DISTRICT PROFILE MUNGER INTRODUCTION Munger district is one of the thirty-eight administrative districts of Bihar. Prior to the census of India in 1971, Munger was spelt as Monghyr. Before 1832, Munger formed a part of Bhagalpur district. Since its inception, Munger has seen five districts carved off from its territory- Saharsa in 1954, Madhepura in 1981, Begusarai in 1972, Khagaria in 1981, Jamui in 1991, and districts of Lakhisarai and Sheikhpura in 1994. Munger district is bounded by river Ganges in the north and districts of Bhagalpur, Banka and Jamui. Beyond river Ganges in the north lie the districts of Lakhisarai, Begusarai and Khagaria. The important rivers flowing through Munger district are Ganga, Mohane, Harohar and Kiul. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Munger has a rich and glorious past. It has been the ancient seat of power. The territories included within the district of Munger formed part of the Madhya-Desa of the first Aryan settlers. Munger district was a part of Anga Mahajanapada with Mudgagiri as its capital. It is believed that the name Munger is derived from Mudgagiri. The first historical account of Munger appears in the records of Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsiang who visited this place. Hiuen Tsiang found the climate to be agreeable, land to be fertile and rich in agricultural produce and the inhabitants to be simple and honest. Tradition ascribes the foundation of Munger to Chandragupta, after whom it was called Guptagars, a name which has been found inscribed on a rock at Kastaharni Ghat at the north-west corner of Munger fort. Munger also finds mentioned in the copper plate of Devapala discovered at Munger in 1780, in the Nawlagarh inscriptions of Begusarai and in the Bhagalpur plate of Narayan Pala. Munger came under the Khiljis, Tughlaqs, Nawabs of Bengal, Gaurs, Sher Shah and Mughals. Munger came into prominence in 1762 when Kasim Ali Khan, the Nawab of Bengal shifted his capital from Murshidabad to Munger. He re-organized the army and established an arsenal at Munger for the manufacture of fire-arms. Since then Munger has carried on the tradition of gun manufacturing. Under the British, Munger was spelled as Monghyr, and it ceased to be an important frontier post. However, because of its salubrious air, Munger was used as a sanatorium and invalid station for the British troops. Village Supaur Jamua situated on the Bank of river Mohane was a centre of protest during India's freedom struggle and many high level political leaders visited this village during 1920s-30s. ADMINISTRATIVE Munger town is the district headquarters of Munger district. Munger is a twin town comprising of Munger and Jamalpur. Munger district comprises of 3 sub-divisions, namely Munger Sadar, Kharagpur and Tarapur, and 9 blocks. o Munger Sadar o Tetia Bambar o Bariarpur o Tarapur o Jamalpur o Asarganj o Dharahara o Sangrampur o Kharagpur Total no. of Gram Panchayats in Munger district: 101. Total no. of villages in Munger district: 866. ECONOMIC PROFILE Munger district has since ancient times been famous for its mineral waters and hot water springs. Guns were manufactured at Munger since more than 200 years ago. Perhaps, Munger is the only place in India where gun manufacturing took the shape of a cottage industry. Munger has one of the oldest railway manufacturing unit and ITC Tobacco Factory. Per Capita Gross State and District Domestic Product 25000 21019 18562 20000 15926 16993 13404 13660 11311 11815 15000 9832 10237 10000 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: 25º45' to 25º 15’ North Longitude: 85º45’ to 86º 45’ East Temperature 45° C (Max.) 3.5° C (Min.) Average rainfall 1146 mm Area 1419.7 sq. km Height above sea level 52 meters DEMOGRAPHIC Population 1383495 Population density 960 per sq. km Population growth 19.45% Sex ratio 879 per 1000 male Literacy rate 60.11% Languages spoken Angika & Hindi INDUSTRIAL Registered industrial units 1732 Registered medium & large units 02 No. of industrial areas 03 Types of industries Agro based, wood & wooden based furniture, mineral based, metal based, electrical machinery , repairing & servicing, ready made garments based, chemical/ chemical based etc. Source: MSME – DI Patna, official website of district INVESTMENT Munger is pre-dominantly an agricultural district. The secondary and tertiary sector is not so developed in the district. M/s Indian Tobacco Company and M/s Eastern Railway Coach Factory have been instrumental in the prosperity of the district. Munger is internationally famous for its yoga centre. Investment (Rs. Lakh) 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 Source: MSME – DI Patna INDUSTRIAL PROFILE There are three industrial areas in Munger district, namely at Munger, Jamalpur and Sitakund. The main industries of this district are: Locomotive repair workshop: Jamalpur workshop of the Indian railways enjoys