Simdega block

Simdega
Community development block
At Bara Barpani in Simdega block
Simdega Location in Jharkhand Show map of Jharkhand Simdega Simdega (India) Show map of India
Coordinates: 22°37′07″N84°29′45″E / 22.6185°N 84.4957°E / 22.6185; 84.4957
Country	India
State	Jharkhand
District	Simdega
Government
• Type	Federal democracy
Area
• Total	425.07 km2 (164.12 sq mi)
Population  (2011)
• Total	72,131
• Density	170/km2 (440/sq mi)
Languages
•  Official	Hindi, Urdu
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	835223
Telephone/STD code	0625
Vehicle registration	JH 20
Literacy	67.86%
Lok Sabha constituency	Khunti
Vidhan Sabha constituency	Simdega
Website	simdega.nic.in

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

History

Gumla district was carved out of Ranchi district in 1983. Till 30 April 2001, Simdega was a subdivision of Gumla district and was made a separate district from that date. ^[1]

Maoist activities

According to a PIB release in 2018, Simdega is one of the thirty districts most affected by Left wing extremism in the country (along with twelve other districts of Jharkhand). “The terrain of the district is very tough and geography is favourable for naxal activities.” All police stations in the district are well fortified and equipped to handle the situation. Community policing activities are being prioritised to involve the simple village folk. ^{[2] [3]}

Hemant Soren, Chief Minister of Jharkhand, has claimed, in September 2021, that as a result of the effective action against left wing extremism, the “presence of hardcore Maoists has been limited to mainly four regions, namely Parasnath Pahar, Budha Pahar, Tri-junction of Seraikela-Khunti-Chaibasa district in Kolhan division and some of the areas along the Bihar border”. ^[4]

Geography

Simdega district lies in the south-western part of the Chota Nagpur Plateau. It has been described as “a dissected upland of ancient crystalline rocks” The general elevation of the district is 300 to 700 metres (980 to 2,300 ft) above mean sea level. The landscape is formed of hills and undulating plateau. The Major rivers of this area are Sankh, Deo, Girwa, and Palamara. ^{[5] [6]}

Simdega CD block has an area of 425.07 km². ^[7] Simdega police station serves Simdega CD block. ^[8] The headquarters of Simdega CD block is located at Simdega town. ^[9]

Simdega CD block is bounded by Pakartanr CD block and Raidih and Palkot CD blocks in Gumla district on the north, Kolebira CD block on the east, Thethaitangar CD block on the south, and Duldula CD block in Jashpur district of Chhattisgarh on the west. ^{[10] [11] [12]}

Demographics

Population

According to the 2011 Census of India, Simdega CD block had a total population of 72,131, all of which were rural. There were 36,093 (50%) males and 36,038 (50%) females. Population in the age range 0–6 years was 11,428. Scheduled Castes numbered 8,326 (11.54%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 49,242 (68.27%). ^[7]

Literacy

According to the 2011 census, the total number of literate persons in Simdega CD block was 41,314 (67.86% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 22,931 (75.40% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 18,383 (60.33% of the female population over 6 years). The gender disparity (the difference between female and male literacy rates) was 15.07%. ^[7]

As of 2011 ^[update] census, literacy in Simdega district was 67.59%. Literacy in Jharkhand was 67.63% in 2011. ^[13] Literacy in India in 2011 was 74.04%. ^[14]

See also – List of Jharkhand districts ranked by literacy rate

Literacy in CD Blocks of Simdega district
Simdega Sadar subdivision
Simdega – 67.86%
Pakartanr – 70.04%
Kurdeg – 67.52%
Kersai – 67.80%
Bolba – 63.26%
Thethaitangar – 66.73%
Kolebira – 70.40%
Jaldega – 64.89
Bansjore – 61.47%
Bano – 63.43%
Source: 2011 Census: CD block Wise Primary Census Abstract Data

Language and religion

Languages of Simdega block (2011) ^[15]

   Sadri (59.12%)

   Kharia (16.02%)

   Hindi (11.50%)

   Urdu (5.39%)

   Mundari (4.31%)

   Kurukh (1.40%)

  Others (2.26%)

