DISTRICT PROFILE SIWAN INTRODUCTION Siwan district is one of the thirty-eight districts of Bihar. Situated in western Bihar, Siwan was originally a sub-division of Saran district. It was notified as a district on 11th December, 1972. The district of Gopalganj was carved out of Siwan district in 1973. Siwan district is bounded by Saran and Gopalganj districts of Bihar and Deoria and Balia districts of Uttar Pradesh. The rivers flowing through Siwan district are Ghaghara(Gogra or Saryu), Jharahi, Daha, Gandaki, Dhamati (Dhamahi), Siahi, Nikari and Sona. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Siwan derives its name from "Shiv Man", a Bandh Raja whose heirs ruled this area till the arrival of Babur. Siwan is also known as Aliganj Siwan after the name of Ali Bux, a feudal lords of the area. Maharajganj may have found its name from the seat of the Maharaja there. Historically, Siwan formed a part of Kosala kingdom and Banaras kingdom. The statue of Lord Vishnu excavated in village Bherbania from underneath a tree suggests that people were devotees of Lord Vishnu. The Muslims rule began in Siwan during the 13th century. Sikandar Lodi ruled in Siwan in the 15th century. Babur crossed Ghaghra river near Siswan on his return journey from Bihar. After the battle of Buxar in 1765, Siwan became a part of Bengal. Siwan played an important role in the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. A sizable number of Sepoys of East India Company drawn from this region- the stalwart and sturdy ‘Bhojpuris’, noted for their martial spirit and physical endurance, rebelled against the Company and joined Babu Kunwar Singh, the Zamindar of Jagdishpur, who lead the mutiny in Bhojpur. People of Siwan actively participated in the national freedom movement. During his visit to Champaran Mahatma Gandhi spent a night at Zeradei in Siwan district in the house of Dr. Rajendra Prasad. The Chowki on which he slept in Siwan has been preserved. ADMINISTRATIVE Siwan town is the administrative headquarters of Siwan district. Siwan district comprises of 2 sub-divisions and 19 blocks. Sub-divisions – Siwan & Maharajganj. o Mairwa o Siswan o Basantpur o Pachrukhi o Daraunda o Lakari Nabiganj o Raghunathpur o Husainaganj o Jiradei o Andar o Bhagwanpur Hatt o Nautan o Guthani o Goriyakothi o Hasanpura o Maharajganj o Baraharia o Darauli o Siwan Sadar Total number of Panchayats in Siwan district: 332. Total number of villages in Siwan district: 1530. ECONOMIC PROFILE Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy and paddy, wheat and sugar cane are the major crops grown there. There are large number of sugar factories in Siwan district. Maharajganj Bazar is the largest market of Siwan district, famous for trade of sugarcane, pulses, agriculture and grains. Food processing industry in a viable option to improve the economy here. Per Capita Gross State and District Domestic Product 13404 15000 11815 10237 11311 9832 8795 9200 10000 8208 7533 8049 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: 25º 53' to 26º 23' North Longitude: 84º 01' to 84º 47' East Temperature 44° C (Max.) 10° C (Min.) Average rainfall 1200 mm Area 2219 sq. km Altitude 77 meters DEMOGRAPHIC Population 2,170,971 Population density 1,221 per sq. km Population growth 22.25% Sex ratio 1033 per 1000 male Literacy rate 52.01% Languages spoken Bhojpuri, Maithili, Hindi & Urdu INDUSTRIAL Registered industrial units 3885 Registered medium & large unit Nil Total industrial units 3885 No. of industrial areas 1 Types of industries Agro based, ready-made garments & embroidery, wood/ wooden based furniture, paper & paper products, leather based, chemical/ chemical based, mineral based, metal based, engineering units, electrical machinery & transport equipment's, repairing & servicing. Source: MSME – DI Muzaffarpur, official website of district INVESTMENT The soil of Siwan district is alluvial, hence Siwan is an important agricultural center of north Bihar. Paddy, wheat and vegetables are grown in abundance. There are a number of sugar factories in Siwan district. Siwan has excellent scope for food processing industries and agro-based industries. The industrial area at Siwan has been developed over 7.12 hectares. Investment (Rs. In Lakhs) 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 Source: MSME – DI Muzaffarpur INDUSTRIAL PROFILE Major industries include chemical, wooden, and agro processing. Potential areas for service industry: transportation, hotels/ restaurant, beauty parlors / saloon, health gym, etc. Potential for new MSMEs: agro based products, water treatment plants, readymade garments, restaurants, beauty parlour/saloon, ladies boutique, etc. INDUSTRIES AT A GLANCE Registered industrial units 3885 Total industrial units 3885 Registered medium & large units Nil Estimated avg. no. of daily workers employed in 3 small scale industries Employment in large and medium industries Nil No. of industrial area 1 EXISTING MICRO & SMALL ENTERPRISES AND ARTISAN UNITS Type of industry No. of Investment Units (Rs. Lakh) Agro based 1246 830.19 Readymade garments