Namkhana (community development block)

Namkhana
—  Community development block  —
Namkhana Location in West Bengal
Coordinates: 21°46′00″N 88°14′00″E / 21.7666667°N 88.2333333°E / 21.7666667; 88.2333333
Country	India
State	West Bengal
District	South 24 Parganas
Parliamentary constituency	Mathurapur
Assembly constituency	Kakdwip, Sagar
Area
– Total	87.7 sq mi (227.14 km2)
Population (2001)
– Total	160,630
– Density	1,831.1/sq mi (707/km2)
Time zone	IST (UTC+5.30)
PIN
Literacy Rate	78.40 per cent
Website	http://s24pgs.gov.in/

Namkhana (community development block) (Bengali: নামখানা সমষ্টি উন্নয়ন ব্লক) is an administrative division in Kakdwip subdivision of South 24 Parganas district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Kakdwip and Namkhana police stations serve this block. Headquarters of this block is at Namkhana.^[1][2]

Geography

Namkhana is located at 21°46′00″N 88°14′00″E / 21.766667°N 88.233333°E / 21.766667; 88.233333.

Namkhana community development block has an area of 227.14  km².^[2]

Gram panchayats

Gram panchayats of Namkhana block/panchayat samiti are: Budgakhali, Fraserganj, Haripur, Mousuni, Namkhana, Narayanpur and Shibrampur.^[3]

Demographics

As per 2001 census, Namkhana block had a total population of 160,630, out of which 82,234 were males and 78,396 were females. Namkhana block registered a population growth of 19,56 per cent during the 1991-2001 decade. Decadal growth for South 24 Parganas district was 20.89 per cent.^[2]Decadal growth in West Bengal was 17.84 per cent.^[4]

Scheduled castes at 43,591 formed around one-fourth the population. Scheduled tribes numbered 1,466.^[5]

Literacy

As per 2001 census, Namkhana block had a total literacy of 78.40 per cent for the 6+ age group. While male literacy was 88.64 per cent female literacy was 67.63 per cent. South 24 Parganas district had a total literacy of 69.45 per cent, male literacy being 79.19 per cent and female literacy being 59.01 per cent.^[6]

Transport

Ferry crossing across the Hatania Doania creek at Namkhana

National Highway 117 passes through Namkhana. Namkhana is located at a distance of about 80 km from Kolkata. It is also very close to Bakkhali which also happens to be a quaint little town by the sea like Digha

There is no bridge across the Hatania Doania creek at Namkhana. Four-wheelers are driven on to a ferry, which carries them across the creek.^[7][8]

Namkhana is linked to Sealdah by train, via Lakshmikantapur and Kakdwip.^[9]

References

1. ^ "Contact details of Block Development Officers". South 24 Parganas district. West Bengal Government. http://wbprd.gov.in/html/asp/bdo_contact.asp?cd=EJ. Retrieved 2011-09-24. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} "Provisional population totals, West Bengal, Table 4, South Twentyfour Parganas District (18)". Census of India 2001. Census Commission of India. http://web.cmc.net.in/wbcensus/DataTables/02/Table4_18.htm. Retrieved 2011-09-24. 
3. ^ "No. 229 (Sanction)-PN/P/II/1G-5/2005(Pt.II) dated 02.02.09". Annexure A of 322 (Sanction)-RD/CCA/BRGF/IC-02/08; Date: 27.03.2009 – Statement of Release of Development Grant under BRGF. Government of West Bengal - Department of Panchayats & Rural Development. http://wbprd.nic.in/html/asp/writereaddata/Notifications/01070024.doc. Retrieved 2011-09-24. 
4. ^ "Provisional Population Totals, West Bengal. Table 4". Census of India 2001. Census Commission of India. http://web.cmc.net.in/wbcensus/DataTables/02/FrameTable4_1.htm. Retrieved 2011-09-23. 
5. ^ "TRU for all Districts (SC & ST and Total)". Census 2001. Census Commission of India. http://web.cmc.net.in/wbcensus/HouseListingF/SCST/All_distSCST%28TRU1%2917.htm. Retrieved 2011-09-24. 
6. ^ "Provisional population totals, West Bengal, Table 5, South Twentyfour Parganas District". Census of India 2001. Census Commission of India. http://web.cmc.net.in/wbcensus/DataTables/02/Table5_18.htm. Retrieved 2011-09-24. 
7. ^ "Next weekend you can be at ... Frazerganj". The Telegraph, 20 November 2005. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1051120/asp/calcutta/story_5497630.asp. Retrieved 2011-10-09. 
8. ^ "A Great Escape". The Statesman, 13 June 2006. http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=153981:Travel:%20A%20Great%20Escape&catid=44:8th-day&from_page=search. Retrieved 2011-10-09. 
9. ^ "Eastern Railway Sealdah". Indian Railways. http://www.easternrailwaysealdah.gov.in/WebForm/ERSHome.aspx. Retrieved 2011-10-09.