CgHAPTER^2>

KEONJHAR DISTRICT AT A GLANCE

1. Administrative set-up

2. Population and Literacy

3. Transportation

4. Minerals and Industries

5. Forest

6. Post and Telegraph

7. Medical and Health facilities

8. Industry

9. Land utilisation pattern

10. Education

11. Banking facilities

12. Co-operative facilities in Keonjhar district

13. Occupational structure

14. Sample Villages

•kirk
 Chapter-2

‘Keonjhar District at a glance’

The district extends over an area of 8303 sq. Km constituting 5.33

percent of the total land area of the state. It lies between 21.11’- N

and 22.10 latitudes and 85.11’ and 86.22’ east longitudes. It’s
boundaries extend in the north to Singhbhum district of Bihar, in
the south Cuttack district, in the west to Dhenkanal district and

Sundargarh district. The district is physiographically divided into

two dissimilar natural regions approximately bisected by the state

highway from Jajpur Road of Jajpur district of Orissa to Chaibasa
of Bihar passing through the district head quarter Keonjhargarh.

The national highway no.-6 passes through the district and connects

it with Sambalpur of Orissa and M.P in west and Mayurbhanja of

Orissa and Bihar in the north east. In respect of railway

communication the district is extremely poor. The Bansapani-
Jakhapura railway line is under construction. There is complete
absence of railway line to carry on passengers. The thrust of

transport is borne by roads and the entire district is well connected

with the surrounding areas through the network of road transport.

The district is very rich in forest resources . 48.98 percent of the

areas of the district is covered by forest with important commercial

trees like Sal, Asan and Piasal.The forest product like timber, tasar,

lac, tamarind, cocoons, honey, mohul flower are important source

of livelihood to the tribal people of the district. Kendu leaf is an

 <s>
important forest product Having significant contribution to the district
revenue. The hill ranges of the district have some of the highest

peaks of Orissa, namely Gandhamardan (1060 mt.) Mankarnacha

(1110 mt.) Thakurani (916 mt.) and Gonasika (902 mt.).

From the physiographic point of view the district is divided

into four regions namely the hilly region of the west, the plateau

area of the east, the lower plains of Anandapur sub-division and

the Brahamani valley area of Telkoi block on the south west. The

plain area of the.district in the east comprising Anandapur sub­

division has good black soil and water potentiality for agriculture.

Keonjhar experiences an extreme climate with an oppressive

hot summer, high humidity in monsoon and post monsoon months,

and cold weather in winter. The summer season in the district

spreads from march to may and may is the hottest month of the
year with daily temperature fluctuating between 41 °C (105.8° F) to

26° C (78.8° F). The monsoon season in the district spreads from

June to August. The month with highest rainfall is August. The

annual rainfall in the district varies from 51.18° to 64.41°. The post
monsoon period of October and November has cool normal
temperature. Winter is experienced in the district for a period of

three months from November to January. December is the coldest

month of the year, the temperature sometimes drops to as low as 7°C.

Keonjhar was formerly one of the feudatory states of Orissa

under the eastern states agency administered by a ruling chief.
On the abolition of eastern states agency, it merged with Orissa

as one of its’ district in Jan. 1948. in 1949 there was a minor

readjustment of the district boundary consequent upon exchanges

of area between Keonjhar and the districts of Balasore and Cuttack.

The total population of India as per 2001 census is

1027015247. The population of Orissa is 36706920 constituting

3.57 percent of the total population of India. Out of total population

of 36706920 in Orissa 18612340 males (50.7 percent) and

18094580 females(49.2 percent) with a population density (per sq.

km) 236. The sex ratio (females per 1000 males) is 972 as per the
2001 census. The literacy rate (excluding 0-6 population) in Orissa

63.61 in which male literacy is 75.95 percent and female literacy is

50.97 percent.

The population of Orissa has grown steadily during the last

century except a decrease during the decade 1911-1921. The

growth rate has been remarkably higher after 1951 census. But

however during the current decade a decreasing trend in the rate

of growth of population is noticed. The growth rate has come down
from 20.06 percent to 15.94 percent in 2001 census through the

growth of population in absolute term is 5047184.

The total population of Keonjhar district is 1561521

constituting 4.25 percent of the total population of Orissa,

occupying eighth position in the state on the basis of population.

