Phulia

Phulia ফুলিয়া Fulia
Town
Phulia Location in West Bengal, India
Coordinates: 23°14′N 88°30′E / 23.24°N 88.50°ECoordinates: 23°14′N 88°30′E / 23.24°N 88.50°E
Country	India
State	West Bengal
District	Nadia
Population (2001)
• Total	50,254
Languages
• Official	Bengali, English
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Lok Sabha constituency	Ranaghat
Vidhan Sabha constituency	Ranaghat Uttar Paschim

Krittibas Memorial

Phulia (also spelt Fulia) is a census town beside the river Ganges under Shantipur police station of Ranaghat subdivision in Nadia district in the Indian state of West Bengal.^[1]

It is 80 km from Kolkata and well connected by Sealdah - Santipur section train service and National Highway - 34.

Geography

Fulia is located at 23°14′N 88°30′E / 23.24°N 88.50°E.^[2] It is located in Shantipur block, Ranaghat subdivision, Nadia district.^[3] Shantipur police station serves this block.^[4]

Economy

After partition of India, many skilled weavers of Dhaka came and settled in West Bengal around Shantipur in Nadia district and Ambika Kalna of Bardhaman district, both traditionally renowned centres for hand-woven fabrics. With government encouragement and support, the talented weavers soon revived their ancestral occupation and the art of exquisite weaving once again flourished. Today, finely woven feather-touch textiles and saris in exotic designs and colours are being produced in the vast weaving belt of Shantipur, Phulia, Samudragarh, Dhatrigram and Ambika Kalna—each centre producing superb fabrics in its own unique weaving style. Dhatrigram produces jacquards and jamdanis while Kalna is famous for tangails and gorgeous jamdanis. Phulia and Samudragarh specialize in a combination of jacquard and jamdani work which are based on Tangail Saree Culture of Bangladesh while Santipur is known for superfine dhotis and jacquards. The produce is marketed through some whole sellers & co-operatives and various undertakings. But nowadays, the main problem in making the handicraft is the rising price of raw materials and inadequate supply skilled labour (mainly from Cooch Behar district of West Bengal & Assam region). So, the economy based on Tant Saree is a diminishing economy & the next generation is not so much interested in this crafts. The weavers need some economic & administrative supports from the Government.^[5]

Government offices

There are three establishments of State Agriculture Department at phulia. One is the office of the Assistant Director of Agriculture in the premise of the Block Panchyet Samity and Block Development Officer. The other two offices are located at the northern side of the Block offices. Beside Sabuj Pally road the District Seed Farm is located. The other important agricultural establishment is the Agricultural Training Centre. It has been declared Bio Diversity Conservation Farm in 2006 by the Department Of Agriculture,West Bengal. It is the only organic farm among 270 state run farms. It imparts training on sustainable agriculture. It has been doing organic farming for the last ten years.Mr Anupam Paul of the centre has taken the eco friendly initiative. It has also been conserving, re-evaluating and distributing more than 180 region specific indigenous folk rice varieties for the last couple of years. Farmers are receiving them with great interest as some of the bold grain rice varieties give substantial yield through organic farming. There are nearly 30 scented rice varieties and it fetches good price.All the varieties are being grown through single plant transplanting method.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census,^[6] Phulia had a population of 50,254. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Phulia has an average literacy rate of 68%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 74%, and female literacy is 62%. In Phulia, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

References

1. "District Wise List of Statutory Towns". Census of India 2001, Urban Frame. Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Retrieved 2007-10-06.
2. "Yahoo maps location of Phulia". Yahoo maps. Retrieved 2008-12-24.
3. "District Wise List of Statutory Towns( Municipal Corporation,Municipality,Notified Area and Cantonment Board) , Census Towns and Outgrowths, West Bengal, 2001". Census of India, Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Retrieved 2008-12-24.
4. "List of Districts/C.D.Blocks/ Police Stations with Code No., Number of G.Ps and Number of Mouzas". Census of India, Directorate of Census Operations, West Bengal. Retrieved 2008-12-24.
5. "A Traditional Panorama - Bengal Art". Arts and Crafts in India. India Profile. Retrieved 2007-09-08.
6. "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. Retrieved 2008-11-01.