Nandakumar is a community development block that forms an administrative division in Tamluk subdivision of Purba Medinipur district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Geography Purba Medinipur district is part of the lower Indo-Gangetic Plain and Eastern coastal plains. Topographically, the district can be divided into two parts – (a) almost entirely flat plains on the west, east and north, (b) the coastal plains on the south. The vast expanse of land is formed of alluvium and is composed of younger and coastal alluvial. The elevation of the district is within 10 metres above mean sea level. The district has a long coastline of 65.5 km along its southern and south eastern boundary. Five coastal CD Blocks, namely, Khejuri II, Contai II (Deshapran), Contai I, Ramnagar I and II, are occasionally affected by cyclones and tornadoes. Tidal floods are quite regular in these five CD Blocks. Normally floods occur in 21 of the 25 CD Blocks in the district. The major rivers are Haldi, Rupnarayan, Rasulpur, Bagui and Keleghai, flowing in north to south or south-east direction. River water is an important source of irrigation. The district has a low 899 hectare forest cover, which is 0.02% of its geographical area. Nandakumar is located at . Nandakumar CD Block is bounded by Tamluk CD Block in the north, Mahishadal CD Blocks in the east, Chandipur CD Block in the south and Moyna CD Blocks in the west. It is located 12 km from Tamluk, the district headquarters. Nandakumar CD Block has an area of 165.70 km2. It has 1 panchayat samity, 12 gram panchayats, 186 gram sansads (village councils), 100 mouzas and 100 inhabited villages. Nandakumar police station serves this block. Headquarters of this CD Block is at Kumarpur. Gram panchayats of Nandakumar block/ panchayat samiti are: Bargodadgdar, Basudebpur, Byabattarhat Paschim, Byabattarhat Purba, Chaksimulia, Dakshin Narikeldanga, Kalyanpur, Kumarara, Kumarchak, Saorberia-Jalpai I, Saorberia-Jalpai II and Sitalpur Paschim. Demographics Population As per 2011 Census of India Nanda Kumar CD Block had a total population of 262,998, all of which were rural. There were 135,720 (52%) males and 127,278 (48%) females. Population below 6 years was 31,408. Scheduled Castes numbered 37,366 (14.21%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 633 (0.24%). As per 2001 census, Nandakumar block had a total population of 229,444, out of which 117,859 were males and 111,585 were females. Nandakumar block registered a population growth of 15.58 per cent during the