Jhargram (community development block)

106 districts spanning 10 states across India, described as being a part of the Left Wing Extremism activities, constitutes the Red corridor. In West Bengal the districts of Pashim 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.[1] In the period 2009-2011 LWE violence resulted in more than 500 deaths and a similar number missing in Paschim Medinipur district.[2]

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.[3] 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.[3][4]

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.[5]

According to the 2011 Census of India, Jhargram CD block had a total population of 170,097, all of which were rural. There were 85,970 (51%) males and 84,127 (49%) females. Population in the age range 0–6 years was 20,331. Scheduled Castes numbered 25,220 (14.83%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 38,625 (22.71%).[11]

According to the 2001 census, Jhargram block had a total population of 153,381, out of which 78,362 were males and 75,019 were females. Jhargram block registered a population growth of 14.64 per cent during the 1991-2001 decade. Decadal growth for the combined Midnapore district was 14.87 per cent.[12] Decadal growth in West Bengal was 17.45 per cent.[13]

Large villages (with 4,000+ population) in Jhargarm CD block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Manikpara (4,239).[11]

Other villages in Jhargram CD block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Chandri (1,699), Radhanagar (3,476), Sardiha (660), Chubka (577), Lodhasuli (1,102) and Patashimul (486).[11]

According to the 2011 census the total number of literate persons in Jhargram CD block was 108,179 (72.23% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 60,974 (80.55% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 47,205 (63.73% of the female population over 6 years). The gender gap in literacy rates was 16.82%.[11]

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.[14]

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 tribal 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.[15]

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.[16][17][18][19]

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.[20][21] 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 154,823 and formed 91.03% of the population in Jhargram CD block. Muslims numbered 6,296 and formed 3.70% of the population. Others numbered 8,960 and formed 5.27% of the population.[22] Others include Addi Bassi, Marang Boro, Santal, Saranath, Sari Dharma, Sarna, Alchchi, Bidin, Sant, Saevdharm, Seran, Saran, Sarin, Kheria,[23] Christian and other religious communities.[22]

498 or 82% of mouzas in Jhargram CD block were electrified by 31 March 2014.[25]

490 mouzas in Jhargram CD block had drinking water facilities in 2013-14. There were 56 fertiliser depots, 35 seed stores and 61 fair price shops in the CD block.[25]

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.[26] Following land reforms land ownership pattern has undergone transformation. In 2013-14, persons engaged in agriculture in Jhargram CD block could be classified as follows: bargadars 6.84%, patta (document) holders 28.94%, small farmers (possessing land between 1 and 2 hectares) 2.56%, marginal farmers (possessing land up to 1 hectare) 22.22% and agricultural labourers 39.45%.[25]

In 2005-06 net cropped area in Jharagram CD block was 53,951 hectares and the area in which more than one crop was grown was 15,321 hectares.[27]

The extension of irrigation has played a role in growth of the predominantly agricultural economy.[28] In 2013-14, the total area irrigated in Jhargram CD block was 15,565 hectares, out of which 5,500 by canal water, 1,900 hectares by tank water, 200 hectares by deep tube wells, 4,450 by shallow tube wells, 160 hectares by river lift irrigation, 350 hectares by open dug wells and 3,005 hectares by other methods.[25]

In 2013-14, Jhargram CD block produced 75,846 tonnes of Aman paddy, the main winter crop, from 35,328 hectares, 1,994 tonnes of Aus paddy (summer crop) from 942 hectares, 848 tonnes of wheat from 268 hectares and 37,648 tonnes of potatoes from 1,356 hectares. It also produced mustard.[25]

In 2013-14, Jhargram CD block had offices of 15 commercial banks and 2 gramin banks.[25]