South Dinajpur

South Dinajpur district or Dakshin Dinajpur district (Bengali: দক্ষিণ দিনাজপুর জেলা) is a district of West Bengal state of India. The district was created on April 1, 1992. The district comprises two subdivisions: Balurghat subdivision and Gangarampur subdivision.
Contents [hide]
1 History
2 Economy
3 Demographics
4 Education
5 Subdivisions
5.1 Balurghat subdivision
5.2 Gangarampur subdivision
6 Assembly constituencies
6.1 Impact of delimitation of constituencies
7 References
8 External links
[edit]History

The erstwhile Dinajpur District, at the time of the partition of India, was split up into West Dinajpur district and East Dinajpur. The East Dinajpur district, now called Dinajpur, became part of East Pakistan, now Bangladesh. The West Dinajpur district was enlarged in 1956, when States Reorganisation Act recommendations were implemented, with the addition of some areas of Bihar. The district was bifurcated into Uttar Dinajpur and Dakshin Dinajpur on April 1, 1992.[1][2]
[edit]Economy

Dakshin Dinajpur is predominantly an agricultural district with large area of land being under cultivation. The district is drained by a number of North-South flowing river like Atreyee, Purnabhaba, Tangon and Brahmani, to give rise to a sizeable but unorganized fishing community.
Dakshin Dinajpur is a "Non Industry" district having no large scale industry. The first industry in medium scale sector got off to a start in the district in November, 2003. Internet access is available from most of the cities, even though broadband connections are not available. As for transport, there is one State Highway with only 3 km of National Highway No. 34 falling within the district. A new railway line has been laid between Eklakhi and Balurghat, the district headquarter. Train services has been started on December 30, 2004.
[edit]Demographics

Bengali is the principal language of the district. The principal communities are Hindus and Muslims, constituting the major portion of the population.
[edit]Education

The Dinajpur city does not have any Engineering or Medical College. But it does have a few good schools including the The Atreyee English Medium School, in Balurghat. Many other Government schools also exist throughout the district. Balurghat College is the most popular college in the district. A Government-funded girls' college also exists in Balurghat. Balurghat also has a law college and a B.Ed college.
[edit]Subdivisions

The district comprises two subdivisions: Balurghat and Gangarampur. Balurghat consists of Balurghat municipality and four community development blocs: Hili, Balurghat, Kumarganj and Tapan. Gangarampur subdivision consists of Gangarampur municipality and four community development blocs: Gangarampur, Bangsihari, Harirampur and Kushmandi.[3] Balurghat is the district headquarters. There are 8 police stations,[4] 8 development blocks, 2 municipalities, 65 gram panchayats and 2317 villages in this district.[5][3]
Other than municipality area, each subdivision contains community development blocs which in turn are divided into rural areas and census towns.[6] In total there are 2 urban units, both of which are municipalities. Chak Bhrigu and Baidynathpara were two urban outgrowths noted in census 2001.
[edit]Balurghat subdivision
Balurghat: municipality
Hili community development bloc consists of rural areas only with 5 gram panchayats.
Balurghat community development bloc consists of rural areas only with 11 gram panchayats.
Kumarganj community development bloc consists of rural areas only with 8 gram panchayats.
Tapan community development bloc consists of rural areas only with 11 gram panchayats.
[edit]Gangarampur subdivision
Gangarampur: municipality
Gangarampur community development bloc consists of rural areas only with 11 gram panchayats.
Bansihari community development bloc consists of rural areas only with 5 gram panchayats.
Harirampur community development bloc consists of rural areas only with 6 gram panchayats.
Kushmandi community development bloc consists of rural areas only with 8 gram panchayats.
[edit]Assembly constituencies

The district is divided into 5 assembly constituencies:[7]
Kushmandi (SC) (assembly constituency no. 33),
Gangarampur (assembly constituency no. 35),
Tapan (ST) (assembly constituency no. 36),
Kumarganj (assembly constituency no. 37),
Balurghat (assembly constituency no. 38) and
Tapan constituency is reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST) candidates. Kushmandi constituency is reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) candidates. Along with one assembly constituency from North Dinajpur district, the six assembly constituencies of this district form the Balurghat (Lok Sabha constituency), which is reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) candidates.
[edit]Impact of delimitation of constituencies
As per order of the Delimitation Commission in respect of the delimitation of constituencies in the West Bengal, the district will be divided into 6 assembly constituencies:[8]
Kushmandi (SC) (assembly constituency no. 37),
Kumarganj (assembly constituency no. 38),
Balurghat (assembly constituency no. 39),
Tapan (ST) (assembly constituency no. 40),
Gangarampur (SC) (assembly constituency no. 41) and
Harirampur (assembly constituency no. 42).
Tapan constituency will be reserved for Scheduled Tribes (ST) candidates. Kushmandi and Gangarampur constituencies will be reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) candidates. Along with one assembly constituency from North Dinajpur district, the six assembly constituencies of this district will form the Balurghat (Lok Sabha constituency).
[edit]References

^ "Uttar Dinajpur Website". Government of India Portal. Retrieved 2008-11-10.
^ "Historical Perspective". Official website of South Dinajpur district from Government of India Portal. Retrieved 2008-11-10.
^ a b "Directory of District, Sub division, Panchayat Samiti/ Block and Gram Panchayats in West Bengal, March 2008". West Bengal. National Informatics Centre, India. 2008-03-19. Retrieved 2008-11-08.
^ "Census of India 2001, Final Population Totals, West Bengal, Rural Frame". West Bengal. Directorate of census operations. Retrieved 2008-11-09.
^ "District Profile". Official website of the South Dinajpur district. Retrieved 2008-11-09.
^ "Population, Decadal Growth Rate, Density and General Sex Ratio by Residence and Sex, West Bengal/ District/ Sub District, 1991 and 2001". West Bengal. Directorate of census operations. Retrieved 2008-11-09.
^ "General election to the Legislative Assembly, 2001 – List of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies". West Bengal. Election Commission of India. Retrieved 2008-11-18.
^ "Press Note, Delimitation Commission". Assembly Constituencies in West Bengal. Delimitation Commission. Retrieved 2008-11-18.