jute from 5,004 hectares and 23,330 tonnes of potatoes from 905 hectares. It also produced pulses and oilseeds. In 2013-14, the total area irrigated in Balurghat CD Block was 8,182 hectares, out of which 922 hectares were irrigated by tank irrigation, 3,367 hectares by river lift irrigation, 1,224 hectares by deep tube wells and 2,669 hectares by shallow tube wells. Banking In 2013-14, Balurghat CD Block had offices of 21 commercial banks and 7 gramin banks. Backward Regions Grant Fund Dakshin Dinajpur district is listed as a backward region and receives financial support from the Backward Regions Grant Fund. The fund, created by the Government of India, is designed to redress regional imbalances in development. As of 2012, 272 districts across the country were listed under this scheme. The list includes 11 districts of West Bengal. Transport Balurghat CD Block has 8 ferry services and 12 originating/ terminating bus routes. The Eklakhi–Balurghat branch line passes through this CD Block and there are stations at Balurghat and Mallickpur Hat. State Highway 10 passes through this block. Education In 2013-14, Balurghat CD Block had 195 primary schools with 10,790 students, 1 middle school with 75 students, 14 high schools with 23,315 students and 17 higher secondary schools with 18,101 students. Balurghat CD Block had 1 general degree college with 396 students, 3 technical/ professional institutions with 285 students and 374 institutions for special and non-formal education with 11,832 students. There were 2 general degree colleges with 6,397 students and 1 technical/ professional institute with 100 students and other educational facilities at Balurghat (outside the CD Block). In Balurghat CD Block, amongst the 294 inhabited villages, 66 villages do not have a school, 35 villages have more than 1 primary school, 35 villages have at least 1 primary and 1 middle school and 31 villages have at least 1 middle and 1 secondary school. Jamini Majumdar Memorial College was established at Patiram in 2008. Healthcare In 2014, Balurghat CD Block had 1 rural hospital, 1 block primary health centre, 4 primary health centres and 2 private/ NGO nursing home, with total 168 beds and 9 doctors (excluding private bodies). It had 52 family welfare subcentres. 1,529 patients were treated indoor and 203,032 patients were treated outdoor in the hospitals, health centres and subcentres of the CD Block. Balurghat had 1 hospital, 2 state government/ local units and 2 private/ NGO nursing homes with