Churachandpur district

Churachandpur District (Meitei pronunciation: /tʃʊraːˌtʃaːnɗpʊr/), is one of the 16 districts of the Indian state of Manipur populated mainly by Kuki-Zo people. The name honours former Maharaja Sir Churachand Singh of Manipur. The district headquarters is located in the Churachandpur town, 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 4750 km2 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).

Census towns
There are three census towns in Churachandpur District:
 * Rengkai
 * Zenhang Lamka
 * Hill town

Villages

 * Ngaloi
 * New Lamka
 * Bungmual
 * Pearsonmun
 * Hiangtam Lamka
 * Gangpimual
 * Lanva
 * Tangnuam
 * Misson Compound
 * Mualpi
 * Peniel
 * Tuithapi
 * Saikul
 * Mata Mualtam
 * Saikawt
 * Sielmat

Demographics
As of the 2011 Census of India, Churachandpur district had a population of 274,143, This gives it a ranking of 575th in India (out of a total of 640 districts). It has a population density of 60 PD/sqkm. 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. The composition of scheduled tribes in the 2011 district is as follows: Apart from the scheduled tribes, the district is populated by Meities, Nepalese, Biharis, Malwaris, and Punjabis, amounting to roughly 7% of the population.

Christianity is the majority(93%) religion in Churachandpur. Hinduism is the second largest (4%) religion. Then there are followers of Islam (1%), Sikh, Buddhist, Jain and other religions.

Colleges

 * Churachandpur Medical College, Hiangtam Lamka
 * Churachandpur Government College, Hiangtam Lamka
 * Lamka College, New Lamka

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
 * Lanva Model High School, Lanva

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.

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, Skynet, 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 Town.

The administrative setup of Churachandpur District.


 * 1) Sub Divisions & Blocks
 * 2) Autonomous District Councils
 * 3) Towns
 * 4) Police Stations
 * 5) 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.