and embroidery 105 104.28 Wood/wooden based products 358 207.64 Paper and paper products 77 30.8 Leather based 12 6 Chemical & chemical based 542 426.86 Mineral based 57 38.08 Metal based 254 200 Engineering units 356 258.24 Electrical machinery and transport equipment 48 98.32 Repairing and servicing 128 40.56 Others 689 406 Total 3872 2646.97 Source: MSME – DI Muzaffarpur INFRASTRUCTURE The industrial area at Siwan is spread over an area of 7.12 hectares. Types of industries present in Siwan district: Agro based, readymade garments & embroidery, wood/ wooden based furniture, paper & paper products, leather based, chemical/ chemical based, mineral based, metal based, engineering units, electrical machinery & transport equipment's, repairing & servicing. Potential for MSMEs are agro based products, water treatment plants, readymade garments, restaurants, beauty parlor/ saloon, ladies boutique, etc. Potential for service industry: Transportation, hotels/ restaurant, beauty parlors / saloon, health gym, etc. AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRY Soil is fertile in Siwan. Paddy, wheat, vegetables, etc. are the main agricultural crops. There are a number of sugar factories in Siwan district. The district has huge potential for setting up food processing industry and packaging industry. Total cultivable barren land – 17624 hectares. MAJOR INDUSTRIAL AREA Particulars Details Name of the Industrial area Industrial Estate, Siwan Land acquired (in hectare) 7.122 Land developed (in hectare) 7.122 No. of allotted plots (in hectare) 13 No. of vacant plots (in hectare) 0 No. of units in production 4 LARGE SCALE INDUSTRY/ PUBLIC SECTOR UNDERTAKING There are no large scale industry or public sector undertaking present in Siwan district Potential Micro & Major Existing Potential Service Small Enterprise Clusters Enterprises •Agro based products • No existing clusters •Transportation •Water treatment •Hotels/Restaurant plants •Beauty parlours •Readymade garments /saloon • Restaurants •Health gym. • Beauty parlour/saloon • Ladies boutique Source: MSME – DI Muzaffarpur TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE •Siwan is an • Nearest airport important railway is Patna station of the •Siwan is Northern Eastern connected with Railway as over Hajipur, Saran and here main traffic of Gopalganj. Road sugar and •Though the Siwan Airport Railway vegetable are district is not dealt. connected with any state highways, it has some important metalled roads which serve as the important route for transport. EDUCATION Siwan District has educational facility to cater the need of people of the district 1258 no. of primary schools, 318 no. of middle schools, 86 no. of secondary and senior secondary schools, 12 no. of college. HERITAGE & TOURISM Major Tourist / Important Sites in Siwan District Zeeradai: The place is Situated about 13 km from the district headquarters. Zeeradai is known as the birthplace of India's first president Dr. Rajendra Prasad, who was later conferred Bharat Ratna. Ashiana: This place is known as the native residence of Maulana Mazharul Haq, one of the greatest freedom fighters of the country and a symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity. Mahendra Nath Temple: This place is Situated in Mehdar village under Siswan block, about 32 km south from the district headquarters. Mahendra Nath temple of Lord Shiva attracts visitors, including foreigners, from far flung areas. Panchmukhi Shivalinga: There's an old Shiva temple in Mahadeva locality of Siwan town which houses a "panchmukhi" or five faced Shivalinga. Locals insist the Shivlinga in the temple come out of the earth. One can also see the faces of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh on the Shivalinga. Hundreds of devotees throng this temple every day. On Mahashivratri, a fair is also held here. Don: Don is a village in the Darauli block where there are remnants of a fort, which is said to be connected with the famous hero of the Mahabharat, Acharya Dronacharya the guru of both Kaurav’s and Pandav’s.. Maharajganj: A block headquarters now, it was also called Basnauli Gangar. It is the largest bazar in the district. This was the place where great hero of Indian Independence Movement, Shri Phulena Prasad centralised his activity and fought against the Britishers. Anand Bagh Math & Sunder Bagh Math: These temples in Bakhri village are the ‘Samadhi Sthals’ of two saints, Swami Jaggannath Dasji and Guru Bhagwan Dasji. Thousands of devotees pay obeisance at the Maths. HERITAGE & TOURISM Raghunathpur: It is believed to be the place where Lord Rama took rest after killing demon Tarka. Bhikhabandh: The Bhaiya-Bahini temple here is dedicated to a brother and sister who died fighting the Mughals during the 14th century. This temple symbolize and immortalizes the loving sibling relationship. Raghunathpur: It is believed to be the place where Lord Rama took rest after killing demon Tarka. Bhikhabandh: The Bhaiya-Bahini temple here is dedicated to a brother and sister who died fighting the Mughals during the 14th century.