PURULIA DISTRICT AT A GLANCE - Shodhganga : a …shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/21329/13/7...Purulia district at a glance [24]The University of Burdwan, 2012 water are

The University of Burdwan, 2012[21] Purulia district at a glance

PURULIA DISTRICT AT A GLANCE

2.1 History

Jaina Bhagavati Sutra of circa 5th century A. D. mentions that Puruliya was one of

the 16 Mahajanapadas and was a part of the country known as Vajra-bhumi in ancient

times. However, little was known about Purulia before the East-India Company obtained

the ‘Diwani’ of Bengal, Bihar, Orissa in 1765. By regulation XVIIII of 1805, a Jungle

Mahals district composed of 23 parganas and mahals including the present Purulia was

formed. By regulations XIII of 1833 the Jungle Mahals district was broken up and a new

district called Manbhum was constituted with headquarters at Manbazar. The district was

very large in size and it included parts of Bankura, Burdwan of present West Bengal and

Dhanbad, Dhalbhum, Saraikela and Kharswan of present states of Jharkhand and Orissa.

In 1838 the district headquarters was transferred to Purulia as is known today. Finally in

1956 Manbhum district was partitioned between Bihar and West Bengal under the States

Reorganization Act and the Bihar and West Bengal ( Tranfer of Territories) Act 1956 and

the present district Purulia was born on 1st November, 1956.

2.2 Location:

Purulia, the westernmost district of the Indian state of West Bengal (Fig.1, 2 &3)

and a part of Chotanagpur plateau, is located between 23º 42’ 00’ North and 22º 42’ 35’’

South latitude and 86º 54’ 37” East and 85º 49’ 25” West longitude. It is traversed by the

Tropic of Cancer. The Bay of Bengal and the Hooghly estuary are within 200 kilometers

from the centre of the district. Its physiographic location is also distinguishable as a zone

of transition between the young alluvial plains of West Bengal and the ancient plateau of

south east Bihar.

The district has all-India significance because of its tropical climate location,

shape and ‘funnel’ like meteorological functions. It funnels the tropical monsoon current

from the Bay of Bengal to the subtropical parts of North West India. It also acts as a

gateway between the developed industrial belts of West Bengal and their less developed

hinterlands in Orissa, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

Studies on dependence of tribal communities………………………

Purulia district at a glance [22]The University of Burdwan, 2012

Fig.1. Maps showing Location of study site in Purulia district of West Bengal, a state of the eastern

part of India.

Puruliya District

Ayodhya Hills

West Bengal


The University of Burdwan, 2012 [23] Purulia district at a glance

Fig 2. Map of Purulia district showing Ayodhya Hills as well as adjoining districts

and states.

2.3 Boundary

Purulia has hardly any natural boundary demarcated by streams or Hills. Only

about a hundred kilometers of the district-boundary follows the Damodar in the north and

the Subarnarekha in the west. The artificial district boundary is mainly an outcome of

linguistic regionalization and administrative convenience. Purulia has its boundaries on

the east with the Midnapur and Bankura district of West Bengal; on the north with the

Burdwan district of West Bengal and Dhanbad district of Bihar, on the north west, and

south west with the Hazaribag, Ranchi and Singhbhum districts of Jharkhand (Fig.2). A

part of the northern boundary runs through the centre of the Panchet reservoir so that its



water are shared by Dhanbad and Purulia, the latter having the major share. Similarly, the

eastern boundary runs partly through the centre of the Kangsabati reservoir. The land

shape of Purulia is quite unique having distinctive soil, terrain, drainage, forest and whole

gamut of physical environmental set up which is within the ambit of Rarh Tract of West

Bengal.

2.4 Population:

The total area of Purulia district is 6259.00 sq Km. According to the 2001 Census,

it accommodates a population of 25,35,233 of whom 12,98,079 are males and 12,37,154

females. Out of the total population, 2, 218,64belonging to Scheduled Caste (S.C.) -

males and 20816.9 females and 218020 are Scheduled Tribes (S.T.) males and 209746 are

females. Density of population is 405/ sq Km. About 90% of the people live in rural

areas. Its rank in area and population among different districts of West Bengal is 5th and

14th respectively. The literacy rates of male and female are 74.18% and 37.15% of the

total population respectively. Muslim population is approximately 2, 00,000.

