| Voice of Purnia
: M N Thakur Mishra
Following are the social and developmental
challenges of Purnia district:
Intervention in the health sector is
required, as the villagers are unaware about sanitation and hygiene.
Rate of drop out has increased.
Motivation among the underprivileged for primary education is required.
Infrastructure in the rural areas of the district is very bad.
Purnia District
Area, Population & Sex Ratio
Geographical Area : 3229.0 Km2
Population in Purnia (Census 2011)
Total Population
Total : 3,273,127
Male : 1,695,829
Female : 1,577,298
Under 6 population
Total : 644,083
Male : 329,865
Female : 314,218
Disabled population
Total disabled population : 74871
In seeing : 43809
In speech : 6958
In hearing : 2900
In movement : 15403
Mental : 5801
Brief About Purnia District
Location , Area & Geography
The district of Purnia, as it existed in 1951
with an area of 12784.64 sq. km. and a population of 25,25,231 has
been pre-eminently an agricultural district.After separating the
Katihar District, the area of Purnia District was 7943 sq. km. and
accounts for 4.56 % of the state area. In the year 1990 , the district
was split two more districts namely Araria and Kishanganj. Now the
present area of the Purnia District is 3202.31 sq. kms. , Bordering
Araria district in north, Katihar and Bhagalpur district in South,
West Dinajpur district of W.B. and Kishanganj district of Bihar
in east and Madhepura and Saharsa District in the west. It is situated
between 25 degree 13 minutes 80 seconds and 27-degree 7 minutes
59 seconds north latitude and between 86 degree 59 minutes 6 seconds
and 87-degree 52 minutes 35 seconds east longitude.
Access (Transportation)
One may access Purnia District using Road &
Train services . The district is connected with National Highway
No. - 31 and the nearest Railway Station is Katihar which has linked
with most of the vital places of the country . Private as
well as State Govt. daily Bus services are available for Uttar Pradesh
, Bengal , Assam , Orisa and Jharkhand . People of these states
may reach here using bus services .
Population & Literacy
The total population of the district as per 1991
census is 18,78,885 of which male and female populations are 9,87,241
and 8,91,644 respectively. The district has 2,34,478 (Male = 1,21,271
& Female = 1,13,207) of Scheduled Caste population and 82,145
(Male = 42596 & Female = 39549) of Scheduled Tribe population.
The population under age group 0-6 is 404360 (Male = 205818 &
Female = 198542) . The literacy rate of the district is 28.52 %
(Male = 38.92 % & Female = 16.8 %) . The sex ratio is 903 (903
females per 1000 males) .The district now consists 4 sub divisions,
14 Blocks, 251 Gram Panchayats, 1296 villages, 1 Nagar Parishad
& 2 Nagar Panchayats.
Hindi is the main language of the district; however,
dialects are in vogue in different parts of the district for day-to-day
use. People of Amour and Baisa blocks, speak Surjapuri. In the eastern
side of Baisi block people speak Polia. Chhika-Chhiki or Angika
is spoken in Rupouli and Bhawanipur and some part of Dhamdaha, K.Nagar
and Purnia East Block. In Banmankhi , B.Kothi and some part of Dhamdaha.
K.Nagar people speak a mix of Maithili and Chhika-Chhiki. Santhali
people speak Santhali. In the east and South Baisi block Bangla
is also spoken. Out siders speak their own dialects.
The river Kosi and Mahananda and their tributaries
crosses different parts of the district. The tributaries are Parman,
Kankai, Soura, Faryani etc. These Himalayan originated rivers and
tributaries sub-merge with river Ganges.
The tract of land is plain, however, north and
west part is above the south as well as the eastern side of the
land of the district.
Climate and rainfall
The district has a moist humid climate. The temperature
is highest in May, when mercury shoots up to 45.5 degree Celsius
and lowest in January when it is only 8.8 degree Celsius. The Wettest
months of the year are July and August. The average annual rainfall
in the district is 1411.5 mm which is the highest rainfall in the
state of Bihar. The winter starts in November and continues up to
February. Summer starts from April and lasts up to June. Rains start
from 15th May and cool the temperature. Purnia is popularly
known as poor man's Darjeeling.
Soil and Crops
The soil of the district can be called alluvial
or Sandy loam. As the river Kosi popularly known as "River of sorrow"
used to flow in the plains of district freely and used to change
its course frequently from time to time, the district has the Soil
by recent alleviation. The principal crops grown are paddy, Jute,
Wheat, Maize, Moong, Masoor, Mustard linseed, Sugar cane and Potato.
Jute is the most important and major cash crop of the district.
Jute cultivation plays very important role in the economic uplift
of the farmer. Paddy occupies the primary position and has got more
than 60% of the gross cropped area. The soil and climate of the
district is suitable for fruit plants like coconut, Banana, Mango,
Guava, Lemon, Jeck Fruit, Pineapple and banana.
Livestock
The district of Purnea possesses a larger number
of livestock. Green grasses are available throughout the year. Purnea
district produces largest number of poultry and eggs in the state
of Bihar. The district has a suitable environment for pig production.
But the local animals required for I.R.D. Programme. The State Govt.
has established one frozen semen Bank at Maranga cattle farm. Frozen
semen of exotic breed is being utilised for cross breeding the local
cows of the district. Goat keeping is very popular among poorest
section of people.
Industries
The district has one Sugar mill at Banmankhi and
716 other small-scale industries. In spite of availability of raw
materials and abundance of laborers, no marked improvement has been
made in the field of rural and cottage industries.
Bank Branches
There are 101 bank branches of different commercial,
Rural and co-operative banks in the district as on 01/04/2000.
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