During the decade 1991-2001 the district has registered a growth

of 16.79 percent less than the growth of 19.95 percent in 1981-

1991. During the decade the district has not changed its rank in

terms of population. In 1991 census the total population of the

district was 1337026 constituting 4.22 percent of the population of

 <E>
the state occupied the eighth position and in 2001 the total population
of the district is 1561521 constituting 4.25 percent of the population of
state occupying the same eighth rank in the state.

The total geographical area of the state as per the 2001

census is 155.707 sq km. The total geographical area of Keonjhar

district is 8,303 sq km. constituting 5.33 percent of the total area
of the state. The district occupies the fourth position in the state in

terms of area under possession and eighth position interms of

population it endowed.

The density of population (per sq. k.m) of Orissa was 113

persons in 1961 which increased to 141 during 1971 and further

increased to 169 during 1981. According to 1991 census density of

population was 203 which has increased to 236 in 2001 census. The

density of population for the country as a whole is 324 during 2001.

As per 2001 census the density of population in Keonjhar

district is 188 per sq. km which was 161 in 1991. The district
occupies the nineteenth position in the state in ranking of districts

by population density.

Sex ratio is one of the most important demographic indicators

for studying the population trend. The number of females per 1000

males is called the sex ratio for the purpose of census. The sex
ratio of Orissa was in favour of females upto 1961. However a
trend of persistent decline in the number of females is recorded
since the year 1921. The figure of females per thousand males in
1921 was 1086 which reduced to 1067 during 1931, 1053 during
1941, 1022 during 1951 and 1001 in 1961. From 1971 the number

of males surpassed the females having 988 per 1000 males. The
sex ratio for the state was further reduced to 981 in 1981, 971 in
1991. During the current census of 2001 the sex ratio has shown a
bit improvement having 972 females per 1000 males which is higher

than the all India sex ratio of 933 females per 1000 males.

The sex ratio ( number of females per 1000 males ) in

Keonjhar district was 974 in 1991 census and it is 977 in 2001

census. The district occupies the 20th position in ranking of districts

by sex ratio.

Literary is one of the important characteristics for

demographic analysis . A person is deemed as literate if he/she

can read and write in understanding in any language . A person

who can merely read but can not write is not a literate . In 2001

census literacy rate have been calculated by excluding the

population of the age group ( 0-6 ) from the total population. In

other words the term literacy rate relates to population aged 7 years
and above.

From 1981 on words an upward trend have been noticed in

the literacy rate in Orissa. During 1991-2001 the overall literacy

rate has gone up from 49.09 percent to 63.61 percent while male
literacy rate increased from 63.09 to 75.95 percent and female
literacy rate improved from 34.68 percent to 50.97 percent. The all
India literacy rate is 65.38 percent during 2001 is higher than that

of the state of Orissa.

 The literacy rate in Keonjhar district during 2001 census is
59.75 percent which is higher than the literacy rate of 44.73 percent
in 1991 census . The male literacy rate in Keonjhar district during
2001 census is 72.53 percent which is higher than the male literacy

of 59.04 percent in 1991 census. Similarly the female literacy is

46.71 percent during 2001 census higher than female literacy of

30.01 percent in 1991 census. The detail analysis of literacy rate

is given in the following table .

Table - 2.1
Population in the age group (0-6) Number of literates
and literacy rate in KJR district.

SI. No. Item Person Male Female

1 2 3 4 5

1. Total Population 1561521 789826 771695

2. Population in 237224 120870 116354

ageGroup(0-6)

3. No. of literates* 791306 485224 306082

'fc'fc
4. Literacy rate 59.75 72.53 46.71

Note * Literates exclude children in the age group (0-6) years who were

by definition treated as literate in the census of India 2001.

Literacy rate is the percentage of literates to population aged 7
years and above.
 Sometimes the Keonjhar district is affected by storms
originating in the Bay of Bengal which passes into the area after

crossing the coastal tracts.

The river Baitarani is the only major river of the district though
there are some branch rivers like Kusei.Kalimati, Musal and Muhan
flowing inside the district and connects river Baitarani. The river
Baitarani emerges from the Guptaganga pahar of the central hill

ranges. In the beginning it flows from south to north for a distance

of about 80 km till it reaches the northern boarder of the district

near Champua. It flows from there along the boarder for some
distance and then turns south. Thereafter it flows from the north

west to the south east till it leaves the district through Anandapur

sub-division.

