Preface
Tarakeswar is an assembly constituency in Hooghly district in the state of West Bengal. As per orders of the Delimitation Commission, No. 198 Tarakeswar (Assembly Constituency) is composed of the following: Tarakeswar Municipality, Tarakeswar Community Development Block, and Bhanderhati I, Bhanderhati II, Gopinathpur I, Gopinathpur II and Perambua Sahabazar Gram Panchayats of Dhaniakhali Community Development Block and is a part of No. 29 Arambagh (SC) Pariliamentary Constituency. It is located at 22°53′N 88°01′E. It has an average elevation of 18 meters (59 feet).
Over the years, Tarakeswar holds a traditional place of pilgrimage and the greatest centre of the Shiva sect in West Bengal. 58 km away from Kolkata, it is well-connected to Kolkata both by road and rail.
Taraknath Temple of Tarakeshwar is one of the prominent pilgrimage centers in West Bengal. This temple dates back to the 18th century. Legend has it that a devotee by name Vishnu Das emigrated with his clan from Oude (Ayodhya) and was viewed with suspicion by the locals. It is believed that he proved his innocence by holding in his hand a red hot iron bar. Later, his brother discovered a site in the nearby jungle, where cattle discharged the contents of their udders (milk) at a particular spot each day. Upon investigation, they discovered a Shivalingam. A dream is said to have revealed to them that this Shivalingam was a manifestation of Tarakeshwar – Lord Shiva … the Param Bramh… the primordial and ultimate force of the universe…the source of everything. A temple was built at this spot, and was renovated in subsequent years.
Pilgrims visit the temple throughout the year, especially on Mondays. But lakhs of pilgrims around the corners of India visit Tarakeswar on the occasions of ‘Shivaratri’ and ‘Gajan’, the former taking place in Falgun (Feb-March) while the latter lasts for five days ending on the last day of Chaitra (mid-April). The month of Sravana (mid-July to mid-August) is auspicious for Shiva when celebrations are held on each Monday.
The Howrah-Tarakeswar railway line was opened in 1885. Earlier, Tarakeswar was also a terminal for the narrow gauge Bengal Provincial Railway. It is part of the Kolkata Suburban Railway system. Tarakeswar Railway Station has been declared as a Multifunctional Station. The present Railway Line between Sheoraphully and Tarakeswar is being extended to Bishnupur, Bankura. At present, EMUs in the Howrah-Tarakeswar line is available every hour.
Tarakeswar Development Block at a Glance
| Sl. No. | Profile Item | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Area | ||
| 1.1 | Total Area | 128.37 | Sq. Km. |
| 2 | Land Status | ||
| 2.1 | Cultivated Land: | 7704.78 | Hector |
| 2.2 | Irrigated Land: | 6549 | Hector |
| 2.3 | Non-Irrigated Land: | 155.78 | Hector |
| 2.4 | Khas Land: | ||
| 2.5 | Total no. of Mouza: | 90 | Nos. |
| 2.6 | Total No. of Village: | 90 | Nos. |
| 2.7 | Total No. of Gram Sansad: | 144 | Nos. |
| 3 | Household (as per RHS 2005) | ||
| 3.1 | Average Size of Household: | 5.00 | Nos. |
| 3.2 | Total no. of Household: | 36451 | Nos. |
| 3.3 | Total no. of BPL Household: | 11495 | Nos. |
