Churachandpur Pincodes

Churachandpur District, is one of Manipur’s 16 districts, primarily inhabited by the Kuki-Zomi community. It’s named in honor of former Maharaja Sir Churachand Singh of Manipur. The district headquarters, also known as Lamka locally, is situated in Churachandpur town. Originally established in 1919 as the South-West Area hill subdivision of Manipur, it was later renamed “Churachandpur subdivision.” Post-Independence, it remained one of Manipur’s eight subdivisions. In 1969, it was upgraded to a district, initially named “Manipur South” and later “Churachandpur district.” In 2016, the western part, consisting of Tipaimukh and Thanlon subdivisions, became a separate district called Pherzawl, while Churachandpur district retained its remaining territory

History

The name “Chura Chandpur” originally belonged to Songpi village around 1920, named after Maharaja Churachand Singh of Manipur. Back then, the Khuga river valley, today’s Churachandpur, was largely uninhabited. During the Kuki Rebellion of 1917-1919, an Assam Rifles post was established at Songpi. After the rebellion, the British Raj created four hill area subdivisions, with Songpi as the South-West Subdivision headquarters. In 1921, a feast honoring returning World War I labor corps workers was attended by Maharaja Churachand Singh, leading to the village’s renaming as “Churachandpur.” The subdivision and town adopted the same name. In 1930, the subdivision was directly administered from Imphal due to staff shortages, and Songpi/Churachandpur office became inactive.

Demography

According to the 2011 Census of India, Churachandpur district had a population of 274,143, roughly equivalent to Barbados. It ranked 575th among India’s 640 districts, with a population density of 60 people per square kilometer (160/sq mi). The district witnessed a 20.29% population growth rate from 2001 to 2011. Churachandpur has a sex ratio of 975 females per 1000 males and an 84.29% literacy rate. The majority of residents are Kuki-Zo people. Christianity is the dominant religion (93%), followed by Hinduism (4%), Islam (1%), and smaller communities like Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, and others. Additionally, the district hosts Meiteis, Nepalese, Biharis, Malwaris, and Punjabis alongside the Kuki-Zomi population.

Geography

According to the 2011 census, Churachandpur district encompassed a sprawling expanse spanning 4,750 square kilometers (1,830 sq mi) in the southwestern region of Manipur. During that period, it included both the Tipaimukh and Thanlon subdivisions within its boundaries, which have since been designated as the independent Pherzawl district. Presently, these two districts collectively constitute the administrative jurisdiction of the Churachandpur Autonomous District Council (ADC). This restructuring of territorial divisions reflects the evolving administrative landscape of this region, ensuring effective governance and representation for the local communities within the Churachandpur district and its adjoining areas.

Economy

In 2006, Churachandpur earned the unfortunate distinction of being designated one of India’s most impoverished districts among a total of 640 by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. Presently, it stands as one of only three districts in Manipur that continue to receive financial support from the Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF). This acknowledgment underscores the persistent socioeconomic challenges faced by the region, emphasizing the need for targeted developmental efforts and investments to uplift the lives of its residents and promote progress in Churachandpur.