In the 2011 Census of India, Hindus numbered 176,715 and formed 52.48% of the population in Basanti CD block. Muslims numbered 151,101 and formed 44.87% of the population. Others numbered 8,901 and formed 2.65% of the population. Amongst the others, Christians numbered 7,693. The proportion of Hindus in South Twenty-four Parganas district has declined from 76.0% in 1961 to 63.2% in 2011. The proportion of Muslims in South Twenty-four Parganas district has increased from 23.4% to 35.6% during the same period. Christians formed 0.8% in 2011. As per the "Human Development Report" for South 24 Parganas district, published in 2009, in Basanti CD block the percentage of households below poverty line was 64.89%. Basanti is one of the poorest blocks in the whole country. Within South 24 Parganas district, the poverty ratio in Basanti was ten times more than that in Thakurpukur Maheshtala CD block. The poverty rates were very high in the Sundarban region with all thirteen CD blocks registering poverty ratios above 30% and eight CD blocks had more than 40% of the population in the BPL category. The Sundarban region remains the most backward region in terms of quality of life. As per rural household survey in 2005, the proportion of households in South 24 Parganas with poverty rates below poverty line was 34.11%, way above the state and national poverty ratios. In Basanti CD block in 2011, amongst the class of total workers, cultivators numbered 24,402 and formed 18.48%, agricultural labourers numbered 62,012 and formed 47.03%, household industry workers numbered 13,772 and formed 10.43% and other workers numbered 31,768 and formed 24.06%.Total workers numbered 132,044 and formed 39.22% of the total population, and non-workers numbered 204,673 and formed 60.78% of the population. The "District Human Development Report" points out that in the blocks of region situated in the close proximity of the Kolkata metropolis, overwhelming majority are involved in the non-agricultural sector for their livelihood. On the other hand, in the Sundarban region, overwhelming majority are dependent on agriculture. In the intermediate region, there is again predominance of the non-agricultural sector. Though the region is not very close to Kolkata, many places are well connected and some industrial/ economic development has taken place.