View source for Ausgram II

{{Infobox settlement
|official_name          = Ausgram II 
|nickname               = 
|settlement_type        = Community development block
|motto                  =
|image_skyline          =
|imagesize              = 
|image_caption          = 
|image_flag             = 
|flag_size              =
|image_seal             = 
|seal_size              =
|image_map              = File:Ausgram-II in Purba Bardhaman (West Bengal).svg
|mapsize                = 
|map_caption            = Location in West Bengal
|pushpin_map            = 
|pushpin_label_position =right
|pushpin_mapsize=
|pushpin_map_caption    =
|subdivision_type       = Country
|subdivision_name       ={{flag|India}}
|subdivision_type1      = [[States of India|State]] 
|subdivision_name1      =[[West Bengal]]
|subdivision_type2      = [[Districts of India|District]]
|subdivision_name2      =[[Purba Bardhaman district|Purba Bardhaman]]
|subdivision_type3       =Parliamentary constituency
|subdivision_name3     = [[Bolpur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Bolpur]]
|subdivision_type4       =Assembly constituency
|subdivision_name4     = [[Ausgram (Vidhan Sabha constituency)|Ausgram]]
|leader_title           =
|leader_name            =
|established_title      =  
|established_date       = 
|area_magnitude         = 
|unit_pref                = Imperial 
|area_footnotes           =
|area_total_km2           =  360.45
|area_land_km2            = 
|population_as_of               = 2011
|population_footnotes           =
|population_note                =
|population_total               = 150,896
|population_density_km2   = auto
|timezone               = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]] 
|utc_offset             =  +5.30
|coordinates            = {{coord|23|32|08.5|N|87|39|42.5|E|display=inline}}
|elevation_footnotes    = 
|elevation_m            = 65
|elevation_ft           = 
|postal_code_type       = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
|postal_code            = 713126 (Bhedia)
|area_code_type         = Telephone/[[Subscriber trunk dialling|STD]] code
|area_code              = 03452 
|registration_plate     = [[List of RTO districts in India#WB.E2.80.94West Bengal|WB]]-37, [[List of RTO districts in India#WB.E2.80.94West Bengal|WB]]-38, [[List of RTO districts in India#WB.E2.80.94West Bengal|WB]]-41, [[List of RTO districts in India#WB.E2.80.94West Bengal|WB]]-42, [[List of RTO districts in India#WB.E2.80.94West Bengal|WB]]-44
|blank_name             = Literacy Rate
|blank_info             =  68.00 per cent
|website                =  http://purbabardhaman.gov.in/
|footnotes              = 
}}
'''Ausgram II''' is a [[Community development block in India|community development block]]. It is a municipality in [[Bardhaman Sadar North subdivision]] of [[Purba Bardhaman district]] in the [[India]]n [[States and territories of India|state]] of [[West Bengal]].

==History==
===Pre-history===
Studies at the nearby [[Pandu Rajar Dhibi]] archeological site have found, overall, six layers of occupation. There are traces of a civilisation similar to the [[Indus Valley Civilisation|Indus Valley Bronze Age civilisation]] found at [[Harappa]] in [[Punjab]] (2600 - 1900 BCE) and to the [[Minoan civilization]] of [[Crete]] (3100  - 1450 BCE).<ref>Chattopadhyay, Akkori, ''Bardhaman Jelar Itihas O Lok Sanskriti'' (History and Folk lore of Bardhaman District.), {{in lang|bn}}, Vol I, pp125-130, Radical Impression. {{ISBN|81-85459-36-3}}</ref> The main mound at Pandu Rajar Dhibi is associated with [[Pandu]], the [[Kuru Kingdom|Kuru King]] (1200 - 900 BCE) with evidence of [[Archaeology of India|Chalolithic Bronze Age]] (1600 - 750 BCE) and then [[Iron Age in India|Iron Age]] (1300 - 300 BCE) peoples.<ref>{{cite book |last=Mukherjee |first=Shyam Chand |year=2012 |chapter=Pandu Rajar Dhibi |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Pandu_Rajar_Dhibi |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]}}</ref>

===Medieval history===
[[Medieval India]] refers to the period between the fall of the [[Gupta Empire]] in the 6th century CE and the rise of the [[Mughal Empire]] in the 16th century CE.