Soil - The highlands of the district consist of loose stones and

boulders while the plains consist mainly of rich alluvial soil. The
soil for most part is red, formed by decomposition of the hard
sedimentary and intrusive rocks. There is also a small patch of
black cotton soil in the south.

Administrative set up -

For smooth administration, the district is divided into three sub­

divisions, eight tahasils, thirteen C.D. blocks and twenty police stations.
The district possess seven towns, three municipalities and one
N.A.C..The whole district is divided into 244 Grama-panchayatas with
six assembly constituencies and 2125 villages out of which 2067

inhabited and 58 uninhabited villages. The detail administrative set

up of the district is presented in the following table.

 Table -2.2

Administrative set up of Keonjhar district

SINo. Sub-division Tahasil Block No. of No. of No. of.

G.panchyat inhabitated uninha
in Block village bitated
village

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

1. Keonjhar Keonjhar Keonjhar

sadar garh 21 226 9
Patna 19 144 6
Saharpada 18 132 4

Ghatagaon Ghatagaon 19 137 5

Haricha-
ndanpur 18 203 7

Telkoi Telkoi 17 135 8

Bansapal 19 167 5

2. Champua Champua Champua 17 143 7

Jhumpura 18 141 3

Barbil Joda 19 149 j —

3. Anandapur Anandapur Anandapur 18 129 —

Ghasipura 20 165 —

Hatadihi Hatadihi 21 196 4

Total 3 7 13 244 2067 58

Source - District statistical Handbook & report of the collector Keonjhar.

Population and literacy -

The total population of Keonjhar district as per 2001 census is

1561521 constituting 4.26 percent of the state population.

Occupying 8th position in the State in ranking of districts by

population size. The total population according to 1991 census was

1337026 constituting 4.23 percent of the state population occupuing
the 8th position in ranking of districts by population size. The detail

statement of population is given in the following table.

Table-2.3
Population Size

Year Total Male Female % of district

population
to state

1 2 3 4 5

2001 1561521 789826 771695 4.26

1991 1337026 677480 659546 4.23

Population No. of Female Population Rank

density per 100 males decadal growth
rate

6 7 8 9

188 977 16.79 8

161 974 19.95 8

Source - Census of India 2001

Transportation - The thrust of transportation in the district is borne

by the roads because of the near total absence of railway transport

facility. Only few kilometres of railway lines are laid in the district in
north-eastern part for the transport of mineral resources. The district
is well connected with the surrounding areas through the road transport

network. The national highway N0.-6 passes through the district and

connects it with Sambalpur and M.P in the west and Mayurbhanja and

Bihar in the north-east. The State highway No.-2.10 and 10 B have a

total length of 274 km in the district. Details about the length of different
categories of roads in the district are given in the following table.

Table- 2.4
Detail categories of Road in Keonjhar district.

SI No. Category of Road Length of R<

1. National Highways. 94
2. State Highways 274
3. Major District Roads 151
4. Other District Roads 189
5. Forest Roads 228
6. Grampanchyata Roads 2436
7. Classified Village Roads 483
8. P.S. Roads 1248
9. Village Roads 1191
10. Express Way 9
11. Urban Roads 538
12. Irrigation Roads 124
13. Railway Rout length 40 km 4
& Station.
Source - 1 Chief Engineer National Highways.
2. Chief Engineer RuraL Works, BBSR
3. Chief Conservator of Forest. Orissa.
4. Panchayata Raj Dept. BBSR
5. Chief Engineer R.& B.
6. Housing and Urban Development Dept. BBSR.

Minerals and Industries - Keonjhar is endowed with a vast

reservoir of mineral wealth, the most important of which are,
iron ore, Manganese, Chromite, Quartzite and lac. The district is

popular for huge amount of deposit of iron ore in places like

‘Thakurani’, Joda, Bansapani Susangada and Gandhamardhan.
Though the district is enriched with vast amount of mineral and

forest resources, there is no major large scale Industries in the

district except the Kaiinga Iron works of Barbil, the Ferro­

manganese plant of Joda and the Sponge Iron plant of Palaspanga.

Forest - Keonjhar district possesses vast amount of forest land

with valuable trees like Sal, Piasal, Asana, and Sisu. Forest is an
important source of livelihood for the tribal people of the district.

