Churachandpur district

Churachandpur district
Churachandpur District (Meitei pronunciation: /tʃʊraːˌtʃaːnɗpʊr/), is one of the 16 districts of the Indian state of Manipur populated mainly by Kuki-Zomi people. The name honours former Maharaja Churachand Singh of Manipur. The district headquarters is located in the town of Churachandpur, which is also locally known by the name Lamka.
The Churachandpur district first came into being as the South-West Area hill subdivision of Manipur in 1919. It soon acquired the name "Churachandpur subdivision" based on its headquarters at Songpi, which was also called "Churachandpur". After the independence of India, it remained one of the eight subdivisions of Manipur. A "New Churachandpur" town was built at the present location to serve as its headquarters. In 1969, the subdivision was upgraded to a district, initially called "Manipur South" and later "Churachandpur district". In 2016, the western part of the district consisting of the Tipaimukh and Thanlon subdivisions has been made a separate district called Pherzawl, and the rump territory remains Churachandpur district.
Geography
As per the 2011 census, the Churachandpur district covered an area of at the south-western part of the Manipur state. At that time, the Tipaimukh and Thanlon subdivisions were part of the district, which are now separated into the Pherzawl district. The two districts together form the jurisdiction of the Churachandpur Autonomous District Council (ADC).
Demographics
As of the 2011 Census of India, Churachandpur district had a population of 274,143, roughly equal to that of Barbados. This gives it a ranking of 575th in India (out of a total of 640 districts). It has a population density of . Its population growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was 20.29%. Churachandpur has a sex ratio of 975 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 84.29%. Most of the people who live in the district are Kuki-Zo people.
Christianity is the majority(93%) religion in Churachandpur. Hindu is the second(4%) largest religion. Then there are followers of Islam/Muslim(1%), Sikh, Buddhist, Jain and other religions.
Apart from the majority Kuki-Zomi people, the district is populated by Meities, Nepalese, Biharis, Malwaris, and Punjabis.
Census towns
There are three census towns in Churachandpur District:
Rengkai (Most populated town in the district)
Zenhang Lamka
Hill town
Villages
Ngaloi
Educational facilities
Colleges
Churachandpur Medical College
Churachandpur Government College
Private Colleges
Rayburn College
Evangelical College of Theology, Rengkai
Trinity College of Seminar, Sielmat
Sielmat Bible College, Sielmat
Grace Bible College , New Lamka
Government High School
Rengkai Government Higher Secondary School
Private Universities
Sangai International University , Rengkai Road
Health
District Hospital Churachandpur is located within Churachandpur town. Initially, it was a dispensary with few staffs and in the year 1968, it became a 50 bedded Civil Hospital which was inaugurated by Shri Baleswar Prasad, Chief Commissioner of Manipur on 8 June 1968. The hospital was extended with another 50 bedded new building inaugurated on 17 May 1985 by the Medical Minister Shri T. Phungzathang Tonsing and became a 100 bedded one. The present Building OPD block was inaugurated on 31 May 2002, O.T wing on 23 December 2013, and the Trauma Centre on 19 July 2014 by the Hon’ble Chief Minister in presence of the Health Minister and the Industries Minister. The Government of Manipur approved upgrading the hospital to a 200 bedded ward and started the process of making it a Hill Medical College under the leadership of Hon’ble Medical Minister.
Economy
In 2006, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Churachandpur one of the country's most impoverished districts (out of a total of 640). It is one of the three districts in Manipur currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF).
Climate
The location is north of Tropic of Cancer in northern hemisphere, it has summer season in March, April and May with warm, hot and sunny weather. Rainy season starts April and last till October. The winter season is cool and dry.
Transportation
Airport
Nearest airport from Churachandpur is Imphal Airport at Imphal which is about 60 Km. However, during the 2023 Manipur violence, Imphal Airport was considered dangerous for some, and so the alternative route out was a 380 km, 14-hour drive to Aizawl.
Media
The major private television channels/cables are Angels Vision Digital Cable, Hornbill Cable Network, TC Network and Tullou TV.
Government, Politics and Administration
Administration is carried out by the Deputy Commissioners or District Magistrates with support of the District level officer and Block Development officers. The district collector office is located at Tuibong/Tuibuang Town.
The administrative setup of Churachandpur District.
Sub Divisions & Blocks
Autonomous District Councils
Towns
Police Stations
Assembly Constituencies
Autonomous district council
At the district level, there is the Churachandpur Autonomous District Council created by "The Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 1971,” passed by the Parliament of India. The Autonomous District Council is to administer areas which have been given autonomy within the states under Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils Act, 1971. In accordance with this Act, the Autonomous (Hill) District Council is empowered to maintain and manage of property: movable and immovable, and institutions under their jurisdiction.
Churachandpur Autonomous District Council has 24 constituencies.
Notes
References
Bibliography
Further reading
The history and land-holding behind Manipur South District with Special Reference to the Haokip Reserved Land- 1907, T.S Letkhosei Haokip (Manipur University).
Chinkhopau (1995) Churachandpur District, Churachandpur: Published by Author.
District Statistical Handbook – Churachandpur: District Statistical Officer.
External links
Churachandpur District Administration
Churachandpur Autonomous District Council
Districts of Manipur
Minority Concentrated Districts in India