Contai I

Contai I
Community development block
Contai I Location in West Bengal, India
Coordinates: 21°44′55″N87°39′11″E / 21.7486581°N 87.6529598°E / 21.7486581; 87.6529598
Country	India
State	West Bengal
District	Purba Medinipur
Government
• Type	Community development block
Area
• Total	155.27 km2 (59.95 sq mi)
Elevation	3 m (10 ft)
Population  (2011)
• Total	170,894
• Density	1,100/km2 (2,900/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Bengali, English
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	721401 (Contai)
Area code	03210
ISO 3166 code	IN-WB
Vehicle registration	WB-29, WB-30, WB-31, WB-32, WB-33
Literacy	89.32%
Lok Sabha constituency	Kanthi
Vidhan Sabha constituency	Kanthi Dakshin
Website	purbamedinipur.gov.in

Contai I (also known as Kanthi I block) is a community development block that forms an administrative division in Contai subdivision of Purba Medinipur district in the Indian state of West Bengal.

Geography

Purba Medinipur district is part of the lower Indo-Gangetic Plain and Eastern coastal plains. Topographically, the district can be divided into two parts – (a) almost entirely flat plains on the west, east and north, (b) the coastal plains on the south. The vast expanse of land is formed of alluvium and is composed of younger and coastal alluvial. The elevation of the district is within 10 metres above mean sea level. The district has a long coastline of 65.5 km along its southern and south eastern boundary. Five coastal CD Blocks, namely, Khejuri II, Contai II (Deshapran), Contai I, Ramnagar I and II, are occasionally affected by cyclones and tornadoes. Tidal floods are quite regular in these five CD Blocks. Normally floods occur in 21 of the 25 CD Blocks in the district. The major rivers are Haldi, Rupnarayan, Rasulpur, Bagui and Keleghai, flowing in north to south or south-east direction. River water is an important source of irrigation. The district has a low 899 hectare forest cover, which is 0.02% of its geographical area. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

Dulalpur, a constituent panchayat of Contai I block, is located at 21°44′55″N87°39′11″E / 21.7486581°N 87.6529598°E / 21.7486581; 87.6529598 .

Contai I CD Block is bounded by Deshapran and Contai III CD Blocks in the north, Bay of Bengal in the east, Ramnagar II CD Block in the south and Egra II CD Block in the west.

It is located 67 km from Tamluk, the district headquarters.

Contai I CD Block has an area of 155.27 km². It has 1 panchayat samity, 8 gram panchayats, 129 gram sansads (village councils), 225 mouzas and 221 inhabited villages. Contai police station serves this block. ^[4] Headquarters of this CD Block is at Contai. ^[5]

Gram panchayats of Contai I block/ panchayat samiti are: Badalpur, Dulalpur, Haipur, Mahisagote, Majilapur, Nayaput, Raipur Paschimbar and Sabajpur. ^[6]

Demographics

Population

As per 2011 Census of India Contai I CD Block had a total population of 170,894, all of which were rural. There were 88,105 (52%) males and 82,789 (48%) females. Population below 6 years was 18,122. Scheduled Castes numbered 23,562 (13.19%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 92 (0.05%). ^[7]

As per 2001 census, Contai I block had a total population of 150,999, out of which 77,331 were males and 73,668 were females. Contai I block registered a population growth of 10.30 per cent during the 1991-2001 decade. Decadal growth for the combined Midnapore district was 14.87 per cent. ^[8] Decadal growth in West Bengal was 17.84%. ^[9]

Large village (with 4,000+ population) in Contai I CD Block (2011 census figure in brackets): Majna (4,653). ^[7]

Other villages in Contai I CD Block (2011 census figures in brackets): Badalpur 1st part (3,980), Haipur (1,823), Dulalpur (1,191), Raipur Paschimbar (685), Mahishgot (1,033), Sabajpur (610), Nayaput (2,372), Majilapur (2,937)Tentulmuri(1,491) ^[7]

Literacy

As per 2011 census the total number of literates in Contai I CD Block was 136,463 (89.32% of the population over 6 years) out of which 74,557 (55%) were males and 61,906 (45%) were females. ^[7]

As per 2011 census, literacy in Purba Medinipur district was 87.02%. ^[10] Purba Medinipur had the highest literacy amongst all the districts of West Bengal in 2011. ^[11]

