Hirbandh (community development block)

From around the 7th century AD till around the advent of British rule, for around a millennium, history of Bankura district is identical with the rise and fall of the Hindu Rajas of Bishnupur. The Bishnupur Rajas, who were at the summit of their fortunes towards the end of the 17th century, started declining in the first half of the 18th century. First, the Maharaja of Burdwan seized the Fatehpur Mahal, and then the Maratha invasions laid waste their country.[1]

Bishnupur was ceded to the British with the rest of Burdwan chakla in 1760. In 1787, Bishnupur was united with Birbhum to form a separate administrative unit. In 1793 it was transferred to the Burdwan collectorate. In 1879, the district acquired its present shape with the thanas of Khatra and Raipur and the outpost of Simplapal being transferred from Manbhum, and the thanas of Sonamukhi, Kotulpur and Indas being retransferred from Burdwan. However, it was known for sometime as West Burdwan and in 1881 came to be known as Bankura district.[1]

According to the 2011 Census of India Hirbandh CD block had a total population of 83,834, all of which were rural. There were 42,917 (51%) males and 40,917 (49%) females. Population in the age range of 0 to 6 years was 9,977. Scheduled Castes numbered 22,827 (27.23%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 23,806 (28.40%).[8]

According to the 2001 census, Hirbandh community development block had a total population of 72,499 of which 37,230 were males and 35,269 were females. Decadal growth for the period 1991-2001 was 16.53% for Hirdih, against 13.79% in Bankura district.[9] Decadal growth in West Bengal was 17.84%.[10]

Villages in Hirbandh CD block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Hirbandh (1,733), Baharamuri (2,401), Malian (2,457), Gopalpur (999) and Mosiara (2,559).[8]

According to the 2011 census, the total number of literates in Hirbandh CD block was 47,399 (64.18% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 29,446 (77.80% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 17,953 (49.86%) of the female population over 6 years). The gender disparity (the difference between female and male literacy rates) was 27.94%.[8]

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

According to the District Census Handbook 2011, Bankura, as of 2001, Bengali was the mother-tongue of 89.9% of the population, followed by Santali (8.1%), Kurmali Thar (1.1%), Hindi (0.5%) and Telugu (0.1%).[11]

There is a tribal presence in many of the CD blocks of the district. Santali is spoken by around 10% of the population in the district. Some people also speak Mundari.[12]

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.[13][14][15][16]

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.[17][18]However, as of 2020, there is no official / other reliable information about the areas covered.

In the 2011 census Hindus numbered 67,889 and formed 80.98% of the population in Hirbandh CD Block. Muslims numbered 1,945 and formed 2.32% of the population. Christians numbered 3 and formed 0.004% of the population. Others numbered 13,997 and formed 16.70% of the population.[19] Others include Addi Bassi, Marang Boro, Santal, Saranath, Sari Dharma, Sarna, Alchchi, Bidin, Sant, Saevdharm, Seran, Saran, Sarin, Kheria,[20] and other religious communities.[19]

In the Hirbandh CD block in 2011, among the class of total workers, cultivators numbered 5,979 and formed 15.96%, agricultural labourers numbered 23,479and formed 62.66%, household industry workers numbered 1,000 and formed 2.67% and other workers numbered 5,801 and formed 23.96%.[23]Total workers numbered 37,470 and formed 44.70% of the total population, and non-workers numbered 46,364 and formed 55.30% of the population.[24]

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.[25]

There are 116 inhabited villages in the Hirbandh CD block, as per the District Census Handbook, Bankura, 2011. 100% villages have power supply. 100% villages have drinking water supply. 17 villages (14.66%) have post offices. 108 villages (93.10%) have telephones (including landlines, public call offices and mobile phones). 41 villages (35.34%) have pucca (paved) approach roads and 33 villages (28.45%) have transport communication (includes bus service, rail facility and navigable waterways). 4 villages (3.45%) have agricultural credit societies and 6 villages (5.17%) have banks.[26]

There were 33 fertiliser depots, 6 seed stores and 40 fair price shops in the Hirbandh CD block.[27]

In 2013-14, persons engaged in agriculture in Hirbandh CD block could be classified as follows: bargadars 1.34%, patta (document) holders 10.28%, small farmers (possessing land between 1 and 2 hectares) 7.12%, marginal farmers (possessing land up to 1 hectare) 23.81% and agricultural labourers 57.45%.[27]

In 2003-04 net area sown in Hirbandh CD block was 11,062 hectares and the area in which more than one crop was grown was 2,561 hectares.[28]

In 2013-14, the total area irrigated in Hirbandh CD block was 3,209 hectares, out of which 929 hectares was by canal water, 1,050 hectares by tank water, 940 hectares by river lift irrigation, 70 hectares by open dug wells and 220 hectares by other methods.[27]

In 2013-14, Hirbandh CD block produced 19,285 tonnes of Aman paddy, the main winter crop, from 7,829 hectares, 107 tonnes of wheat from 50 hectares and 1,431 tonnes of potatoes from 53 hectares. It also produced pulses and mustard.[27]

The handloom industry engages the largest number of persons in the non farm sector and hence is important in Bankura district. The handloom industry is well established in all the CD blocks of the district and includes the famous Baluchari saris. In 2004-05 Hirbandh CD block had 407 looms in operation.[29]

Bankura district is famous for the artistic excellence of its pottery products that include the famous Bankura horse. The range of pottery products is categorised as follows: domestic utilities, terracota and other decorative items and roofing tiles and other heavy pottery items. Around 3,200 families were involved in pottery making in the district in 2002. 95 families were involved in Hirbandh CD block.[30]

In 2013-14, Hirbandh CD block had offices of 1 commercial bank and 3 gramin banks.[27]

The Bankura 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.[31][32]