Churchu (community development block)

Churchu
Community development block
Churchu Location in Jharkhand Show map of Jharkhand Churchu Churchu (India) Show map of India
Coordinates: 23°54′26″N 85°30′44″E
Country	India
State	Jharkhand
District	Hazaribagh
Government
• Type	Federal democracy
Area
• Total	201.46 km^2 (77.78 sq mi)
Population  (2011)
• Total	53,705
• Density	270/km^2 (690/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Hindi, Urdu
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	825302 (Nagrichurchu)
Telephone/ STD code	06545
Vehicle registration	JH 02
Lok Sabha constituency	Hazaribagh
Vidhan Sabha constituency	Hazaribagh
Website	hazaribag.nic.in

Churchu is a community development block (CD block) that forms an administrative division in the Hazaribagh Sadar subdivision of the Hazaribagh district in the Indian state of Jharkhand.

Overview

Hazaribagh district is spread over a part of the Chota Nagpur Plateau. The central plateau, averaging a height of 2,000 ft (610 m), occupies the central part of the district. On all sides, except on the western side, it is surrounded by the lower plateau, averaging a height of 1,300 ft (396 m), the surface being undulating. In the north and the north-west the lower plateau forms a fairly level tableland till the ghats, when the height drops to about 700 ft (213 m) and slopes down gradually. The Damodar and the Barakar form the two main watersheds in the district. DVC has constructed the Konar Dam across the Konar River. It is a forested district with cultivation as the main occupation of the people. Coal is the main mineral found in this district. China clay is also found in this district.^[1][2][3] Inaugurating the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana in 2016, Raghubar Das, Chief Minister of Jharkhand, had indicated that there were 23 lakh BPL families in Jharkhand.^[4] There was a plan to bring the BPL proportion in the total population down to 35%.^[5]

Maoist activities

Right from its inception in 2000. Jharkhand was a “laboratory” for Naxalites to experiment with their ideas of establishing a parallel government. As of 2005, 16 of the 22 districts in the state, including Hazaribagh district, was transformed into a “guerrilla zone”. The movement was not restricted to armed operations but included kangaroo courts called Jan Adalats, elected village bodies and people's police.^[6] Jharkhand, with a dense forest cover over a large part of the state, offers a favourable terrain for the Naxalites to build their bases and operate. Annual fatalities in Jharkhand were 117 in 2003 and 150 in 2004.^[7] In 2013 Jharkhand was considered one of the two states in the country most affected by Left wing extremism and Jharkhand police set up an exclusive cell to deal with Maoist activities.^[8] However, in the same year, when Jharkhand police identified 13 focus areas for combating Maoist extremism, Hazaribagh district was not one of them.^[9]

Geography

Churchu is located at 23°54′26″N 85°30′44″E.^[10]

Churchu CD block is bounded by Sadar, Hazaribagh, Daru and Tati Jhariya CD blocks on the north, Mandu CD block, in Ramgarh district, on the east, Dadi CD block on the south and Barkagaon CD block on the west.^[11][12]

Chuchu CD block has an area of 201.46 km².^[13] As of 2011, Churchu CD block had 8 gram panchayats,^[14] 40 inhabited villages^[15] and 1 census town (Charhi).^[16]Churchu and Charhi police stations serve this CD block.^[17] Headquarters of this CD block is at Churchu.^[18]

Demographics

Population

According to the 2011 Census of India, Churchu CD block had a total population of 53,705, of which 46,863 were rural and 6,842 were urban. There were 27,458 (51%) males and 26,247 (49%) females. Population in the age range 0–6 years was 8,241. Scheduled Castes numbered 7,776 (14.48%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 12,952 (24.12%).^[16]

Census town in Churchu CD block is (2011 census figures in brackets): Charhi (6,842).^[16]

Villages in Churchu CD block include (2011 census figures in brackets): Churchu (1,279).^[16]

Literacy

As of 2011^[update] census, the total number of literate persons in Churchu CD block was 30,903 (67.97% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 18,339 (79.03% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 12,564 (56.44% of the female population over 6 years). The gender disparity (the difference between female and male literacy rates) was 22.59%.^[16]

