Raina I (community development block)

For disambiguation, see Raina.
Raina I
Community development block
Raina I

Location in West Bengal

Coordinates: 23°04′07″N 87°54′22″E / 23.06861°N 87.90611°E / 23.06861; 87.90611
Country  India
State West Bengal
District Bardhaman
Parliamentary constituency Bardhaman Purba
Assembly constituency Raina, Jamalpur
Area
 • Total 102.87 sq mi (266.44 km2)
Population (2001)
 • Total 162,921
 • Density 1,580/sq mi (611/km2)
Time zone IST (UTC+5.30)
Literacy Rate 74.69 per cent
Website http://bardhaman.gov.in/

Raina I (community development block) (also spelled Rayna and called Rainagar) (Bengali: রায়না I সমষ্টি উন্নয়ন ব্লক) is an administrative division in Bardhaman Sadar South subdivision of Bardhaman district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Raina and Madhabdihi police stations serve this block. Headquarters of this block is at Shyamsundar.[1][2]

Geography

Raina is located at 23°04′07″N 87°54′22″E / 23.0685°N 87.9062°E / 23.0685; 87.9062.

Raina I community development block has an area of 266.44  km2.[2]

Unlike the rest of Bardhaman district, which lies to the north of the Damodar River, the Khandaghosh-Jamalpur-Raina area lies on the alluvial plains between the Damodar on its southern/ eastern side and the Dwarakeswar River. As a result, it has been a flood prone area.[3]

It is from this area that the Mundeswari River originates.[4] The small Ratnela khal also originates in the region and later flows into the Ghia river in Hooghly district.[5]

Gram panchayats

Gram panchayats of Raina I block/panchayat samiti are: Hijalna, Mugura, Narugram, Natu, Palasan, Raina, Sehara and Shyamsundar.[6]

History

Administrative set up

Subsequent to Lord Cornwallis’ Permanent Settlement, parganas of the earlier period were converted into ‘thanas’ or police stations. As early as 1860, there is mention of Jahanabad (subsequently renamed Arambag), Kotulpur, Goghat and Raina police stations in Jahanabad subdivision. In Peterson’s District Gazeteer of 1910 there is mention of Raina and other police stations in Bardhaman subdivision.[7]

In 1968-69, Raina and other blocks were created.[8]

Movements

In 1933, independence activist Dasarathi Tah was involved in Swadeshi dacoities in Meral, Mirzapur and Bogra in the area.[9] Damodar floods wrought havoc in the area and Dasarathi Tah initiated the ‘Nakrah hana embankment movement’ and even published a weekly newspaper named Damodar to focus on the problems faced by the people.[10] In 1948, Raina witnessed the ‘Tebhaga movement’, where sharecroppers demanded a higher share of the crops they grew. The movement was led by Benoy Choudhury and Bipadtaran Roy.[11]

Demographics

As per 2001 census, Raina I block had a total population of 162,921, out of which 83,633 were males and 79,288 were females. Raina I block registered a population growth of 13.71 per cent during the 1991-2001 decade. Decadal growth for Bardhaman district was 14.36 per cent.[2] Decadal growth in West Bengal was 17.84 per cent.[12]

Scheduled castes at 54,462 formed around one-third the population. Scheduled tribes numbered 9,808.[13]

Literacy

As per 2001 census, Raina I block had a total literacy of 74.69 per cent for the 6+ age group. While male literacy was 83.01 per cent female literacy was 65.88 per cent. Bardhaman district had a total literacy of 70.18 per cent, male literacy being 78.63 per cent and female literacy being 60.95 per cent.[14]

Education

The Raina area has not lagged behind in education. In 1838, a survey by Adams revealed that there were 190 Sanskrit tols in Bardhaman district. Out of this 13 were in Raina. The same report also mentioned Persian schools in the area.[15] In 1947, at the time of independence there were only three colleges in Bardhaman district – at Bardhaman, Kalna and Asansol. Shyamsundar College at Raina was established in 1948.[16]

Transport

Bankura Damodar Railway was planned to be revived by the NDA government. The plans were to convert the old track to a broad gauge one and connect it with the Howrah-Bardhaman Chord near Masagram. The work was scheduled to be completed in three phases:Bankura-Sonamukhi, Sonamukhi-Rainagar, and Rainagar-Masagram.[17]

The 41 kilometres (25 mi) long Bankura-Sonamukhi broad gauge section was completed and opened to the public in 2005.[18] The 55 kilometres (34 mi) long Sonamukhi-Rainagar broad gauge section was completed and opened to the public in 2008[17] and one stop extension to Mathnasipur was completed in 2011.[19] According to Indian Railways, the missing link between Mathnasipur and Masagram is planned to open in the financial year 2012-2013.

References

  1. ↑ "Contact details of Block Development Officers". Burdwan district. West Bengal Government. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
  2. 1 2 3 "Provisional population totals, West Bengal, Table 4, Barddhaman District". Census of India 2001. Census Commission of India. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
  3. ↑ Chattopadhyay, Akkori, Bardhaman Jelar Itihas O Lok Sanskriti (History and Folk lore of Bardhaman District.), (Bengali), Vol I, pp.15-18, Radical Impression. ISBN 81-85459-36-3
  4. ↑ Chattopadhyay, Akkori, p. 33
  5. ↑ Chattopadhyay, Akkori, p. 36
  6. ↑ "No. 229 (Sanction)-PN/P/II/1G-5/2005(Pt.II) dated 02.02.09". Allotment No. 5 for five districts – Cooch Behar, Burdwan, Uttar Dinajpur, Hooghly and Bankura. Government of West Bengal - Department of Panchayats & Rural Development. Retrieved 2011-08-26.
  7. ↑ Chattopadhyay, Akkori, p. 369
  8. ↑ Chattopadhyay, Akkori, p. 388
  9. ↑ Chattopadhyay, Akkori, p. 445
  10. ↑ Chattopadhyay, Akkori, p. 478
  11. ↑ Chattopadhyay, Akkori, p. 485
  12. ↑ "Provisional Population Totals, West Bengal. Table 4". Census of India 2001. Census Commission of India. Retrieved 2011-08-26.
  13. ↑ "TRU for all Districts (SC & ST and Total)". Census 2001. Census Commission of India. Retrieved 2008-08-26.
  14. ↑ "Provisional population totals, West Bengal, Table 5, Bardhaman District". Census of India 2001. Census Commission of India. Retrieved 2011-08-26.
  15. ↑ Chattopadhyay, Akkori, p. 547
  16. ↑ Chattopadhyay, Akkori, pp560-561
  17. 1 2 "Bankura Damodar Rail to roll again from 14th Jan". Retrieved 2009-08-22.
  18. ↑ "S-E Rly opens new line". The Hindu Business Line, 21 September 2005. Retrieved 2009-08-22.
  19. ↑ "Before swearing-in, Didi's rail sops on track". Business Standard, 18 May 2011. Retrieved 2012-03-19.
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