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

Literacy in CD Blocks of Purba Medinipur district
Tamluk subdivision
Tamluk – 87.06%
Sahid Matangini – 86.99%
Panskura I – 83.65%
Panskura II – 84.93%
Nandakumar – 85.56%
Chandipur – 87.81%
Moyna – 86.33%
Haldia subdivision
Mahishadal – 86.21%
Nandigram I – 84.89%
Nandigram II – 89.16%
Sutahata – 85.42%
Haldia – 85.96%
Contai subdivision
Contai I – 89.32%
Contai II – 88.33%
Contai III – 89.88%
Khejuri I – 88.90%
Khejuri II – 85.37%
Ramnagar I – 87.84%
Ramnagar II – 89.38%
Bhagabanpur II – 90.98%
Egra subdivision
Bhagabanpur I – 88.13%
Egra I – 82.83%
Egra II – 86.47%
Patashpur I – 86.58%
Patashpur II – 86.50%
Source: 2011 Census: CD Block Wise Primary Census Abstract Data

Language and religion

Religion in Contai I CD block (2011) [12]
Hinduism			90.79%
Islam			9.01%
Other or not stated			0.20%

In 2011 census Hindus numbered 155,161 and formed 90.79% of the population in Contai I CD Block. Muslims numbered 15,397 and formed 9.01% of the population. Others numbered 336 and formed 0.20% of the population. ^[12] In 2001, Hindus made up 91.59% and Muslims 8.36% of the population respectively. ^[13]

Bengali is the predominant language, spoken by 99.38% of the population. ^[14]

Rural poverty

The District Human Development Report for Purba Medinipur has provided a CD Block-wise data table for Modified Human Poverty Index of the district. Contai I CD Block registered 27.74 on the MHPI scale. The CD Block-wise mean MHPI was estimated at 24.78. Eleven out of twentyfive CD Blocks were found to be severely deprived in respect of grand CD Block average value of MHPI (CD Blocks with lower amount of poverty are better): All the CD Blocks of Haldia and Contai subdivisions appeared backward, except Ramnagar I & II, of all the blocks of Egra subdivision only Bhagabanpur I appeared backward and in Tamluk subdivision none appeared backward. ^[15]

Economy

Livelihood

In Contai I CD Block in 2011, total workers formed 36.10% of the total population and amongst the class of total workers, cultivators formed 14.97%, agricultural labourers 37.59%, household industry workers 4.48% and other workers 42.96.%. ^[16]

Infrastructure

There are 221 inhabited villages in Contai I CD block. All 221 villages (100%) have power supply. 214 villages (96.83%) have drinking water supply. 24 villages (10.86%) have post offices. 210 villages (95.02%) have telephones (including landlines, public call offices and mobile phones). 41 villages (18.55%) have a pucca (paved) approach road and 59 villages (26.70%) have transport communication (includes bus service, rail facility and navigable waterways). 27 villages (12.22%) have agricultural credit societies. 14 villages (6.33%) have banks. ^[17]

In 2007–08, around 40% of rural households in the district had electricity. ^[18]

In 2013–14, there were 26 fertiliser depots, 15 seed stores and 33 fair price shops in the CD Block. ^[16]

Agriculture

Persons engaged in agriculture
in Contai I CD Block

  Bargadars (8.78%)

  Patta holders (13.44%)

  Small farmers (2.20%)

  Marginal farmers (41.84%)

  Agricultural labourers (33.74%)

According to the District Human Development Report of Purba Medinipur: The agricultural sector is the lifeline of a predominantly rural economy. It is largely dependent on the Low Capacity Deep Tubewells (around 50%) or High Capacity Deep Tubewells (around 27%) for irrigation, as the district does not have a good network of canals, compared to some of the neighbouring districts. In many cases the canals are drainage canals which get the backflow of river water at times of high tide or the rainy season. The average size of land holding in Purba Medinipur, in 2005–06, was 0.73 hectares against 1.01 hectares in West Bengal. ^[18]

In 2013–14, the total area irrigated in Contai I CD Block was 3,724 hectares, out of which 403 hectares were irrigated by tank water, 2,381 hectares by deep tube well and 940 hectares by shallow tube well. ^[16]

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. ^[19] Following land reforms land ownership pattern has undergone transformation. In 2013–14, persons engaged in agriculture in Contai I CD Block could be classified as follows: bargadars 8.78%, patta (document) holders 13.44%, small farmers (possessing land between 1 and 2 hectares) 2.20%, marginal farmers (possessing land up to 1 hectare) 41.84% and agricultural labourers 33.74%. ^[16]

In 2013–14, Contai I CD Block produced 14,563 tonnes of Aman paddy, the main winter crop, from 10,836 hectares, 3,527 tonnes of Boro paddy, the spring crop, from 1,071 hectares and 4,298 tonnes of potatoes from 135 hectares. It also produced oil seeds. ^[16]

Betelvine is a major source of livelihood in Purba Medinipur district, particularly in Tamluk and Contai subdivisions. Betelvine production in 2008-09 was the highest amongst all the districts and was around a third of the total state production. In 2008–09, Purba Mednipur produced 2,789 tonnes of cashew nuts from 3,340 hectares of land. ^[18]

