Chauparan (community development block)

As per the 2011 Census of India, Chauparan CD Block had a total population of 161,814, of which 156,453 were rural and 5,361 were urban. There were 80.985 (50%) males and 80,829 (50%) females. Population below 6 years was 29,802. Scheduled Castes numbered 41,933 (25.91%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 4,101 (2.53%).[16]

The only Census town in Chauparan CD Block is (2011 census figure in brackets): Chauparan

There is only one large village (with 4,000+ population) in Chauparan CD Block: (2011 census figures in brackets): Chai Kalan (4,285)[16]

As of 2011 census, the total number of literates in Chauparan CD Block was 91,623 (69.41% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 52,232 (79.53% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 39,391 (59.38% of the female population over 6 years). The gender disparity (the difference between female and male literacy rates) was 20.15%.[16]

As of 2011 census, literacy in Hazaribagh district was 70.48%. Literacy in Jharkhand was 67.63% in 2011.[19] Literacy in India in 2011 was 74.04%.[20][21]

See also – List of Jharkhand districts ranked by literacy rate

Hindi is the official language in Jharkhand and Urdu has been declared as an additional official language.[22] Jharkhand legislature had passed a bill according the status of a second official language to several languages in 2011 but the same was turned down by the Governor.[23][24][25]

The three most populous mother-tongues (spoken language which is medium of conversation with the mother of children), as per data available from 2001 census in a Note on mother-tongue of earlier census, published in District Census Handbook Hazaribag, 2011, were: Khortha, Hindi and Urdu.[26]

Numerically, five important scheduled tribes in the district were: Santali, Oraon, Munda, Karmali and Bedia.[26]

In Chauparan CD Block in 2011, amongst the class of total workers, cultivators numbered 31,561 and formed 45.92%, agricultural labourers numbered 19,543 and formed 28.43%, household industry workers numbered 1,648 and formed 2.40% and other workers numbered 15,985 and formed 23.26%. Total workers numbered 68,737 and formed 42.48% of the total population, and non-workers numbered 93,077 and formed 57.52% of the population.[27]

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, entertainment artistes and so on.[28]

There are 233 inhabited villages in Chauparan CD Block. In 2011, 183 villages had power supply. 15 villages had tap water (treated/ untreated), 8 villages had well water (covered/ uncovered), 229 villages had hand pumps, and 2 villages had no drinking water facility. 11 villages had post offices, 14 villages had sub post offices, 12 villages had telephones (land lines) and 88 villages had mobile phone coverage. 221 villages had pucca (hard top) village roads, 25 villages had bus service (public/ private), 11 villages had autos/ modified autos, and 105 villages had tractors. 5 villages had bank branches, 7 villages had agricultural credit societies, 1 village had cinema/ video hall, 2 villages had public library and public reading rooms. 97 villages had public distribution system, 9 villages had weekly haat (market) and 95 villages had assembly polling stations.[29]

The main occupation of the people of Hazaribagh district is cultivation. While forests occupy around 45% of the total area, the cultivable area forms about 39% of the total area. The forests are uniformly spread across the district. Sal is the predominant species in the jungles. Other species are: bamboo, khair, sali, semal, mahua, tamarind, mango, black-berry (jamun), peepal, karnaj, jack-fruit, margosa (neem), kusum, palas, kend, asan, piar and bhelwa. Hazaribag Wildlife Sanctuary is located around 19  km north of Hazaribag. Irrigation facilities in this hilly area are inadequate and generally farmers depend on rain for their cultivation. The land situated along the river banks, or low land, is fertile but the uplands are generally barren. May to October is Kharif season, followed by Rabi season. Rice is the main crop of the district. Other important crops grown are: bazra, maize, pulses (mainly arhar and gram) and oilseeds. Limited quantities of cash crops, such as sugar cane, are grown.[30]

Hazaribagh 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.[31][32]