2.5 Administrative units:

At present the district is composed by 20 CD Blocks, 170 Gram Panchayats,

2683Mouzas and 2687 villages and 7 towns (Fig.3).

2.6Indigenous communities:

Purulia district has the second highest percentage of tribal population (18.3%)

after Jalpaiguri (18.9%) and it is higher than those of its adjacent districts like Bankura

(10.4%), Birbhum (6.4%), Burdwan (6.4%), East and West Midnapur (8.3%) of West

Bengal. People of tribal communities of Purulia are mostly associated with rural

phenomenon since almost 95% of their population lives in villages. In case of India, this

value is 93% which in case of West Bengal is 94.86%. Tribal societies of Purulia have

distinct characteristics, most of them being of Proto-Australoids groups with dark skin

colour, sunken nose and lower forehead. As far as linguistic affiliation is concerned the

languages spoken by the tribes in Purulia district belong to Munda branch of Austro-

asiatic family, viz. Santhali, Gond and Kheria.

In Purulia 994 villages have been identified as ‘backward villages’ on the basis of

two parameters, viz., -lack of enough employment for the villagers and extremely low



women literacy rates. As per the last census in 2001, the population of this district was

25,35,278. Out of the total population, 18.27% is tribal and 32% Mahatos. In the tribal

population, the Santhals have 60%, Bhumij 18%, Mundas 6%, Sabar 7%, Birhores 1%

contributions. Mahatos are more than 8lakhs in number. In Purulia district, the Santals

have been mainly living in the Bagmundi, Bandwan, Balarampur, Arsa Blocks. Having

lived in the thickly forested Hills and the plateau surfaces, the tribals enjoy a certain

degree of isolation.

Table 1. Tribal Population of Purulia District Census Year Total Population Total Tribal

Population Percentage of Tribal Population

1971 16,02,875 3,13,793 19.57 1981 18,53,801 3,48,372 18.79 1991 22,24,577 4,27,766 19.23 2001 25,36,516 4,63,452 18.27 (Source: Census of India, 1971,1981, 1991 and 2001, Government of India.)

Table 2. Block and Town wise Distribution of Tribal Population of Purulia District, 2001 C.D. Blocks and Towns Tribal Population (% of total population) Bunduwan 51.07 Manbazar II 48.96 Santuri 32.26 Balarampur 31.69 Hura 26.73 Bagmundi 24.19 Kashipur 23.92 Puncha 23.68 Manbazar I 22.99 Neturia 22.96 Arsha 22.02 Barabazar 18.38 Jhalda II 12.86 Jhalda I 10.42 Raghunathpur I 10.05 Jaipur 9.9 Purulia I 7.72 Raghunathpur II 6.23 Para 4.58 Purulia II 4.31 Purulia (T) 1.84 Jhalda (T) 1.07 Raghunathpur (T) 0.45 PURULIA 18.27 (Source: Census of India, 2001, Government of India)



Fig 3. Map of Purulia District showing constituent Blocks.

Table 3. Number of ‘Backward Villages’ in different Blocks of Purulia district. Sl. No. Name of the Blocks No. of Backward villages

1. Arsha 69 2. Bagmundi 98 3. Balarampur 56 4. Bandwan 78 5. Barabazar 80 6. Hura 18 7. Joypur 61 8. Jhalda I 53 9. Jhalda II 102 10. Kashipur 25 11. Manbazar-I 75 12. Manbazar –II 39 13. Neturia 38 14. Para 36 15. Puncha 21 16. Purulia – I 44 17. Purulia –II 24 18. Raghunathpur-I 23 19. Raghunathpur-II 30 20. Santuri 24

TOTAL 994 (Source: Census of India, 2001, Government of India.)



2.7 Natural Divisions:

The district of Purulia forms the last two steps in the descent from the Hills of

central India and Chotanagpur plateau to the Damodar plains of West Bengal. According

to the structure and land form, Purulia happens to be a part of the Ranchi peneplains and

this physical character is so dominant that the Government of India has classified this

physiographic unit as an economic region.

