KASBA

SURUL

Economy

·  Based on: Primarily agriculture; handicrafts are non-existing

·  Income: Rs2000 to Rs.5000 p.a.

· Finance: Self-finance by farmers; no assistance by banks or government

·  Markets: Local market of the village and neighbouring villages; Threat of MNCs exists

Education

·  Men are educated with all sincerity though women study without ambition or purpose

·  Primary schools are present – varied attendance – no teacher-parent committee yet as per Pratichi recommendation – Bolpur College for higher studies

·  Village houses qualifications like Accountants

·  Library is present

Health and Sanitation

·  Absence of toilets and water facilities

· Absence of doctors from hospitals and lack of free medicines, including those for snakebites

Economy

«    Based on: Primarily handicrafts, however agriculture also practiced

­       Income: Rs.24000 p.a.

­      Finance: Self-finance by formation of co-operatives; no assistance by banks or government

«  Markets: Markets of Kolkata, Shantiniketan and Bolpur, extending internationally to Malaysia and Indonesia; Threat of MNCs exists

Education

­       Men and Women are educated with like sincerity especially due to the example set by the working women of the village

«    Primary schools are present – varied attendance – no teacher-parent committee yet as per Pratichi recommendation – higher studies options extend upto Kolkata Colleges

¯       Tuitions widespread and extensive

¯       Library is absent

Health and Sanitation

­       Presence of personal toilets and water facilities

«    Relatively low absence of doctors from hospitals but treatment largely ineffective

Social life – the sociological aspect

·     Presence of Gram Sabha and active participation of the villagers in community festivities and celebrations

·     Age for marriage: Boys-25 years; Girls-19 to 21 years

·     Number of children: Upper castes and Hindus: 1-2; SCs and Muslims: 6-7   

Administration

·     The village is under the Kasba Panchayat

·     Prevalence of neglect and corruption

·     Transport facilities are adequately provided

·     Panchayat assists marginally in the attainment of loans

Role of women

·     The women are educated though not to the extent of the men

·     Mostly engaged as housewives, the women give the excuse of the unavailability of ‘proper’ jobs

·     Women do not help the men in the fields

Leisure

The village folk spend their leisure hours by discussing the village gossip and thus indulging in what is commonly known as ‘Adda’. Apart from this there is little indulgence in the viewing of the television and movies through video cassettes and VCDs

Social life – the sociological aspect

¯       Presence of Gram Sabha but lack of collective participation of the villagers in community festivities

«    Age for marriage: Boys-25 years; Girls- 19-23 years

«    Number of children: Upper castes and Hindus: 1-2; SCs and Muslims: 3-4; mass education is effective

Administration

«   The village is under the Kasba Panchayat

«   Prevalence of neglect and corruption

«   Transport facilities are adequately provided

¯       Panchayat plays little or no role in the any type of financial assistance; the state government provides for training and loans

Role of women

«    The women are educated though not to the extent of the men

­       Mostly engaged in some sort of handicraft like embroidery and production of pickle and ‘papad’

­       The women are assisted by their husbands in their business

Leisure

Leisure in this village holds a whole new interpretation. Radio is all what the people enjoy and movies avoided. Sports are popular especially outdoor sports including volleyball. Reading is another passion of most residents here.