a major source of livelihood in Purba Medinipur district, particularly in Tamluk and Contai subdivisions. Betelvine production in 2008-09 was the highest amongst all the districts and was around a third of the total state production. In 2008-09, Purba Mednipur produced 2,789 tonnes of cashew nuts from 3,340 hectares of land. Pisciculture Purba Medinipur's net district domestic product derives one fifth of its earnings from fisheries, the highest amongst all the districts of West Bengal. The nett area available for effective pisciculture in Nandigram I CD Block in 2013-14 was 1,040.45 hectares. 6,520 persons were engaged in the profession and approximate annual production was 40,022 quintals. Banking In 2013-14, Nandigram I CD Block had offices of 6 commercial banks and 1 gramin bank. Backward Regions Grant Fund Medinipur East 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 Nandigram I CD Block has 6 ferry services and 22 originating/ terminating bus routes. The nearest railway station is 23 km from the block headquarters. There are two ferry service across the Haldi River between Haldia and Nandigram – one between Haldia Township and Nandigram and the other between Pari Chak ferry ghat in Haldia and Nandigram. The ferry services are available every 20 minutes, Education In 2013-14, Nandigram I CD Block had 121 primary schools with 9,373 students, 10 middle schools with 991 students, 10 high schools with 8,759 students and 14 higher secondary schools with 16,093 students. Nandigram I CD Block had 1 general college with 1,504 students and 329 institutions for special and non-formal education with 18,647 students. As per the 2011 census, in Nandigram I CD block, amongst the 98 inhabited villages, 3 villages did not have a school, 53 villages had two or more primary schools, 38 villages had at least 1 primary and 1 middle school and 20 villages had at least 1 middle and 1 secondary school. Sitananda College at Nandigram was established in 1960. It offers courses in arts and science. Healthcare In 2014, Nandigram I CD Block had 1 block primary health centre and 2 primary health centres, with total 46 beds and 9 doctors (excluding private