With a shield-rim land, the district displays the typical old-age characteristics of a

moderate absolute altitude and relatively moderate low relief. Absolute relief increases

towards the west and the south marked by a line of sharply rising but almost flat-topped

arches covered with luxurious vegetation. The rest of the district has a gently undulating

topography with occasional Hillocks of hard rocks (Panchet Hill). These are residual

Hills, bearing testimony to the high plateau of ancient times which got eroded down in

course of time to hand over the present land-form. Some of these isolated Hills and the

bulging interfluves in the eastern part of the district are forested.

Thus, the texture of relief is of two kinds and this contrast of texture corresponds

to different cycles of erosion and also to differences in lithology. The 300 meter contour

line is the dividing line between the higher peneplains of Jhalda I, Jhalda II. Arsha,

Bagmundi, Balarampur, Barabazar and Banduanthanas and the lower undulating plains of

Hura, Joypur, Kashipur, Manbazar I , Manbazar II, Neturia, Para, Puncha, Puruliya I,

Purulia II, Raghunathpur I, Raghunathpur II, and Santurithanas of the district. The

highlands rise very steeply from 300 meters but the slope becomes moderate above 500

meters, appearing more like an uplifted plain surface.

2.8 Hill system:

The highlands of Purulia are actually the remnants of the spurs projecting from the

Ranchi plateau to the west and functioning as watersheds of the Subarnarekha-Kasai-

Damodar group of rivers.

At the extreme north-west one finds the trijunction of Purulia, Ranchi and

Hazaribagh districts where from the east-flowing Subarnarekha takes an elbow - bend

south wards to describe the western boundary of the district and dissect a spur which once

extended from Ranchi - Muri to Jhalda - Balarampur like a great tongue. The eastern part

of this truncated tongue, known as Ajodhya Pahar (Ayodhya Hills), forms the main



highland region’ of Purulia district. It acts as the watershed between the riversKasai and

the Subarnarekha. Numerous small streams drain over its western and southern slopes

into the Subarnarekha and over the northern and eastern slopes into the Kasai and the

Kumari.

To the west and south of Ajodhya Pahar (Ayodhya Hills) occurs a number of

residual Hills, isolated and detached from the parent body. In Jhalda many such outliers

rising steeply from a relatively smooth surface at 300 meters to above 500 meters

diversify the landscape on either side of the Jhalda-Muri road. Their ridge lines have an

east west trend and an average altitude of 500 meters. The 688 meters high Chamtu is the

highest point on the south - western flank. Some of these prominences are wooded (such

as the Kalimata Palas forest on either side of the Baghmundi – Jargo road) and others are

devoid of vegetation.

At the southern periphery of the Baghmundi Hills, the prominent outliers within

the district are the 377m-high Kadali Pahar and 348m, - high Khaira Pahari. There are

similar Hillocks of igneous rocks extending further south up to the Dalma lava range in

Singhbhum district of Jharkhand state. These Hillocks, like the granite – gneiss Hills of

Baghmundi, though isolated from each other, occur as a belt on the degraded crest of the

Kumari – Subarnarekha interfluves. This crest line provides important rail and road link

between Balarampur and Chandil across the border.

The important peaks on the main highland mass of Baghmundi – Ayodhya are the

Gonja Pahar (580.5 m), the Gugui Pahar (580.5 m) to the north west where porphyritic

granite - gneiss are the predominant rock. Schist and gneisses occur on the southern and

southeastern faces of the Baghmundi Scarps where Gorgaburu and Karma Hill have high

peaks being 677m and 663m respectively. The ridge encircling the high peneplains of

Baghmundi – Ayodhya has an average altitude of 600 meters. The entire highland area is

veiled by a dense mixed forest of Sal.

