Midnapore Sadar (community development block)

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 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]

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, Midnapore CD block had a total population of 191,705, all of which were rural. There were 97,490 (51%) males and 94,215 (49%) females. Population in the age range 0–6 years was 25,920. Scheduled Castes numbered 37,445 (19.53%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 33,869 (17.67%).[11]

As per 2001 census, Midnapore Sadar block had a total population of 157,584, out of which 80,824 were males and 76,760 were females. Midnapore Sadar block registered a population growth of 26.77 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 17.84 per cent.[13]

Large villages (with 4,000+ population) in Midnapore CD block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Khasjangal Cantonment (4,080), Ramnagar (4,223), Panchkhuri (4,612), Hatihalka (5,371) and Bhabaninagar (4,225).[11]

Other villages in Midnapore CD block include (2011 census figures in brackets): Pathra (3,356), Banpura (3,544), Shiromani (2,619), Manidaha (2,438), Dherua (2,119), Chandra (675) and Kankabati (287).[11]

According to the 2011 census, the total number of literate persons in Midnapore CD block was 116,837 (70.48% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 66,145 (78.43% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 50,702 (62.24% of the female population over 6 years). The gender gap in literacy rates was 16.19%.[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 137,527 and formed 71.74% of the population in Midnapore CD block. Muslims numbered 49,039 and formed 25.58% of the population. Others numbered 5,139 and formed 2.68% of the population’[22] Others also include Addi Bassi, Marang Boro, Santal, Saranath, Sari Dharma, Sarna, Alchchi, Bidin, Sant, Saevdharm, Seran, Saran, Sarin, Kheria.[23] Christians and other religious communities.[22]

243 or 90% of mouzas in Midnapore CD block were electrified by 31 March 2014.[25]

226 mouzas in Midnapore Sadar CD block had drinking water facilities in 2013-14. There were 84 fertiliser depots, 35 seed stores and 37 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 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.[26] Following land reforms land ownership pattern has undergone transformation. In 2013-14, persons engaged in agriculture in Midnapore Sadar CD block could be classified as follows: bargadars 5.52%, patta (document) holders 30.79%, small farmers (possessing land between 1 and 2 hectares) 3.07%, marginal farmers (possessing land up to 1 hectare) 20.85% and agricultural labourers 39.77%.[25]

In 2005-06 the nett cropped area in Midnapore Sadar CD block was 17,700 hectares and the area in which more than one crop was grown was 9,927 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 Midnapore Sadar CD block was 9,680 hectares, out of which 700 hectares were irrigated by canal water, 800 hectares by tank water, 4,830 hectares by deep tubewells, 2,400 hectares by shallow tube wells, 900 hectares by river lift irrigation, 40 hectares by open dug wells and 10 hectares by other methods.[25]

In 2013-14, Midnapore Sadar CD block produced 85,138 tonnes of Aman paddy, the main winter crop, from 36,128 hectares, 5,062 tonnes of Aus paddy (summer crop) from 2,373 hectares, 921 tonnes of Boro paddy (spring crop) from 302 hectares, 1,904 tonnes of wheat from 1,072 hectares and 8,691 tonnes of potatoes from 638 hectares. It also produced oilseeds.[25]

In 2013-14, Midnapore Sadar CD block had offices of 21 commercial banks and 3 gramin banks.[25]