Sankrail, 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 Sankrail CD block had a total population of 115,418, all of which were rural. There were 58,240 (50%) males and 57,178 (50%) females. Population in the age range 0–6 years was 13,128, Scheduled Castes numbered 21,004 (18.20%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 28,825 (24.97%).[11]

According to the 2001 census, Sankrail block had a total population of 102,626, out of which 52,096 were males and 50,530 were females. Sankrail block registered a population growth of 17.04 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 Sankrail CD block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Ragra (5,916),[11]

Other villages in Sankrail CD block included (2011 census figures in brackets): Andhari (797), Pathra (660), Sankrail (491), Rohini (1,691), Laudaha (2,300), Kultikri (797), Chhatri (704), Dhanghari (864) and Khudmarai (639).[11]

According to the 2011 census the total number of literates in Sankrail CD block was 75,028 (73.35% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 41,793 (81.01% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 33,235 (65.55% of the female population over 6 years). The gender gap in literacy rates was 15.47%.[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 111,205 and formed 96.35% of the population in Sankrail CD block. Muslims numbered 2,094 and formed 1.81% of the population. Christians numbered 827 and formed 0.72% of the population. Others numbered 1,292 and formed 1.11% of the population.[22] Others include Addi Bassi, Marang Boro, Santal, Saranath, Sari Dharma, Sarna, Alchchi, Bidin, Sant, Saevdharm, Seran, Saran, Sarin, Kheria,[23] and other religious communities.[22]

245 or 85% of mouzas in Sankrail CD block were electrified by 31 March 2014.[25]

246 mouzas in Sankrail CD block had drinking water facilities in 2013-14. There were 43 fertiliser depots, 20 seed stores and 33 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 Sankrail CD block could be classified as follows: bargadars 4.87%, patta (document) holders 41.19%, small farmers (possessing land between 1 and 2 hectares) 2.15%, marginal farmers (possessing land up to 1 hectare) 16.65% and agricultural labourers 35.14%.[25]

In 2005-06 net cropped area in Sankrail CD block was 21,153 hectares and the area in which more than one crop was grown was 11,275 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 Sankrail CD block was 9,770 hectares, out of which 2,000 hectares were by canal waters, 160 hectares by tank water, 395 hectares by deep tubewells, 6,550 hectares by shallow tube wells, 450 hectares by river lift irrigation, 90 hectares by open dug wells and 125 hectares by other methods.[25]

In 2013-14, Sankrail CD block produced 26,310 tonnes of Aman paddy, the main winter crop, from 15,874 hectares, 4,142 tonnes of Aus paddy (summer crop) from 1,489 hectares, 12,162 tonnes of Boro paddy (spring crop) from 4,152 hectares, 4,086 tonnes of potatoes from 145 hectares and 342,399 tonnes of sugar cane from 1,552 hectares. It also produced mustard and til.[25]

In 2013-14, Sankrail CD block had offices of 8 commercial banks and 1 gramin bank.[25]