Magrahat I

Magrahat I
Community Development Block
Location of Magrahat I community development block in South 24 Parganas district
Coordinates: 22.2420°N 88.3784°E / 22.2420; 88.3784
Country	India
State	West Bengal
Division	Presidency
District	South 24 Parganas
Subdivision	Diamond Harbour
Headquarters	Usthi
Government
• Gram Panchayats	Ektara, Hariharpur, Kalikapota, Lakshmikantapur, Rangilbad, Sherpur, Shrichanda, Sirakol, Usthi, Uttarkusum, Yearpur
• Lok Sabha constituencies	Mathurapur
• Vidhan Sabha constituencies	Magrahat Paschim
Area
• Total	119.04 km^2 (45.96 sq mi)
Population  (2011)
• Total	269,494
• Density	2,300/km^2 (5,900/sq mi)
• Urban	65,657
Demographics
• Literacy	73.82 per cent
• Sex ratio	951 ♂/♀
Languages
• Official	Bengali[1][2]
• Additional official	English[1]
Time zone	UTC+05:30 (IST)
Website	s24pgs.gov.in

Magrahat I is a community development block that forms an administrative division in the Diamond Harbour subdivision of the South 24 Parganas district in the Indian state of West Bengal.

Geography

Magrahat I CD block is located at 22°14′31″N 88°22′42″E. It has an average elevation of 8 metres (26 ft).

Magrahat I CD block is bounded by Bishnupur I and Bishnupur II CD blocks in the north, Magrahat II CD block in the east, Mandirbazar and Kulpi CD blocks in the south, Diamond Harbour I and Falta CD blocks in the west.^{[3] [4]}

South 24 Parganas district is divided into two distinct physiographic zones: the marine-riverine delta in the north and the marine delta zone in the south. As the sea receded southwards, in the sub-recent geological period, a large low-lying plain got exposed. Both tidal inflows and the rivers have deposited sediments in this plain. The periodical collapse of both the natural levees and man-made embankments speed up the process of filling up depressions containing brackish water wetlands. The marine delta in the south is formed of interlacing tidal channels. As non-saline water for irrigation is scarce, agriculture is monsoon-dominated. Some parts of the wetlands are still preserved for raising fish.^[5]

Magrahat I CD block has an area of 119.04 km². It has 1 panchayat samity, 11 gram panchayats, 186 gram sansads (village councils), 90 mouzas and 78 inhabited villages, as per the District Statistical Handbook, South Twenty-four Parganas. Sadasibpur village is located partly in Magrahat I and partly in Mandirbazar CD Block. Usthi police station serves this CD Block.^[6] Headquarters of this CD block is at Usthi.^[7]

Gram panchayats of Magrahat I CD block/panchayat samiti are: Ektara, Hariharpur, Kalikapota, Lakshmikantapur, Rangilbad, Sherpur, Shrichanda, Sirakol, Usthi, Uttarkusum and Yearpur.^[8]

Demographics

Population

As per the 2011 Census of India, Magrahat I CD block had a total population of 269,494, of which 203,837 were rural and 65,657 were urban. There were 138,152 (51%) males and 131,342 (49%) females. Population below 6 years was 38,472. Scheduled Castes numbered 55,191 (20.48%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 172 (0.08%).^[9]

As per the 2001 Census of India, Magrahat I CD block had a total population of 228,367, out of which 117,752 were males and 110,615 were females. Magrahat I CD block registered a population growth of 16.51% during the 1991-2001 decade. Decadal growth for South 24 Parganas district was 20.89%. Decadal growth in West Bengal was 17.84%. Scheduled Castes at 54,205 formed around one-fourth the population. Scheduled Tribes numbered 1,603.^{[10] [11][12]}

Census Towns in Magrahat I CD block (2011 census figures in brackets): Ajodhyanagar (4,409), Sirakol (10,250), Uttar Bishnupur (4,703), Ghola Noapara (6,210), Usthi (6,230), Barijpur (5,536), Uttar Kusum (10,716), Kalikapota (13,086) and Bamna (4,517).^[9]

Large villages (with 4,000+ population) in Magrahat I CD block (2011 census figures in brackets): Iyarpur (9,238), Khela Rampur (6,176), Serpur (8,170), Kesili (4,167), Nainanpur (4,711), Nazra (9,552), Deula(5,169), Samashat (4,829), Tulyan (4,003), Khanpur (5,101) and Bahirpua (4,610).^[9]

Other villages in Magrahat I CD block include (2011 census figures in brackets): Srichanda (1,773), Rangilabad (3,459), Hariharpur (3,549), Ektara (2,604) and Baneswarpur (1960).^[9]

