Onda (community development block)

From around 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]

According to the 2011 Census of India, Onda CD block had a total population of 252,984, all of which were rural. There were 129,248 (51%) males and 123,736 (49%) females. Population in the age range of 0 to 6 years was 33,274. Scheduled Castes numbered 83,933 (33.18%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 12,443 (4.92%).[7]

According to the 2001 census, Onda block had a total population of 219,845, out of which 112,429 were males and 107,416 were females. Onda block registered a population growth of 15.06 per cent during the 1991-2001 decade. Decadal growth for the district was 15.15 per cent.[8] Decadal growth in West Bengal was 17.84 per cent.[9]

Large villages (with 4,000+ population) in Onda CD block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Onda (5,933), Aguri Band Punisol (22,193), Nutangram (4,077) and Chingani (4,004).[7]

Other villages in Onda CD block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Majdiha (1,173), Churamanipur (992), Medinipur (2,662), Lodna (3,072), Kalyani (1,632), Ratanpur (1,822), Santor (1,739), Nikunjapur (2,239), Bahulara (1,124) and Ramsagar (712).[7]

According to the 2011 census the total number of literates in Onda CD block was 144,618 (65.82% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 85,546 (75.44% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 60,072 (55.81%) of the female population over 6 years). The gender disparity (the difference between female and male literacy rates) was 19.63%.[7]

As per the 2011 census, literacy in Bankura district was 70.26%, up from 63.44 in 2001 and 52.00% in 1991.[10] Literacy in West Bengal was 77.08% in 2011.[11] Literacy in India in 2011 was 74.04%.[11]

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

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%).[12]

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.[13][14][15][16]

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.[17][18] However, as of 2019, there is no official / other reliable information about the areas covered.

In the 2011 census, Hindus numbered 201,742 and formed 83.30% of the population in Onda CD block. Muslims numbered 34,620 and formed 13.68% of the population. Christians numbered 86 and formed 0.03% of the population. Others numbered 7,536 and formed 2.98% of the population.[19] Others include Addi Bassi, Marang Boro, Santal, Saranath, Sari Dharma, Sarna, Alchchi, Bidin, Sant, Saevdharm, Seran, Saran, Sarin, Kheria,[20] and other religious communities.[19]

In the Onda CD block in 2011, among the class of total workers, cultivators numbered 24,522 and formed 24.53%, agricultural labourers numbered 46,704 and formed 46.71%, household industry workers numbered 4,616 and formed 4.62% and other workers numbered 24,142 and formed 24.15%.[23]Total workers numbered 99,984 and formed 39.52% of the total population, and non-workers numbered 153,000 and formed 60.48% of the population.[24]

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.[25]

There are 271 inhabited villages in the Onda CD block, as per the District Census Handbook, Bankura, 2011. 100% villages have power supply. 266 villages (98.15%) have drinking water supply. 30 villages (11.07%) have post offices. 257 villages (94.63%) have telephones (including landlines, public call offices and mobile phones). 51 villages (18.82%) have pucca (paved) approach roads and 88 villages (32.47%) have transport communication (includes bus service, rail facility and navigable waterways). 16 villages (5.90%) have agricultural credit societies and 13 villages (4.8%) have banks.[26]

There were 125 fertiliser depots, 12 seed stores and 76 fair price shops in the Onda CD block.[27]

In 2013-14, persons engaged in agriculture in Onda CD block could be classified as follows: bargadars 12.99%, patta (document) holders 9.32%, small farmers (possessing land between 1 and 2 hectares) 6.96%, marginal farmers (possessing land up to 1 hectare) 21.44% and agricultural labourers 49.29%.[27]

In 2003-04 net area sown in Onda CD block was 26,981 hectares and the area in which more than one crop was grown was 6,712 hectares.[28]

In 2013-14, the total area irrigated in Onda CD block was 18,667 hectares, out of which 9,796 hectares was by canal water, 900 hectares by tank water, 1,140 hectares by river lift irrigation, 606 hectares by deep tubewells, 6,080 hectares by shallow tubewell, 30 hectares by open dug wells and 115 hectares by other methods.[27]

In 2013-14, Onda CD block produced 53,122 tonnes of Aman paddy, the main winter crop, from 19,947 hectares, 6,525 tonnes of Aus paddy from 2,246 hectares, 15,395 tonnes of Boro paddy from 5,020 hectares, 969 tonnes of wheat from 327 hectares and 44,557,000 tonnes of potatoes from 1,984 hectares. It also produced pulses and mustard.[27]

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 Onda CD Block had 749 looms in operation.[29]

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. 234 families were involved in Onda CD block.[30]

In 2013-14, Onda CD block had offices of 9 commercial banks and 3 gramin banks.[27]

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.[31][32]