Barabani is a community development block (CD block) that forms an administrative division in Asansol subdivision of Paschim Bardhaman district in the Indian state of West Bengal.
Geography
Barabani CD Block is part of the Ajay Damodar Barakar tract. This area is sort of an extension of the Chota Nagpur Plateau. It is a rocky area with laterite soil, with the Ajay on the north, the Damodar on the south and the Barakar on the west. Once heavily wooded, the discovery of coal in the eighteenth century led to industrialisation and the clear-cutting of most of the forests.
Barabani CD Block is bounded by Nala CD Block, in Jamtara district of Jharkhand, on the north, Jamuria and Raniganj CD Blocks on the east, Asansol (municipal corporation) and after that Santuri CD Block, in Purulia district, and Saltora CD Block, in Bankura district, on the south and Salanpur CD Block on the west.
Barabani CD Block has an area of 156.35 km2. It has 1 panchayat samity, 8 gram panchayats, 92 gram sansads (village councils), 49 mouzas and 46 inhabited villages. Barabani police station serves this block. Headquarters of this CD Block is at Domohani Bazar.
Nunia, a small stream about 40 km long has its origin near Adra village in the Salanpur area, flows through the Barabani area, past Asansol and joins the Damodar in the Raniganj area.
Gram panchayats of Barabani block/panchayat samiti are: Barabani, Domohani, Itapara, Jamgram, Nuni, Pangachhia, Panuria and Punchra.
Demographics
Population
As per the 2011 Census of India Barabani CD Block had a total population of 127,542, of which 79,255 were rural and 48,287 were urban. There were 65,912 (52%) males and 61,630 (48%) females. Population below 6 years was 16,720. Scheduled Castes numbered 37,542 (29.44%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 18,903 (14.82%).
As per 2001 census, Barabani block had a total population of 110,361, out of which 57,735 were males and 52,626 were females. Barabani block registered a population growth of 9.97 per cent during the 1991-2001 decade. Decadal growth for Bardhaman district was 14.36 per cent. Decadal growth in West Bengal was 17.84 per cent. Scheduled castes at 34,630 formed around one-third the population. Scheduled tribes numbered 16,905.
Census Towns in Barabani CD Block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Panuria (8,399), Domohani (12,480), Bhanowara (8,855), Majiara (5,444), Pangachhiya (9,165) and Charanpur (Outgrowth) (3,944).
Large villages (with 4,000+ population) in Barabani CD Block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Kelejora (5,533) and Jamgram (7,614).
Other villages in Barabani CD Block include (2011 census figures in brackets): Barabani (2,330), Nuni (2,557), Puchra (3,814) and Itapora (1,724).
Literacy
As per the 2011 census the total number of literates in Barabani CD Block was 77,115 (69.58% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 45,474 (79.36% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 31,641 (59.12% of the female population over 6 years). The gender disparity (the difference between female and male literacy rates) was 20.24%.
As per 2001 census, Barabani block had a total literacy of 63.57 per cent for the 6+ age group. While male literacy was 75.99 per cent female literacy was 49.88 per cent. Bardhaman district had a total literacy of 70.18 per cent, male literacy being 78.63 per cent and female literacy being 60.95 per cent.
Language and religion
In the 2011 census Hindus numbered 108,710 and formed 87.95% of the population in Barabani CD Block. Muslims numbered 13,686 and formed 11.07% of the population. Christians numbered 67 and formed 0.05% of the population. Others numbered 1,135 and formed 0.92% of the population.
At the time of the 2011 census, 72.56% of the population spoke Bengali, 12.39% Hindi, 11.83% Santali and 1.97% Urdu as their first language.
Rural poverty
As per poverty estimates obtained from household survey for families living below poverty line in 2005, rural poverty in Barabani CD Block was 29.48%.
Economy
Livelihood
In Barabani CD Block in 2011, amongst the class of total workers, cultivators numbered 3,919 and formed 9.44% of the total workers, agricultural labourers numbered 8,716 and formed 21.00%, household industry workers numbered 1,020 and formed 2.48% and other workers numbered 27,842 and formed 67.08%. Total workers numbered 41,506 and formed 33.58% of the total population, and non-workers numbered 82,092 and formed 66.42% of the population.