Nagrakata is a community development block (CD block) that forms an administrative division in the Malbazar subdivision of the Jalpaiguri district in the Indian state of West Bengal.The Nagrakata CD block has an area of 397.48 km2. It has 1 panchayat samity, 5 gram panchayats, 91 gram sansads (village councils), 34 mouzas and 33 inhabited villages. Nagrakta police station serves this block. Headquarters of this CD block is at Nagrakata.
Geography
Nagrakata is located at .
The Nagrakata CD block lies in the north-central part of the district. The Murti River flows along the eastern boundary. The Jaldhaka River and Gatia River flow through the CD block. It has hilly terrain which is part of the sub-Himalayan ranges.
The Nagrakata CD block is bounded by the Samtse District of Bhutan on the north, Banarhat CD block on the east, Maynaguri CD block on the south and Matiali CD block on the west.
The Nagrakata CD block has an area of 397.48 km2. It has 1 panchayat samity, 5 gram panchayats, 91 gram sansads (village councils), 34 mouzas and 33 inhabited villages. Nagrakta police station serves this block. Headquarters of this CD block is at Nagrakata.
Gram panchayats of Nagrakata block/ panchayat samiti are: Angrabhasa I, Angrabhasa II, Champaguri, Luksan and Sulkapara.
Demographics
Population
According to the 2011 Census of India, the Nagrakata CD block had a total population of 127,397, all of which were rural. There were 64,133 (50%) males and 63,234 (50%) females. There were 16,991 persons in the age range of 0 to 6 years. The Scheduled Castes numbered 17,626 (13.84%) and the Scheduled Tribes numbered 62,624 (49.16%).
According to the 2001 census, Nagrakata block had a total population of 119,556, out of which 60,561 were males and 58,995 were females. Nagrakata block registered a population growth of 17.46 per cent during the 1991-2001 decade.
Large villages (with 4,000+ population) in the Nagrakata CD block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Jiti Tea Garden (5,588), Hope Tea Garden (4,076), Naya Saili Tea Garden (5,446), Nagrakata Tea Garden (4,598), Sukhanibasti (4,100), Bhagatpur Tea Garden (12,555), Kurti Tea Garden (4,285), Gatia Tea Garden (5,855), Luksan Tea Garden (8,027), Chengmari Tea Garden (14,446), Grassmore Tea Garden (5,563), Sulkapara (5,682) and Bamandanga Tea Garden (4,698).
Other villages in the Nagrakata CD block include (2011 census figures in brackets): Nagrakata (356), Hila Tea Garden (2,843), Angrabhasa (3,224).
Literacy
According to the 2011 census, the total number of literate persons in the Nagrakata CD block was 67,646 (61.27% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 39,138 (70.51% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 28,508 (51.93% of the female population over 6 years). The gender disparity (the difference between female and male literacy rates) was 18.58%.
See also – List of West Bengal districts ranked by literacy rate
Language and religion
In the 2011 Census of India, Hindus numbered 101,798 and formed 79.91% of the population of Nagrakata CD block. Muslims numbered 9,901 and formed 7.77% of the population. Christians numbered 9,391 and formed 7.37% of the population. Others numbered 6,307 and formed 4.95% of the population. Others include Addi Bassi, Marang Boro, Santal, Saranath, Sari Dharma, Sarna, Alchchi, Bidin, Sant, Saevdharm, Seran, Saran, Sarin, Kheria, and other religious communities.
At the time of the 2011 census, 45.07% of the population spoke Sadri, 17.50% Nepali, 15.10% Bengali, 4.92% Kurukh, 3.34% Santali, 2.84% Hindi, 2.63% Rajbongshi and 2.12% Bhojpuri as their first language.
Poverty level
Based on a study of the per capita consumption in rural and urban areas, using central sample data of NSS 55th Round 1999-2000, Jalpaiguri district was found to have relatively high rates of poverty of 35.73% in rural areas and 61.53% in the urban areas. It was one of the few districts where urban poverty rate was higher than the rural poverty rate.
According to a World Bank report, as of 2012, 26-31% of the population of Jalpaiguri, Bankura and Paschim Medinipur districts were below poverty line, a relatively high level of poverty in West Bengal, which had an average 20% of the population below poverty line.