Tarakeswar (community development block)

Tarakeswar had a population of 162,355 in the 2001 census, of whom 83,141 (51 percent) were males and 79,214 (49 percent) were females. Its population increased by 11.56 percent from 1991 to 2001 decade, and the district's population increased by 15.72 percent.[6] West Bengal's population increased by 17.84 percent during the decade.[7]

In the 2011 census, Tarakeswar's population increased to 179,148 (entirely rural). There were 91,534 males (51 percent) and 87,614 females (49 percent). The population under age six was 17,096. Scheduled Caste members numbered 42,338 (23.63 percent), and Scheduled Tribe members numbered 9,034 (5.04 percent).[8]

Villages with a population of over 4,000 in 2011 were Santoshpur (4,063), Talpur (5,389), Moktarpur (6,364), Bhanjipur (4,433), Purba Ramnagar (7,759), Baligari (5,845), Astara (6,590) and Champadanga (12,518).[8] Smaller villages are Keshabchak (2,569), Malpaharpur (2,116) and Duttapur (1,168).[8]

In 2001, Tarakeswar had a total literacy rate of 56.23 percent; male literacy was 77.61 percent, and female literacy was 54.66 percent.[9] In 2011, the number of literate people was 129,574; males numbered 71,609, and females numbered 57,965. Gender disparity was 13.42 percent.[8]

Bengali was the mother tongue of 86.4 percent of Hooghly district's population in 2001, followed by Hindi at 7.9 percent. Santali (2.6 percent) and Urdu (two percent) are also spoken in the district.

In 2011, Tarakeswar had 159,330 Hindus, 18,274 Muslims and 1,544 followers of other religions.[10]

According to estimates obtained from a survey of families living Below Poverty Line in 2005, rural poverty in Tarakeswar was 18.62 percent.[11]

In 2011, farmers were 19.55 percent of the workforce; agricultural laborers were 38.09 percent, household-industry workers 5.19 percent and other workers 37.17 percent.[12]

Tarakeswar has 89 villages, all with electricity. Forty-one villages have more than one source of drinking water (a tap, well, tube well, or hand pump); seven villages have only a tube (or bore well), and 36 have only a hand pump. Eight villages have post offices, 14 have sub-post offices and three have post-and-telegraph offices. Sixty-three villages have landlines, 58 have public call offices, and 82 have mobile-phone coverage. Forty-six villages have roads, and 29 have bus service. Eighteen villages have agricultural credit societies, eight have commercial or co-operative banks, and one village has a bank ATM.[13]

The agricultural area has several cold-storage facilities.[14] Although rice is the district's main crop, potatoes, jute, vegetables and fruits are also grown.[15]

Land reform has changed patterns of land ownership. In 2013-14, people engaged in agriculture in Tarakeswar consisted of bargadars (10.17 percent), patta (deed) holders (4.73 percent), small farmers—owning 1–2 hectares (2.5–4.9 acres)—8.24 percent, marginal farmers—less than 1 hectare (2.5 acres)—35.20 percent, and agricultural labourers 41.65 percent.[12] Tarakeswar has markets in Baliguri, Champadanga, Santoshpur and Kararia.[16]

The CD block had 95 fertiliser depots, 38 seed stores and 47 fair-price shops in 2013-14.[12] It produced oil seeds, 81,189 tonnes of Aman paddy (the main winter crop) from 27,792 hectares (68,680 acres), 5,229 tonnes of Boro paddy (a spring crop) from 1,668 hectares (4,120 acres), 58,340 tonnes of jute from 2,730 hectares (6,700 acres), and 81,573 tonnes of potatoes from 5,105 hectares (12,610 acres).[12] The total irrigated area was 11,828 hectares (29,230 acres); of this, 7,125 hectares (17,610 acres) were irrigated by canal water, 1,780 hectares (4,400 acres) by tank water, 50 hectares (120 acres) by river lift irrigation, 480 hectares (1,200 acres) by deep tube wells, and 2,393 hectares (5,910 acres) by shallow tube wells.[12]

In 2013-14, Tarakeswar 10 commercial-bank offices and one Regional Rural Bank.[12]