They collect honey, lac, Mahulaflower, Mango, Kendu and other

products in different season for their livelihood. The total

geographical area of the district as per the census of India 2001 is
8303 sq kms. out of which the total forest land of the district is

3097. 18 sq kms. almost 37.30 percent of the total geographical

area. The detail analysis of the different categories of forest is

given in the following table.
 Table 2.5
Classification of Forest area by legal Status
in Keonjhar district.

SI. No. Classification of Forest Area in Sq kms.

1 2 3

1. Reserve Forest 1834.09

2. Demarcated protected Forest 273.64

3. Undemarcated Forest 220.79

4. Unclassified Forest 2.26

5. Other Forest 766.40

Total 3097.18

source - C.C.F. Orissa.

Post and Telegraphs -

Keonjhar has one head Post Office which is situated in the district
headquarter in Keonjhargarh. The head Post Office controls,

regulates and supervises the work of the Sub- post offices and

Post Offices. Detail statistics of the postal facilities in Keonjhar

district is given below in the table.
 Table- 2.6

Post and Telegraph facilities in Keonjhar district.

SI. No. Items Number

1 2 3

1. Head Post Office 1

2. Sub Post Office 60

3 Branch Post Office 380

4. Total Number of Post Offices 443

5. Telegraph Offices

6. Telephone Exchanges

7. Public Call Offices

8. Number of Telephone Connections

Source - 1- Post Master General Orissa.

2. General Manager Telecommunication.

Medical & Health Facilities - Provision of health and medical

facilities are highly essential for the people to lead a happy and

prosperous life. Keonjhar district is very poor in regards to the

supply of health facilities to its population. The detail medical and

health facilities available in the district is given in the following
table.
 Table - 2.7
Medical and Health Facilities in Keonjhar District.

SI. No Items Number

1 2 3

1. District Head Qr. Hospital 1

2. Sub divisional and other hospitals 9

3. Community health centre 9

4. Primary Health centre 57

5. Mobile Health units 8

6. Beds in Hospital 502

7. Ayurvedic Hospitals 49
& Dispensaries

8. Homeopathic Hospitals 30
& Dispensaries

SourceDirector of Health, Orissa.

Livestock and Animal Husbandry -

The following table shows a picture of veterinary services provided

in the district for preservation and protection of animals.

 Table - 2.8

Details about veterinary services

SI.No. Items Number

1 2 3

1. Hospitals and Dispensaries 23

2. V.A.S. & Additional V.A.S. 26

3. Livestock Aid centre 118

4. Live stock Inspector 163

5. Artificial Insemination Centre 69

Sources - District veterinary officer, Keonjhar.

Industry-The social and economic development of an area mainly

depends upon the level of Industrial progress achieved in that

region. Development of Industry contributes to economic

development in many respect . It creates more employment

opportunities, increases income of the region and per capita income
and produces more output to check inflation. Keonjhar district is a
backward district in Orissa having very few numbers of Industrial

unit even though there is availability of plenty amount of raw

materials, labour power and other resources necessary for

Industrial promotion. The table given below shows the Industrial
position of the district.
 Table -2.9
Industrial position in Keonjhar district.

SI. No. Item Number.

1 2 3

1. Registered reported Factories 28

2. Total employees 4726

3. Production capital 32169 (Lakh)

4. Net value added 4100 Lakh

by Manufacturer

Source - District at a glance 2000. Directorate of Economics and

statistics Orissa.

Land Utilisation pattern -

Agriculture is the main and primary occupation of the people of

Keonjhar district. They procure food for the family and get an income

from selling the surplus from agriculture . The cultivators and

agricultural labourers are directly depend upon agriculture to earn

an income and there are other people who are indirectly depend

upon agriculture . The land utilisation pattern is very important to

know the position of agriculture. The details have been given in

the following table.

Table - 2.10
Land utilisation pattern in Keonjhar district .

SI No. Items Amount in (‘000 Hect.)

1 2 3

1. Net area shown 229.20

2. Current fallow 53.95

3. Misc. tree crops & groves 6.07

4. Culturable Waste 22.96

5. Land put to Non agricultural uses 44.61

6. Barren & uncultivable land 109.37

7. Permanent pastures & other

grazing land 19.78
8. Other fallow 28.88

9. Forest area under revenue villages 122.07

Source -District at a glance -2000 Directorate of Economics and

statistics Orissa.