the distinction of being the largest and the oldest locomotive repair workshop with the most diversified manufacturing activities. Gun manufacturing industry: Munger is perhaps the only city in India where gun manufacturing has taken the shape of a popular cottage industry. Cigarette factory: The present ITC factory, which is popularly known as the “Chatkal” or Cigarette factory, is one of the biggest tobacco factories of India built over 17.38 acres of land. The factory is situated at Basdeopur, 1.5 miles from Munger station. INDUSTRIES AT A GLANCE Registered industrial units 1732 Total industrial units 4034 Registered medium & large units 02 Estimated avg. no. of daily workers employed in 04 small scale industries Employment in large and NA medium industries No. of industrial areas 03 Major exportable product is tobacco. There is growing trend in agro-based, wooden based, metal based, readymade garments, and repairing and serving based enterprises. Munger district has a good scope for service industries like tourism and travel, restaurant, mobile repairing, computer application and hardware, beauty culture and skin care, etc. The district has good scope for MSMEs like readymade garments, rice mill, agro products, mechanical workshop, metal fabrication, packaged drinking water, bakery & Namkeen, etc. MAJOR INDUSTRIAL AREA Particular Munger Jamalpur Sitakund Land acquired (in hectare) 7.8 24 18 Land developed (in hectare) 7.8 24 18 No. of allotted plots 70 44 10 No. of units in production 44 nil nil Source: MSME – DI Patna EXISTING MICRO & SMALL ENTERPRISES AND ARTISAN UNITS Type of industry No. of Units Investment (Rs. Lakh) Agro based 215 138.85 Woolen, silk & artificial thread based clothes 1 0.5 Jute & jute based 2 0.85 Readymade garments & embroidery 150 35.67 Wood/wooden based furniture 132 35.35 Paper & paper products 38 12.3 Leather based 94 6.86 Chemical/chemical based 130 58.51 Rubber, plastic & petro based 2 1.02 Mineral based 75 60.45 Metal based (Steel Fab.) 170 89.76 Engineering units 74 30.05 Electrical machinery and transport equipment 60 64.15 Repairing & servicing 538 312.16 Others 51 52.2 Total 1732 898.68 Source: MSME – DI Patna INFRASTRUCTURE There are three industrial areas. Total no. of hospitals and health centers: 211. Total no. of commercial banks and financial institutions: 76 No. of primary schools – 1069 No. of middle schools – 170 No. of secondary and senior secondary schools– 74 No. of colleges – 07 JAMALPUR LOCOMOTIVE WORKSHOP, EASTERN RALWAYS Established on the 8th February, 1862. Largest and oldest locomotive repair workshop of the Indian Railways, with the most diversified manufacturing activities. First to manufacture steam locomotive and locomotive boiler. 216 steam locomotives and locomotive boilers manufactured between 1899 and 1923. The first rolling mill was set up at this workshop in 1870. This was the first not only for the Indian railways but probably the first of its kind in India. First to manufacture rail crane in India in 1961 with indigenous know-how. Only railway workshop in India to manufacture electrical arc furnaces in 1961 GUN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY Munger was selected for setting up of a gun manufacturing factory because of its geo-strategic location. Munger town is strategically surrounded by river Ganga on the north, west and south and by Kharagpur hills in the east, hence it was considered impenetrable and secure. Previously, cannons were made at Topkhana Bazar but subsequently guns such as ML guns and capped gun too began to be made. Gun manufacturing received fresh impetus during the reign of Mir Kasim Ali, the Nawab of Bengal who fought one of the last battles before the East India Company captured the eastern India. With the enactment of the Arms Act, 1879, guns could only be manufactured under license. Mr. Lee, the Collector of Munger had appreciated the craftsmanship of the gunsmiths of Munger. Reportedly, good quality guns were priced at Rs. 10 only despite the iindigence of workmen. During the First World War, gun manufacturing at Munger gained prominence and production of gun cartridges was begun at Munger. Munger is perhaps the only city in India where gun manufacturing has taken the shape of a cottage industry and is a popular profession. ITC LIMITED – CIGARETTE FACTORY The present ITC factory, popularly known as “Chatkal” or cigarette factory and spread across 17.38 acres of land, is one of the biggest tobacco factories of India. The cigarette factory was started in Munger by the Peninsular Tobacco Company, on 6th November, 1907. Munger was chosen presumably because of its proximity to a suitable tobacco cultivating area and also due to the availability of transport facilities by rail, road and river. In 1910, the Imperial Tobacco Company of India Limited came into existence as a private company for selling and distribution of cigarette.