The region between the [[Damodar River]] and the [[Ajay River]] was known as "[[Gopbhum]] ". It was here that the [[Sadgop]] kings ruled in the late medieval period. Their presence continues in the region as part of the [[Yadav]] community.

As it is said, traditionally, that in the 11th century CE, the Hindu king, [[Adi Sura]] brought five [[Brahmin]] and [[Kayastha]] from [[Kannauj]], in what is now [[Uttar Pradesh]], to Gopbhum in order to revive orthodox Brahminical Hinduism in West Bengal and that they are represented now by the [[Bengali Brahmin|Kulin]] community.<ref>Chattopadhyay, Akkori, pp 150-151</ref>

In the 14th century CE, King Mahendranath ruled from his fort at [[Amrargar]]. One can see the elementary remains of the foundation of a fort.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://bardhaman.gov.in/tourism/tourism.htm |title = Bardhaman district | work=  Tourism |publisher= Bardhaman district administration  | access-date = 26 February 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url =  http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/DCHB/DCHB_A/19/1909_PART_A_DCHB_BARDDHAMAN.pdf | title = District Census Handbook, Series 20, Part XIIA  | work = Page 126, Places of Historical Importance  | publisher = Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal  | access-date =  24 March 2017}}</ref> In the 17th century CE, the Amrargar chiefdom faced the warriors of the [[Bardhaman Raj]] and in the 18th century, [[Bargi]] mercenaries of the [[Maratha Confederacy]].<ref>Chattopadhyay, Akkori, pp209, 292-293</ref>

==Geography==
Ausgram II CD Block is located in the central area of West Bengal, the eastern most state of India. It is approximately 41km northwest from the centre of [[Bardhaman]] (Burdwan) city, the capital of [[Purba Bardhaman district]] and approximately 100 km northwest of [[Kolkata]], the state capital.

Ausgram II has an area of 360.45 km<sup>2</sup> . To the north, Ausgram II is bordered by the Ajay River. To the east is Ausgram I. To the south is [[Galsi I]] and to the west is the border with [[Paschim Bardhaman district]].

[[File:Ajay river in Jharakhand 01.jpg|thumb|Ajay river, a view from railway track in Jharakhand near Deghar]]

Within the CD Block there are 7 local government areas (''[[Panchayat samiti]]'' or ''[[Gram panchayat]]''). They are Amarpur, Balki, Bhedia, Debsala, Eral, Kota and Ramnagar. There are 113 village council areas (''gram sansads''), 106 administrative areas (''[[Mouza]]'') and 102 villages. [[Amrargar]] village is the CD Block administrative headquarters. Villages with over 4000 inhabitants include Debshala, Kota Chandipur, Chhora, Pubar, Amragar, Eral, Sar and Bhedia.<ref name="census2011" /><ref>{{cite web |title=District Census Handbook: Barddhaman |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/1909_PART_B_DCHB_BARDDHAMAN.pdf |access-date=22 January 2017 |work=Map of Barddhaman with CD Block HQs and Police Stations (on the fourth page) |publisher=Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Tehsil Map of Barddhaman |url=http://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/westbengal/tehsil/barddhman.html |access-date=23 January 2017 |work=CD Block/ Tehsil |publisher=Maps of India}}</ref>

Ausgram II CD Block is a [[Irrigation in India|canal irrigated]] agricultural area located on the Kanksa Ketugram flood plain of the [[Ajay River|Ajay]] river. The uneven laterite territory found in the western part of Bardhaman district extends up to Ausgram and then the alluvial flood plains commence.<ref>Chattopadhyay, Akkori, ''Bardhaman Jelar Itihas O Lok Sanskriti'' (History and Folk lore of Bardhaman District.), {{in lang|bn}}, Vol I, p18,28, Radical Impression. {{ISBN|81-85459-36-3}}</ref> The CD Block is vulnerable to flooding. Factors contributing to this vulnerability include loss of forested land, damage to the embankments of the Ajay river, and [[Monsoon of South Asia|Monsoonal]] rainfall.<ref>Chattopadhyay, Akkori, p38, 542</ref><ref>Chattopadhyay, Akkori, p472</ref><ref>Chattopadhyay, Akkori, p 35</ref>