Education - Human capital plays an important role in the process

of economic development .The key to development is man and his

abilities, values and attitudes must be changed in order to
accelerate the process of development. Prof. Galbraith observed
“we now get the larger part of Industrial growth not from large capital

investment but from Investment in men and improvements brought

about by improved men.” Marshall regarded education as a national

investment and the most valuable of all capital is that invested in

human beings. The table below gives a detail picture of educational

facilities available in Keonjhar district.

Table -2.11
Educational Facilities available in Keonjhar district.

SI. No. Item Number Enrolment Teachers T/S Ratio

(000 No.)

1 2 3 4 5 6

1. Primary Schools 1807 207 4895 , 42.28

2. Middle school 631 40 1670 23.95

3. Secondary School 385 49 3238 15.13

4. General College 47 20 808 24.75

Source - District at a glance 2000

Directorate of Economics and Statistics

Banking - The modern banks perform a variety of functions and

committed to render benefit to the people .The commercial banks are

located in urban areas and gives service to the urban people; whereas

major section of people live in rural area keeping this in view the Rural

Regional Bank were established in 1975 to bring the rural people into

the fold of the banking structure and to give them benefits. In a modern

economy bank plays an important role for the upliftment of economic

standard of the rural people . The table below depicts the banking
facilities available in Keonjhar district.

Table -2.12
Banking Facilities available in Keonjhar district.

SI.No. Name of financial No of Share of Share of

Institutions Branches deposits advances
percentage percentage

1 2 3 4 5

1. Allahabad Bank 01 0.48 0.20

2. Andhra Bank 01 0.81 0.59

3. Bank of Baroda 05 6.65 4.92

4. Bank of India 26 32.80 30.44

5. Punjab National 01 0.70 0.52

Bank

6. Central Bank 02 1.57 1.68

of India

7. State Bank of India 11 25.57 20.22

8. UCO Bank 01 0.34 0.53

9. Union Bank 03 0.92 1.57

of India

10. United Bank of India 01 1.19 0.86

11. Baitarani Gramya 37 17.47 16.79

Bank

12. K.C.C. Bank 13 11.51 15.87

13. Card Bank 03 0.67

14. O.S.F.C. 01 5.13

Total 106 100.00 100.00

 <E>

Source- District credit plan 2002-2003 under service Area Approach.

Co-operative Society -
A Co-operative Society is a voluntary association of individuals

combined to achieve an improvement in their economic conditions

through mutual help and assistance. A co-operative society may

be formed for a variety of purposes. It may be formed for the

purpose of raising funds and lending to members engaged in

agriculture or some other activities. Such a society is known as

Co-operative credit society. A society may be formed by ordinary

members, for conducting retail trade. It is known as consumers’

co-operative society. There may, similarly be producers
co-operatives when a society is formed to produce commodity or

commodities. However co-operative societies play a major role in

rural economy and help the rural people to improve their socio­

economic condition. The detailed description of co-operative society

available in Keonjhar district is given in the following table.

Table No. - 2.13

Co-opertive services available in keonjhar District

SI.No. Type of Co-operative Societies No. of Societies

1 2 3

1. Central Co-operative Bank 1

2. Service Co-operative Societies 25
3. LAMPS 16
4. House Building Co-operative Societies 3

5. Card Bank 3

6. Regional Co-operative Marketing Societies 2

7. Co-operative cold Store 1

8. District Co-operative union 1

9. Wholesale consumer Co-operative Store 1

10. FMCS 22

11. Thrift and Co-operative Societies 9

12. Primary consumer Co-operative Societies 13

13. Labour / small Traders Co-operative Societies 2

Total 99

Functional co-operative societies

1. Weavers co-operative societies 25

2. Industrial Co-operative Societies 27
3. Fisherman Co-operative Societies 23
4. Milk producers Co-operative Societies 19
5. Tassar Rearers Co-operative Societies 20

Total 114

Grand Total 213

Occupational Structure -

Occupational structure refers to the distribution of work force in

different occupations or industries. Occupations are broadly divided
into three groups (i) Primary sector or agricultural sector including
animal husbandry, forestry and fishery etc. These primary activities

result in the production of essential or vital goods for human

existence and they are carried on with the help of nature, (ii)

Secondary sector or Industrial sector which includes large and

small manufacturing unit and construction etc. These Industries

manufacture various products based on raw materials produced in

primary sector, (iii) Tertiary sector or service sector includes trade

and transport, communications, banks and other governmental and

non governmental services. The three sectors taken together

constitute the occupational structure of a country. There is a close

relationship between development of an economy and the

occupational structure . Economic progress is normally associated

with certain definite changes in occupational structure.

