DISTRICT PROFILE SAHARSA INTRODUCTION Saharsa is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar. Saharsa district became a separate district in 1954 prior to which it was a part of Kosi division. The important rivers flowing through the district are Kosi, Baghmati. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Earlier Saharsa district was within the Bhagalpur Division. Kosi Division was formed on 2nd October 1972 comprising of Saharsa, Purnia and Katihar district with its head quarters at Saharsa. Formerly it had no independent status and parts of Saharsa were included in the old districts of Munger & Bhagalpur. Ancient Times: In ancient times, Vaishali was the strongest republic in North-Bihar and beyond that lay the famous territory of Anguttarap. There was a small Janpad, named Apna, in Anguttarap and it included a portion of the district of Saharsa. Various sites of the district, now completely eroded and destroyed by the Kosi, viz. Biratpur, Budhiagarhi, Budhnaghat, Buddhadi, Pitahahi and Mathai are associated with Buddhism Both Anga and North Bihar (including Saharsa) continued to be independent till the early part of the sixth century B.C Between 320 and 1097 A.D Under the Guptas (from 320 A.D.), the entire North Bihar was consolidated as a Tirbhukti (province) with its capital at Vaishali. The extent of Saharsa during the period under review was upto the confines of Pundravardhanbhukti which included some of its present area. From the geographical point of view, Saharsa was the most strategically suited from being the Jayaskandharar (temporary Capital) of the Palas at the time when they were surrounded on all sides by enemies. Between 1097 and 1765 A.D. The decline of the Pala authority in Bihar and Bengal was followed by the establishment of the Karnata in Mithila and the Sena dynasties in Bengal. Both the Kanrnatas and Senas claimed authority over the portion of Saharsa and often entered into an armed conflict. The whole district of Saharsa was dotted with small chief tranships created both by the Hindus and the Muslims. Even in the early part of Mughal rule they could venture to oppose the central authority as Bihar and the Afghans were opposed to the establishment of Mughal authority. The Satyagraha Movement of Mahatma Gandhi in 1921 received widespread support in the district. ADMINISTRATIVE Saharsa town is the district headquarters of Saharsa district. Saharsa district comprises two sub-divisions, namely Saharsa Sadar & Simri Bakhtiarpur which is divided into 10 blocks. o Simri Bakhtiarpur o Kahra o Mahishi o Salkhua o Sonbarsa o Patarghat o Saur Bazar o Banma Itahri o Nauhatta o Sattar Kataiya Total no. of Gram Panchayats in Saharsa district are 127. Saharsa district has 227 number of revenue villages. ECONOMIC PROFILE Rice, Maize, Wheat, Lentil/ Pulses, Mustard and Gram are the main crops of the district. Saharsa is famous for its varieties of Mangoes and Summer Berry known as Litchi. Saharsa is one of the biggest rice producing hubs in the entire Kosi area. It is one of the 36 districts in Bihar currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme. Per Capita Gross State and District Domestic Product 15000 13404 11815 10237 11311 11274 9832 8686 9602 10000 8123 8348 5000 0 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 Per Capita Gross District Domestic Product Per Capita Gross State Domestic Product Source: Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Govt. of Bihar GEOGRAPHIC Coordinates Latitude: 25º53” to 25º88” North Longitude: 86º06” to 86º36” East Temperature 31.05° C (Avg. in summer) 16.67° C (Avg. in winter) Average rainfall 948.48 mm. Area 1661.30 sq. km. Height above sea level 41 meters DEMOGRAPHIC Population 1,897,102 Population density 1,142 per sq. km. Population growth 26% Sex ratio 906 per 1000 male Literacy rate 54.57% Languages spoken Hindi, Maithili, Angika, Urdu and Bengali INDUSTRIAL Registered industrial units 708 Registered medium & large units Nil No. of industrial areas 01 Types of industries Agro based, wood & wooden based furniture, mineral based, metal based, electrical machinery, repairing & servicing, engineering services, ready made garments based, chemical/ chemical based etc. Source: MSME – DI Muzaffarpur, official website of district INVESTMENT Saharsa is one of the biggest rice producing hubs in the entire Kosi area. Saharsa is famous for its varieties of Mangoes and Summer Berry known as Litchi. Agro based industries have a good scope in the district. Investment (Rs. Lakh) 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 Source: MSME – DI Muzaffarpur INDUSTRIAL PROFILE There is an industrial area present in Saharsa district at Saharsa. Saharsa is the largest distribution centre for agricultural produce - vegetable and fruits like litchi, makhana, mango, sugarcane, maize and basmati rice. Saharsa is one of the biggest rice producing hubs in the entire Kosi area. Corn product is manufactured at Maa Katyani Industry. There are jute, soap, chocolate, biscuit factories in the district. INDUSTRIES AT A GLANCE Registered industrial units 708 Total industrial units 708 Registered medium & large units Nil Estimated avg. no. of daily workers employed in small 2500 scale industries Employment in large and medium industries No. of industrial areas 01 MAJOR INDUSTRIAL AREA There is an industrial estate situated in Saharsa district. It is developed on 1.57 hectares of land. 44 no. of plots are developed. 