| 3.4 | Total no. of APL Household: | 24956 | Nos. |
| 4 | Population (as per Census 2011) | ||
| 4.1 | Total no. of Population: | 179148 | Nos. |
| 4.2 | Total no. of Male Population: | 91534 | Nos. |
| 4.3 | Total no. of Female Population: | 87614 | Nos. |
| 4.4 | Total no. of Children ( up to 6 Years) Population: | 19905 | Nos. |
| 4.5 | Sex Ratio: | 957 | |
| 4.6 | Total no. of SC Population: | 47631 | Nos. |
| 4.7 | Total no. of SC Male Population: | 23852 | Nos. |
| 4.8 | Total no. of SC Female Population: | 23779 | Nos. |
| 4.9 | Total no. of ST Population: | 9192 | Nos. |
| 4.1 | Total no. of ST Male Population: | 4526 | Nos. |
| 4.11 | Total no. of ST Female Population: | 4666 | Nos. |
| 4.12 | Total no. of MIN Population: | 1022 | Nos. |
| 6 | Total no. of literates Person (as per Census 2011) | ||
| 6.1 | Total no. of Literates Person: | 154139 | Nos. |
| 6.2 | Total no. of Literates Male Person: | 84931 | Nos. |
| 6.3 | Total no. of Literates Female Person: | 69208 | Nos. |
| 6.4 | Literacy Rate (%) | 72.92 | |
| 7 | Total no. of illiterates Person (as per Census 2011) | ||
| 7.1 | Total no. of illiterates Person: | 57220 | Nos. |
| 7.2 | Total no. of illiterates Male Person: | 23284 | Nos. |
| 7.3 | Total no. of illiterates Female Person: | 33963 | Nos. |
| 7.4 | Illiteracy Rate (%) | 27.68 | |
| 8 | Roads | ||
| 8.1 | Total Pucca Road (Black Top Road in Km.): | ||
| 8.2 | Total Concreted Road (in Km.): | ||
| 8.3 | Total Boulder Morum Road (in Km.): | ||
| 8.4 | Total Brick Soling Road (in Km.): | ||
| 8.5 | Total Kancha (Earthen) Road (in Km.): | ||
| 9 | Bundh (in Km.) | ||
| 9.1 | River Boundary Bundh (in Km.): | ||
| 9.2 | Jamindary Bundh (in Km.): | ||
| 9.3 | Ex-Jamindary Bundh (in Km.): | ||
| 10 | Agriculture | ||
| 10.1 | No. of Big Farmer (Land above 15 Bigha): | ||
| 10.2 | No. of Small Farmer (Land up to 15 Bigha): | ||
| 10.3 | No. of Marginal Farmer (Land up to 7.5 Bigha): | ||
| 10.4 | No. of Bargader or Bhag Chashi: | 1688 | |
| 10.5 | No. of Land Less / Patta Holder: | 1224 | |
| 10.6 | No. of Khet Majur: | ||
| 10.7 | No. of Soil testing center: | 1 | |
| 10.8 | No. of Cold Storage with Capacity | 14 (1940061 Qt.) | |
| 10.9 | KCC Coverage (%) | 99 | |
| 10.1 | No. of KCC Beneficiary | 30414 | |
| 11 | Pre-Kharif (in Hector) | ||
| 11.1 | a) Jute: | 2250 | |
| 11.2 | b) Aus Paddy: | 200 | |
| 11.3 | c) Til: | 3700 | |
| 11.4 | d) Groundnut: | 800 | |
| 11.5 | e) Moong: | 250 | |
| 11.6 | f) Summer Vegetables: | 450 | |
| – | Kharif (in Hector) | ||
| 11.7 | a) Aman Paddy: | 6900 | |
| – | Rabi (in Hector) | ||
| 11.8 | a) Mustard: | 50 | |
| 11.9 | b) Potato: | 6850 | |
| 11.1 | c) Boro Paddy: | 200 | |
| 11.11 | d) Winter Vegetables: | 350 | |
| 12 | Irrigation Facilities | ||
| 12.1 | No. of River Lift Irrigation Scheme (RLIS): | 8 | |
| 12.2 | No. of River Lift Irrigation Scheme by RIDF: | 0 | |
| 12.3 | No. of Deep Tube well Center (DTC): | 9 | |
| 12.4 | No. of Deep Tube well Center by MIC: | NIL | |
| 12.5 | No. of Mini Deep Tube well: | Govt Sector -98Private -153 | |
| 12.6 | No. of Main Boro Bundh: | (1) Kana Nadi (2) Kana Damador | |
| 12.7 | No. of Boro Allied Bundh: | (1) Kana Nadi (2) Kana Damador | |
