the population. In Bardhaman district the percentage of Hindu population has been declining from 84.3% in 1961 to 77.9% in 2011 and the percentage of Muslim population has increased from 15.2% in 1961 to 20.7% in 2011. Rural poverty As per poverty estimates obtained from household survey for families living below poverty line in 2005, rural poverty in Manteswar CD Block was 40.45%. Economy Livelihood In Manteswar CD Block in 2011, amongst the class of total workers, cultivators formed 20.42%, agricultural labourers 50.60%, household industry workers 3.84% and other workers 25.14%. Manteswar CD Block is part of the area where agriculture dominates the scenario but the secondary and tertiary sectors have shown an increasing trend. Infrastructure There are 136 inhabited villages in Manteswar CD block. All 136 villages (100%) have power supply. All 136 villages (100%) have drinking water supply. 44 villages (32.35%) have post offices. All 136 villages (100%) have telephones (including landlines, public call offices and mobile phones). 66 villages (45.83%) have a pucca (paved) approach road and 79 villages (58.09%) have transport communication (includes bus service, rail facility and navigable waterways). 29 villages (21.32%) have agricultural credit societies. 11 villages (8.09%) have banks. In 2013–14, there were 70 fertiliser depots, 9 seed store and 78 fair price shops in the CD Block. Agriculture Although the Bargadari Act of 1950 recognised the rights of bargadars to a higher share of crops from the land that they tilled, it was not implemented fully. Large tracts, beyond the prescribed limit of land ceiling, remained with the rich landlords. From 1977 onwards major land reforms took place in West Bengal. Land in excess of land ceiling was acquired and distributed amongst the peasants. Following land reforms land ownership pattern has undergone transformation. In 2013–14, persons engaged in agriculture in Manteswar CD Block could be classified as follows: bargadars 4.68%, patta (document) holders 15.54%, small farmers (possessing land between 1 and 2 hectares) 8.17%, marginal farmers (possessing land up to 1 hectare) 24.71% and agricultural labourers 46.90%. In 2003-04 net cropped area in Manteswar CD Block was 25.502 hectares and the area in which more than one crop was grown was 15,850 hectares. In 2013–14, Manteswar CD Block produced 3,340 tonnes of Aman paddy, the main winter crop from 1,142 hectares, 731 tonnes of Aus paddy (summer crop) from 262 hectares, 91,570 tonnes of Boro paddy (spring crop) from 23,572 hectares, 15