24 no. of units are produced. EXISTING MICRO & SMALL ENTERPRISES AND ARTISAN UNITS Type of industry No. of Units Investment (Rs. Lakh) Agro based 283 3409 Soda Water 4 36 Cotton textile 10 28 Woolen, silk & artificial thread based clothes 2 9 Ready-made garments & embroidery 12 35 Wood/wooden based furniture 60 120 Paper & paper products 12 9 Leather based 9 16 Chemical/chemical based 20 60 Rubber, plastic & petro based 8 10 Mineral based 14 40 Metal based (Steel Fab.) 60 120 Engineering units 42 126 Electrical machinery and transport equipment 46 100 Repairing & servicing 62 30 Others 40 40 Total 684 4188 Source: MSME – DI Muzaffarpur INFRASTRUCTURE The district has an industrial area situated at Saharsa. Total no. of hospitals and health centers are 169. There are total 98 commercial banks and financial institutions. Educational institutions: No. of primary schools – 778 No. of middle schools – 303 No. of secondary and senior secondary schools– 45 No. of colleges – 15 AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRY The land use around Saharsa is mainly agricultural. The district has a very rich and fertile land which is favourable for agriculture. Rice, Maize, Wheat, Lentil/ Pulses, Mustard and Gram are the main crops of the district. Saharsa is famous for its varieties of Mangoes and Summer Berry known as Litchi. LARGE SCALE INDUSTRY/ PUBLIC SECTOR UNDERTAKING There are no large scale industry/ public sector undertaking prevailing in the district. POTENTIAL INDUSTRY Micro & Small Major Clusters Service Enterprises Enterprise •Agro Based Products •Nil •Beauty parlours/ saloons •Water treatment plant •Health services •Readymade garments •Computer training •Restaurants institutes •Fish processing units •Computer hardware & repairing centre STEPS TO SETUP MSMEs S. No. Type of assistance Name and address of agencies 1. Provisional Registration Certificate District Industries Centre, Saharsa (EM-1) & Permanent Registration Certificate ( EM-II) 2. Identification of Project Profiles, MSME Development Institute – techno-economic and managerial Muzaffarpur consultancy services, market survey Saharsa and economic survey reports 3. Land and Industrial shed BIADA, Muzaffarpur 4. Financial Assistance All commercial/ lead Banks 5. For raw materials under Govt. Supply National Small Industries Corporation, Patna 6. Plant and machinery under hire/ MSME – Muzaffarpur, purchase basis DIC – Saharsa 7. Power/ Electricity Bihar State Electricity Board 8. Technical Know–how Director, MSME-DI, Muzaffarpur 9. Quality & Standard Bureau of Indian Standards 10. Marketing /Export Assistance Director, MSME-DI, Muzaffarpur Source: MSME – DI Muzaffarpur TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE •Saharsa is linked •Saharsa is linked •Nearest airport is with Patna and with Madhepura, at Patna Airport Road Railway Madhepura Supaul, Khagariya • Nearest Railway and Patna. Station: Saharsa •National Highway NH 107 connects Purnea to Maheshkhunt. EDUCATION There are many schools and colleges in the district. It has some reputed institutions such as Bihar Education Project, IGNOU, Government polytechnic, ITI, Teachers training college, Kendriya Vidyalaya, JNV, MLT college, RM college, Ramesh Jha Mahila college. HERITAGE & TOURISM Tara Sthan: It is situated at a distance of about 16 kms. west of Saharsa in the village Mahishi, where an ancient temple of Bhagwati Tara is built. The idol of Bhagwati Tara is said to be very old and draws devotees from far and wide. Surya Mandir: The Sun Temple at Kandaha village is an important religious and historical place which has been duly recognized by the Archaeological survey of India like Surya Mandir in Dev of Aurangabad district. Here in Kandaha, the magnificent idol of Surya Bhagwan riding on seven horsed chariot, has been carved on a single granite slab. Chandikasthan: This temple is famous for an ancient temple of goddess Chandi. The tantric Scholars and devotees attach much significance to this Chandi temple, which is said to form an equilateral triangle (TRIK) with Katyayani temple near Dhamhara ghat and Tara temple at Mahishi. During the Navratra, people from distant places visit the village to offer prayers to the goddess of power. Babaji Kuti: The famous place of Babaji Kuti is situated at nearly 9 kms. west from the Saharsa district headquarters. The huge banyan tree under which the remains of Laxminath Gosaiji have been preserved, is the centre of great reverence for the people of all sect and religion. Mandan Bharti Asthan :The place is situated in Mahishi Block. It is said that a religious discourse (Shastrarth) was held between Shankaracharya and the local scholar Mandan Mishra. Bharti, wife of Mandan Mishra, who was also a great scholar, was named as Judge for the discourse.