Barhait (community development block)

According to the 2011 Census of India, Barhait CD block had a total population of 130,227, of which 115,742 were rural and 14,485 were urban. There were 66,401 (51%) males and 63,826 (49%) females. Population in the age range 0–6 years was 23,895. Scheduled Castes numbered 5,525 (4.24%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 70,233 (53.93%).[7]

In the 2011 census, two census towns were shown in Barhait CD block (2011 census population in brackets): Berhait Santali (9,753) and Berhait Bazar (4,732).[12]

According to the 2011 census, the total number of literates persons in Barhait CD block was 45,188 (42.50% of the population over 6 years) out of which 28,413 (63%) were males and 16,775 (37%) were females. The gender disparity (the difference between female and male literacy rates) was 26%.[12]

See also – List of Jharkhand districts ranked by literacy rate

Hindus are the majority community. Muslims and Christians and Sarna are each a minority community.[13]

At the time of the 2011 census, 46.78% of the population spoke Santali, 29.05% Khortha, 8.33% Malto, 5.30% Bengali, 4.64% Urdu, 2.90% Hindi and 2.22% Bhojpuri as their first language.[14]

In Barhait CD block in 2011, amongst the class of total workers, cultivators numbered 23,000 and formed 37.88%, agricultural labourers numbered 31,348 and formed 51.62%, household industry workers numbered 1,086 and formed 1.79% and other workers numbered 5,292 and formed 8.71%. Total workers numbered 65,024 and formed 49.93% of the total population. Non-workers numbered 65,203 and formed 50.07% of total population.[18]

Note: In the census records a person is considered a cultivator, if the person is engaged in cultivation/ supervision of land owned. When a person who works on another person's land for wages in cash or kind or share, is regarded as an agricultural labourer. Household industry is defined as an industry conducted by one or more members of the family within the household or village, and one that does not qualify for registration as a factory under the Factories Act. Other workers are persons engaged in some economic activity other than cultivators, agricultural labourers and household workers. It includes factory, mining, plantation, transport and office workers, those engaged in business and commerce, teachers and entertainment artistes.[19]

There are 199 inhabited villages in Barhait CD block. In 2011, 3 villages had power supply. 5 villages had tap water (treated/ untreated), 194 villages had well water (covered/ uncovered), 136 villages had hand pumps, and all villages had drinking water facility. 12 village had post offices, 10 villages had sub post offices, 1 village had telephones (land lines), 3 villages had public call offices and 96 villages had mobile phone coverage. 157 villages had pucca (paved) roads, 27 villages had bus service (private/public), 4 villages had auto/ modified auto, 5 villages had taxis/ vans, 13 villages had tractors, 4 villages had navigable waterways. 7 villages had bank branches, 3 villages had ATMs, 9 villages had agricultural credit societies, 2 villages had cinema/ video hall, 2 villages had public library and public reading room. 75 villages had public distribution system, 11 villages had weekly haat (market) and 56 villages had assembly polling stations.[20]

A large part of Sahibganj district is hilly and most of the thick forests are gone. Some of the plains are cultivable.[2][3] The livelihood scenario presented above indicates that a large population depends on agriculture. In Barhait CD block 19.62% of the total area is cultivable area and 3.53% of the cultivable area is irrigated area.[21]

Sahibganj 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.[22][23]