At the extreme north–west, the district boundary runs along the centre of the

Ghoramara Pahar, the ridge lines of which have an east to west strike. This highland acts

as a watershed between the Damodar and the Subarnarekha rivers. Although it is

narrower than the Ayodhya Hill, its average altitude is more than 600 meters and its main

rock formations are sedimentaries and metamorphics. Of the nine major peaks, the 621m

high Bijoli Pokhar at the western flank and the 641m-high Jabarban Peak at the eastern



flank are worth mentioning. The Kanguai Nala descends from the latter. Sal trees cover

only the valley bottoms and the less steep summits.

. To the north-east of the district lies the 643.5m-high Panchakot or Panchet Hill formed

by the upper Gondwana sedimentaries. This formation continues eastwards into Bankura

district where it rises again as the Biharinath Parbat. The Panchet Hill is well forested and

now it looks over the vast Panchet Hill dam built across the river Damodar.

In Purulia district there are several Hills, peaks and small mounds, the important

ones of which are discussed in the following:

2.8.1 Ayodhya Hills:

The area of Ajodhya Hills is about 320 Sq Kilometer which covers portions

ofJhalda, Baghmundi, Balarampur and Arsha Blocks in Purulia district (Fig.1 and Plate

6).The word ‘Ayodhya’ (locally called‘Ajodhya’) is derived from a Dravidian word

‘Ajhaida’ (Ajhai=large, Da=daha)i.e. there was a large abyss (daha). In Ayodhya Hill

there are 70 hamlets containing 15-20 thousand inhabitants, two Gram Panchayats- Ranga

and Ayodhya , a library, an office of Comprehensive Area Development Corporation,

Ayodhya Hill hospital , water project etc. The height of Ayodhya Hill is about 2200 feet.

The figure of Ayodhya Hills is somewhat L- shaped (Fig.1) covering 32 miles in length

and 10 miles in width. It is treated as sacred by the tribal communities of Purulia district.

In Santhal language the word ‘buru’ denotes ‘paha’r (Hill) like Gagaburu, Gargaburu,

Mathaburu, Chemtuburu etc. The large boulders, rough rocks, gravels, large sand

particles are found in profusion on the river beds which are called ‘rahr’ in local

language. It is for this reason that Purulia is also recognized as the ‘rahr’ district of West

Bengal.

Several concealed water sources have emerged from Ayodhya Hill like Kansai,

Rupai, Kerensai, Saharjuri, Samarbishi, Bandu, Chatuhasa, Kumari, Lekragara, Kulbera,

Shakha, Shova, Bamni, Kadrugara, Machkanda, etc which flow over areas with

abundant herb, climber, shrubs and vegetation. The tribal communities settled in

Ayodhya Hill belong to Santhal, Birhor, Munda, Bhumij, Ghashi, Paharia, and Kheria

tribes whose main source of earning was hunting. During Buddha Purnima ( the full

moon-birth day of Gautam Buddha), the tribal groups used to hunt in Ayodhya Hill by

Studies on dependence of tribal communities

Purulia district at a glance

using traditional hunting weapons

, dove, parrot, swallow, squirrel etc

Community Area Development Corporation

collaterally promotes farming, poultry, dairy

construction and maintenance of roads

inhabitants of Ayodhya Hill. There are two routes

One may follow the route from

There are also vehicle facilities

‘Sagarika’ housings were constructed for

2.8.2Joychandi Hill

Joychandi Hill was familiar as ‘hanging pahar’ during the reign of king of

Kashipur. It was formed by the meeting of Joychandi,

are located in Raghunathpur Block in Puruli

formed by a single large rock. It contains

frailway station is also called Joychandi

the Hill is about 1045 feet.

Plate 6. A view of the Ayodhya


[30]The University of Burdwan, 2012

weapons to kill fox, porcupine, deer, pig, rabbit, snake, peacock

, dove, parrot, swallow, squirrel etc and gather the bodies as source of food.

