Kalchini is a community development block (CD block) that forms an administrative division in the Alipurduar subdivision of the Alipurduar district in the Indian state of West Bengal.
Geography
Kalchini is located at .
The Kalchini CD block lies in north-central part of the district. The Torsha River/ Holong River flows along the western boundary of the CD block and the Kaljani River flows through it. It has hilly terrain which is part of the sub-Himalayan ranges.
The Kalchini CD block is bounded by the Chukha District in Bhutan on the north, Kumargram and Alipurduar II CD blocks on the east, Alipurduar II CD block on the south and Madarihat-Birpara CD block on the west.
The Kalchini CD block has an area of 711.61 km2. It has 1 panchayat samity, 11 gram panchayats, 193 gram sansads (village councils), 43 mouzas, 41 inhabited villages and 4 census towns. Kalchini and Jaigaon police stations serve this block. Headquarters of this CD block is at Kalchini.
Gram panchayats of Kalchini block/ panchayat samiti are: Chuapara, Dalsingpara, Garopara, Jaigaon I, Jaigaon II, Kalchini, Latabari, Malangi, Mendabari, Rajabhatkhawa and Satali.
Demographics
Population
According to the 2011 Census of India, the Kalchini CD block had a total population of 298,458, of which 211,808 were rural, and 86,650 were urban. There were 154,829 (52%) males and 143,269 (48%) females. There were 34,627 persons in the age range of 0 to 6 years. The Scheduled Castes numbered 30,157 (10.10%) and the Scheduled Tribes numbered 120,282 (40.30%).
According to the 2001 census, Kalchini block had a total population of 252,322, out of which 128,622 were males and 123,700 were females. Kalchini block registered a population growth of 24.26 per cent during the 1991-2001 decade.
Census towns in the Kalchini CD block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Jaigaon (42,254), Mechiabasti (9,592), Uttar Satali (18,454), Uttar Latabari (16,354).
Large villages (with 4,000+ population) in the Kalchini CD block are (2011 census figures in brackets): Saudamini Tea Garden (4,225), Madhu Tea Garden (4,540), Satali Tea Garden (12,178), Malangi Tea Garden (9516), Beech Tea Garden (6,898), Bharnobari Tea Garden (7,057), Dalsingpara Tea Garden (17,167), Tosra Tea Garden (7,258), Gopimohan Tea Garden (8,290), Nimtijhora Tea Garden (4,120), Rangamati Tea Garden (9,987), Chuapara Tea Garden (7,229), Mechpara Tea Garden (6,112), Bhatpara Tea Garden (9,985), Kalchini Tea Garden (22,072), Gangutia Tea Garden (5,360), Dima Tea Garden (5,830), Bhatkhawa Tea Garden (6,680), Atiabari Tea Garden (7,504), Rajabhat Tea Garden (4,275) and Buxa Forest (Raja Bhatkhawa) (9,242).
Other villages in the Kalchini CD block include (2011 census figures in brackets): Uttar Mandabari (3,481), Buxa HillForest (2,889) and Buxa Forest (Panbari Khanda) (861).
Literacy
According to the 2011 census, the total number of literate persons in the Kalchini CD block was 181,946 (68.96% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 106,237 (77.45% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 75,709 (59.77% of the female population over 6 years). The gender disparity (the difference between female and male literacy rates) was 17.67%.
See also – List of West Bengal districts ranked by literacy rate
Language and religion
In the 2011 Census of India, Hindus numbered 200,214 and formed 67.08% of the population of Kalchini CD block. Christians numbered 42,780 and formed 14.33% of the population. Muslims numbered 25,591 and formed 8.57% of the population. Buddhists numbered 21,731 and formed 7.28% of the population. Others numbered 5,957 and formed 17.06% of the population. Others include Addi Bassi, Marang Boro, Santal, Saranath, Sari Dharma, Sarna, Alchchi, Bidin, Sant, Saevdharm, Seran, Saran, Sarin, Kheria, Kirat Mundhum, Mun, and other religious communities.
At the time of the 2011 census, 30.05% of the population spoke Sadri, 26.34% Nepali, 14.21% Bengali, 8.17% Hindi, 3.93% Bhojpuri, 2.99% Kurukh, 2.85% Boro and 1.73% Rabha as their first language. Other languages spoken by small numbers in the district include Mundari, Urdu, Santali, and Tamang.
Poverty level
Based on a study of the per capita consumption in rural and urban areas, using central sample data of NSS 55th Round 1999-2000, Jalpaiguri district was found to have relatively high rates of poverty of 35.73% in rural areas and 61.53% in the urban areas. It was one of the few districts where urban poverty rate was higher than the rural poverty rate.