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 Egra I CD Block could be classified as follows: bargadars 5.72%, patta (document) holders 14.83%, small farmers (possessing land between 1 and 2 hectares) 2.59%, marginal farmers (possessing land up to 1 hectare) 35.86% and agricultural labourers 41.00%. In 2013-14, Egra I CD Block produced 22,289 tonnes of Aman paddy, the main winter crop, from 16,715 hectares and 33,623 tonnes of Boro paddy, the spring crop, from 10,480 hectares. It also produced pulses and oilseeds. Betelvine is 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 Egra I CD Block in 2013-14 was 735.15 hectares. 1,990 persons were engaged in the profession and approximate annual production was 28,009 quintals. Banking In 2013-14, Egra 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 Egra I CD Block has 13 originating/ terminating bus routes. The nearest railway station is 23 km from the CD Block headquarters. SH 5 connecting Rupnarayanpur (in Bardhaman district) and Junput (in Purba Medinipur district) passes through Egra. Education In 2013-14, Egra I CD Block had 105 primary schools with 6,951 students, 25 middle schools with 2,704 students, 10 high schools with 7,620 students and 11 higher secondary schools with 15,037 students. Egra I CD Block had 310 institutions for special and non-formal education with 11,801 students. As per the 2011 census, in Egra I CD block, amongst the 123 inhabited villages, 12 villages did not have a school, 38 villages had two