The workers of the district can be classified into four major

categories, viz. cultivators, agricultural labourers, workers engaged

in the household industries and workers engaged in construction,

trade and commerce, transport, storage and communication,

mining, quarrying, forestry, fishery, plantation, orchards and allied
activities. The table below gives us a picture of the occupational
pattern in the district.
 Table -2.14
Occupational pattern of the district

SI.No. Item Number Percentage

i 2 3 4

Occuoation

(a) Total workers^ 5,19,026 100.00

Male 3,58,397 69.05
Female 1,60,629 30.95

(b) Main worker^" 4,39,953 84.77

Male 3,51,769 67.78

Female 88,184 17.00

(c) Marginal wo/kers 79,073 15.24

Male 6,628 1.28
Female 72,445 13.96

(d) Non-workers 8,18,000 158.00

Male 3,19,083 61.48
Female 4,98,917 96.13
Cultivator 2,09,789 40.42

‘Agricultural labourer 1,07,879 20.79

Labourers in mining 30,708 5.92
and quarrying industries

Source - 1) Statistical abstract of Orissa- 1996

2) Orissa Economic Survey - 1997-98 (computed)
 Diagram -2.a
Occupational pattern of the district
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Lab. in Min &

Marginal workers

Female

Cultivator
Main workers

Agril. Labour
Male

Female

Male

Female
Total workers

Male

Quarry. Ind.

□ - Percentage to total worker in respective category.

Diagram 2.1 reveals the occupational pattern in the district of Keonjhar.

The percentage of male belonging to main worker category is the

highest and the percentage of male belonging to mariginal worker

category is the lowest.

Number of cultivators, agricultural labourers, and workers in

mining and quarrying constitute 40.42, 20.79 and 5.92 percentage

respectively. The number of female main workers to total workers is

very insignificant and it is 17.00 percent only.

 <2>
Sample Villages
A BIRD’S EYE VIEW

The study socio economic condition of agricultural labour

was confined to 20 villages out of 167 villages in Ghasipura Block

and 2125 villages in the district. The 20 villages selected
represented 11.98 percent of the total number of villages of the

block and 0.95 percent of the total number of villages of the district.

A geographical representation of these villages in the map of the

Block shows that these villages are scattered all over the Block.

The details of the sample villages as per records of the

census of 2001 are given below in Table No. -2.14

Table-2.15
Detailed Description of the Sample Villages

Classification All sample villages Average per sample village

1. Total Area 12342.69 Acres 617.14 Acres.

2. Area under cultivation 7905 Acres 395.25 Acres.

3. Area under irrigation 1032 Acres 13.06 Percent.

(A) Canal 357 Acres 34.60 Percent.

(B) Tube well 407 Acres 39.44 Percent.

(C) Masonary well 112 Acres 10.89 Percent.

(D) Others 156 Acres 15.12 Percent.

4. Total population - 26142 1307.1

Male - 13362 668.1

Female - 12780 639

 3
< £>

5. Total Household ■ 4668 233.4

6. Cultivated area 1707.42 ht 53.99 Percent.

under food crop.

7. Cultivated area 1454.58 ht 46.00 Percent

under cash crop.

8. Total cultivators 4478

9. Total Agri. labourers. 562

10. Total consolidated area - Nil

11. Distant of the Total distance Average distance

villages from in Km in Km

1. District Headquarter 1913 km 95.66 km

2.Tahasil Headquarter 333 km 16.66 km

3. Block Headquarter 333 km 16.66 km

4. Panchayat Headquarter 38 km 1.9 km

5. Railway station 691 km 34.56 km

6. Bus station 94 km 4.7 km

7. Police station 197 km 9.86 km

8. Post office 12 km 0.6km

12. Description No. of sample villages Percentage to
having the facility total villages

1. Panchayata H.Q 09 45.00

2. Railway station Nil

3. Bus station 05 25.00

4. Police station Nil

5. Post office 12 60.00

6. Electricity 20 100.00

7. Primary school 20 100.00

8. Middle school 18 90.00

9. High school 09 45.00

10. Library Nil

11. Hospital 02 10.00

12. Dispensary 02 10.00

13. Veterinary Hospital 01 05.00

14. Family planning centre 04 20.00

15. Banking facility 04 20.00

(Rural & Comm)

The selected villages consisted of all types of villages , e.g.

those with developed and underdeveloped irrigation facilities, villages

with predominantly food crops and commercial crops, and villages with

urbanised outlook and villages having no influence of urbanisation.

