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]
The 60 metres (200 ft) Sadni Falls on the Sankh River is a scarp fall. It is referred to as a snake type falls and is a popular picnic spot.[6][7] Its surroundings are spectacular with hillocks, forests and streams.[8]
Bishunpur CD block is bounded by Peshrar CD block in Lohardaga district on a portion of the north and the east, Ghaghra and Chainpur CD blocks on the south, Mahuadanr CD block in Latehar district on a portion of the west, and Garu CD block in Latehar district on portions of the west and north.[9][10][11]
Bishunpur CD block has an area of 609.47 km2.[12]Bishunpur police station serves Bishunpur CD block.[13] The headquarters of Bishunpur CD block is located at Bishunpur village.[14]
Demographics
Population
According to the 2011 Census of India, Bishunpur CD block had a total population of 62,319, all of which were rural. There were 31,506 (51%) males and 30,813 (49%) females. Population in the age range 0–6 years was 11,717. Scheduled Castes numbered 1,021 (1.64%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 56,052 (89.94%).[12]
Literacy
According to the 2011 census, the total number of literate persons in Bishunpur CD block was 29,322 (57.95% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 17,703 (71.89% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 11,619 (46.52% of the female population over 6 years). The gender disparity (the difference between female and male literacy rates) was 25.37%.[12]
As of 2011[update] census, literacy in Gumla district was 66.92%. Literacy in Jharkhand was 67.63% in 2011.[15] Literacy in India in 2011 was 74.04%.[16]
According to the Population by Religious Communities 2011 data, in the Bishunpur subdistrict, ‘Other religious communities’ numbered 46,146 and formed 74.05% of the population, followed by (number of persons and percentage of population in brackets) Hindus (8,409/ 13.49%), Christians (7,109/ 11.41%), Muslims (294/ 0.47%), and persons who did not state their religion (328/ 0.53%) ).[17]
According to the Population by Mother Tongue 2011 data, in the Bishunpur subdistrict, Hindi was the mother-tongue of 28,776 persons forming 46.18% of the population, followed by (number of persons and percentage of population in brackets) Kurukh (25,487/ 40.90%), Munda (1,078/ 1.73), Mundari (855/ 1.37%), and persons with other languages as mother-tongue (6,117/ 9.82%). Persons with Hindi as mother-tongue included 12,177 persons having Sadri/ Sadan, 14,303 persons having Nagpuri as mother-tongue.[19]
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. The census data for this page has a large amount for “other languages”, without any information about what it includes.
Hindi is the official language in Jharkhand and Urdu has been declared as an additional official language.[20]
Economy
Overview
80% and over of the population of Gumla district were in the BPL category in 2004–2005.[21] In 2011-12, the proportion of BPL population in Gumla district came down to 36.75%.[22] 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."[23]
Livelihood
Livelihood in Bishunpur CD block
Cultivators (64.95%)
Agricultural labourers (20.42%)
Household industries (2.87%)
Other Workers (11.76%)
In Bishunpur CD block in 2011, amongst the class of total workers, cultivators numbered 19,284 and formed 64.95%, agricultural labourers numbered 6,062 and formed 20.42%, household industry workers numbered 853 and formed 2.87% and other workers numbered 3,493 and formed 11.76%. Total workers numbered 29,692 and formed 47.65% of the total population, and non-workers numbered 32,627 and formed 52.35% of the population.[24]
Infrastructure
There are 68 inhabited villages in Bishunpur CD block. In 2011, 11 villages had power supply. 3 villages had tap water (treated/ untreated), 68 villages had well water (covered/ uncovered), 67 villages had hand pumps, and all villages have drinking water facility. 7 villages had post offices, 6 villages had sub post offices, 3 villages had telephones (land lines), 26 villages had mobile phone coverage. 68 villages had pucca (paved) village roads, 11 villages had bus service (public/ private), 3 villages had autos/ modified autos, 3 villages had taxi/ vans, 16 villages had tractors. 3 villages had bank branches, 1 village had agricultural credit society, 29 villages had public distribution system, 34 villages had assemblypolling stations.[25]
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.[26]
Bauxite mining
Bauxite and laterite (aluminium ore) is found in “villages of Amtipani, Langdatanr, Chirodih, Jalim, Narma, Bahagara and Gurdari of Bishunpur block, Langatanr, Lupungpat and Chota-agiatu in Chainpur block and Hanrup, Serengdag and Jalim in Ghaghra block. The total number of bauxite mines is twenty one”.[27]
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.[28][29]
Education
Bishunpur CD block had 33 villages with pre-primary schools, 62 villages with primary schools, 28 villages with middle schools, 9 villages with secondary schools, 2 villages with senior secondary schools, 4 villages had no educational facility.[30] .*Senior secondary schools are also known as Inter colleges in Jharkhand
Healthcare
Bishunpur CD block had 3 villages with primary health centres, 14 villages with primary health subcentres, 9 villages with maternity and child welfare centres, 4 villages with allopathic hospitals, 2 villages with dispensaries, 3 villages with family welfare centres, 3 villages with medicine shops.[30] .*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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