==Demographics==

[[File:Four Aatchala Temple at Amrargarh in Purba Bardhaman district.jpg|thumb|Four Aatchala Temple at Amrargarh in Purba Bardhaman district]]

In 2011, the [[2011 Census of India]] found the Ausgram II CD Block population was 150,896. There were 77,184 (51%) males and 73,712 (49%) females. The number of children under 6 years of age was 17,204. Residents belonging to the [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes|Scheduled Castes]] numbered 57,141 (37.87%) and to [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes|Scheduled Tribes]], 21,759 (14.42%).<ref name="census2011">{{cite web| url = http://censusindia.gov.in/pca/cdb_pca_census/Houselisting-housing-WB.html |title = C.D. Block Wise Primary Census Abstract Data(PCA) | work= 2011 census: West Bengal – District-wise CD Blocks|publisher= Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India  | access-date = 16 January 2017}}</ref>

From 1991 to 2011, the total population increased.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.cmc.net.in/wbcensus/HouseListingF/SCST/All_distSCST(TRU1)9.htm |title=TRU for all Districts (SC & ST and Total) |access-date=4 February 2017 |work=Census 2001 |publisher=Census Commission of India |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719040022/http://web.cmc.net.in/wbcensus/HouseListingF/SCST/All_distSCST%28TRU1%299.htm |archive-date=2011-07-19 }}</ref> In 2020, the total population was 175,760.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ausgram - Ii {{!}} CD Block {{!}} GeoIQ |url=https://geoiq.io/places/Ausgram---Ii/ObQahv9qra |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=geoiq.io}}</ref>

At the 2011 Census of India, 68% of residents over 6 years of age were designated literate, an increase of approximately 5 % since 2001.  Approximately 15% more males were literate than females.<ref name="census2011" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.cmc.net.in/wbcensus/DataTables/02/Table5_9.htm |title=Provisional population totals, West Bengal, Table 5, Bardhaman District |access-date= 4 February 2017 |work=Census of India 2001 |publisher=Census Commission of India |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928211117/http://web.cmc.net.in/wbcensus/DataTables/02/Table5_9.htm |archive-date=2011-09-28 }}</ref> 85.24% of the population spoke [[Bengali language|Bengali]] and 12.86% spoke [[Santali language|Santali]] as their first language.<ref name="languages">{{Cite web |title=Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: West Bengal |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/10226/download/13338/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-1900.XLSX |website=www.censusindia.gov.in |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>

In 2011, 77.32% of residents were [[Hindus|Hindu]], 21.35% were [[Muslims|Muslim]] and 0.35% were [[Christians|Christian]].<ref name="religion">{{Cite web |date=2011 |title=Table C-01 Population by Religion: West Bengal |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11396/download/14509/DDW19C-01%20MDDS.XLS |website=censusindia.gov.in |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>

In 2005, a household survey found 44.85% of residents living in [[Below Poverty Line|below the India poverty line.]]<ref>{{cite web |url = http://wbplan.gov.in/HumanDev/DHDR/District%20DEV%20Report.%20Burdwan%20%202012%20total%20Book%20Curve%20Red.pdf |title = District Human Development Report: Bardhaman |work = Table 4.2: Empirical Measurement of Rural Poverty in Bardhaman 2005, page 94 |publisher = Development and Planning Department, Government of West Bengal, 2011 |access-date = 30 January 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170814062640/http://wbplan.gov.in/HumanDev/DHDR/District%20DEV%20Report.%20Burdwan%20%202012%20total%20Book%20Curve%20Red.pdf |archive-date = 14 August 2017 |url-status = dead }}</ref>

==Economy==

[[File:Bulls with Plough and Cow - Bhedia - NH 2B - Bardhaman 2014-06-28 5165.JPG|thumb|Bulls with a plough and a cow in Bhedia.]]

