Falta (community development block)

The Falta CD block is located at . It has an average elevation of . The Falta CD block is bounded by the Budge Budge II and Bishnupur II CD blocks in the north, the Magrahat I CD block in the east, the Diamond Harbour I and Diamond Harbour II CD blocks in the south, the Shyampur I CD block in the Howrah district across the Hooghly, in the west. The 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 been depositing sediments in this plain. The periodical collapse of both the natural levees and man-made embankments speed up the process of filling up of the 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. The Falta CD block has an area of 130.68 km2. It has 1 panchayat samity, 13 gram panchayats, 186 gram sansads (village councils), 133 mouzas and 129 inhabited villages, as per the District Statistical Handbook, South Twenty-four Parganas. Falta police station serves this CD Block. Headquarters of this CD block is at Harindanga. Gram panchayats of Falta CD block/panchayat samiti are: Banganagar-I, Banganagar-II, Belsingha-I, Belsingha-II, Chaluari, Debipur, Falta, Fatepur, Gopalpur, Harindanga-I, Harindanga-II, Mallikpur and Noyapukuria. ==Demographics==

Population According to the 2011 Census of India, the Falta CD Block had a total population of 249,561, of which 226,162 were rural and 23,399 were urban. There were 127,665 (51%) males and 121,896 (49%) females. There were 28,715 persons in the age range of 0 to 6 years. The Scheduled Castes numbered 60,276 (24.15%) and the Scheduled Tribes numbered 87 (0.03%). According to the 2001 Census of India, the Falta CD block had a total population of 221,589, out of which 114,207 were males and 107,382 were females. The Falta CD block registered a population growth of 11.64 per cent during the 1991-2001 decade. Decadal growth for the South 24 Parganas district was 20.89 per cent. Decadal growth in West Bengal was 17.84 per cent. The Scheduled Castes at 56,817 formed around one-fourth the population. The Scheduled Tribes numbered 1,623. Census Towns in the Falta CD block (2011 census figures in brackets): Hasimnagar (5,267), Baneshwarpur (4,741), Chandpala Anantapathpur (5,286) and Fatepur (8,105). Literacy in West Bengal was 77.08% in 2011. Literacy in India in 2011 was 74.04%. Religion In the 2011 Census of India, Hindus numbered 168,873 and formed 66.15% of the population in the Falta CD block. Muslims numbered 87,352 and formed 33.10% of the population. Others numbered 336 and formed 0.13% of the population. In 2001, Hindus and Muslims were 68.12% and 31.80% of the population respectively. The proportion of Hindus in the South Twenty-four Parganas district has declined from 76.0% in 1961 to 63.2% in 2011. The proportion of Muslims in the South Twenty-four Parganas district has increased from 23.4% to 35.6% during the same period. Christians formed 0.8% in 2011. ==Rural poverty==

According to the Human Development Report for the South 24 Parganas district, published in 2009, in the Falta CD block the percentage of households below poverty line was 21.56%, a moderate level of poverty. In the north-east and mid central portion of the district, all CD blocks, with the exception of the Kulpi CD block, had poverty rates below 30%. As per rural household survey in 2005, the proportion of households in the 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 the thirteen CD blocks registering poverty ratios above 30% and eight CD blocks had more than 40% of the population in the BPL category. ==Economy==

Livelihood {{Pie chart In the Falta CD block in 2011, among the class of total workers, cultivators numbered 8,048 and formed 9.08%, agricultural labourers numbered 24,712 and formed 27.89%, household industry workers numbered 7,578 and formed 8.55% and other workers numbered 48,272 and formed 54.48%. Total workers numbered 88,608 and formed 35.51% of the total population, and non-workers numbered 160,953 and formed 64.49% of the population. The District Human Development Report points out that in the blocks of the 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. 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. Infrastructure There are 129 inhabited villages in the Falta CD block, as per the District Census Handbook, South Twenty-four Parganas, 2011. 100% villages have power supply. 128 villages (99.22%) have drinking water supply. 22 villages (17.05%) have post offices. 129 villages (100%) have telephones (including landlines, public call offices and mobile phones). 31 villages (24.03%) have pucca (paved) approach roads and 44 villages (34.11%) have transport communication (includes bus service, rail facility and navigable waterways). 2 villages (1.55%) have agricultural credit societies and 7 villages (5.43%) have banks. Agriculture The 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 the Falta CD block 742.19 acres of land was acquired and vested. Out of this 395.71 acres or 53.82% of the vested land was distributed. The total number of patta (document) holders was 2,256. According to the District Human Development Report, agriculture is an important source of livelihood in the 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. According to 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. In 2013–14, there were 54 fertiliser depots, 29 seed stores and 43 fair price shops in the Falta CD block. In 2013–14, the Falta CD block produced 1,532 tonnes of Aman paddy, the main winter crop, from 1,342 hectares, 13,930 tonnes of Boro paddy (spring crop) from 3,852 hectares. It also produced pulses. Pisciculture In the Falta CD block, in 2013–14, net area under effective pisciculture was 680 hectares, engaging 6,511 persons in the profession, and with an approximate annual production of 106,472 quintals. Banking In 2013–14, the Falta CD block had offices of 5 commercial banks and 3 gramin banks. ==Transport==

The Falta CD block has 2 ferry services, 9 originating/ terminating bus routes. The nearest railway station is 20 km from the block headquarters. ==Education==

In 2013–14, the Falta CD block had 148 primary schools with 11,264 students, 3 middle schools with 263 students, 19 high schools with 7,411 students and 14 higher secondary schools with 9,895 students. The Falta CD block had 1 general degree college with 895 students and 358 institutions for special and non-formal education with 15,139 students. • Sadhan Chandra Mahavidyalaya was established at Harindanga in 2007. • L.J.D. College was established at Punya, PO Saharahat, in 2015. ==Healthcare==

In 2014, the Falta CD block had 1 block primary health centre, 1 primary health centre and 15 private nursing homes with total 104 beds and 23 doctors (excluding private bodies). It had 30 family welfare subcentres. 2,132 patients were treated indoor and 95,472 patients were treated outdoor in the hospitals, health centres and subcentres of the CD block. Falta Block Primary Health Centre at Falta, with 10 beds, is the major government medical facility in the Falta CD block. There is a primary health centre at Dholtikuri (PO Charberia) (with 6 beds). ==References==