The Chain, is a caste mainly of Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. They have traditionally been associated with cultivation and fishery occupations.[1]

History edit

Distribution edit

West Bengal edit

In West Bengal, although the Chain community is widely dispersed through the state, the Government granted Scheduled Castes (SC) status only to Chain members in four districts: Malda, Murshidabad, Nadia and Dakshin Dinajpur.[2] Accordingly, the Socio Economic and Caste Census 2011 specifically reported the Chain only in these locations. Based on the 2011 Census of India, these districts, together, have a population of 323,595 people belonging to the Chain community.[3] The total Chain population in West Bengal is more than four lakh (400,000). The National Commission for Scheduled Castes was reported in 2015 to be initiating a process to extend SC status to the community throughout West Bengal.[2]

References edit

  1. ^ Mitra, A.; Census Operations and Joint Development Commissioner, Indian Civil Service Superintendent (1953). Land and Land Revenue Department (ed.). The Tribes and Castes of West Bengal (PDF). Census 1951: WEST BENGAL. Alipore, West Bengal: West Bengal Government Press. p. 77. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  2. ^ a b Indo-Asian News Service, (IANS) (10 March 2015). "Panel wants SC status for Chain community across Bengal". Business Standard India. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  3. ^ Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Department of Social Justice & Empowerment Plan Division (2018). Handbook on social welfare statistics (PDF). New Delhi: Government of India. p. 101. Retrieved 19 September 2021.