Chanchal subdivision covers the Tal, one of the three physiographic sub-regions of the district. The Tal region gradually slopes down towards the south-west and merges with the Diara sub-region… (it) is strewn with innumerable marshes, bils and oxbow lakes.”[1]
Subdivisions
Malda district is divided into two administrative subdivisions:[2]
Chanchal subdivision has 4 police stations, 6 community development blocks, 6 panchayat samitis, 49 gram panchayats, 524 mouzas, 508 inhabited villages and 1 census town. The census town is: Chanchal. The subdivision has its headquarters at Chanchal.[2][3]
Police stations
Police stations in Chanchal subdivision have the following features and jurisdiction:[2][4]
Chanchal I block consists of eight gram panchayats, viz. Alihanda, Chanchal, Kharba, Makdampur, Bhagabanpur, Kaligram, Mahanandapur and Motiharpur.
Chanchal II block consists of seven gram panchayats, viz. Bhakri, Dhangara–Bishanpur, Gourhanda, Kshempur, Chandrapara, Jalalpur and Malatipur.
Ratua I block consists of ten gram panchayats, viz. Baharal, Chandmoni–II, Mahanandatola, Bhado, Bilaimari, Debipur, Ratua, Chandmoni–I, Kahala and Samsi.
Ratua II block consists of eight gram panchayats, viz. Araidanga, Paranpur, Pukhuria, Sreepur–I, Maharajpur, Peerganj, Sambalpur and Sreepur–II.
Harishchandrapur I block consists of seven gram panchayats, viz. Bhingole, Harishchandrapur, Kusidha, Rashidabad, Barui, Mahendrapur and Tulsihatta.
Harishchandrapur II block consists of nine gram panchayats, viz. Daulatpur, Malior–I, Sadlichak, Doulatnagar, Malior–II, Sultannagar, Islampur, Mashaldaha and Valuka.
Education
Malda district had a literacy rate of 61.73% (for population of 7 years and above) as per the census of 2011. Malda Sadar subdivision had a literacy rate of 63.76% and Chanchal subdivision 57.68%.[9]
The table below gives a comprehensive picture of the education scenario in Malda district for the year 2013-14:[9]
Note: Primary schools include junior basic schools; middle schools, high schools and higher secondary schools include madrasahs; technical schools include junior technical schools, junior government polytechnics, industrial technical institutes, industrial training centres, nursing training institutes etc.; technical and professional colleges include engineering colleges, medical colleges, para-medical institutes, management colleges, teachers training and nursing training colleges, law colleges, art colleges, music colleges etc. Special and non-formal education centres include sishu siksha kendras, madhyamik siksha kendras, centres of Rabindra mukta vidyalaya, recognised Sanskrit tols, institutions for the blind and other handicapped persons, Anganwadi centres, reformatory schools etc.[9]
Educational institutions
The following institutions are located in the Chanchal subdivision:
The table below (all data in numbers) presents an overview of the medical facilities available and patients treated in the hospitals, health centres and sub-centres in 2014 in Malda district.[13]
^"BDO Offices under Malda District". Department of Mass Education Extension & Library Services, Government of West Bengal. West Bengal Public Library Network. Archived from the original on 12 October 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
^ abc"District Statistical Handbook, Malda 2014". Basic data: Table 4.4, 4.5, Clarifications: other related tables. Department of Planning, Statistics and Programme Monitoring, Government of West Bengal. Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
^"District Statistical Handbook 2014 Malda". Table 3.1, 3.3. Department of Planning, Statistics and Programme Monitoring, Government of West Bengal. Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2018.