History
Nabadwip was the capital of Lakshman Sen from 1179g to 1203. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was born here in 1486. Ballal Dhipi in Bamanpukur, is an ancient site, which has been excavated by the Archaeological Survey of India that indicates the existence of a Buddhist vihara dating back to 10-12th century or earlier. Two separate sites are identified as Monuments of National Importance.Geography
Maheshganj is located at . Nabadwip CD Block is bounded by Krishnanagar II CD Block in the north, Krishnanagar I CD Block in the east, Santipur in the south and Purbasthali I CD Block in Bardhaman district in the west. Nadia district is mostly alluvial plains lying to the east ofDemographics
Population
As per theLiteracy
As per the 2011 census, the total number of literates in Nabadwip CD Block was 81,116 (67.72% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 45,566 (73.80% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 35,550 (61.26% of the female population over 6 years). The gender disparity (the difference between female and male literacy rates) was 12.54%. See also –Language and religion
According to the ''District Census Handbook, Nadia, 2011 census,'' as of 2001, Bengali was the mother-tongue of 97.9% of the population of Nadia district, followed by Hindi (1.1%), Santali (0.3%), Sadan/ Sadri (0.2%), Kurukh/ Oraon (0.1%),Rural poverty
The DistrictEconomy
Livelihood
In Nabadwip CD Block in 2011, amongst the class of total workers, cultivators formed 9.21%, agricultural labourers 16.77, household industry workers 27.01% and other workers 47.01%. The southern part of Nadia district starting from Krishnanagar I down to Chakdaha and Haringhata has some urban pockets specialising in either manufacturing or service related economic activity and has reflected a comparatively higher concentration of population but the urban population has generally stagnated. Nadia district still has a large chunk of people living in the rural areas.Infrastructure
There are 21 inhabited villages in Nabadwip CD Block. 100% villages have power supply and drinking water supply. 6 Villages (28.57%) have post offices. 21 villages (100%) have telephones (including landlines, public call offices and mobile phones). 13 villages (61.90%) have a pucca approach road and 9 villages (42.86%) have transport communication (includes bus service, rail facility and navigable waterways). Only 1 village (4.76%) has agricultural credit society and 2 villages (9.52%) have banks. It should, however, be noted that although 100% villages in Nadia district had power supply in 2011, a survey in 2007-08 revealed that less than 50% of households had electricity connection. In rural areas of the country, the tube well was for many years considered to be the provider of safe drinking water, but with arsenic contamination of ground water claiming public attention it is no longer so. Piped water supply is still a distant dream. In 2007–08, the availability of piped drinking water in Nadia district was as low as 8.6%, well below the state average of around 20%.Agriculture
Although the Bargadari Act of 1950 recognised the rights of bargadars to a higher share of crops from the land that they tilled, it was not implemented fully. Large tracts, beyond the prescribed limit of land ceiling, remained with the rich landlords. From 1977 onwards major land reforms took place in West Bengal. Land in excess of land ceiling was acquired and distributed amongst the peasants. Following land reforms land ownership pattern has undergone transformation. In 2013–14, persons engaged in agriculture in Nabadwip CD Block could be classified as follows: bargadars 6.75%, patta (document) holders 29.61%, small farmers (possessing land between 1 and 2 hectares) 2.94%, marginal farmers (possessing land up to 1 hectare) 25.83% and agricultural labourers 34.88%. As the proportion of agricultural labourers is very high, the real wage in the agricultural sector has been a matter of concern. Nabadwip CD Block had 29 fertiliser depots, 3 seed stores and 91 fair price shops in 2013–14. In 2013–14, Nabadwip CD Block produced 2,164 tonnes of Aman paddy, the main winter crop from 888 hectares, 8,134 tonnes of Boro paddy (spring crop) from 2,164 hectares, 2,567 tonnes of Aus paddy (summer crop) from 1,187 hectares, 17,585 tonnes of wheat from 4,307 hectares, 1,943 tonnes of maize from 752 hectares, 56,296 tonnes of jute from 3,632 hectares and 11,204 tonnes of potatoes from 371 hectares. It also produced pulses and oilseeds. In 2013–14, the total area irrigated in Nabadwip CD Block was 370 hectares, out of which 112 hectares were irrigated by river lift irrigation and 258 hectares by deep tube wells.Banking
In 2013–14, Nabadwip CD Block had offices of 7 commercial banks and 2 gramin banks.Transport
Nabadwip CD Block has 6 ferry services and 3 originating/ terminating bus services. The Bandel-Katwa branch line passes through this CD Block and there are stations at Nabadwip Dham railway station and Bishnupriya Halt. SH 8 running from Santaldih (in Purulia district) to Majhdia (in Nadia district) passes through this district.Education
In 2013–14, Nabadwip CD Block had 89 primary schools with 6,787 students, 6 middle schools with 1,196 students and 8 higher secondary schools with 9,997 students. Nabadwip CD Block had 216 institutions for special and non-formal education with 8,566 students In Nabadwip CD Block, amongst the 21 inhabited villages, 1 village did not have any school, 19 had more than 1 primary school and 8 had at least 1 primary and 7 middle school.Healthcare
In 2014, Nabadwip CD Block had 1 block primary health centre and 2 primary health centres with total 40 beds and 8 doctors (excluding private bodies). It had 18 family welfare subcentres. 3,599 patients were treated indoor and 164,449 patients were treated outdoor in the hospitals, health centres and subcentres of the CD Block. Maheshganj Rural Hospital, with 30 beds at Maheshganj, is the major government medical facility in the Nabadwip CD block. There are primary health centres at Sree Mayapur (with 10 beds) and Fakirdanga (with 2 beds). Nabadwip State General Hospital at Nabadwip functions with 125 beds. The blood bank service was started on August 14, 2015, at this Nabadwip Hospital. Nabadwip CD Block is one of the areas of Nadia district where ground water is affected by high level of arsenic contamination. The WHO guideline for arsenic in drinking water is 10 mg/ litre, and the Indian Standard value is 50 mg/ litre. All the 17 blocks of Nadia district have arsenic contamination above this level. The maximum concentration in Nabadwip CD Block is 980 mg/litre.External links
References
{{Nadia topics Community development blocks in Nadia district