| 12.8 | Irrigation Canal (in Km.): | 2 (Roner khal & Kana Nadi) | |
| 12.9 | No. of Pond: | 5307 | |
| 12.1 | Water Surface area of total Pond: | 143.17 | hq |
| 12.11 | No. of Sluice Gate: | ||
| 13 | Educational Institutions | ||
| 13.1 | No. of Higher Secondary School: | 11 | Nos. |
| 13.2 | No. of High School: | 6 | Nos. |
| 13.3 | No. of Junior High School: | 12 | Nos. |
| 13.4 | No. of High Madrasha: | 1 | Nos. |
| 13.5 | No. of Junior Madrasha: | 0 | Nos. |
| 13.6 | No. of Upper Primary School: | 32 | Nos. |
| 13.7 | No. of Primary School: | 114 | Nos. |
| 13.8 | No. of Sishu Shiksha Kendra (SSK): | 21 | Nos. |
| 13.9 | No. of Madhyamik Shiksha Kendra (MSK): | 3 | Nos. |
| 13.1 | No. of Jana Shiksha Kendra (JSK): | 0 | Nos. |
| 13.11 | No. of ICDS Centre: | 243 | Nos. |
| 13.12 | No. of Rural Library: | 8 | Nos. |
| 13.13 | No. of Private School (Primary): | 8 | Nos. |
| 13.14 | No. of Private School (Upper Primary): | 3 | Nos. |
| 14 | Healths | ||
| 14.1 | No. of Block Primary Health Center (BPHC): | 1 | Nos. |
| 14.2 | No. of Primary Health Center (PHC): | 2 | Nos. |
| 14.3 | No. of Subsidiary Health Sub-Centre (Upa-Swasthya Kendra): | 31 | Nos. |
| 14.4 | No. of Block Animal Health Centre: | 1 | Nos. |
| 14.5 | No. of Cenetary Mart: | 1 | Nos. |
| 14.6 | Nirmal Gram Panchayat : | Proposal is being sended | |
| 14.7 | No. of Tube well: | ||
| 14.8 | No. of Private Nursing Home: | 6 | Nos. |
| 14.9 | No. of Qualified Doctors (Allopathic): | ||
| 14.1 | No. of Doctors (Homeopathic): | 4 | Nos. |
| 14.11 | No. of Clinical Laboratory: | 6 | Nos. |
| 15 | Financial Institutions | ||
| 15.1 | No. of Commercial Bank: | 12 | Nos. |
| 15.2 | No. of Gramin Bank: | 1 | Nos. |
| 15.3 | No. of Credit Society (S.K.U.S.) with Banking facilities: | 19 | Nos. |
| 15.4 | No. of Credit Society (S.K.U.S.) without Banking facilities: | 0 | Nos. |
| 15.5 | No. of Sub-Post Office: | 1 | Nos. |
| 15.6 | No. of Post Office: | 20 | Nos. |
| 16 | Disester Management | ||
| 16.1 | No. of Flood Resque Shelter: | 1 | Nos. |
| 16.2 | No. of Helipad: | 3, Reported for trial | |
| 16.3 | No. of Mechanized Boat: | 3 | |
| 16.4 | No. of High Land: | ||
| 16.5 | No. of Godown: | 2 (FCI & RMC) | |
| 16.6 | No. of Industrial Centre: | ||
| 16.7 | No. of NGO_CBO: | 2 | |
| 16.8 | No. of Volunteer Organization: | ||
| 17 | Others Facilities | ||
| 17.1 | No. of Telephone Exchange: | 1 | Nos. |
| 17.2 | No. of Electric Supply Office: | 1 | Nos. |
| 17.3 | No. of Primary Market: | 10 | Nos. |
| 17.4 | No. of Ration Shop (MR Dealer): | 44 | Nos. |
| 17.5 | No. of Petrol Pump: | 5 | Nos. |
| 17.6 | No. of Cooking Gas Distribution Center: | 3 | Nos. |
| 17.7 | No. of Police Station: | 1 | Nos. |
| 17.8 | No. of Police Phanri: | 0 | Nos. |
| 17.9 | No. of Training Center: | 0 | Nos. |
| 17.1 | No. of Community Hall: | 1 | Nos. |
| 17.11 | No. of Register Club: | ||
| 17.12 | No. of Ferighat: | 2, (Keshabchak & Binagram) | |
| 17.13 | No. of Picnic Spot: | 0 | |
| 17.14 | No. of NRLM Group: | 622 | |
| 17.15 | No. of SHG Group: | 2819 | |
| 17.16 | No. of Historical Importance if any: | Taraknath Temple | |
| 17.17 | No. of any other information: |
