International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Research (IJSER)

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Block Level Disparity in Social Development: A

Case Study of Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal,
India
Rajeeb Samanta
Scholar of Ravenshaw University (JRF)

Abstract: A social scientist has their own perception of development processes. Economic development seems to be of little relevance in
the absence of social development. Social development essentially is one of dimensions focusing on overall development. Social
development has its focus on development of people in terms of their mutual relations and the institutional and structural change in the
society. The two most significant parameters of measuring social development include quality of life and social justice. The quality of life
in this context is measured in terms of social harmony and social cohesion and social justices that have it focus on equal right and
opportunities to all segments of a society. Social development generally includes the basic social needs which are very essential to lead a
healthy lifestyle within society. This paper emphasis on block level disparity of social development of Paschim Medinipur. Composite
index is taken into consideration for analysis of development scenario at block level. Ranks are assigning according to composite
development value. Ghatal holds the first (52.11) position where as Nayagram rank 29th in social development.

Keywords: Social development, Composite index, Quality of life, Social justice, Social harmony

1. Introduction
The social indicators play significant role in the
development process of a region. The present study aimed
at identifying the inter-block regional disparity and
imbalances in the levels of social development in Paschim
Medinipur district. In addition to the aggregate picture of
regional disparity in the levels of social development,
differential patterns of sectoral development in education,
health and public-utility are taken into consideration to
understand the spatial pattern. It further attempts to
identify the contributory geographical and other important
factors which in turn would account for such imbalances in
spatial social pattern. Social Development Index (SDI) is
important to know the aggregate picture of social
development based on all the indicators already choosen
for different sectors, to understand the nature and pattern
of spatial inequality.

2. Study Area
Paschim Medinipur located in the southern part of West
Bengal, has been carved from the erstwhile Medinipur
district, the then largest district of India and came into
existence in the present form from the 1st January 2002.
Paschim Medinipur district is the southernmost district of
the Burdwan Division, is situated between 21036 35 and Figure No 1.1
22057 10 North latitudes and between 86033 50 and
880 12 40 East longitudes. Its boundary lies in Bankura
and Purulia districts in the north, Mayurbhanj and Balasore 3. Objectives
districts of Odisha in the south, Hugli and Purba
Medinipur districts in the east and Singbhum district of The major objectives of this study are as follows:
Jharkhand and part of Odisha in the west. The total
geographical area of Paschim Medinipur district is 1. To identify the magnitude of block wise imbalances in
9345.00 sq. km. social development in Paschim Medinipur.
2. To study the various aspect of disparity in social
development.
3. To find out the root causes of this disparity and its
spatial variation and pattern in this district.
4. To understand the nature and pattern of spatial
inequality in terms of social development.
Volume 3 Issue 4, April 2015
Paper ID: IJSER15109 92 of 95
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 International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Research (IJSER)
www.ijser.in
ISSN (Online): 2347-3878, Impact Factor (2014): 3.05
4. Data base & Methodology Ij = ( Iij / n)

The study has been entirely based on secondary data and Where, Ij is development Index of jth unit of study, n is
sources are Census of India, relevant issue, 2011 and the no. of indicators under consideration in a particular
District Statistical Handbook-2011 of Paschim Medinipur. group.
Social development Index has been calculated from
following data (i) Index of Urbanization=(urban 5. Result and Discussion
population/ total population)x100 (ii) Index of
literacy=(literate population/ total population)x100 (iii) Social Development Index shows the levels of
Index of female literacy=(female literate population/ total development in overall social development among twenty
female population)x100 (iv) Index of worker=(total blocks of Paschim Medinipur. Social Development Index
worker/ total population)x100 (v) Index of is highest in Medinipur and Jhargram (0.56) combinedly,
school=(number of school/ total population)x100 (vi) followed by Jhargram (0.51) and lowest in Keshpur and
Index of safe drinking water=(mouza having drinking Garbeta-I (0.21). All the blocks of the district may be
water facility/ total mouza)x100 (vii) Index of arranged into five categories (Map No- 1.2) in descending
electrification=(mouza having electricity facility/ total order according to the development index.
mouza)x100 (viii) ) Index of hospital bed=(total bed/ total
population)x100. Social development index is calculated
by taking simple averages of all indicators in a group of
study. The equation is:

Sl Total no of
Attribute Index value Name of the block
no blocks
Very highly 52.110000-
1 Ghatal, Chandrakona -I, Medinipur 3
developed 48.894001
48.89400-
2 Highly developed Debra, Pingla, Dantan-II, Sabong, Daspur-I, Daspur-II, Chandrakona-II 7
45.678001
Moderately
45.678000-
3 developed Jhargram, Garbeta-I, Garbeta-III, Mohanpur, Kharagpur-I 5
42.462001

Low developed 42.462000- Jamboni, Gopiballavpur-II, Salboni, Keshpur, GarbetaII, Keshiary,