Concentration of Handicraft Activities in CD Blocks

Horn Craft - Kolaghat Pata Chitra - Chandipur, Nandakumar Sea Shell – Ramnagar I & II Mat & Mat Diversified Products – Ramnagar I, Egra I & II, Patashpur I Brass & Bell Metal – Ramnagar I, Mahisadal, Patashpur II, Egra I Diversified Jute Products – Ramnagar II, Nandakumar, Kolaghat, Shahid Matangini Cane & Bamboo Products - Chandipur, Nandakumar, Kolaghat, Shahid Matangini Sola Craft - Tamluk, Kolaghat Pottery/Terracotta - Panskura, Tamluk, Sahid Matangini, Nandakumar Wood Craft - Tamluk Zari work- Sutahta, Mahisadal, Haldia, Nandakumar Source: District Human Development Report, Purba Medinipur, Page 97

Pisciculture

Purba Medinipur's net district domestic product derives one fifth of its earnings from fisheries, the highest amongst all the districts of West Bengal. ^[18] The nett area available for effective pisciculture in Contai I CD Block in 2013-14 was 1,050.53 hectares. 6,225 persons were engaged in the profession and approximate annual production was 40,025 quintals. ^[16]

Banking

In 2013–14, Contai I CD Block had offices of 4 commercial banks and 2 gramin banks. ^[16]

Backward Regions Grant Fund

Medinipur East 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. ^{[20] [21]}

Transport

Legend

km Asansol–Tatanagar– Kharagpur line Kharagpur–Puri line Kharagpur–Bankura– Adra line Kalaikunda Kharagpur–Bankura –Adra line Nimpura Nimpura Through Yard Nimpura Goods Yard Girimaidan Hijli Kharagpur-Puri line 0 Kharagpur NH 60 7 Jakpur 13 Madpur 19 Shyam Chak 24 Balichak 27 Duan 30 Radhamohanpur 35 Haur 39 Khirai km Kangsabati River 44 Panskura Raghunathbari 20 to Ghatal (planned) Rajgoda 28 48 Narayan Pakuria Murail Saheed Matangini 33 51 Bhogpur Tamluk 36 00 54 Nandaigajan Nandakumar 10 57 Mecheda Nandakumar-Balaipanda new line (planned) 43 Keshabpur Chak Simulia 49 Satish Samanta Halt Bargoda 51 Mahishadal Moyna 60 Barda Balaipanda 66 Basulya Sutahata NH 41 Haldia Energy Power Station Haldi River 71 Durgachak Lavan Satyagrah Smarak 21 HPCL Siding Deshapran 33 Indorama Checmicals Siding Deshapran-Kendamari new line (planned) Gholpukur 74 Durgachak Town New Krishnanagar 77 Silpaprabesh Hampigram Haldia Industrial Belt Nandigram Kendamari Henria 39 Haldia Dock Complex Nachinda 52 Kanthi 63 79 Bandar ICF Haldia Sitalpur 69 81 Haldia Sujalpur 71 Ashapurna Devi 76 Kolaghat Thermal Power Station Badalpur 78 60 Kolaghat Kanthi-Egra new line (planned) Rupnarayan River Raipur 64 Deulti Satmile 67 Ghoraghata Paschimbatya 70 Bagnan Balighai Bagnan–Amta line (planned) Egra Damodar River Bhatda 78 Kulgachia Dubda 79 Bir Shibpur Paniparul Road Pujali–Uluberia line (planned) Depal 83 Uluberia Champa River 85 Phuleswar Ramnagar (Bengal) 86 88 Chengel Egra-Digha new line (planned) Fort Gloster Jute Mill Tikra 88 91 Bauria Digha–Jaleswar line (planned) 95 Nalpur Digha 94 Ambuja Cement 97 Abada Sankrail Goods yard 99 Sankrail Delta Jute Mill 103 Andul 105 Mourigram Santragachi–Amta branch line Hindustan Industries and Engineering 108 Santragachi Padmapukur NH 12 (Kona Expressway) Guest Keen Williams 109 Ramrajatala 111 Dasnagar Shalimar │ Shalimar rail yard 112 Tikiapara Howrah–Bardhaman main line & Howrah–Bardhaman chord 115 Howrah km

Sources: [22] [23] [24] [25]

Contai I CD Block has 32 originating/ terminating bus routes. ^[16]

Sitalpur and Sujalpur railway station are situated on the Tamluk-Digha line, constructed in 2003-04. ^{[26] [27]}

SH 4 connecting Jhalda (in Purulia district) and Digha (in Purba Medinipur district) passes through this block. ^[28]

