Lohardaga block

23°26′45″N 84°41′00″E / 23.4458°N 84.6832°E / 23.4458; 84.6832Country IndiaStateJharkhandDistrictLohardagaGovernment • TypeFederal democracyArea • Total146.86 km² (56.70 sq mi)Population • Total68,598 • Density470/km² (1,200/sq mi)Languages • OfficialHindi, UrduTime zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)PINTelephone/STD code06526Vehicle registrationJH 08Literacy67.73%Lok Sabha constituencyLohardagaVidhan Sabha constituencyLohardagaWebsitelohardaga.nic.in

Lohardaga block is a CD block that forms an administrative division in the Lohardaga subdivision of Lohardaga district, in the Indian state of Jharkhand.

History

Lohardaga was made a subdivision of Ranchi district in 1972. Ranchi district was split into three districts namely Ranchi, Gumla and Lohardaga, in 1983.^[1]

Maoist activities

Lohardaga has been identified as an “A” grade highly Maoist infested district. Kuru, Bhandra, Kairo, Kisko, Jowang and Senha police stations are totally affected and Lohardaga police station is partially affected. The Maoist outfits are mainly interested in extorting the bauxite mining and transport industry. The police force has been trained to take on the Maoist outfits and has been extending support at important points. Lohardaga has lost one Superintendent of Police, Ajay Kumar Singh, IPS in the anti-insurgency operations.^[2]

Geography

Lohardaga is located at 23°26′45″N 84°41′00″E / 23.4458°N 84.6832°E / 23.4458; 84.6832.

Lohardaga district consists of two broad physiographic divisions – the hilly tract and the plateau region. The hilly tract extends over the western and north-western parts of the district. The high hill tops of this region are known as pat. The plateau region is a part of the Gumla Plateau, which lies in the southern portion of Chota Nagpur Plateau. Lohardaga and Bhandra CD blocks are entirely in the plateau region. Other administrative areas, such as Kisko, Senha and Kuru CD blocks are partly in the plateau region and partly in the hilly tract.^[3]

Lohardaga CD block is bounded by the Kuru CD block on the north, Kairo CD block on the east, Bhandra and Senha CD blocks on the south and Kisko CD block on the west.^[4]

Lohardaga CD block has an area of 146.86 km².^[5]Lohardaga police station serves Lohardaga CD block.^[6] The headquarters of Lohardaga CD block is located at Lohardaga town.^[7]

Demographics

Population

According to the 2011 Census of India, Lohardga CD block had a total population of 68,598, all of which were rural. There were 34,484 (50%) males and 34,114 (50%) females. Population in the age range 0–6 years was 11,334. Scheduled Castes numbered 1,764 (2.57%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 45,277 (66.00%).^[5]

Literacy

According to the 2011 census, the total number of literate persons in Lohardaga CD block was 38,783 (67.73% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 22,309 (77.61% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 16,474 (57.76% of the female population over 6 years). The gender disparity (the difference between female and male literacy rates) was 19.85%.^[5]

As of 2011^[update] census, literacy in Lohardaga district was 78.62%. Literacy in Jharkhand was 67.63% in 2011.^[8] Literacy in India in 2011 was 74.04%.^[9]

See also – List of Jharkhand districts ranked by literacy rate

Literacy in CD Blocks of Lohardaga district
Lohardaga subdivision
Kisko – 64.54%
Peshrar – 54.25%
Kuru – 67.36%
Kairo – 64.36%
Lohardaga – 67.73%
Senha – 66.06%
Bhandra block – 63.27%
Source: 2011 Census: CD block Wise Primary Census Abstract Data

Language and religion

According to the District Census Handbook, Lohardaga, 2011 census, “the distribution of different mother tongues (languages mentioned under 8th Schedule of Constitution of India) as returned during the 2001 Census for Lohardaga district was” Kurukh (42.15%), Hindi (39.66%), Urdu (16.46%) and other languages 1.73%.^[10]

According to the Population by Mother Tongue in the 2011 Census of India, 38.96% of the population in the Lohardaga district spoke Kurukh, 33.17% Sadri, 13.87% Urdu, 12.5% Hindi and other languages 1.50% as their first language.^[11]

Hindi is the official language in Jharkhand and Urdu has been declared as an additional official language.^[12]

According to the District Census Handbook, Lohardaga, 2011 census, ‘Other Religions and Persuasions’ formed 47.2% of the population, followed by Hindus (28.6%), Muslims (20.1%), Christians (4.0%).^[13]

The Oraon people dominate in Lohardaga district. In the 2001 census they numbered 164,379 and formed 80.95% of the Scheduled Tribes population, who in turn constituted 55.70% of the population in the district. The Lohras formed 4.79% of the ST population.^[14]

Rural poverty

70-80% of the population of Lohardaga district were in the BPL category in 2004–2005.^[15] In 2011–12, the proportion of BPL population in Lohardaga district came down to 38.0%.^[16] According to a study in 2013 (modified in 2019), "the incidence of poverty in Jharkhand is estimated at 46%, but 60% of the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes are still below poverty line."^[17]

Economy

Livelihood

In Lohardaga CD block in 2011, amongst the class of total workers, cultivators numbered 14,375 and formed 29.15%, agricultural labourers numbered 14,990 and formed 30.40%, household industry workers numbered 995 and formed 2.02% and other workers numbered 18,948 and formed 38.43%. Total workers numbered 49,308 and formed 39.13% of the total population, and non-workers numbered 76,701 and formed 60.87% of the population.^[18]