Development Corporation also renders medical

promotes farming, poultry, dairy, nursery, water supply, irrigation,

construction and maintenance of roads, literacy, ration shop, tea garden etc

. There are two routes to reach Ayodhya from Purulia S

One may follow the route from Purulia to Ayodhya either via Sirkabador via

There are also vehicle facilities for tourism from morning to evening and ‘Niharika’ and

‘Sagarika’ housings were constructed for accommodating tourists.

was familiar as ‘hanging pahar’ during the reign of king of

. It was formed by the meeting of Joychandi, Kalipahari and Jugtila

Raghunathpur Block in Purulia District. According to geologists,

formed by a single large rock. It contains a platform and a Chandi temple

lled Joychandi Pahar in accordance with its name

Plate 6. A view of the Ayodhya Hill s

, 2012

to kill fox, porcupine, deer, pig, rabbit, snake, peacock

rce of food.

also renders medical facilities and

water supply, irrigation,

, literacy, ration shop, tea garden etc for the welfare

to reach Ayodhya from Purulia Sadar.

or via Baghmundi.

from morning to evening and ‘Niharika’ and

was familiar as ‘hanging pahar’ during the reign of king of

Kalipahari and Jugtila Hills which

geologists, it was

Chandi temple. The nearest

its name. The height of



2.8.3 Panchakot Hill:

Panchakot Hill is familiar as a Panchet Pahar. Panchakot was atraditional and

historical Hill which was situated in Nituriya Block of Purulia district. It was the

metropolis in the domain of Panchakot Kingdom. It contains ancient royal

mansion,ancient temple, guest house, Shiva temple, hunting and playing grounds,

waterfall, platform, ornamented arch etc as the remains of Panchakot Kingdom. The

height of the Panchakot Hill is about 2110 feet. Garpanchakot is located beside the base

of Panchakot Hill. The Panchet wetland was constructed on the Damodar river beside

Panchakot Hill. Besides these, there are several small Hills like Karma, Chandi,

Sindurpur, Panjoniya, Kapil, Gogoi, Jabar, Ganga, Parsha etc in different blocks in the

district of Puruliya. Murraburu(Murra-Naked, Buru- Peak) was converted to Pakhi Pahar.

The height of the tallest peak of Gorgaburu is 667 meters and peak of Karma is 553

meters.

( Source:Amiya Kumar Sengupta,‘Pahar o Banabhumi’, P. 69.1999. AamaderPurulia)

2.9 Rivers:

The rivers that flow across the district are few in number and these rivers remain

dry during most of the year. These rivers are very turbulent only for a small period during

the monsoon and thus provide little scope for fishery. There are, however, some ‘bundh’

type of water bodies or tanks of various size distributed throughout the district and these

are the only source of water for the purpose of drinking, bathing and irrigating rice fields.

Pisciculture is taken up in these tanks as a secondary measure. These tanks where

rainwater is collected during the rainy season, get dried up during other seasons especially

when the district experiences drought conditions. The principal rivers of this district are

described briefly in the following:

2.9.1 The Subarnarekha:

It is the westernmost river of this district originating from a surface spring near

Pisk rail station. Only three streams of this river have built up small patches of alluvial

plains most of which now lie outside the district.

2.9.2The Damodar :



The Damodar marks the northern district boundary and its course through the

district is almost due east through the vast Panchet Hill reservoir. The most important

right bank tributary of the Damodar empting into the tail-end of the Panchet reservoir is

the Gobai or Gowai Nadi which has only a part of its upper course and the entire lower

course within Purulia.

2.9.3 The Dwarakeswar:

The Dwarakeswar or Dhalkisor rises from the east of Bagalia rail station on the Asansol -

Purulia section and flows east up to Kashipur Police Station and then southeast from

86044`E where it receives the Beko Nala flowing in east-south east direction.

2.9.4 The Kasai:

The Kasai is the most important river of Purulia district, although for more than

three- fourths of its length it is non-perennial. The Jabarban peak on the Ghoramara Pahar

is the place of origin of the southeast flowing Kangsai Nala which becomes Kasai Nadi

after receiving the combined waters of Girgiri Nala and SaharJore 3 Km north of

Begunkudar. A number of non-perennial streams descend down the northern face of the

Baghmundi Hills as right - bank tributaries of the Kasai.