Ausgram II has an agricultural economy. In 2011, 16.18% of workers were farmers and 59.19% were agricultural labourers. 5.13% worked in [[Putting-out system|home based industries.]] 19.50% worked in other settings and the secondary and tertiary sectors.<ref name="handbook2014">{{cite web |title=District Statistical Handbook 2014 Bardhaman |url=http://wbpspm.gov.in/publications/District%20Statistical%20Handbook |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121045803/http://www.wbpspm.gov.in/publications/District%20Statistical%20Handbook |archive-date=21 January 2019 |access-date=30 January 2017 |work=Tables 2.7, 2.1, 8.2, 16.1, 17.2, 18.1, 18.2, 20.1, 21.2, 4.4, 3.1, 3.3 – arranged as per use |publisher=Department of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of West Bengal}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=District Human Development Report: Bardhaman |url=http://wbplan.gov.in/HumanDev/DHDR/District%20DEV%20Report.%20Burdwan%20%202012%20total%20Book%20Curve%20Red.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814062640/http://wbplan.gov.in/HumanDev/DHDR/District%20DEV%20Report.%20Burdwan%20%202012%20total%20Book%20Curve%20Red.pdf |archive-date=14 August 2017 |access-date=30 January 2017 |work=Block/ Sub-division wise Variation in Occupational Distribution of Workers, page 47 |publisher=Development and Planning Department, Government of West Bengal, 2011}}</ref>

In 2004, the cropped area of Ausgram II was 22,705 hectares (62%). 32% of the cropped area produced more than one crop.<ref>{{cite web |title=District Human Development Report, Bardhaman |url=http://wbplan.gov.in/HumanDev/DHDR/District%20DEV%20Report.%20Burdwan%20%202012%20total%20Book%20Curve%20Red.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814062640/http://wbplan.gov.in/HumanDev/DHDR/District%20DEV%20Report.%20Burdwan%20%202012%20total%20Book%20Curve%20Red.pdf |archive-date=14 August 2017 |access-date=30 January 2017 |work=Table 3.10, Gross Cropped Area, Net Cropped Area and Cropping Intensity of different blocks of Bardhaman district 2003-04, Page 53 |publisher=Development and Planning Department, Government of West Bengal, May 2011}}</ref>

[[Sharecropping]] is the predominant form of agriculture. The rights of farmers are recognised in the West Bengal Bargadari Act of 1950.<ref>{{Cite web |title=West Bengal Bargadars Act, 1950 |url=https://www.indianemployees.com/acts-rules/details/west-bengal-bargadars-act-1950#:~:text=An,%20Act%20to%20provide%20for,bargadars%20and%20owners%20of%20land. |access-date=2024-08-22 |website=www.indianemployees.com}}</ref> Since 1970, there has been some [[land reform]] in West Bengal.<ref>{{cite web |title=District Human Development Report: South 24 Parganas |url=http://wbplan.gov.in/HumanDev/DHDR/24%20pgsSouth/s24prg_main.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005044029/http://wbplan.gov.in/HumanDev/DHDR/24%20pgsSouth/s24prg_main.htm |archive-date=2016-10-05 |access-date=7 August 2016 |work=(1) Chapter 1.2, South 24 Parganas in Historical Perspective, pages 7-9 (2) Chapter 3.4, Land reforms, pages 32-33 |publisher=Development & Planning Department, Government of West Bengal, 2009}}</ref> In 2014, 56.51% of the agricultural workforce were labourers. 17.93% were holders of small land deeds ([[Patta (land deed)|''Pattadars'']]). 13.49% were farmers owning land up to 1 [[hectare]] and 4.03% owning land between 1 and 2%. 8.04% were share croppers (''Bargadars'').<ref name="handbook2014" />

The main crop is [[rice]] grown in [[paddy field]]s (32.87% of cropped area). The ''aman'' crop is planted in the monsoon and harvested in winter. The spring rice crop (the ''boro'' crop) yield is smaller but is increasing with expansion of the irrigation system and intensive cropping.<ref>{{cite web |title=District Human Development Report: Bardhaman |url=http://wbplan.gov.in/HumanDev/DHDR/District%20DEV%20Report.%20Burdwan%20%202012%20total%20Book%20Curve%20Red.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814062640/http://wbplan.gov.in/HumanDev/DHDR/District%20DEV%20Report.%20Burdwan%20%202012%20total%20Book%20Curve%20Red.pdf |archive-date=14 August 2017 |access-date=30 January 2017 |work=Occupational Structure, Status and levels of Livelihood, page 55 |publisher=Development and Planning Department, Government of West Bengal, 2011}}</ref> The ''aush'' (or ''aus'') crop, a rough rice, is sown with pre-monsoonal showers and harvested in autumn.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aush paddy |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/tags/aush-paddy |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=The Business Standard |language=en}}</ref>