4 9
39.246001 Dantan-I, Narayangarh, Kharagpur-II

Very low
39.246001-
5 developed Binpur-I, Binpur-II, Nayagram, Sankrail, Gopiballavpur -I 5
36.030000

1. Very Highly development: This category comprises of 3. Moderately development: Jhargram, Garbeta-I,
following blocks like Ghatal, Chandrakona -I, Medinipur. Garbeta-III, Mohanpur, Kharagpur-I blocks are fall in this
These blocks have higher percentage safe drinking water, category. These blocks are performing very well in
electricity facility, number of school and literacy level. education and medical facility. Jhargram is mainly
Being district headquarter urbanization rate is highest in dominated by the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled
Medinipur in comparison to other blocks and act as a Tribe (ST) population and therefore received special
educational and medical hub. The sole factor of privileges and Packages both from State and Central
Educational development in Ghatal is Pandit Iswar government. Having better transportation facility
Chandra Vidyasagar, a reformer icon of West Bengal, who Kharagpur-I provides best health facilities to the people.
gave emphasis on the development of education especially These blocks are performed moderate to high in social
on female education. More than half of Schools and the development.
University of Medinipur are named after Vidyasagar and
one University of Medinipur. Ghatal shows remarkably 4. Low development: Nine blocks are come to this
83.88 percentage of female literacy. category. These blocks are mainly dominated by the
Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST)
2. Highly development: Debra, Pingla, Dantan-II, population and therefore received special privileges and
Sabong, Daspur-I, Daspur-II, Chandrakona-II blocks are Packages both from State and Central government. Many
fall in this category. Daspur-I and Daspur-II blocks shows of the blocks are fall under the jurisdiction of Paschim
cent percentage electrification and safe drinking water Anchyal Unnayan Parisad, the development authority
facility along with these education levels is also very high. which acts for development of blocks as well as entire
Other blocks of this category also show higher percentage western part of Paschim Medinipur districts by providing
of education and amenities attainment. But the poor special privilege and financial assistance. Inspite of
performance in remaining sector is due to location of far assistancy attainment in education and bed in hospital is
distances from district headquarter and disproportional very low.
allocation of facilities causes lower development in
comparison to the first category.

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ISSN (Online): 2347-3878, Impact Factor (2014): 3.05
5. Very low development: Binpur-I, Binpur-II, blocks are also responsible for the higher level
Nayagram, Sankrail, Gopiballavpur I blocks are belongs development plain Physiography with nutrient enriched
to this category. It is important to notice that these blocks alluvial mineral deposits, good quality and productive soil
consistently performed badly in all sectors of the social and favorable climate allow luxurious growth of
development. Unplanned allocation of facility in agriculture, sustain the economic base of the rural people.
accordance with the size of population of settlement Along with agricultural development, public utility and
attributed to low level of development. Besides, due to transport system of the blocks are also developed. Medium
political biasness the transfer of government funds and category blocks have been lie in three pockets viz
proper execution regarding local problems, people northern, eastern and southern part of the district and the
demands as well as requirements for development are not regions are physiographically plain land having fertile soil
being made at grass root level in western part of the and favourable climatic condition which allow higher
district which is consequently lagged behind. In sharp population concentration and endowed with higher
contrast to the low level of literacy and weakness in the agricultural development. Poor economic performance of
planning process in past has led to the growth of a large backward blocks may be traced to their poor performance
scale backward region. in the development of social infrastructure. Low developed
blocks of western part of the district with rugged
Spatial distributions of the blocks are mainly concentrated topography, infertile soil with dense forest coverage and
within Silai basin and which are situated in north eastern high concentration of SC and ST population.
and central part of the district. Physical conditions of these

