Faridpur, Durgapur

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Faridpur | type = CD Block | latd =23.48 | longd =87.32
locator_position = right | state_name = West Bengal
district = Bardhaman
leader_title =
leader_name =
altitude =
population_as_of = 2001
population_total =105,532 | population_density =677
area_magnitude= 155.97 sq. km
area_total =
area_telephone = 91 343
postal_code =
vehicle_code_range =
sex_ratio =
unlocode =
website = bardhaman.gov.in/
footnotes = CD Block
: "See Faridpur for disambiguation."Faridpur ( _bn. ফরিদপুর) is a town and police station in Durgapur subdivision of Bardhaman district of the Indian state of West Bengal. It is located between the steel township and the steel plant, just off Grand Trunk Road. It also is a community development block. The jurisdiction of the police station extends up to the Ajay River

History

Faridpur is an old village. The area was earlier densely forested. [ Chattopadhyay, Akkori, Bardhaman Jelar Itihas O Lok Sanskriti (History and Folk lore of Bardhaman District.), Bn icon , Vol I, p 17, Radical Impression. ISBN 81-85459-36-3] Some ancient Buddhist sculptures were discovered in the village of Pratapur under Faridpur police station. [ Chattopadhyay, Akkori, p 255] Peterson’s Gazetteer of 1910 mentions five police stations under Asansol subdivision – Asansol, Raniganj, Kanksa, Barakar and Faridpur. [ Chattopadhyay, Akkori, p 370]

Geography

The Asansol-Durgapur region is composed of undulating latterite soil. This area lies between two mighty rivers – the Damodar and the Ajay. They flow almost parallel to each other in the region – the average distance between the two rivers is around 30 km. For ages the area was heavily forested and infested with plunderers and marauders. The discovery of coal led to industrialisation of the area and most of the forests have been cleared. [Chattopadhyay, Akkori, pp 14-15]

Kunur, one of main tributaries of the Ajay, 112 km in length, has its origin near Bansgara in the Faridpur police station area. With water from several small streams swelling it during the monsoons, it often floods large areas of Ausgram and Mangalkot police stations. It joins the Ajay near Ujani village. [ Chattopadhyay, Akkori, p. 35]

Demographics

Faridpur Block spread over an area of 155.97 km² had a population of 105,532 in 2001. Out of this 56,203 were males and 49,329 were females. Scheduled castes numbered 32,669. Scheduled tribe numbered 6,295. As per 1991 census Hindus constituted 88.16 per cent and the Muslims 11.61 per cent of the population. People of other faiths constituted the balance. [ [http://bardhaman.gov.in/dshb04.pdf District Census data] ]

Tribal development

Adivasis (tribals) number 375, 742, forming around 6 per cent of the total population of Bardhaman district. An integrated tribal dvelopment project was initiated for the development of the Adivasis. The project area is spread over Ausgram, Bud Bud, Kanksa, Faridpur, Durgapur, Asansol, Barabani and Salanpur. [ Chattopadhyay, Akkori, p 542]

Education

There are 8 high schools in the block with 4995 students and 2 higher secondary schools with 2739 students. 67.3 per cent of block population was literate. Literacy was 77.9 per cent amongst males and 55.1 per cent among females. The block had 5 libraries. [ [http://bardhaman.gov.in/dshb04.pdf District Census data] ]

Health

Faridpur is one of the areas of Bardhaman district which is affected by arsenic contamination of ground water. [ [http://www.soesju.org/arsenic/wb7.htm Arsenic contamination] ]

Politics

During the period 1967 to 1972, there was an assembly constituency named Faridpur. Ajit Kumar Bandopadhyay of INC won the seat in 1972. [ [http://www.eci.gov.in/StatisticalReports/SE_1972/StatReport_WB_72.pdf Assembly elections 1972] ] Sanat Kumar Banerjee of CPI (M) won it in 1971. [ [http://www.eci.gov.in/SR_KeyHighLights/SE_1971/StatReport_WB_71.pdf Assembly elections 1971] ] Manoranjan Bakshi of Bangla Congress won it in 1969 and 1967. [ [http://www.eci.gov.in/StatisticalReports/SE_1969/StatReport_WB_69.pdf Assembly elections 1969] ] [ [http://www.eci.gov.in/SR_KeyHighLights/SE_1967/Statistical_report_WB1967.pdf Assembly elections 1967] ]

For election results of the area in other years see Durgapur, Andal, Ausgram and Galsi

External links

* [http://www26.brinkster.com/burdwan/home/villages.asp Villages in Bardhaman District]
* [http://bardhaman.gov.in/blocks/blocks.htm District map showing blocks]

References

ee also