Poonch district, India

Poonch or Punch is a district in Jammu and Kashmir, India. With headquarters the town of Poonch, it is bounded by the Line of Control (boundary between Indian and Pakistan administered Kashmir) on three sides (north, west and south). The 1947-48 war between India and Pakistan divided the earlier district into two parts. One went to Pakistan and the other became part of the then Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir.

Poonch district
District of Jammu and Kashmir
Location of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir
Coordinates: 33.77°N 74.1°E / 33.77; 74.1
CountryIndia
Union TerritoryJammu and Kashmir
DivisionJammu Division
HeadquartersPoonch
Tehsils[1]1. Balakote, 2. Haveli, 3. Mandi, 4. Mankote, 5. Mendhar, 6. Surankote
Area
 • Total1,674 km2 (646 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total476,835
 • Density280/km2 (740/sq mi)
 • Urban
8.1%
Demographics
 • Literacy66.74%
 • Sex ratio893
Time zoneUTC+05:30 (IST)
Vehicle registrationJK-12
Websitehttp://poonch.nic.in/

Administration
Poonch district tehsils

The District headquarters is in the Poonch city. Rahul Yadav is the current District Commissioner. Presently District Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir is divided into six tehsils:

Each tehsil has its Tehsildar, who is the administrative head. The district is further divided into eleven. blocks: Poonch, Mandi, Loran Sathra Mendhar, Mankote Balakote, Surankote and Buffliaz.[2] The administrative head of each block is the Block Development Officer (BDO). Each block consists of a number of panchayats. Recently added One Sub Division(Surnkote), other is Mendhar. Poonch district has a total of 179 villages including Seri Khawaja.

Economy

In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Poonch one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640).[3] It is one of the three districts in Jammu and Kashmir currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).[3]

Politics

Poonch District has 3 assembly constituencies: Surankote, Mendhar and Poonch Haveli. In 19 November 2018, the assembly was dissolved by governor Satya pal Malik. The former M.L.A of Poonch Haveli is Shah Mohammed Tantray of Jammu & Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party, Mohammed Akram of Indian National Congress is currently representing Surankote constituency and Mendhar is being represented by Javid Rana of Jammu & Kashmir National Conference. Poonch district comes in Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha Constituency.[4]

Demographics

Religion in Poonch district (2011)[5]

  Islam (90.45%)
  Hinduism (6.84%)
  Sikhism (2.35%)
  Christianity (0.20%)
  Other (0.02%)
  Atheist (0.15%)

According to the 2011 census Poonch district, India has a population of 476,835, roughly equal to the nation of Suriname.[6] This gives it a ranking of 548th in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of 285 inhabitants per square kilometre (740/sq mi). Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 27.97%. Poonch has a sex ratio of 890 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 68.69%. The district is 90.45% Muslim.

Resident ethnicities include Gujjars, Bakerwals, Jatts , Paharis, Punjabis, Kashmiris and Rajputs. Gujjars mostly reside on the slopes of mountains. The inhabitants typically cultivate small plots of land, and own some cattle. Gujjars and Bakerwals (nomadic tribes) speak Gojri, apart from Kashmiris the rest of the population speak Pahari-Pothwari (Poonchi) and only a minuscule population may be speaking Dogri.[7][8]

Religion

As of  2011 the religions followed in the district were: Islam (90.45%), Hinduism (6.84%), Sikhism (2.35%), Christianity (0.20%) and small numbers of Buddhists, Jains, and others.

Peace

With the recent developments between India and Pakistan, the divided people are again coming into contact with each other. The opening of the Poonch-Rawalakot bus is an important step in this direction.

Transport

Air

There is a small airstrip located which is mainly used by the Indian Army.

Rail

There is no railway connectivity to Poonch yet.

Road

Poonch district is connected to the summer capital Jammu by an all-weather road. It also has road connectivity with Srinagar through the pictureresque Mughal Road. A bus across the LOC, the Poonch-Rawalakot bus has helped to re-establish ties across the border.

See also

References
  1. https://poonch.nic.in/tehsil/
  2. Statement showing the number of blocks in respect of 22 Districts of Jammu and Kashmir State including newly Created Districts Archived 2008-09-10 at the Wayback Machine dated 2008-03-13, accessed 2008-08-30
  3. Ministry of Panchayati Raj (8 September 2009). "A Note on the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme" (PDF). National Institute of Rural Development. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 April 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  4. "ERO's and AERO's". Chief Electoral Officer, Jammu and Kashmir. Archived from the original on 22 October 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2008.
  5. "C-1 Population By Religious Community". Census. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  6. US Directorate of Intelligence. "Country Comparison:Population". Retrieved 1 October 2011. Suriname 491,989 July 2011 est.
  7. "Dogri". Ethnologue.
  8. Baba, Yasar Muhammad (2007). My land my people: Kashmir in perspective. Gulshan Books. p. 85.
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