Jamtara is a community development block that forms an administrative division in the Jamtara Sadar subdivision of the Jamtara district, Jharkhand state, India.
Geography
Jamtara is located at .
Jamtara district in the south-eastern part of Santhal Parganas is a rolling upland tract. The Barakar separates it from the Chota Nagpur plateau and the Ajay, flows in from Deoghar district in the west, drains the district, forms the border between Jharkhand and West Bengal for some distance and flows into West Bengal in the east.
Jamtara CD block is bounded by the Narayanpur and Karmatanr CD blocks on the north, Fatehpur and Nala CD blocks on the east, Salanpur CD block in Paschim Bardhaman district in West Bengal, on the south, and Nirsa CD block in Dhanbad district on the west.
Jamtara CD block has an area of 329.73 km2.Jamtara and Mihijam police stations serve this block. Headquarters of this CD block is at Jamtara.
Jamtara CD block has 22 panchayats and 150 villages.
Panchayats of Jamtara CD block are: Barjora, Bewa, Chalna, Chandradipa, Chengaidih, Duladih, Gopalpur, Jiajori, Kushbhedia, Ladhna, Menjhiya, Pnjaniya, Piyalsola, Ranidih, Shahardal, Shaharpura, Siulibari, Sonbad, Sukhjora, Supaidih and Udalbani.
Demographics
Population
As per the 2011 Census of India Jamtara CD block had a total population of 132,600, all of which were rural. There were 67,389 (51%) males and 65,211 (49%) females. Population below 6 years was 20,497. Scheduled Castes numbered 9,182 (6.92%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 60,008 (45.25%).
Nagar parishads in Jamtara CD block are (2011 census figure in brackets): Jamtara (29,415), Mihijam (40,463).
Large villages (with 4,000+ population) in Jamtara CD block are (2011 census figure in brackets): Beoa (4,435), Kusbedia (4,111), Chengaidi (5,754).
Literacy
census the total number of literates in Jamtara CD Block was 74,330 (66.30% of the population over 6 years) out of which 45,003 (61%) were males and 29,327 (39%) were females. The gender disparity (the difference between female and male literacy rates) was 22%.
See also – List of Jharkhand districts ranked by literacy rate
Language and religion
In 2001, the present-day Jamtara district was a part of Dumka district. In 2001, Santali was the mother-tongue of 660,233 persons in Dumka district, forming 41.17% of the population, followed by Hindi with 615,667 persons (38.39%) and Bengali with 327,714 persons (20.44%). (percentages have been re-calculated on the basis of data provided in the Census Handbook).
Hindi is the official language in Jharkhand and Urdu has been declared as an additional official language.
In 2011, Hindus numbered 550,560, forming 69.60% of the population of Jamtara district followed by Muslims with 164,406 persons (20.78%) and Christians with 4,419 persons (0.96%).
Rural poverty
60-70% of the population of Jamtara district were in the BPL category in 2004–2005, being in the same category as Ranchi and Dumka districts. Rural poverty in Jharkhand declined from 66% in 1993–94 to 46% in 2004–05. In 2011, it has come down to 39.1%.
Economy
Livelihood
In Jamtara CD block in 2011, amongst the class of total workers, cultivators numbered 18,546 and formed 33.59%, agricultural labourers numbered 17,845 and formed 32.32%, household industry workers numbered 2,069 and formed 3.75% and other workers numbered 16,755 and formed 30.35%. Total workers numbered 76,681 and formed 37.87% of the total population. Non-workers numbered 125,797 and formed 62.13% of total population.
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.