According to the Population by Mother Tongue 2011 data, in the Simdega subdistrict, Hindi was the mother-tongue of 82,912 persons forming 71.87% of the population, followed by (number of persons and percentage of population in brackets) Kharia 18,435/15.98%, Urdu (6,200/ 5.37%), Mundari (4,964/ 4.30%), Kurukh (1,613/ 1.40%), and persons with other languages as mother-tongue (1,247/ 1.08%). ‘Other languages’ included 284 persons having Bengali, 267 persons having Odia and 232 persons having Maithili as mother-tongue. Persons having Hindi as mother-tongue included 65,043 persons having Sadri/ Sadan, 2,995 persons having Nagpuri, 618 persons having Bhojpuri, 605 persons having Magahi/Magadhi, 279 persons having Marwari, as mother-tongue. ^[15]

Note: An attempt has been made to include all language groups each with at least 300 persons as their mother-tongue and only those groups with less than 300 persons as their mother-tongue are included in the “other languages” category. Comparatively smaller language groups with 200+ persons as their mother-tongue are mentioned in the text. Many languages have sub-groups. Those who are interested can see the reference for more details.

Hindi is the official language in Jharkhand and Urdu has been declared as an additional official language. ^[16]

Religions in Simdega CD block (2011) [17]
Religion			Percent
Christianity			48.10%
Hinduism			40.79%
Islam			6.57%
Sarna			4.26%
Other or not stated			0.28%

According to the Population by Religious Communities 2011 data, in the Simdega subdistrict, Christians numbered 55,349 and formed 48.10% of the population, followed by (number of persons and percentage of population in brackets) Hindus (46,934/ 40.79%), Muslims (7556/ 6.57%), persons who did not state their religion (146/ 0.13%), and ‘Other religious communities’ (5,090/ 4.42%). ^[17]

Scheduled Tribes numbered 424,407 and formed 70.78% of the total population of Simdega district. Within the scheduled tribes the more populous tribes were (percentage of ST population in 2011 in brackets): Munda, Patars (33.61%), Kharia, Dhelki Kharia, Dudh Kharia, Hill Kharia (25.42%), Oraon, Dhangar Oraons (20.13%), Gonds (5.77%) and Lohras (5.32%). ^[18]

Economy

Overview

The District Census Handbook, Simdega, mentions, “Simdega is one of the least developed districts in the country... As per the survey conducted for the year 1997 –2002 five-year plan more than 60% of population is below poverty line.” ^[19] Another report says that 80% and over of the population of Simdega district were in the BPL category in 2004–2005. ^[20] In 2011-12, the proportion of BPL population in Simdega district came down to 38.26%. ^[21] 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." ^[22]

Livelihood

Livelihood
in Simdega CD block

  Cultivators (44.90%)

  Agricultural labourers (26.20%)

  Household industries (2.72%)

  Other Workers (26.18%)

In Simdega CD block in 2011, amongst the class of total workers, cultivators numbered 21,299 and formed 44.90%, agricultural labourers numbered 12,431 and formed 26.20%, household industry workers numbered 1,292 and formed 2.72% and other workers numbered 12,418 and formed 26.18%. Total workers numbered 47,440 and formed 41.23% of the total population, and non-workers numbered 67,635 and formed 58.77% of the population. ^[23]

Infrastructure

There are 61 inhabited villages in Simdega CD block. In 2011, 22 villages had power supply. 2 villages had tap water (treated/ untreated), 61 villages had well water (covered/ uncovered), 59 villages had hand pumps, and all villages have drinking water facility. 4 villages had post offices, 9 villages had sub post offices, 5 villages had telephones (land lines), 41 villages had mobile phone coverage. 36 villages had pucca (paved) village roads, 20 villages had bus service (public/ private), 1 village had auto/ modified auto,11 villages had taxi/ vans, 30 villages had tractors. 1 village had a bank branch, 2 villages had agricultural credit societies, 4 villages had public library and reading rooms, 32 villages had ration shops, 37 villages had assembly polling stations. ^[24]

Agriculture

According to the District Census Handbook, Simdega, the rural population depends mainly on agriculture for a living. Agriculture in Simdega is in a very primitive state. The district has about 32% of forested area. Out of 1,34,024 hectares of cultivable land only 4,669.83 hectares of land is irrigated. Agriculture is mainly dependent on seasonal rain. The average rainfall of the district is 1100–1200 mm but much of it remains unutilised. ^[25]