Table Number 1.1

Index of
Index of Index Index Index of Index of
Index of Index of Safe
Name of the blocks Female of of Electrified hospital Social Social Rank
Urbanization Literacy drinking
Literacy Worker School Mouza bed Development Development
Water
Index Index
Jhargram 26.62 68.18 61.73 43.24 0.59 81.13 73.12 0.17 44.35 Moderate 12
Binpur -I 0.00 54.35 52.48 40.09 0.51 77.22 73.14 0.04 37.23 Very Low 27
Binpur -II 3.48 62.17 53.11 47.89 0.81 85.74 58.1 0.05 38.92 Very Low 25
Jamboni 0.00 63.91 55.36 45.20 0.49 84.02 71.53 0.03 40.07 Low 24
Nayagram 0.00 55.82 46.74 49.26 0.83 95.83 39.73 0.04 36.03 Very Low 29
Sankrail 0.00 65.01 58.13 45.40 0.79 85.71 46.77 0.04 37.73 Very Low 26
Gopiballavpur-I 0.00 57.50 48.56 43.40 0.75 99.54 43.88 0.05 36.71 Very Low 28
Gopiballavpur-II 0.00 63.34 55.13 42.41 0.73 91.15 71.26 0.05 40.51 Low 23
Salboni 0.00 65.72 58.50 45.64 0.58 77.46 86.55 0.04 41.81 Low 18
Keshpur 0.00 67.57 60.86 38.65 0.47 88.96 76.72 0.02 41.66 Low 20
Garbeta-I 4.50 63.33 57.36 39.21 0.52 83.02 100 0.04 43.50 Moderate 14
Garbeta-II 0.00 67.13 59.72 46.08 0.75 82.34 72.08 0.03 41.02 Low 22
Garbeta-III 12.22 64.23 58.25 42.83 0.51 83.62 95.83 0.22 44.71 Moderate 13
Medinipur 46.89 70.36 65.15 38.53 0.40 83.39 100 0.32 50.63 Very High 2
Debra 4.78 72.97 66.84 45.70 0.59 99.16 98.91 0.08 48.63 High 5
Pingla 0.00 73.83 67.67 50.97 0.48 96.15 99.42 0.03 48.57 High 6
Keshiary 0.00 68.04 61.21 45.07 0.60 91.36 72.36 0.04 42.34 Low 17
Dantan-I 3.59 64.85 57.19 36.90 0.59 97.49 73.18 0.02 41.73 Low 19
Dantan-II 0.00 72.99 66.73 36.07 0.46 92.97 99.14 0.03 46.05 High 10
Narayangarh 2.98 69.19 62.36 44.73 0.69 91.09 68.35 0.05 42.43 Low 16
Mohanpur 0.00 71.41 64.70 34.25 0.56 100.00 89.11 0.04 45.01 Moderate 11
Sabong 0.00 76.66 70.74 59.22 0.51 96.98 85.78 0.03 48.74 High 4
Kharagpur-I 24.23 72.69 67.14 35.76 0.30 85.87 55.31 0.21 42.69 Moderate 15
Kharagpur-II 0.00 66.73 59.63 43.38 0.53 98.02 63.89 0.04 41.53 Low 21
Chandrakona-I 20.93 71.04 67.71 38.96 0.51 97.73 98.43 0.04 49.42 Very High 3
Chandrakona-II 16.09 68.56 62.93 38.05 0.49 93.13 99.18 0.06 47.31 High 9
Ghatal 23.30 70.31 83.88 38.68 0.58 100.00 100 0.12 52.11 Very High 1
Daspur-I 0.00 74.61 68.25 41.12 0.43 100.00 100 0.28 48.09 High 8
Daspur-II 0.00 76.46 70.99 38.64 0.46 100.00 100 0.04 48.32 High 7
Source: Computed by authors, 2015

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ISSN (Online): 2347-3878, Impact Factor (2014): 3.05
[5] Das, Abhiman, (1999), Socio-Economic
Development in India: A Regional Analysis,
Development and Society, 28(2): 313-345.
[6] Debapriya, A. and Mohanty, M.K., (2008), Inter-
district Disparity in the levels of Development in
Education and Health Care Facilities: A Case of
Orissa, Indian Journal of Regional Science, 40(1):
118-123.
[7] District Human Development Report, Paschim
Medinipur, (2011): Development and Planning
Department, Government of West Bengal.
[8] District Statistical Handbook, Paschim Medinipur,
(2010-11): Department of Statistics and Programme
Implementation, Government of West Bengal.
[9] Hunter, N.W. (1876), A Statistical Account of Bengal,
London: Trubner and Company.
[10] Nair, K.R.G., (2004), Economic Reforms and
Regional Disparities in Economic and Social
Development in India, Centre for Policy Research,
13(1): 12-18

Figure 1.2

6. Conclusion
Any sorts of development requires some facilities like
proper literacy system, availability of safe drinking water,
proper electrification, availability of proper medical care
facilities which ultimately influence the nature of
urbanization. Paschim Medinipur district with its great
areal expense, coped with different physical and social
character. It can be noted down that lack of well
transportation network and job opportunity, some blocks
are in vulnerable condition. It can also noted down that
lack of proper initiatives, improper coordination between
different authorities the planning and proposals are not
properly implemented. So as a result some mouzas are
really in miserable condition. A strong initiative from local
to higher authorities with a positive approach can
minimize this inter block disparity as well as develop the
district in long run. The east west divide Paschim
Medinipur is the main backdrops of social development.

Reference

[1] An Analysis of DISE Data (2009-10): Sarva Siksha

Mission, Paschim Medinipur.
[2] Annual Administrative Report (2011-12): District
Collectorate, Paschim Medinipur.
[3] Chand, M., and Puri, V.K., (2009), Regional
Imbalances and Inequalities in India: Regional
Planning in India, New Delhi: Allied Publishers Pvt.
Limited, 165-215.
[4] Chandna, R.C. (2012), Regional Planning and
Development, New Delhi: Kalyani Publishers.

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