As of 2011^[update] 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

Literacy in CD Blocks of Hazaribagh district
Barhi subdivision
Chauparan – 69.41%
Barhi – 68.39%
Padma – 68.90%
Barkatha – 61.44%
Chalkusha – 67.13%
Hazaribagh Sadar subdivision
Ichak – 71.87%
Tati Jhariya – 60.68%
Daru – 71.08%
Bishnugarh – 62.04%
Sadar, Hazaribagh – 77.56%
Katkamsandi – 67.38%
Katkamdag – 69.97%
Keredari – 64.04%
Barkagaon – 65.44%
Churchu – 67.97%
Dadi – 70.26%
Source: 2011 Census: CD Block Wise Primary Census Abstract Data

Language and religion

Religions in Churchu CD block (2011)[22]
Religion			Percent
Hinduism			70.41%
Sarna			14.90%
Islam			11.78%
Christianity			2.79%
Other or not stated			0.12%

In 2011, 37,815 (70.41%) of the population was Hindu, 6,327 (11.78%) Muslim, 1,499 (2.79%) Christian. Other religions were 8,064 (15.02%).^[22]

Languages of Churchu CD block (2011)^[23]

  Khortha (61.52%)

  Santali (18.99%)

  Hindi (10.97%)

  Urdu (4.04%)

  Sadri (1.18%)

  Bhojpuri (0.97%)

  Others (2.33%)

At the time of the 2011 census, 61.52% of the population spoke Khortha, 18.99% Santali, 10.97 Hindi, 4.04% Urdu, 1.18% Sadri and 0.97% Bhojpuri as their first language.^[23]

Rural poverty

40-50% of the population of Hazaribagh district were in the BPL category in 2004–2005, being in the same category as Godda, Giridih and Koderma districts.^[24] Rural poverty in Jharkhand declined from 66% in 1993–94 to 46% in 2004–05. In 2011, it has come down to 39.1%.^[25]

Economy

Livelihood

Livelihood
in Churchu CD block

  Cultivators (32.72%)

  Agricultural labourers (30.53%)

  Household industries (2.75%)

  Other Workers (34.00%)

In Churchu CD block in 2011, amongst the class of total workers, cultivators numbered 6,925 and formed 32.72%, agricultural labourers numbered 6,461 and formed 30.53%, household industry workers numbered 583 and formed 2.75% and other workers numbered 7,195 and formed 34.00%. Total workers numbered 21,164 and formed 39.41% of the total population, and non-workers numbered 32,541 and formed 60.59% of the population.^[26]

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.^[27]

Infrastructure

There are 40 inhabited villages in Churchu CD block. In 2011, 23 villages had power supply. 4 villages had tap water (treated/ untreated), 40 villages had well water (covered/ uncovered), 40 villages had hand pumps, and all villages had drinking water facility. 3 villages had post offices, 2 villages had sub post offices, 2 villages had telephones (land lines) and 27 villages had mobile phone coverage. 40 villages had pucca (hard top) village roads, 8 villages had bus service (public/ private), 1 village had autos/ modified autos, and 12 villages had tractors. 1 village had a bank branch, 2 villages had agricultural credit societies, no village had cinema/ video hall, no village had public library and public reading room. 21 villages had public distribution system, 1 village had weekly haat (market) and 19 villages had assembly polling stations.^[28]

Forestry and agriculture

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.^[29]

Coal mining

With large coal deposits in the Barkagaon and Charhi areas of North Karanpura Coalfield, coal mining is becoming a major employment provider in Hazaribagh district.^[30]

Projects in the Hazaribagh Area of Central Coalfields are: Parej East OC, Kedla UG, Kedla OC, Tapin OC, Jharkhand OC, Kedla Washery and Regional R/Workshop.^[31]

Backward Regions Grant Fund

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.^[32][33]

NGO activity

Plan India, a registered not for profit organisation, is implementing its Child Centred Community Development (CCCD) programme in Churchu block of Hazaribagh district comprising 21 villages and 3 panchayats. Amongst its activities are: development of 15 schools as model schools with infrastructural development and improved quality education. 7,000 patients have been treated for minor ailments in 120 health camps across 21 villages.^[34] SUPPORT, a Non-Governmental Organization, Head Office- Hazaribagh, has worked to promote WaSH initiatives in the 41 villages under Churchu-Block by implementing Projects such as WATSAN, MGM, ODF and currently implementing Jal Jeevan Mission with CInI, TATA Trust. The major activities Initiated for Social and Behavior change Communication by SUPPORT are Orientation on WaSH in Gram Sabhas with PRI members, Orientation on wastewater management and Rallies to spread awareness in villages. 1485 Households are getting water supply through the schemes of Chruchu Gramin Jalapurti Yojna and Jarba Gramin Jalapurti Yojna under Jal Jeevan Mission.^[35]

