years from erstwhile East Pakistan and subsequently from Bangladesh. Literacy As per the 2011 census, the total number of literates in Balurghat CD Block was 167,353 (73.96% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 93,736 (80.25% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 73,617 (67.24% of the female population over 6 years). The gender disparity (the difference between female and male literacy rates) was 13.01%. See also – List of West Bengal districts ranked by literacy rate Language and religion In 2001, Bengali was the mother-tongue of 82.2% of the population of Dakshin Dinajpur district, followed by Santali (10.3%), Hindi (1.8%), Kurukh/ Oraon (1.7%), Munda (0.5%), Sadan/Sadri (0.5%), Kurmali Thar (0.4%), Telugu (0.3%), Mundari 0.3%), Bhojpuri (0.1%), Kortha/ Khotta (0.1%) and Koda/ Kora (0.1%). The proportion of Bengali speakers has increased from 72.2% in 1961 to 82.2% to 2001 and that of Santali has increased from 9.3% in 1961 to 10.3% in 2001, but the proportion of Hindi speakers has declined from 5.4% in 1961 to 1.8% in 2001. Information about mother-tongue is available only at the district level and above. As per 2014 District Statistical Handbook: Dakshin Dinajpur (quoting census figures), in the 2001 census, in Balurghat CD Block, Hindus numbered 211,223 and formed 92.34% of the population. Muslims numbered 11,847 and formed 5.18% of the population. Christians numbered 5,068 and formed 2.22% of the population. Others numbered 598 and formed 0.26% of the population. According to the 2011 District Census Handbook: Dakshin Dinajpur, during 2011 census, majority of the population of the district were Hindus constituting 73.5% of the population followed by Muslims with 24.6% of the population. The proportion of Hindu population of the district increased from 59.9% in 1961 to 74.0 %in 2001 and then dropped to 73.5% in 2011. The proportion of Muslim population in the district decreased from 39.4% in 1961 to 24.0% in 2001 and then increased to 24.6% in 2011. Rural poverty As per the Human Development Report 2004 for West Bengal, the rural poverty ratio in erstwhile West Dinajpur district was 27.61%. Malda district on the south of West Dinajpur district had a rural poverty ratio of 35.4% and Jalpaiguri district on the north had a rural poverty ratio of 35.73%. These estimates were based on Central Sample data of NSS 55th round 1999-2000. As per BPL Survey by the Government of West Bengal,