Umerkote

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Umerkote | type = city | latd = 19.665
longd = 82.212
state_name = Orissa
district = Nabarangpur
leader_title= MLA (AC90)
leader_name= Sri Dharmu Gond,(BJP)
altitude = 615.69
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 24,853| population_density = 192
area_magnitude= 12 sq. km
area_total =
area_telephone = 91 6866
postal_code = 764073
vehicle_code_range =OR 24
sex_ratio = 972
unlocode =
website =
footnotes =

Umerkote, also known as Umarkot and Amarkot, is a town of Nabarangpur District, Orissa, India. Umerkote is an urban area and a Notified Area Council. This town is a prominent business place of Nabarangpur District.

Situated in the northern corner of Nabarangpur District and administratively borders Chhattisgarh in west. It is 64 km away from district headquarters. A left diversion from NH 201 at Papadahandi towards Raipur takes you Umerkote.

This place is presiding by the local deity Maa Pendrani or Pendrahandiani. The word 'Maa' means the mother. She is believed to be the saviour of people living and provider of health, wealth and protection.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census [GR|India] , Umerkote had a population of 24,853. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Umarkote has an average literacy rate of 56%, lower than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 65%, and female literacy is 47%. In Umerkote, 15% of the population is under 6 years of age. The average annual rainfall experienced is 888.22 mm. Usually summers are hot with a maximum of 45 degrees and winters a minimum of 6 degrees.

Geography

A plateau of the Kondan Range, a terrain of Eastern Ghats hold Umerkote at its centre. The average elevation of Umerkote is approximately 2020 feet from MSL. Small hills and mounts cover the place giving out a number of perennial source of water as streams and ponds. Bhaskel Minor Irrigation Project, a site 9 KM away of Umerkote town is the source of irrigation. Its out stream namely Bhaskel flows by the town giving a production of vegetables and pulses throughout the year.

Highest Summer Temperature at Umerkote 44.3⁰C on 22 May 2008.

People

It was initially a tribal dominated place and post independent period added migrants to its population. Bangladesh Refugees have been given shelter after the Indo-Pak 1971 War which indeed made a revolution at this place developing communication, economy and society. With growing township people from other parts of Orissa and neighbouring states showed their interest to live at Umerkote. People out here are mostly do business and a considerable amount are government employees. Now this place has a majority of Hindus. However, Muslims are more in number than the Christians. Other religious people are very few in count.The major language spoken in this region is Oriya.

Economy

The main economical factor over which Umerkote stands is production of Maize. Outskirts yield maize and this town is the hub for the transportation of tonnes of maize in post rain seasons.

Festivals

The Oriya Hindu festivals Dussera, Rath Yatra, Ganesh Pooja, Kalisi Yatra are the three distinguishable festivals observed in Umerkote. Apart from other occasions traditional festivals like Holi, Biswakarma Pooja, Gajalaxmi Pooja and Deepawali are being celebrated with immense contrast.

Apart from the general celebrations, tribals retain their identity through several typical festivals like Mondei, Chaiti Parab and Kalishi Jatra. Mondei, an annual tribal festival has its uniqueness which has been predominately celebrated by tribals in order to share the happiness of their fruitful harvest. Later it has been declared a state level festival and is celebrated officially, each year, on first week of November.

Public places

Umerkote has many public places like Pendrani Temple, Ramakrishna Mission, Mixed Farms, Mangala Mandir, Church. It has also a beautiful Mosque and a Madrasa has been set up with help of the local people.A place is there near by umerkote called NUAGAON, it is in jharigaon road 3 k.m away from umerkote where a HANUMAN VATIKA is there. People from various places coming here.

It has two hospitals one of Government situated at the mid of the town and another as DNK Hospital (Later named as Zonal Hospital). Specialists in different branch provide health service to people. Pendrani College, established on 1984 has been set up with local help giving education to collegiates up to graduation. Sadasiv Sukumar Government High School, Government Girls' High School and Saheed Laxman Nayak Public School here are the centre for the Higher Secondary Education. Number of primary schools and upper primary schools have been set up at different locations of Umerkote town. RRTTSS with OUAT has set up a crop research centre near the town.

ervice

The town has been given with a fully functional Government Machinery like Panchayat Samiti, Police Station, Post Office, Three Filling Stations, Government Secondary Training School, BSNL Telephone Exchange, Industrial Training Centre for Women, Water Supply, SOUTHCO, Circuit House and other different offices with it.

Among semi/non government institutions like Saraswati Sishu Mandir, Swami Vivekananda Vidya Mandir and Lions Club are owned by locals.

Cellular Mobile Service by BSNL and Airtel have been set up earlier and recently Reliance has started its Small GSM Service. Internet Connectivity by BSNL Broadband has been lunched since March 2008. Aircel has setup its service. Tata Indicom is likely to provide cellular mobile service at Umerkote very soon.

State Bank of India (SBI), Utkal Gramya Bank and Andhra Bank have been established long since. In the month of February, SBI launched its ATM. After a long wait, ICICI Bank has opened its branch at Umerkote very recently.

Communication

Umerkote is communicated to almost all major cities of Orissa,Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh by road. No railway line communicates the town directly but several places nearby to Umerkote provide railway communication. Umerkote has been provided with a good number of buses to Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Raipur, Jagdalpur. Both private and OSRTC buses run in numbers for passenger transportation.

Nearest Railway Stations: Jeypore 106 KM, Kesinga 180 KM, Jagdalpur 112 KM, Raipur 340 KM.

Nearest Airports: Raipur 340 KM, Visakhapatnam 320 KM.

Tourist spots

Podagad

Podagad, a hill range in the west of the town preserves some historic evidences of ancient dynasties ruling over the area. Rock scriptures, caves and remains of usables have been found. It has a rich ruin of the Nala and Bhakataka dynasty during the invasion of the Mughals. Later it has been occupied by some Buddhists, and then by the Nanda Dyansty of Jeypore region

Chandan Dhara

A waterfall 28 km north from Umerkote through a village Jharigam.

Politics

Current MLA from Umarkote (ST) Assembly Constituency is Dharmu Gond of BJP, who won the seat in State elections in 2004. Previous MLAs from this seat were Parama Pujari who won this seat representing INC in 2000, 1995 and 1985 and representing INC(I) in 1980, Gurubaru Majhi of JD in 1990, and Rabisingh Majhi of JNP in 1977. [cite web
url = http://archive.eci.gov.in/March2004/pollupd/ac/states/s18/Partycomp93.htm
title = State Elections 2004 - Partywise Comparision for 93-Umarkote Constituency of ORISSA
publisher = Election Commission of India
accessdate = 2008-09-20]

Umarkote is part of Nowrangpur (Lok Sabha constituency). [cite web
url = http://archive.eci.gov.in/se2000/background/S18/Orissa_AC_Dist_PC.pdf
title = Assembly Constituencies - Corresponding Districts and Parliamentary Constituencies of Orissa
publisher = Election Commission of India
accessdate = 2008-09-20]

References