Sutahata (community development block)

Sutahata was initially a market place for the sale of handloom products. ==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. Sutahata is located at . Sutahata CD Block is bounded by Diamond Harbour II CD Block, in South 24 Parganas district across the Hooghly, in the north, Diamond Harbour I CD Block, in South 24 Parganas district across the Hooghly, in the east, Haldia CD Block in the south and Mahishadal CD Block in the west. Sutahata CD Block has an area of 79.54 km2. It has 1 panchayat samity, 6 gram panchayats, 89 gram sansads (village councils), 81 mouzas and 78 inhabited villages. Sutahata police station serves this block. Headquarters of this CD Block is at Sutahata. Gram panchayats of Sutahata block/ panchayat samiti are: Ashadtalia, Chaitanyapur, Deulpota, Guaberia, Horekhali, Joynagar and Kukrahati. ==Demographics==

Population As per 2011 Census of India Sutahata CD Block had a total population of 123,784, of which 118,629 were rural and 5,155 were urban. There were 63,509 (51%) males and 60,275 (49%) females. Population below 6 years was 15,227. Scheduled Castes numbered 37,826 (30.56%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 47 (0.04%). As per 2001 census, Sutahata block had a total population of 106,301, out of which 54,548 were males and 51,753 were females. Sutahata block registered a population growth of 7.30 per cent during the 1991-2001 decade. Decadal growth for the combined Midnapore district was 14.87 per cent. Decadal growth in West Bengal was 17.84 per cent. Census Town in Sutahata CD Block (2011 census figure in brackets): Barda (5,155). Purba Medinipur had the highest literacy amongst all the districts of West Bengal in 2011. See also – List of West Bengal districts ranked by literacy rate Language and religion In 2011 census Hindus numbered 89,193 and formed 72.05% of the population in Sutahata CD Block. Muslims numbered 34,386 and formed 27.78% of the population. Others numbered 205 and formed 0.17% of the population. In 2001, Hindus made up 74.10% and Muslims 25.83% of the population respectively. Bengali is the predominant language, spoken by 99.94% of the population. ==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. Sutahata CD Block registered 29.72 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. ==Economy==

Livelihood In Sutahata CD Block in 2011, total workers formed 32.43% of the total population and amongst the class of total workers, cultivators formed 8.21%, agricultural labourers 40.76%, household industry workers 2.95% and other workers 48.08%. Infrastructure There are 78 inhabited villages in Sutahata CD block. All 78 villages (100%) have power supply. All 78 villages (100%) have drinking water supply. 16 villages (20.51%) have post offices. All 78 villages (100%) have telephones (including landlines, public call offices and mobile phones). 15 villages (19.23%) have a pucca (paved) approach road and 18 villages (23.08%) have transport communication (includes bus service, rail facility and navigable waterways). 9 villages (11.54%) have agricultural credit societies. 8 villages (10.26%) have banks. In 2007–08, around 40% of rural households in the district had electricity. In 2013–14, there were 24 fertiliser depots, 10 seed stores and 18 fair price shops in the CD Block. 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. Following land reforms land ownership pattern has undergone transformation. In 2013–14, persons engaged in agriculture in Sutahata CD Block could be classified as follows: bargadars 9.41%, patta (document) holders 9.57%, small farmers (possessing land between 1 and 2 hectares) 4.10%, marginal farmers (possessing land up to 1 hectare) 29.47% and agricultural labourers 47.45%. ==Transport==

Sutahata CD Block has 3 ferry services and 15 originating/ terminating bus routes. Barda and Basuliyasutahata are stations on the Panskura-Haldia line. The line was constructed in 1968 and was electrified in 1974–76. ==Education==

In 2013–14, Sutahata CD Block had 80 primary schools with 4,241 students, 5 middle schools with 430 students, 8 high schools with 5,406 students and 13 higher secondary schools with 15,297 students. Sutahata CD Block had 1 general college with 2,198 students, 4 technical/ professional institutes with 322 students and 221 institutions for special and non-formal education with 6,935 students. Vivekananda Mission Mahavidyalaya at PO Chaitanyapur, on the Haldia-Kukrahati Road, was established in 1968. It offers courses in arts, science and commerce. ==Healthcare==

In 2014, Sutahata CD Block had 1 block primary health centre, 3 primary health centres and 2 private nursing homes with total 115 beds and 6 doctors (excluding private bodies). It had 20 family welfare sub centres. 598 patients were treated indoor and 154,662 patients were treated outdoor in the hospitals, health centres and subcentres of the CD Block. ==References==