Literacy

As per the 2011 census, the total number of literates in Magrahat I CD block was 170,534 (77.41% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 113,744 (83.62% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 91,045 (70.84% of the female population over 6 years). The gender disparity (the difference between female and male literacy rates) was 12.78%.^[9]

As per the 2011 Census of India, literacy in South 24 Parganas district was 77.51%.^[13] Literacy in West Bengal was 77.08% in 2011.^[14] Literacy in India in 2011 was 74.04%.^[14]

As per the 2001 Census of India, Magrahat I CD block had a total literacy of 67.34% for the 6+ age group. While male literacy was 77.39% female literacy was 56.54%. South 24 Parganas district had a total literacy of 69.45%, male literacy being 79.19% and female literacy being 59.01%.^[10]

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

Literacy in CD blocks of South 24 Parganas district
Alipore Sadar subdivision
Bishnupur I – 78.33%
Bishnupur II – 81.37%
Budge Budge I – 80.57%
Budge Budge II – 79.13%
Thakurpukur Maheshtala – 83.54%
Baruipur subdivision
Baruipur – 76.46%
Bhangar I – 72.06%
Bhangar II – 74.49%
Jaynagar I – 73.17%
Jaynagar II – 69.71%
Kultali – 69.37%
Sonarpur – 79.70%
Canning subdivision
Basanti – 68.32%
Canning I – 70.76%
Canning II – 66.51%
Gosaba – 78.98%
Diamond Harbour subdivision
Diamond Harbour I – 75.72%
Diamond Harbour II – 76.91%
Falta – 77.17%
Kulpi – 75.49%
Magrahat I – 73.82%
Magrahat II – 77.41%
Mandirbazar – 75.89%
Mathurapur I – 73.93%
Mathurapur II – 77.77%
Kakdwip subdivision
Kakdwip – 77.93%
Namkhana – 85.72
Patharpratima – 82.11%
Sagar – 84.21%
Source: 2011 Census: CD Block Wise Primary Census Abstract Data

Language

Languages of Magrahat I CD block (2011)^[15]

  Bengali (99.91%)

  Hindi (0.06%)

  Urdu (0.02%)

  Others (0.01%)

At the time of the 2011 census, 99.91% of the population spoke Bengali, 0.06% Hindi and 0.02% Urdu as their first language.^[15]

Religion

Religion in Magrahat I CD block (2011)[16]
Islam			57.78%
Hinduism			40.44%
Christianity			1.50%
Other or not stated			0.28%

In the 2011 Census of India, Muslims numbered 155,700 and formed 57.78% of the population in Magrahat I CD block. Hindus numbered 108,987 and formed 40.44% of the population. Others numbered 4,807 and formed 1.78% of the population. Amongst the others, Christians numbered 4,035.^[16] In 2001, Muslims and Hindus were 55.26% and 43.06% of the population respectively, whiles Christians were 1.60% of the population.

The proportion of Hindus in South Twenty-four Parganas district has declined from 76.0% in 1961 to 63.2% in 2011. The proportion of Muslims in South Twenty-four Parganas district has increased from 23.4% to 35.6% during the same period. Christians formed 0.8% in 2011.^[17]

Rural poverty

As per the Human Development Report for South 24 Parganas district, published in 2009, in Magrahat I CD block the percentage of households below poverty line was 28.41%, a moderate level of poverty. In the north-east and mid central portion of the district, all CD blocks, with the exception of Kulpi CD block, had poverty rates below 30%. As per rural household survey in 2005, the proportion of households in South 24 Parganas with poverty rates below poverty line was 34.11%, way above the state and national poverty ratios. The poverty rates were very high in the Sundarbans settlements with all thirteen CD blocks registering poverty ratios above 30% and eight CD blocks had more than 40% of the population in the BPL category.^[18]

Economy

Livelihood

Livelihood
in Magrahat I CD block

  Cultivators (8.38%)

  Agricultural labourers (20.98%)

  Household industries (17.11%)

  Other Workers (53.53%)

In Magrahat I CD block in 2011, amongst the class of total workers, cultivators numbered 7,306 and formed 8.38%, agricultural labourers numbered 18,284 and formed 20.98%, household industry workers numbered 14,906 and formed 17.11% and other workers numbered 46,644 and formed 53.53%.^[19] Total workers numbered 87,140 and formed 32.33% of the total population, and non-workers numbered 182,354 and formed 67.67% of the population.^[20]

