Dhupguri is a community development block (CD block) that forms an administrative division in the Jalpaiguri Sadar subdivision of the Jalpaiguri district in the Indian state of West Bengal.
Geography
The Dhupguri CD block lies in the eastern part of the district. The Jaldhaka River flows along a portion of its western boundary and the Dadua River flows along its eastern boundary. The northern portion has hilly terrain which is part of the sub-Himalayan ranges, the central tract is locally called Bhaber. The southern portion is gently sloping alluvial plain locally called Terai.
The Dhupguri CD block is bounded by the Banarhat CD block on the north, Madarihat-Birpara and Falakata CD blocks in Alipurduar district on the east, Mekhliganj and Mathabhanga II CD blocks in Cooch Behar district on the south, and Maynaguri CD block on the west.
The Dhupguri CD block has an area of 565.10 km2. It has 1 panchayat samity, 9 gram panchayats, 296 gram sansads (village councils), 103 mouzas, 98 inhabited villages and 2 census towns. Dhupguri and Banarhat police stations serve this block. Headquarters of this CD block is at Dhupguri.
Gram panchayats of Dhupguri block/ panchayat samiti are: Barogharia, Gadhearkuthi, Godong I, Godong II, Jharaltagram I, Magurmari I, Magurmari II, Sakoajhora II, and Salbari II.
Demographics
Population
According to the 2011 Census of India, the Dhupguri CD block had a total population of 414,854, of which 380,090 were rural, and 34,764 were urban. There were 210,571 (51%) males and 204,283 (49%) females. There were 38,992 persons in the age range of 0 to 6 years. The Scheduled Castes numbered 190,816 (46.00%) and the Scheduled Tribes numbered 87,273 (21.04%).
According to the 2001 census, Dhupguri block had a total population of 417,519, out of which 217,015 were males and 200,504 were females. Dhupguri block registered a population growth of 20.89 per cent during the 1991-2001 decade.
Census towns in the Dhupguri CD block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Banarhat (15,652), Telipara Tea Garden (11,535) and Gairkata (7,577).
Large villages (with 4,000+ population) in the Dhupguri CD block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Red Bank Tea Garden (4,114), Ambari Tea Grden (4,800), Chaumurchi Tea Garden (11,663), Chuna Bhati Tea Garden (5,252), Kathalguri Tea Garden (6,090), Riabari Tea Garden (4,448), Haritalguri Tea Garden (6,778), Diana Tea Garden (4,097), Debpara Tea Garden (5,276), Lakshmipara Tea Garden (5,963), Gendrapara Tea Garden (9,358), Maraghat Tea Garden (5,011), Karabala Tea Garden (7,958), Binaguri Tea Garden (6,612), Sakojhora (5,586), Gayerkata Tea Garden (9,085), Haldibari Tea Garden (9,103), Mogalkata Tea Garden (5,770), Pradhanpara (5,822), Uttar Khuttimari (4,004), Madhya Khuttimari (5,276), Purbba Daukimari (6,723), Mallik Sobha (5,318), Kalirhat (4,280), Mainatali (5,620), Dakshin Kharibari (5,531), Kahalaigram (6,209), Madhya Boragari (7,987), Bara Gharia (7,090), Paschim Magurmari (5,431), Purba Magurmari (7,361), Purba Mallikpara (5,487), Dakshin Gosairhat (4,394), Kazipara (4,442), Paschim Salbari (4,824), Purba Salbari (4,886), Jhar Salbari (5,899) and Jurapani (4,522).
Other villages in the Dhupguri CD block include (2011 census figures in brackets): Gadang Pratham Khanda (1,454), Gadang Dwitiya Khanda (1,762).
Literacy
According to the 2011 census, the total number of literate persons in the Dhupguri CD block was 251,875 (69.57% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 142,427 (77.56% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 109,448 (61.36% of the female population over 6 years). The gender disparity (the difference between female and male literacy rates) was 16.20%.
See also – List of West Bengal districts ranked by literacy rate
Language and religion
In the 2011 Census of India, Hindus numbered 328,717 and formed 79.24% of the population of Dhupguri CD block. Muslims numbered 64,234 and formed 15.48% of the population. Christians numbered 18,049 and formed 4.35% of the population. Others numbered 3,854 and formed 0.93% of the population. Others include Addi Bassi, Marang Boro, Santal, Saranath, Sari Dharma, Sarna, Alchchi, Bidin, Sant, Saevdharm, Seran, Saran, Sarin, Kheria, and other religious communities.
At the time of the 2011 census, 53.63% of the population spoke Bengali, 21.16% Sadri, 6.26% Nepali, 2.95% Hindi, 2.14% Rajbongshi, 1.47% Kurukh and 0.96% Bhojpuri as their first language. 7.76% were recorded as speaking 'Other' under Bengali.