[[Wheat]], [[potato]]es, [[legume]]s and [[Vegetable oil|oil-seeds]] are also grown.<ref name="handbook2014" />

In 2014, the 33% of Augram II's land area was irrigated. Most is by canal irrigation. A small amount is by river lift (pumps and direct fetching) irrigation and [[Well|deep tube wells.]]<ref name="handbook2014" />

== Services ==

[[File:Local Road - Sundalpur - NH 2B - Bardhaman 2014-06-28 5152.JPG|thumb|Local road in Sundalpur.]]

All the villages in Ausgram II have a supply of drinking water and a power supply. Most villages have telephone communication.  27 villages (26.47%) have post offices. Not all have a paved approach road and transport options.

===Banking===

In 2014, there were 6 commercial banks, and 4 government owned [[regional rural bank]]s (''gramin'' banks) across Ausgram II.<ref name="handbook2014" /> In 2011, 22 villages (21.57%) had [[Primary Agricultural Credit Society|agricultural credit societies]].<ref>{{cite web |title=District Census Handbook Barddhaman, Census of India 2011, Series 20, Part XII A |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/dchb/DCHB_A/19/1909_PART_A_DCHB_BARDDHAMAN.pdf |access-date=9 February 2019 |work=Page 102 Table 36: Distribution of villages according to availability of different amenities, 2011 |publisher=Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal}}</ref>

=== Commerce ===

In 2014, there were 44 fertiliser depots, 1 seed store and 36 [[Public distribution system|fair price shops]] in Ausgram II.<ref name="handbook2014" />

=== Transport ===

[[File:Bhedia railway station 05.jpg|thumb|Bhedia railway station, Purba Bardhaman district, West Bengal]]

In 2014, Ausgram II had 8 individual bus routes.<ref name="handbook2014" /> In 2017, there was access to the Khana-Barharwa section of [[Sahibganj Loop]] with a station at Bhedia.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://indiarailinfo.com/train/timetable/barddhaman-rampurhat-bamdev-passenger-53065/14455/2/438 |title = 53065 Bardhaman-Rampurhat Bamdev Passenger |work = Time Table | publisher= indiarailinfo | access-date = 10 February 2017}}</ref>

=== Education ===

In 2011, 5 villages in Ausgram II had no school. In 2014, Ausgram II had 133 primary schools with 8,691 students, 7 middle schools with 469 students, 15 high schools with 8,049 students and 6 higher secondary schools with 6,560 students. There were 343 institutions for special and non-formal education.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Directorate of Industrial Training West Bengal |url=https://iti.wb.gov.in/institute/home/ausgram |access-date=2024-08-23 |website=iti.wb.gov.in}}</ref>

=== Health ===
In 2014, Ausgram II had health centres with a total of 39 beds and 7 doctors. The majority of patients were treated in an outdoor setting.<ref name="handbook2014" /> The main facility is at [[Jamtara]].<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.wbhealth.gov.in/ | title = Health & Family Welfare Department | work = Health Statistics | publisher = Government of West Bengal | access-date = 19 January 2019 | archive-date = 28 October 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211028134305/https://qphs.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-99a499ee367f0c1530476c81086270c8 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

== Places of interest ==
[[Ramnabagan Wildlife Sanctuary]], near Burdwan village was established in 1981. It covers an area of 0.14&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wildlife Sanctuaries of West Bengal |url=http://www.westbengalforest.gov.in/urls_all/forest_wildlife_sanctuary.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330223558/http://www.westbengalforest.gov.in/urls_all/forest_wildlife_sanctuary.html |archive-date=2012-03-30 |access-date=2011-08-26 |publisher=West Bengal Forest Department}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|3}}

==External links==
* [http://bardhaman.gov.in/blocks/blocks.htm District map showing blocks]
* [https://www.wildbengal.com/ramnabagan-wls.php Ramnabagan Wildlife Sanctuary]

{{Municipalities of West Bengal}}
{{Purba Bardhaman topics}}

[[Category:Community development blocks in Purba Bardhaman district]]