Deshapran (community development block)

As per 2011 Census of India Deshopran (Contai II) CD Block had a total population of 176,393, all of which were rural. There were 90,937 (52%) males and 85,456 (48%) females. Population below 6 years was 20,310. Scheduled Castes numbered 17,432 (9.88%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 111 (0.06%).[7]

As per 2001 census, Contai II block had a total population of 153,041, out of which 78,792 were males and 74,249 were females. Contai II block registered a population growth of 15.23 per cent during the 1991-2001 decade. Decadal growth for the combined Midnapore district was 14.87 per cent.[8] Decadal growth in West Bengal was 17.84 per cent.[9]

Census Town in Deshapran CD Block (2011 census figure in brackets): Basantia (5,455).[7]

Large villages (with 4,000+ population) in Deshapran CD Block (2011 census figures in brackets): Durmut (4,617) and Basudebberya (4,229).[7]

Other villages in Deshapran CD Block (2011 census figures in brackets): Sarda (3,099), Purba Amtalia (1,878), Dakshin Amtalia (1,214), Amtalia (2,657), Dhobaberya (67), Bamuniya (2002), Chalti (2,261), Dariapur (1,375).[7]

As per 2011 census the total number of literates in Deshapran CD Block was 137,871 (88.33% of the population over 6 years) out of which 75,095 (54%) were males and 62,766 (46%) were females.[7]

As per 2011 census, literacy in Purba Medinipur district was 87.02%.[10] Purba Medinipur had the highest literacy amongst all the districts of West Bengal in 2011.[11]

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

As per the 2001 census, Bengali was the mother-tongue of 90.5%of the population of Purba Medinipur district, followed by Santali (4.6%), Hindi (1.4%), Kurmali Thar (0.7%), Urdu (0.6%), Telugu (0.6%), Odiya (0.4%), Mundari (0.2%), Koda/ Kora (0.1%), Munda (0.1%), Nepali (0.1%) and others (0.3%). Census information about language is available at the district level or above only.[12]

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.[13][14]However, as of 2019, there is no official / other reliable information about the areas covered.

In 2011 census Hindus numbered 148,883 and formed 84.40% of the population in Contai II CD Block. Muslims numbered 27,206 and formed 15.43% of the population. Others numbered 304 and formed 0.17% of the population.[15]

In Deshapran CD Block in 2011, total workers formed 37.65% of the total population and amongst the class of total workers, cultivators formed 16.45%, agricultural labourers 36.73%, household industry workers 4.67% and other workers 42.15.%.[17]

Petuaghat Fishing Harbour at Petuaghat on the Rasulpur River, is the largest in the state and was the 7th largest in the country at the time of its inauguration in 2010. It is located about 25 km from Contai town. It has the capacity to handle 300 mechanised and 25 deep sea vessels. The harbour has three jetties and facilities such as auction hall, net mending shed, fish landing area, fishermen dormitory, electricity, water supply and compound wall.[18][19][20][21]

There are 166 inhabited villages in Deshapran CD block. All 166 villages (100%) have power supply. 165 villages (99.4%) have drinking water supply. 28 villages (16.17%) have post offices. 161 villages (96.99%) have telephones (including landlines, public call offices and mobile phones). 49 villages (29.52%) have a pucca (paved) approach road and 42 villages (25.30%) have transport communication (includes bus service, rail facility and navigable waterways). 16 villages (12.22%) have agricultural credit societies. 5 villages (3.01%) have banks.[22]

In 2007-08, around 40% of rural households in the district had electricity.[23]

In 2013-14, there were 71 fertiliser depots, 12 seed stores and 32 fair price shops in the CD Block.[17]

According to the District Human Development Report of Purba Medinipur: The agricultural sector is the lifeline of a predominantly rural economy. It is largely dependent on the Low Capacity Deep Tubewells (around 50%) or High Capacity Deep Tubewells (around 27%) for irrigation, as the district does not have a good network of canals, compared to some of the neighbouring districts. In many cases the canals are drainage canals which get the backflow of river water at times of high tide or the rainy season. The average size of land holding in Purba Medinipur, in 2005-06, was 0.73 hectares against 1.01 hectares in West Bengal.[23]

In 2013-14, the total area irrigated in Deshapran CD Block was 3,029 hectares, out of which 15 hectares were irrigated by canal water, 1,027 hectares by tank water, and 1,987 hectares by shallow tube well.[17]

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.[24] Following land reforms land ownership pattern has undergone transformation. In 2013-14, persons engaged in agriculture in Deshapran CD Block could be classified as follows: bargadars 6.64%, patta (document) holders 31.93%, small farmers (possessing land between 1 and 2 hectares) 2.39%, marginal farmers (possessing land up to 1 hectare) 26.03% and agricultural labourers 33.01%.[17]

In 2013-14, Deshapran CD Block produced 15,788 tonnes of Aman paddy, the main winter crop, from 12,867 hectares, 6,195 tonnes of Boro paddy, the spring crop, from 1,796 hectares and 400 tonnes of potatoes from 15 hectares. It also produced oil seeds.[17]

Betelvine is a major source of livelihood in Purba Medinipur district, particularly in Tamluk and Contai subdivisions. Betelvine production in 2008-09 was the highest amongst all the districts and was around a third of the total state production. In 2008-09, Purba Mednipur produced 2,789 tonnes of cashew nuts from 3,340 hectares of land.[23]

Purba Medinipur’s net district domestic product derives one fifth of its earnings from fisheries, the highest amongst all the districts of West Bengal.[23]The nett area available for effective pisciculture in Deshapran CD Block in 2013-14 was 675.19 hectares. 3,150 persons were engaged in the profession and approximate annual production was 25,725 quintals.[17]

In 2013-14, Deshapran CD Block had offices of 6 commercial banks and 1 gramin bank.[17]

Medinipur East 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.[25][26]