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 Kolaghat CD Block in 2013-14 was 766.69 hectares. 4,112 persons were engaged in the profession and approximate annual production was 29,211 quintals. Banking In 2013-14, Kolaghat CD Block had offices of 9 commercial banks and 4 gramin banks. 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 Kolaghat CD Block has 8 ferry services and 8 originating/ terminating bus routes. Kolaghat and Mecheda are stations on the Howrah-Kharagpur line. The Howrah-Kharagpur line was constructed in 1900. The Howrah–Kharagpur line was electrified in 1967-69. The Dankuni-Kharagpur sector of NH 16 passes through this block. Education In 2013-14, Kolaghat CD Block had 153 primary schools with 13,948 students, 13 middle schools with 873 students, 7 high schools with 5,206 students and 21 higher secondary schools with 31,035 students. Kolaghat CD Block had 1 general college with 102 students, 1 professional/ technical institution with 1,493 students, 387 institutions for special and non-formal education with 12,038 students. As per the 2011 census, in Kolaghat CD block, amongst the 106 inhabited villages, 3 villages did not have a school, 55 villages had two or more primary schools, 32 villages had at least 1 primary and 1 middle school and 20 villages had at least 1 middle and 1 secondary school. College of Engineering and Management, Kolaghat, was established in 1998, in the township of Kolaghat Thermal Power Station. It is affiliated with Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology. Rabindra Bharati Mahavidyalaya was established at Kolaghat in 2010. It is affiliated with Vidyasagar University. Healthcare In 2014, Kolaghat CD Block had 1 block primary health centre, 2 primary health centres, and 9 private nursing homes with total 145 beds and 7 doctors (excluding private bodies). It had 39 family welfare sub centres. 2,603 patients were treated indoor and 171,990 patients were treated outdoor in the hospitals, health centres and subcentres of the CD Block. Paikpari Rural Hospital at Paikpari, PO Kolaghat Notun Bazar (with 30 beds) is