Backward Regions Grant Fund

Simdega 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. ^{[26] [27]}

Education

Simdega CD block had 18 villages with pre-primary schools, 54 villages with primary schools, 26 villages with middle schools, 9 villages with secondary schools, 7 villages had no educational facility. ^[28]
.*Senior secondary schools are also known as Inter colleges in Jharkhand

Healthcare

Simdega CD block had 2 villages with primary health centres, 15 villages with primary health subcentres, 3 villages with maternity and child welfare centres, 4 villages with dispensary/ health centres, 2 villages with family welfare centres, 10 villages with medicine shops. ^[28]
.*Private medical practitioners, alternative medicine etc. not included

References

1. "Gumla". About district. Gumla district authorities. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
2. "Maoist and Naxal activities in the country". 1 August 2018. Press Information Bureau, Government of India. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
3. "District Police Profile Simdega". Security Scenario. Jharkhand Police. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
4. "Presence of Maoists limited to only four regions in Jharkhand, claims CM Hemant Soren". The New Indian Express, 26 September 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
5. "District Census Handbook, Simdega, Series 21, Part XII A" (PDF). Page 8: Physical aspects. Directorate of Census Operations Jharkhand. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
6. "Ground Water Information Booklet Simdega District, Jharkhand State" (PDF). 4. Hydrology. Central Ground Water Board, Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
7. "District Census Handbook, Simdega, Series 21, Part XII B" (PDF). Pages 26-27: District primary census abstract, 2011 census. Directorate of Census Operations Jharkhand. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
8. "District Police Profile - Simdega". Jharkhand Police. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
9. "District Census Handbook, Simdega, Series 21, Part XII A" (PDF). Map of Simdega district on the fifth page. Directorate of Census Operations Jharkhand. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
10. "Simdega CD block/ Tehsil map". Maps of India. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
11. "Gumla CD block/ Tehsil map". Maps of India. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
12. "Jashpur CD block/ Tehsil map". Maps of India. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
13. "Provisional Population Totals Paper 1 of 2011: Jharkhand". Provisional Population Totals, Literacy Rate in 2011 column. Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Government of India. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
14. "Ranking of states and union territories by literacy rate: 2011" (PDF). Page 110. Government of India. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
15. "Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Jharkhand". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
16. "Report of the Commissioner for linguistic minorities: 50th report (July 2012 to June 2013)" (PDF). Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India. p. 35. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 July 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
17. "Table C-01 Population By Religion - Jharkhand". census.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
18. "District Census Handbook Simdega, Series 20, Part XII A, 2011 census" (PDF). page 31: Scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. Directorate of Census Operations Jharkhand. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
19. "District Census Handbook Simdega, Series 20, Part XII A, 2011 census" (PDF). page 9 : District Development Scenario, Agriculture. Directorate of Census Operations Jharkhand. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
20. "Rural Poverty in Jharkhand, India" (PDF). Table I: Spatial Distribution of Poverty in Jharkhand. Munich Personal RePEc Archive. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
21. "Spatial poverty in Jharkhand". Mint. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
22. "Rural Poverty in Jharkhand, India: An Empirical Study based on Panel Data". MPRA. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
23. "District Census Handbook 2011 Simdega, Series 21, Part XII A" (PDF). Tables 30 and 33, pages 53 and 56. Directorate of Census Operations, Jharkhand. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
24. "District Census Handbook, Simdega, 2011, Series 21, Part XII A" (PDF). Pages 222-226 Appendix I: Village Directory. Directorate of Census Operations, Jharkhand. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
25. "District Census Handbook Simdega, Series 20, Part XII A, 2011 census" (PDF). page 9 : Forest, Agriculture. Directorate of Census Operations Jharkhand. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
26. "Backward Regions Grant Funds: Programme Guidelines" (PDF). Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 October 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
27. "Backward Regions Grant Fund". Press Release, 14 June 2012. Press Information Bureau, Government of India. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
28. "District Census Handbook Simdega 2011, Series 21, Part XII A" (PDF). Pages 222-224. Directorate of Census Operations, Jharkhand. Retrieved 20 October 2021.