People and Lifestyle
Jhargram a subdivision of Midnapur (West) District, studded with Sal, Pial, Shagun, Mahua etc offers an undulating landscape. The region is a dual blend of rolling plateau made up of laterite soil of Gangetic Alluvial Plains, which is highly conducive for cultivation. Hence the economy of the district is mainly agriculture based and about 2,296.05 Sq.Km. of land is cultivated. The dry weather of Jhargram is highly adverse to the agriculture (as except, the monsoon, the dry weather prevails mainly) therefore for irrigation Subarnarekha have been undertaken to induce the agricultural development, which is the backbone of the rural economy.
As most of the land is dry and the rivers are only rain fed, the agriculture is supported neither by rain nor by rivers. Hence irrigation is the only way out for this problem, land with irrigation facilities in the year 2001-02 was 2,296.05 sq.km.
Rice is the major crop, and occupies the gross area, it is produced in the alluvial plains which are suitable for retaining waters. Apart from rice, legumes, wheat, corn etc. are also produced.
In recent times, the Government has opened a number of avenues for the expansion of horticulture (e.g. Vegetables, fruits, and flowers, spices, medicinal and aromatic plants) thereby making it an important source of the district's gross income. As Jhargram is not a rich storehouse for minerals, the industries, which have been developed here, are all agricultural or forest based.
Jhargram "the land of red soil", is also quoted as the land of Sal because the land is dominated by thousand acres of Sal Forest, the dense forest of this place has got its own panoramic beauty. There were also remnants of the civilization once colonized in the region, adds profound historical importance to the immense worth of the land. The reminisce of the land is due to its extensive Sal forests.
As per the literacy rate of Jhargram is approximately 60.29% which is not at all upto the mark or of fast rate. However, the literacy in the last decade is emphasized through the eradication of the illiteracy. Though in some places like Belpahari people still starve today and have malnutrition. New venture has been adopted by the Government to fulfill the national objective of sending all children between 6-14yrs to school by 2010. There are a bunch of primary and high school. Recently the district is making progress in the field of vocational training.
Jhargram is beautiful for its green forest, tourism, ethnic group, and folk & tribal culture. There is peaceful co-existence of Sabar, Lodha, Santal, Munda, Birhore like aboriginals. Their festivals, rite & rituals and colorful songs & dances are rare of the rarest of Bengal as well as India. So Jhargram is called the golden treasury of folk & tribal culture.
In addition of being a confluence of Vaishnav, Shakta & Shaiva culture, Jhargram villages also observes the worship of "gramadevata" or the god of village popularly known as the Garam Thakur - symbolized by burnt clay model of elephants & horses, laterite stone under old Sal, Mahul, Karam trees. The shrines of village Gods is called ‘Garam Than’. The inhabitants belonging to S.T./S.C.. Communities express their silent devotion to the village Gods. The annual worship of these deities in Makar Sankranti, Chaitra Sankranti, 1st day of Magha (popularly known as Aikhan) is the best village festivals of Jhargram.