Education

In 2013–14, Contai I CD Block had 135 primary schools with 7,246 students, 19 middle schools with 1,216 students, 11 high schools with 3,305 students and 12 higher secondary schools with 17,924 students. Contai I CD Block had 1 technical/ professional institution with 100 students and 282 institutions for special and non-formal education with 10,046 students. ^[16]

As per the 2011 census, in Contai I CD block, amongst the 221 inhabited villages, 48 villages did not have a school, 31 villages had two or more primary schools, 41 villages had at least 1 primary and 1 middle school and 25 villages had at least 1 middle and 1 secondary school. ^[29]

Healthcare

In 2014, Contai I CD Block had 1 block primary health centre and 2 primary health centres with total 25 beds and 7 doctors (excluding private bodies). It had 27 family welfare sub centres. 2,163 patients were treated indoor and 96,446 patients were treated outdoor in the hospitals, health centres and subcentres of the CD Block. ^[16]

Majna Block Primary Health Centre at Majna (with 15 beds) is the main medical facility in Contai I CD block. There are primary health centres at Kulberia (with 6 beds) and Nayaput (with 10 beds). ^[30]

References

1. "Brief Industrial Profile of Purba Midnapur District" (PDF). Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Industries, Government of India. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
2. "Mapping Dynamics of land utilization and its changing Patterns of Purba Medinipure District - W.B" . Retrieved 29 June 2016.
3. "District Human Development Report: Purba Medinipur" (PDF). Chapter I Introduction. Development and Planning Department, Government of West Bengal, 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
4. "District Statistical Handbook". Tables 2.1, 2.2. Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of West Bengal. Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
5. "District Census Handbook: Purba Medinipur" (PDF). Map of Purba Medinipur with CD Block HQs and Police Stations. Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal, 2011. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
6. "Directory of District, Subdivision, Panchayat Samiti/ Block and Gram Panchayats in West Bengal". Purba Medinipur - Revised in March 2008. Panchayats and Rural Development Department, Government of West Bengal. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
7. "C.D. Block Wise Primary Census Abstract Data(PCA)". 2011 census: West Bengal – District-wise CD Blocks. Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
8. "Provisional population totals, West Bengal, Table 4, (erstwhile) Medinipur District". Census of India 2001. Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
9. "Provisional Population Totals, West Bengal. Table 4". Census of India 2001. Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
10. "Purba Medinipur (East Midnapore) District: Census 2011 data". 2016 Digital Trends. Census Population 2015 Data. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
11. "Districts of West Bengal". High Literacy. Census Population 2015 Data. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
12. "Table C-01 Population by Religion: West Bengal". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
13. "Table C01 Population by Religious Community: West Bengal". Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2001.
14. "Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: West Bengal". www.censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
15. "District Human Development Report: Purba Medinipur" (PDF). May 2011. Pages: 2214-215. Development & Planning Department, Government of West Bengal. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 February 2017. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
16. "District Statistical Handbook 2014 Purba Medinipur". Tables 2.7, 2.1, 8.2, 16.1, 17.2, 18.1, 18.2, 18.3, 20.1, 21.2, 4.4, 3.1, 3.3 – arranged as per use. Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of West Bengal. Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
17. "District Census Handbook Purba Medinipur, Census of India 2011, Series 20, Part XII A" (PDF). Page 93 Table 36: Distribution of villages according to availability of different amenities, 2011. Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
18. "District Human Development Report: Purba Medinipur" (PDF). May 2011. Pages: 26, 30-33, 37, 61-63, 89-94. Development & Planning Department, Government of West Bengal. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 February 2017. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
19. "District Human Development Report: South 24 Parganas". (1) Chapter 1.2, South 24 Parganas in Historical Perspective, pages 7-9 (2) Chapter 3.4, Land reforms, pages 32-33. Development & Planning Department, Government of West Bengal, 2009. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
20. "Backward Regions Grant Funds: Programme Guidelines" (PDF). Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 October 2017. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
21. "Backward Regions Grant Fund". Press Release, 14 June 2012. Press Information Bureau, Government of India. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
22. Google Maps
23. Kharagpur-Howrah Local 38606 Indiarailinfo
24. Howrah-Haldia Local 68689 ⇒ 38089 Indiarailinfo
25. Santragachi-Digha EMU 78001 ⇒ 68687 Indiarailinfo
26. "68689 Santragachi-Digha EMU". Time Table. indiarailinfo. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
27. "Year of construction of important BG lines" (PDF). History. South Eastern Railway. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
28. "List of State Highways in West Bengal". West Bengal Traffic Police. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
29. "District Census Handbook, Purba Mednipur, 2011, Series 20, Part XII A" (PDF). Page 1091-92, 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 30 March 2019.
30. "Health & Family Welfare Department". Health Statistics. Government of West Bengal. Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2019.

External links

Junput travel guide from Wikivoyage