Ranaghat II is a community development block that forms an administrative division in Ranaghat subdivision of Nadia district in the Indian state of West Bengal.
Geography
Nokari is located at .
Ranaghat II CD Block is bounded by Hanskhali in the north, Jhikargachha Upazila in Jessore District of Bangladesh and Bagdah CD Block in North 24 Parganas district, in the east, Chakdaha CD Block in the south and Ranaghat I CD Block in the west.
Nadia district is mostly alluvial plains lying to the east of Hooghly River, locally known as Bhagirathi. The alluvial plains are cut across by such distributaries as Jalangi, Churni and Ichhamati. With these rivers getting silted up, floods are a recurring feature.
Ranaghat II CD Block has an area of 279.03 km2. It has 1 panchayat samity, 14 gram panchayats, 285 gram sansads (village councils), 113 mouzas and 108 inhabited villages. Dhantala and Gangnapur police stations serve this block. Headquarters of this CD Block is at Nokari. It is located 30 km from Krishnanagar, the district headquarters.
Gram panchayats of Ranaghat II block/ panchayat samiti are: Anishmali, Aranghata, Bahirgachhi, Baidyapur I, Baidyapur II, Debagram, Duttapulia, Jugalkishore, Kamalpur, Majhergram, Nokari, Raghunathpur Hijuli I, Raghunathpur Hijuli II and Shyamnagar.
Demographics
Population
As per the 2011 Census of India, Ranaghat II CD Block had a total population of 368,681, of which 314,519 were rural and 54,162 were urban. There were 189,706 (51%) males and 178,975 (49%) females. Population below 6 years was 34,931, Scheduled Castes numbered 174,717 (47.39%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 16,185 (4.39%).
As per the 2001 census, Ranaghat II block had a total population 330,292, out of which 169,142 were males and 161,150 were females. Ranaghat II block registered a population growth of 15.32 per cent during the 1991-2001 decade. Decadal growth for the district was 19.51 per cent. Decadal growth in West Bengal was 17.84 per cent.
There are several census towns in Ranaghat II CD Block (2011 census figures in brackets): Halalpur Krishnapur (5,202), Hijuli (13,969), Ranaghat (CT) (3,982), Nasra (10,707), Gangnapur (10,168) and Belgharia (5,858).
There is one outgrowth in Ranaghat II CD Block (2011 census figure in brackets): Magurkhali (Ward No.13)(4,276).
Large villages (with 4,000+ population) in Ranaghat II CD Block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Debagram (7,060), Matikumra (8,077), Dayabari (6,500), Nokari (5,032), Raynagar (4,826), Gopinagar Baghadanga (5,616), Korabari (4,108), Arranghata Narayanpur (21,552), Sabdalpur (4,737), Daula (5,632), Dhantala (9,095), Sankarpur (4,716), Kamalpur (4,587), Duttapulia (13,562), Bahirgachi (9,785), Barabaria (9,356), Aismali (6,855), Chapra (4,014), Humnipota (4,081) and Gangsara (4,270).
Other villages in Ranaghat II CD Block include (2011 census figures in brackets): Baidyapur (3,044) and Raghunathpur (3,277).
Literacy
As per the 2011 census, the total number of literates in Ranaghat II CD Block was 264,947 (79.38% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 143,773 (83.66% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 121,174 (74.85% of the female population over 6 years). The gender disparity (the difference between female and male literacy rates) was 8.81%.
See also – List of West Bengal districts ranked by literacy rate
Language and religion
In the 2011 census, Hindus numbered 312,111 and formed 85.65% of the population in Ranaghat II CD Block. Muslims numbered 45,887 and formed 12.59% of the population. Christians numbered 5956 and formed 1.64% of the population. Others numbered 451 and formed 0.12% of the population.
In the 2001 census, Hindus numbered 480,008 and formed 89.28% of the combined population of Ranaghat I and Ranaghat II CD Blocks. Muslims numbered 50,640 and formed 9.42% of the combined population. In the 1991 census, Hindus numbered 438,924 and formed 93.50% of the combined population of Ranaghat I and Ranaghat II CD Blocks. Muslims numbered 24,349 and formed 5.19% of the combined population.
Bengali is the predominant language, spoken by 99.21% of the population.