Why Bankura ?

Bankura District is one of the 19 districts that make up the state of West Bengal, India. Predominantly rural in aspect with 75% of all economic activity related to agriculture, (and 80% of that related to rice), most people work in the fields. Unfortunately, it is a drought-prone area with low-lying cultivable land made up of mostly laterite soil with poor irrigation. Usually there is only one crop of rice per year..

A district with a high percentage of Tribal population, Bankura communities overall suffer poor access to health and education services. There is also a lack of proper education on hygiene and many cases of malnutrition. Cumulatively these factors lead to high infant and maternal mortality rates.

Added to that, literacy is just over 50% on average but only 36% for women, and there is a high school drop –out and unemployment rate. But the main reason it was chosen as the site to begin the work of BIKASH is because Bankura District also has one of the highest incidences of cases of children with disabilities.

Areas of Operation

Bankura district is made up of 22 blocks and 56 Gram Panchayats. BIKASH works across 5 blocks, namely – Bankura Block 1, Sonamukhi, Chhatna, Barjora and Patrasayar, but most of its work is concentrated in Bankura Block 1, i.e. in and around the town of Bankura.


Geographical operation of programmes is shown below:

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