Kisko block

According to the 2011 Census of India, Kisko CD block had a total population of 54,959, all of which were rural. There were 27,692 (50%) males and 27,267 (50%) females. Population in the age range 0–6 years was 9,373. Scheduled Castes numbered 1,663 (3.03%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 33,559 (61.06%).[6]

According to the 2011 census, the total number of literate persons in Kisko CD block was 29,422 (64.54% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 17,212 (74.89% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 12,210 (54.02% of the female population over 6 years). The gender disparity (the difference between female and male literacy rates) was 20.87%.[6]

As of 2011 census, literacy in Lohardaga district was 78.62%. Literacy in Jharkhand was 67.63% in 2011.[9] Literacy in India in 2011 was 74.04%.[10]

See also – List of Jharkhand districts ranked by literacy rate

At the time of the 2011 census, 36.35% of the population spoke Kurukh, 32.83% Sadri, 20.01% Urdu, 7.08% Hindi and 3.43% Mundari as their first language.[12]

In Kisko CD block in 2011, amongst the class of total workers, cultivators numbered 12,209 and formed 42.13%, agricultural labourers numbered 13,288 and formed 45.85%, household industry workers numbered 652 and formed 2.25% and other workers numbered 2,832 and formed 9.77%. Total workers numbered 28,981 and formed 52.73% of the total population, and non-workers numbered 25,978 and formed 47.27% of the population.[16]

There are 52 inhabited villages in Kisko CD block. In 2011, 10 villages had power supply. 5 villages had tap water (treated/ untreated), 52 villages had well water (covered/ uncovered), 48 villages had hand pumps, and all villages have drinking water facility. 9 villages had post offices, 10 villages had sub post offices, 5 villages had telephones (land lines), 13 villages had mobile phone coverage. 52 villages had pucca (paved) village roads, 6 villages had bus service (public/ private), 13 villages had autos/ modified autos, 7 villages had taxi/vans, 18 villages had tractors. 7 villages had bank branches, 5 villages had agricultural credit societies, 21 villages had public distribution system, 32 villages had assembly polling stations.[17]

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”.[18]

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.[19][20] A ropeway connecting Bagru mines and Lohardaga has been a popular tourist attraction.[21]

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.[22][23]