 deaths and a similar number missing in Paschim Medinipur district.[7]

According to the 2011 Census of India Binpur I CD block had a total population of 156,153, all of which were rural. There were 78,929 (51%) males and 77,224 (49%) females. Population in the age range 0–6 years was 18,854. Scheduled Castes numbered 39,064 (25.02%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 43,962 (28.15%).[13]

According to the 2001 census, Binpur I block had a total population of 139,136, out of which 71,072 were males and 68,064 were females. Binpur I block registered a population growth of 13.86 per cent during the 1991-2001 decade. Decadal growth for the combined Midnapore district was 14.87 per cent.[14] Decadal growth in West Bengal was 17.45 per cent.[15]

Large village (with 4,000+ population) in Binpur I CD block is (2011 census figure in brackets): Lalgarh (4,433).[13]

Other villages in Binpur I CD block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Binpur (1,842), Andharia (751), Sijua (2,263), Ramgarh (3,734), Netai (1,946), Baita (199), Bila Tikri (2,564), Dahijuri (3,237) and Dharampur (712).[13]

According to the 2011 census the total number of literate persons in Binpur I CD block was 95,753 (69.74% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 55,228 (79.72% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 40,525 (59.58% of the female population over 6 years). The gender gap in literacy rates was 20.14%.[13]

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

According to the District Census Handbook, Paschim Medinipur, 2011 census, as of 2001, Bengali was the mother-tongue of 90.5% of the population of Paschim Medinipur district, followed by Santali (4.6%), Hindi (1.4%), Kurmali Thar (0.7%), Urdu (0.6%), Telugu (0.6%), Odia (0.4%), Mundari (0.2%), Koda/ Kora (0.1%), Munda (0.1%) and Nepali (0.1%). There were people, forming lesser proportion of population, having other languages as mother-tongue. People with other mother-tongues formed 0.7% of the population.[16]

There is a tribal presence in many of the CD blocks of the district. Santali is spoken by 55.93% of the tribal population of the district. The Bhumij, forming 11.16% of the tribal population, and the Mundas, forming 6.10% of the population, speak Mundari. Other small groups include Koras and Mahalis. The Lodhas, forming 3.85% of the tribal population, the only primitive tribe in the district, speak Lodhi.[17]

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.[18][19][20][21]

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.[22][23] However, as of 2020, there is no official / other reliable information about the areas covered. Census 2011 provides language data only at the district and above level.

In the 2011 census Hindus numbered 120,976 and formed 77.47% of the population in Binpur I CD block. Muslims numbered 6,073 and formed 3.89% of the population. Others numbered 29,104 and formed 18.64% of the population.[24] Others include Addi Bassi, Marang Boro, Santal, Saranath, Sari Dharma, Sarna, Alchchi, Bidin, Sant, Saevdharm, Seran, Saran, Sarin, Kheria,[24][25] Christians and other religious communities.[24]

423 or 76% of mouzas in Binpur I CD block were electrified by 31 March 2014.[27]

427 mouzas in Binpur I CD block had drinking water facilities in 2013–14. There were 34 fertiliser depots, 24 seed stores and 52 fair price shops in the CD block.[27]

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 fully implemented. 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.[28] Following land reforms land ownership pattern has undergone transformation. In 2013–14, persons engaged in agriculture in Binpur I CD block could be classified as follows: bargadars 3.82%, patta (document) holders 23.62%, small farmers (possessing land between 1 and 2 hectares) 2.65%, marginal farmers (possessing land up to 1 hectare) 23.37% and agricultural labourers 46.54%.[27]

In 2005-06 net cropped area in Binpur I CD block was 36,243 hectares and the area in which more than one crop was grown was 15,377 hectares.[29]

The extension of irrigation has played a role in growth of the predominantly agricultural economy.[30] In 2013–14, the total area irrigated in Binpur I CD block was 8,340 hectares, out of which 500 by canal water, 350 hectares by tank water, 570 hectares by deep tube wells, 5,800 by shallow tube wells, 60 hectares by river lift irrigation, 260 hectares by open dug wells and 800 hectares by other methods.[27]

In 2013–14, Binpur I CD block produced 132,024 tonnes of Aman paddy, the main winter crop, from 42,145 hectares, 154 tonnes of Aus paddy (summer crop)from 66 hectares, 2,484 tonnes of Boro paddy (spring crop) from 738 hectares, 1,151 tonnes of wheat from 400 hectares and 9,371 tonnes of potatoes from 571 hectares. It also produced maskalai, mustard and til. The production of Aman paddy was the highest amongst all the CD blocks in the district.[27]

In 2013–14, Binpur I CD block had offices of 10 commercial banks and 1 gramin bank.[27]