The District Human Development Report points out that in the blocks of region situated in the close proximity of the Kolkata metropolis, overwhelming majority are involved in the non-agricultural sector for their livelihood. On the other hand, in the Sundarban region, overwhelming majority are dependent on agriculture. In the intermediate region, there is again predominance of the non-agricultural sector. Though the region is not very close to Kolkata, many places are well connected and some industrial/ economic development has taken place.^[21]

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.^[22]

Infrastructure

There are 78 inhabited villages in Magrahat I CD block, as per the District Census Handbook, South Twenty-four Parganas, 2011. 100% villages have power supply. 78 villages (100%) have drinking water supply. 25 villages (32.05%) have post offices. 73 villages (93.50%) have telephones (including landlines, public call offices and mobile phones). 25 villages (32.05%) have pucca (paved) approach roads and 34 villages (51.59%) have transport communication (includes bus service, rail facility and navigable waterways). 3 villages (3.85%) have agricultural credit societies and 7 villages (8.97%) have banks.^[23]

Agriculture

South 24 Parganas had played a significant role in the Tebhaga movement launched by the Communist Party of India in 1946. Subsequently, Operation Barga was aimed at securing tenancy rights for the peasants. In Magrahat I CD block 564.10 acres of land was acquired and vested. Out of this 452.21 acres or 80.16% of the vested land was distributed. The total number of patta (document) holders was 3,294.^[24]

According to the District Human Development Report, agriculture is an important source of livelihood in South Twentyfour Parganas district. The amount of cultivable land per agricultural worker is only 0.41 hectare in the district. Moreover, the irrigation facilities have not been extended to a satisfactory scale. Agriculture mostly remains a mono-cropped activity.^[25]

As per the District Census Handbook, the saline soil of the district is unfit for cultivation, but the non-salty lands are very fertile. While rice is the main food crop, jute is the main cash crop.^[26]

In 2013-14, there were 38 fertiliser depots, 16 seed stores and 50 fair price shops in Magrahat I CD block.^[27]

In 2013–14, Magrahat I CD block produced 14,241 tonnes of Aman paddy, the main winter crop, from 6,996 hectares, 137 tonnes of Aus paddy (summer crop) from 53 hectares, 11,272 tonnes of Boro paddy (spring crop) from 3,246 hectares, 804 tonnes of potatoes from 24 hectares. It also produced pulses and oilseeds.^[27]

Irrigation

In Magrahat I CD block, in 2013-14, 53.22 hectares were irrigated by river lift irrigation.^[27]

Poor irrigation and high soil salinity results in the mono-cropping pattern of cultivation in a major portion of the South 24 Parganas district. As a result of its closeness to the Bay of Bengal, the river waters are mostly saline and are unsuitable for irrigation. Added to the rather gloomy irrigation scenario is the problem of frequent floods.^[28]

Pisciculture

In Magrahat I CD block, in 2013-14, net area under effective pisciculture was 936 hectares, engaging 936 persons in the profession, and with an approximate annual production of 9,120 quintals.^[27]

Pisciculture is an important source of employment in South 24 Parganas district. As of 2001, more than 4.5 lakh people were engaged in Pisciculture. Out of this 2.57 lakhs were from the 13 blocks in the Sundarbans settlements.^[29]

Banking

In 2013-14, Magrahat I CD block had offices of 9 commercial banks and 1 gramin banks.^[27]

Backward Regions Grant Fund

South 24 Parganas 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.^[30][31]

Transport

Magrahat I CD block has 1 ferry service and 9 originating/ terminating bus routes.^[27]

Bahirpuya, Sangrampur and Deula are stations on the Sealdah South section.^[32]

Education

In 2013-14, Magrahat I CD block had 113 primary schools with 14,410 students, 6 middle schools with 1,180 students, 7 high schools with 3,999 students and 19 higher secondary schools with 18,714 students. Magrahat I CD block had 1 general degree college with 496 students and 323 institutions for special and non-formal education with 19,017 students.^[27]

See also – Education in India

As per the 2011 census, in Magrahat I CD block, amongst the 78 inhabited villages, 3 villages did not have a school, 35 villages had two or more primary schools, 23 villages had at least 1 primary and 1 middle school and 16 villages had at least 1 middle and 1 secondary school.^[33]

Shirakole Mahavidyalaya was established in 2007 at Sirakol.^[34][35]

Healthcare

In 2014, Magrahat I CD block had 1 rural hospital, 1 primary health centre and 3 private nursing homes with total 50 beds and 8 doctors (excluding private bodies). It had 31 family welfare subcentres. 3,496 patients were treated indoor and 73,527 patients were treated outdoor in the hospitals, health centres and subcentres of the CD block.^[27]