2.9.5 The Kumari:

The Kumari Nadi issues from the eastern face of the Baghmundi uplands being

covered by dense Sal forest (Mudali Reserve Forest). From the same uplands, the Kumari

receives two tributaries: the east - flowing Kunwari Nala at an altitude of about 266

meters and the southeast flowing Hanumata Nala. The Kumari flows south – south east

almost in form of a straight and steep channel and then turns east describing a less steep

and more tortuous channel. The Kumari receives numerous small right bank tributaries

from the Dalma range.

2.9.6 The Nangasai:

The Nangasai Nala originates from the saddle like interfluves of the Kumari

Subarnarekha basins and flows eastwards up to the headquarters of Barabhum Police

Station where it suddenly turns northwards to meet the Kumari on its right bank at a right

angle.



2.9.7The Silabati:

The Silabati or Silai river as well as the Arkusa Nala and their ramifying channels

have furrowed up the eastern end of the south-east projecting Dwara Keswar-Kasai

interfluves at Hura Thana. The Silabati originates at Baragram on the Manbazar - Adra

road, flows south east to Bankura district and ultimately joins the Dwarakeswar on the

border of Hooghly district.

2.10 Forest:

It is only in limited area, viz. the inaccessible uplands of Panchet, Ayodhya–

Baghmundi and Dalma and some patches of the upper catchment areas of the Silai,

Arkusha, Dwarakeswar and also the Kasai valley (in Hura Police Station) where forests

exist. Even in these tracts the forests are rarely virgin, but more often of secondary origin,

i.e. forest which have grown again after being cleared by man. Secondary dry deciduous

forests are neither as lofty nor as dense as the virgin moist deciduous forests, because they

usually grow on impoverished soils and through regeneration of coppice.

Table 4. Classification of Forest areas ( area in hectares) in the district of Purulia Class of Forest 1996-

97 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-2001

Reserved Forest

12912.64

12035.32 10370.12 10435.62 10435.62

Protected Forest

73441.16

76895.90 82693.50 67638.65 56184.66

Unclassed State Forest

2401.07

- 22274.59 22274.59 34015.01

Khas Forest - 645.47 645.47 15332.12 14686.65 Vested waste land

- - - - -

Forest owned by corporated bodies

3829.75

- - - -

Forest owned by private individuals

4541.00

23936.21 2420.00 850.00 850.00

Total 97125.62

113512.90 118403.68 116530.98 116171.94

(Source:Divisional Forest Officer, a) Purulia Division, b) Soil Conservation Division-1, c)Soil Conservation Division-11,d)Extension Forest Division, Purulia)



Table 5. Classification of Forest produce in the district of Purulia Forest Produce

Unit 1996-97 1997-98 1998-99 1999- 2000

2000-2001

Timber Thousand cubic metre

19.542 29.523 75.237 89.58 51.069

Fuel Thousand cubic metre

0.078 101.768 761.169 14.433 45.432

Pulp Wood Thousand cubic metre

- - - - 1.826

Pole In number

5983 1171 - 105344 26832

Post/Cogging Sleeper

In number

- - - 126653 -

(Source:Divisional Forest Officer,a) Purulia Division, b)Soil Conservation Division-1, c)Soil Conservation Division-11,d)Extension Forest Division,Purulia)

Forest clearing causes unpleasant consequences, since minerals and deep humus

are rapidly leached exposing poor sand or lateritic clay. Secondarily developed forests

face great hindrances in growing up again in a changed microclimate and on nutrient

exhausted soils. Only stunted trees survive on these depleted soils. Such edhaphic

influences are most prominent in the dry, gravelly and rocky surface outcrops , capable of

supporting only scrub, grass, ephemeral herbs and xerophytic plants. These plants are

better adapted to the dry season, unreliable precipitations and depleted soils. Where they

grow, the deeper layers are too dry to sustain such deep rooted plants as trees.

Sal (Shorea robusta) the most prevalent tree species has a dense growth to

compose the tropical dry deciduous type of forest. It is the Piasal (Pterocarpus

marsupium) which is prevalent in lower Hills. The sal timber is heavy, strong and tough.

The sal fruit is edible, the resin is used locally for various purposes and the bark yields

tan. Sal is always a sacred tree of tribals and under its shade their deities are worshipped.

