Gumla became a subdivision of Ranchi district in 1902 and it became a separate district in 1983. Simdega district was carved out of Gumla district in 2011. Subsequently, Gumla district was divided into three subdivisions – Gumla Sadar subdivision (with Gumla, Ghaghra, Bharno, Bishunpur, Raidih and Sisia blocks), Basia subdivision (with Palkot, Basia and Kamdara blocks), and Chainpur subdivision (with Chainpur, Albert Ekka (Jari) and Dumri blocks).[1]
Maoist activities
The Maoist insurgency started spreading around the mid-1990s and poses a big challenge to peace and development of the district. It “is involved in abduction, extortion, extortion killings.” The banned organisation is active largely in the eastern part of the district mainly in Kamadara, Basia, Palkot, Gumla, Raidih, Sisai and Bharno police stations. In order to counter the activities of the insurgents, arms, ammunition and security equipment have been provided in every police station. It includes bullet-proof and landmine-proof vehicles.[2]
Geography
In the southern portion of Gumla district, there are flat topped hills called pat, with an elevation ranging from 2,500 feet to 3,000 feet. The pat region is spread across Bishunpur, Chainpur and Ghaghra CD blocks. The highest areas are Netarhat pat (3,356 ft), Lamiti pat (3,777 ft) and Galgat pat (3,823 ft). The rest of the district occupies a part of the Ranchi Plateau with an average elevation of 2,300 feet.[3][4]
Bharno CD block is bounded by Bhandra CD block in Lohardaga district on the north, Bero and Lapung CD blocks in Ranchi district on the east, Kamdara and Basia blocks on the south, and Sisai CD block on the west.[6][7][8]
Bharno CD block has an area of 299.87 km2.[9]Bharno police station serves Bherno CD block.[10] The headquarters of Bherno CD block is located at Bharno village.[11]
Demographics
Population
According to the 2011 Census of India, Bharno CD block had a total population of 84,572, all of which were rural. There were 42,355 (50%) males and 42,217 (50%) females. Population in the age range 0–6 years was 14,845. Scheduled Castes numbered 1,297 (1.53%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 62,451 (73.83%).[9]
Literacy
According to the 2011 census, the total number of literate persons in Bharno CD block was 40,612 (58.24% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 24,094 (69.38% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 16,518 (47.19% of the female population over 6 years). The gender disparity (the difference between female and male literacy rates) was 22.19%.[9]
As of 2011[update] census, literacy in Gumla district was 66.92%. Literacy in Jharkhand was 67.63% in 2011.[12] Literacy in India in 2011 was 74.04%.[13]
According to the Population by Religious Communities 2011 data, in the Bharno subdistrict, ‘Other religious communities’ numbered 55,069 and formed 65.11% of the population, followed by (number of persons and percentage of population in brackets) Hindus 18,018/ 21.30%), Muslims (6,208/ 7.34%), Christians (4,760/ 5.63%), and persons who did not state their religion (506/ 0.60%) ).[15]
According to the Population by Mother Tongue 2011 data, in the Bharno subdistrict, Hindi was the mother-tongue of 56,424 persons forming 66.72% of the population, followed by (number of persons and percentage of population in brackets) Kurukh (23,536/ 27.83%), Urdu (2,130/ 2.52%), Mundari (1,896/ 2.24%), Kharia (385/ 0.46%), and persons with other languages as mother-tongue (200/ 0.24%). Persons with Hindi as mother-tongue included 12,967 persons having Sadri/ Sadan, 38,934 persons having Nagpuri as mother-tongue.[17]
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 in the census data are normally 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.[18]
Economy
Overview
80% and over of the population of Gumla district were in the BPL category in 2004–2005.[19] In 2011–12, the proportion of BPL population in Gumla district came down to 36.75%.[20] 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."[21]
Livelihood
Livelihood in Bharno CD block
Cultivators (67.97%)
Agricultural labourers (22.58%)
Household industries (2.18%)
Other Workers (7.26%)
In Bharno CD block in 2011, amongst the class of total workers, cultivators numbered 25,310 and formed 67.97%, agricultural labourers numbered 8,409 and formed 22.58%, household industry workers numbered 813 and formed 2.18% and other workers numbered 2,703 and formed 7.26%. Total workers numbered 37,325 and formed 44.03% of the total population, and non-workers numbered 47,337 and formed 55.97% of the population.[22]
Infrastructure
There are 69 inhabited villages in Bharno CD block. In 2011, 54 villages had power supply. 1 village had tap water (treated/ untreated), 69 villages had well water (covered/ uncovered), 69 villages had hand pumps, and all villages have drinking water facility. 4 villages had post offices, 11 villages had sub post offices, 2 villages had telephones (land lines), 43 villages had mobile phone coverage. 69 villages had pucca (paved) village roads, 13 villages had bus service (public/ private), 11 villages had autos/ modified autos, 6 villages had taxi/ vans, 16 villages had tractors. 3 villages had bank branches, 31 villages had public distribution system, 26 villages had assemblypolling stations.[23]
Agriculture
In Gumla district, only three CD blocks, namely Sisai, Bharno and Kamdara, have plain lands. Rest of the district is mostly undulating in nature. Forests cover around 27% of the total area. About 35% of the total geographical area of the district is under cultivation. Out of 3.296 lakh hectare cultivable lands, only 22,056 hectare of land is under assured irrigation coverage. “The main economy of the village depends upon agriculture, forest produce, cattle development, and other labour activities...” About 70% farmers belong to the small and marginal category and have small plots scattered all around. Percentages of landless farmers are negligible.[24]
Backward Regions Grant Fund
Gumla 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.[25][26]
Education
Bharno CD block had 21 villages with pre-primary schools, 66 villages with primary schools, 38 villages with middle schools, 13 villages with secondary schools, 10 villages with senior secondary schools, 2 villages had no educational facility.[27] .*Senior secondary schools are also known as Inter colleges in Jharkhand
Healthcare
Bharno CD block had 5 villages with primary health centres, 15 villages with primary health subcentres, 5 villages with maternity and child welfare centres, 3 villages with allopathic hospitals, 2 villages with dispensaries, 1 village with veterinary hospital, 1 village with family welfare centre.[27] .*Private medical practitioners, alternative medicine etc. not included
References
^"Gumla". About district/ Administrative Set-up/ Subdivision. Gumla district authorities. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
^"Rural Poverty in Jharkhand, India"(PDF). Table I: Spatial Distribution of Poverty in Jharkhand. Munich Personal RePEc Archive. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
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