Area - The total area of all the sample villages comes to 12,342.69
Acres i.e 4937.07 ht. The average area per village comes to 617.14

Acres i,e 246.86 ht. The total area of the sample villages form 0.60

percent of the total area of the district and 14.40 percent of the total

area of the block .

The total area under cultivation is 7905 acres or 395.26 acres

per village 64.05 percent of the total land is under cultivation .

The total irrigated area by means of canal, tube well, masonary

well and others is 1032 acres .The proportion of irrigated land to total

cultivated land is 13.06 percent .The total cultivated land in the sample
villages is 1.07 percent and 15.10 percent respectively of the total
cultivated land of the district and the block .

Location - The average sample village is located at an average

distance of 95.66 km from the district head quarter, 16.66 km from
the tahasil headquarter, 16.66 km from the block headquarter and
1.9km from the Panchayata headquarter.

irrigation -13.06 percent of the total cultivated area of the sample

village is irrigated . Irrigation by canal is 34.60 percent . 39.44

percent by Tube well , 10.86 percent by masonary well and 15.12

percent by other means.

Education and Health - In many of the sample villages

apparently more pucca houses, men on bicycles and with watches

and occasionally the cultivators with transistors in the farm could

be seen. However this does not represent the image of the average

villager in the average sample village .

 There is no railway line nor railway station in the sample villages,

9 villages have panchayata headquarter, 5 villages have bus station,

no village have police station , 12 villages have post office facilities, 2

villages have hospital and 2 villages have dispensary, one village has
veterinary hospital and 4 villages have family planning centre. Electricity

is available in almost all the 20 sample villages .

There are primary schools in almost all the 20 sample

villages, Middle school in 18 villages, and Highschool in 9 villages

Library facility is available in non of the sample village .

An average villager has to go about 0.6 km for a Post office,

9.86 km for a Policestation, 4.7 km for a bus station, 34.50 km for

a railway station.

General Economy - About 65 percent of the villages are not

having a growing economy, rural enterprises like weaving, basic

metal products, wood and leather crafts can be noticed in about

30 percent of the sample villages.

There has been little diversification of the rural economy by

making gainful employment possible in non agricultural
occupations . The inter -relation between caste and profession is

losing force in the villages but caste feeling are still dominant .

Majority of the villagers are bound up with their traditional ways of

living , customs and beliefs . A conversation with many of them
revealed that they are not readily prepared to give them up .

Development programmes - The above picture does not present

a bright image of the sample villages inspite of 50 years of planning
and rural reconstruction work. The villages where some

development programmes have taken place or the villages which

are near to urbanised places have been found in a better position

than the others.

Much of the backwardness of the sample villages may be

attributed to lack of effective and purposeful reconstruction work. Even

if some developmental works have been undertaken in some sample

villages it is sporadic in nature and its impact is insignificant to influence

the socio-economic condition of the rural people. The villagers

complained at the time of investigation, about the work done by Gram

sabha, Panchayat samities and Zilla Parishad. It has openly been

pointed out that under the developmental programmes much useful

work is not done, except construction of some drains, repair of roads

and renovation of well. Party politics has been found to be one of the

main cause of lack of effective working of these bodies.

The panchayats supposed to play an effective role for the

development of the village panchayata, always look for government

grants and patronage and do not realise their own responsibilities.
The office bearers of the panchayata mainly the Ward-members

and Sarapanch are motivated and guided more by party politics

than by the need and requirement of the village people.

Panchayats, however have created awareness among the

villagers in regard to political matters and their rights. But in most cases
they have also resulted in causing disruption and friction among the

villagers, creating less sense of responsibility towards implementation

of the programmes of village reconstruction and development.