The Muchkunda(Pterospermum acerifolium), a tall evergreen tree, is not very common,

and its large flowers are used as a disinfectant. Bel (Aegle marmelos) is in commonly

found in the wild, but katbel (Limonia acidissima) is not so common. The tun(Toona

ciliata) is a tall elegant tree the crowns of which spread out in form of numerous parasols

of delicate foliage. Its reddish and scented wood is immune to white ants for which it is

mainly used for construction purposes, cabinet work and making cigar boxes. The seeds

and leaves are used as cattle feed. The bark is a powerful astringent.



Matkam, Mohul or Mahua (Madhuca indica) is another very important plant of

the area. Its hard reddish brown timber is used for many purposes, but it is seldom cut

down for timber alone. The flowers, raw or cooked, contribute important ingredients of

food. When dry, they store well, retaining good condition for a very long time. A coarse

spirit distilled from the fermented flowers is the liquor most generally consumed in the

district, even the wild animals, such as Jackals, pigs and bears are particularly fond of the

flowers and it is on record that bears behave like drunkards after eating quantities of

flower. The unripe fruit (Kochra) is cooked as a vegetable. When ripe, the outer fleshy

pulp is only eaten. It is generally infested by a small white worm and can only be

consumed by the less fastidious people. The kernel yields an oil which is used for

culinary purposes, lamps, making soaps, anointments and adulterant of ghee. The tree is

particularly important because flowers and fruits appear in the hot season when rice

stocks are low. It has been observed that the district has a rich assemblage of timber, fibre

and oil yielding and especially medicinal plants. In addition to those mentioned in the

foregoing, the following medicinal plants are also very important.

Arisaema tortuosum, Curcuma longa, Ichnocarpus frutescens, Leucas aspera,

Argemone mexicana, Dioscorea alata, Terminalia arjuna, T. bellirica, T. chebula,

Centella asiatica, Nyctanthes arbortristis, Martynia annua, Andrographis paniculata,

Justicia adhatoda , Gloriosa superba, Euphorbia hirta, Nymphoides hydrophylla,

Jatropha gossypifolia, Nymphaea pubescens, Calotropis procera, Calotropis gigantea,

Paedaria foetida, Hygrophila Schulii, Tabernaemontana divaricata, Plumeria rubra,

Agave americana, and Pedilanthus tethymeloides.

2.11Economic status of Purulia district

Agriculture is the principal source of livelihood in Purulia district. Almost 70

percent of the working population gets engaged in agriculture either as cultivators or as

agricultural labourers. A large portion of the district’s income comes from the agricultural

sector. While the labour participation ratio in the field of agriculture is significantly high,

the average income of cultivator is very low for which there is a poor progress of

agricultural development.

Traditional implements are still in use in the district though the cultivators are

gradually becoming aware of improved agricultural practices. The land holding in the

district is too limited and the cultivators are very poor. As such, it is very difficult for



them to purchase all the modern implements. A cultivator in the district usually possesses

one plough, one sickle and one khurpi or nirani with which he works in the field while he

borrows a pair of bullocks from the rich farmers for ploughing prior to cultivation

At Hatara under Purulia Police Station, there is a Government poultry farm with

about 200 birds. In addition, there are 40 small poultry units and 10 dairy farms in the

private sector of the district.

Tasar silk weaving is an age-old industry especially in the early part of the

twentieth century when it was located at Raghunathpur and some other places.

Raghunathpur appears to have been the chief centre of the manufacture in earlier days,

but the industry was on the decline with the gradual disappearances of forests from where

the cocoons used to be procured. The raw material had to be purchased from a distance at

a high cost. The profits of manufacture were thus reduced and many of the weaving

families had to take up other occupations. The quality of silken cloth produced at

Raghunathpur was good and there was a local demand of it for weaving dhutis, saris,

chaddars, napkins and pagris.

(Source: West Bengal District Gazetters, Purulia, Government of West Bengal, 1985)

Documents

PURULIA DISTRICT AT A GLANCE - Shodhganga : a …shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/21329/13/7...Purulia district at a glance [24]The University of Burdwan, 2012 water are