Infrastructure

There are 38 inhabited villages in Lohardaga CD block. In 2011, 24 villages had power supply. 2 villages had tap water (treated/ untreated), 38 villages had well water (covered/ uncovered), 38 villages had hand pumps, and all villages have drinking water facility. 13 villages had post offices, 17 villages had sub post offices, 11 villages had telephones (land lines), 32 villages had mobile phone coverage. 38 villages had pucca (paved) village roads, 10 villages had bus service (public/ private), 21 villages had autos/ modified autos, 17 villages had taxi/vans, 32 villages had tractors. 7 villages had bank branches, 6 villages had agricultural credit societies, 25 villages had public distribution system, 27 villages had assembly polling stations.^[19]

Agriculture

Large areas of the district were earlier covered with forests. With gradual deforestation, more land is being brought under cultivation. At present around 32-35% of the total area is covered with forests. Rice is grown in the terraced lowlands called don. In the uplands called tanr, a coarse form of rice, millets, pulses and oil seeds are grown. Agriculture is mostly monsoon-dependent. “The wells, springs and ahars are the only traditional sources of irrigation. The average land holding per household is 1.65 Ha. The per capita agriculture land is around 0.28 Ha. Net irrigated area is 13.4% of net sown area”.^[20]

Bauxite

Bauxite is the raw material from which aluminium is produced. Lohardaga district has large reserves of world class bauxite across Pakhar, Hisari, Rudhali Pat, Khamar Pat and the mining area also extends to neighbouring districts. The district has approval of mining of approximately 11 lakh tones of bauxite mineral in a year. Hindalco Industries Ltd has 7 mining leases out of 9 active mines in Lohardaga district which supplies bauxite to Hindalco's aluminium plants at Muri and Renukoot.^[21][22] A ropeway connecting Bagru mines and Lohardaga has been a popular tourist attraction.^[23]

Backward Regions Grant Fund

Lohardaga district is listed as a backward region and receives financial support from the Backward Regions Grant Fund. The fund, created by the Government of India, is designed to redress regional imbalances in development. As of 2012, 272 districts across the country were listed under this scheme. The list includes 21 districts of Jharkhand.^[24][25]

Transport

v t e Barkakana–Son Nagar line
Legend
km 0 Son Nagar Mughalsarai Jn. · Gaya Jn. 8 Baghabishnupur 16 Ankorah 22 Barkisalaiya 30 Nabinagar Road Bihar Jharkhand border 39 Kajrat Nawadih 46 Japla 53 Haidar Nagar 58 Kosiara 65 Mohammad Ganj 71 Satbahini 77 Untari Road 82 Karkatta 87 Sigsigi to Chunar 135 Billi to Singrauli 132 Salai Banwa 124 Paras Pani 119 Gurmura 110 Jogidih 100 Renukut 93 Muirpur Road 85 Jharokhas 78 Dudhinagar Kanhar River 66 Mahuariya 56 Wyndhamganj Uttar Pradesh Jharkhand border 44 Nagaruntari 32 Ramna MBRL siding Banki River 21 Meralgram 10 Garhwa North Koel River 93 0 Garhwa Road 99 Tolra 104 Lalgarh Bihar Halt 109 Rajhura Amanat River 120 Kajri to Rafiganj (planned) 126 Daltonganj 134 Chianki Auranga River 141 Kechki 148 Mangra Halt to Ambikapur (planned) 154 Barwadih 162 Chhipadohar 171 Hehegara Halt 181 Kumendi 188 Bendi 194 Latehar 201 Demu 209 Richughuta 217 Chetar 227 0 Tori Tori–Shivpur–Koderma line 14 Bodagram 30 Barkichampi 36 Hendlaso Bhogta Bagicha Hindalco Siding 44 Lohardaga 53 Irgaon 58 Akashi 64 Nagjua 72 Narkopi 82 Tangerbansli 89 Itki 98 Piska to Lodhma (planned) Hatia–Rourkela line 109 Argora 111 Ranchi Netaji S.C.Bose Gomoh–Hatia line Barkakana–Ranchi line 233 Mahuamilan Damodar River 247 Nindra 249 McCluskieganj Piparwar CCP/CHP Siding Damodar River Khalari Cement Plant siding 255 Khalari Hesalong Colliery siding 261 Ray 269 Kole Block Halt 275 Hendegir 278 Chhapar Halt 283 Tokisud Religara Colliery siding Giddi Colliery siding Damodar River 290 Patratu Sayal Colliery siding JSEB Thermal Power Station Saunda Colliery siding JSPL Steel and Power plant 299 Bhurkunda to Gomoh/ Koderma 308 Barkakana Barkakana–Ranchi line Barkakana–Muri–Chandil line

Lohardaga railway station is on the Ranchi-Tori line.^[26]

Education

Lohardaga CD block had 27 villages with pre-primary schools, 36 villages with primary schools, 26 villages with middle schools, 10 villages with secondary schools, 5 villages with senior secondary schools, 1 village had no educational facility.^[27]
.*Senior secondary schools are also known as Inter colleges in Jharkhand

Healthcare

Lohardaga CD block had 9 villages with primary health centres, 20 villages with primary health subcentres, 4 villages with maternity and child welfare centres, 1 village with allopathic hospital, 4 villages with dispensaries, 4 villages with veterinary hospitals, 6 villages with family welfare centres, 3 villages with medicine shops.^[27]
.*Private medical practitioners, alternative medicine etc. not included

References