As per 2011 census, in Magrahat I CD block, 1 villages had a primary health centre, 29 villages had primary health subcentres, 15 villages had medicine shops and out of the 78 inhabited villages 32 villages had no medical facilities.^[36]

Baneswarpur Rural Hospital at Baneswarpur, with 30 beds, is the major government medical facility in Magrahat I CD block. There is a primary health centre at Sirakol (with 6 beds).^[37][38][39]

References

1. "Fact and Figures". Wb.gov.in. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
2. "52nd Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India" (PDF). Nclm.nic.in. Ministry of Minority Affairs. p. 85. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 May 2017. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
3. "District Census Handbook: South 24 Parganas, Series 20, Part XII B" (PDF). Map of South 24 Parganas with CD block HQs and Police Stations (on the fourth page). Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal, 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
4. "South Twenty-four Parganas". CD block/ tehsil map. Maps of India. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
5. "District Human Development Report: South 24 Parganas". Chapter 1 South 24 Parganas: An Overview, p 9-12. Development & Planning Department, Government of West Bengal, 2009. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
6. "District Statistical Handbook 2014 South 24 Parganas". Table No. 2.1, 2.2. Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
7. "BDO Offices under South 24 Parganas District". West Bengal Public Library Network, Government of West Bengal. Archived from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
8. "Blocks and Gram Panchayats in South 24 Parganas". South 24 Parganas District Administration. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
9. "C.D. Block Wise Primary Census Abstract Data(PCA)". 2011 census: West Bengal – District-wise CD Blocks. Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
10. "District Statistical Handbook – 2010-11 – South 24 Parganas". South 24 Parganas at a glance, Tables 2.2, 2.4 (b), 4.5. Bureau of Applied Economics and Statistics, Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
11. "Provisional Population Totals, West Bengal. Table 4". Census of India 2001 – South 24 Parganas. Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
12. "Provisional Population Totals, West Bengal. Table 4". Census of India 2001. Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
13. "District Census 2011". Population Census 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
14. "Provisional population tables and annexures" (PDF). Census 2011:Table 2(3) Literates and Literacy rates by sex. Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
15. "Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: West Bengal". www.censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
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17. "District Census Handbook South Twentfour Parganas, Census of India 2011, Series 20, Part XII A" (PDF). Pages 52-53: Religion. Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
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19. "District Census Handbook South Twentyfour Parganas, Census of India 2011, Series 20, Part XII A" (PDF). Table 33: Distribution of Workers by Sex in Four Categories of Economic Activity in Sub-district 2011. Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
20. "District Census Handbook South Twentyfour Parganas, Census of India 2011, Series 20, Part XII A" (PDF). Table 30: Number and percentage of Main workers, Marginal workers and Non workers by Sex, in Sub-districts, 2011. Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
21. "District Human Development Report: South 24 Parganas". Page 69 , Chapter 4.3: Occupational Diversification. Department of Planning and Statistics, Government of West Bengal. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
22. "District Census Handbook South Twentyfour Parganas, Census of India 2011, Series 20, Part XII A" (PDF). Census Concepts and Definitions, Page 31. Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
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29. "District Human Development Report: South 24 Parganas". Pages 76 , Chapter 4.5.2: Non-agriculture, (i) Pisciculture. Department of Planning and Statistics, Government of West Bengal. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
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31. "Backward Regions Grant Fund". Press Release, 14 June 2012. Press Information Bureau, Government of India. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
32. "34814 Sealdah-Diamond Harbour Local". Time Table. India Rail Info. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
33. "District Census Handbook, South 24 Parganas, 2011, Series 20, Part XII A" (PDF). Page 931-932, Appendix I A: Villages by number of Primary Schools and Appendix I B: Villages by Primary, Middle and Secondary Schools. Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
34. "Shirakole Mahavidyalaya". SM. Archived from the original on 12 April 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
35. "Shirakole Mahavidyalaya". College Dekho. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
36. "District Census Handbook, South Twentyfour Parganas, 2011, Series 20, Part XII A" (PDF). Pages 927-929, Appendix I: Summary showing total number of villages having Educational, Medical and other amenities – CD block level. Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
37. "Health & Family Welfare Department" (PDF). Health Statistics – Rural Hospitals. Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
38. "Health & Family Welfare Department" (PDF). Health Statistics – Block Primary Health Centres. Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
39. "Health & Family Welfare Department" (PDF). Health Statistics – Primary Health Centres. Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 1 November 2019.