Transport

v t e Koderma–Hazaribagh–Barkakana-Ranchi line
km Hatia–Rourkela line Ranchi–Tori line to Tori 211 Ranchi Junction 207 Namkon to Kandra (planned) Asansol–Tatanagar–Kharagpur line 200 Tatisilwai Netaji S.C.Bose Gomoh–Hatia line 191 Mesra 183 Hundur Halt 177 Jhanjhitoli Halt 170 Shanki 156 Daridag Tunnel T1 147 Hehal Tunnel T2 Tunnel T3 143 Sidhwar Barkakana–Muri–Chandil line 137 Barkakana Junction Barkakana–Son Nagar line Damodar River 134 Arigada Gomoh–Barkakana branch line 123 Kuju NH 20 113 Mandu NH 20 107 Charhi 90 Bes Bandag Siding 80 Hazaribagh Town 73 Kansar Nawada 56 Katkamsandi Barkakana–Son Nagar line Ranchi–Tori line to Ranchi ' 0 Tori Barkakana–Son Nagar line 7 Biratoli 15 Kusmahi 19 Balumath 27 Bukru 32 Phulbasia 37 Manatu 42 Shivpoor under construction 50/87 Kathautia 43 Kurhagada 35 Padma 23 Barhi NH 19 Barakar River 14 Urwan 8 Pipradih Asansol–Gaya section Madhupur–Giridih–Koderma line 0 Koderma Junction Asansol–Gaya section to Tilaiya (under construction)
Source: Google Maps Koderma–Barkakana Passenger

National Highway 20 passes through Churchu CD block.^[36]

The 57 km long Hazaribagh-Barkakana section of the Koderma-Hazaribagh-Barkakana-Ranchi line was opened for passenger trains on 7 December 2016 by the railway minister Suresh Prabhu in the presence of chief minister Raghubar Das.^[37] The railway line passes through Churchu CD block and Charhi railway station is on this line.

Education

In 2011, amongst the 40 inhabited villages in Churchu CD block, 4 villages had no primary school, 26 villages had one primary school and 10 villages had more than one primary school. 17 villages had at least one primary school and one middle school. 1 village had at least one middle school and one secondary school.^[38]

Healthcare

In 2011, amongst the 40 inhabited villages in Churchu CD block, 6 villages had primary health centres, 7 villages had primary health sub-centres, 2 villages had maternity and child welfare centres, 3 villages had allopathic hospitals, 3 villages had veterinary hospitals, 4 villages had medicine shops and 20 villages had no medical facilities.^[39]

References

1. "District Census Handbook Hazaribag, 2011, Series 21, Part XII A" (PDF). Pages 9 - 12. Directorate of Census Operations, Jharkhand. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
2. "Hazaribag District". Hazaribag At A Glance. Hazaribag district authorities. Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
3. "Konar Dam". india9.com. Retrieved 2010-04-17.
4. "Chief Minister launches Ujjwal scheme in Hazaribag". The Times of India, 2 November 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
5. "State 12th Five Year Plan: State Annual Plan 2012-13" (PDF). State of Jharkhand. Jharkhand Planning Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 February 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
6. "Red Terror over Jharkhand". Rajat Kumar Kujur. Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
7. "Naxalite Movement in Bihar and Jharkhand". Dr. Sanjay K. Jha. Dialogue, April–June 2005. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
8. "Naxal Violence: New Structures and Old Woes in Jharkhand". Bibhu Prasad Routray. Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
9. "13 focus areas identified in Jharkhand to check Maoist activities". Eenadu Jndia, 14 June 2016. Archived from the original on 27 September 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
10. "Churchu".
11. "District Census Handbook Hazaribag, 2011, Series 21, Part XII A" (PDF). Map on the fifth page. Directorate of Census Operations, Jharkhand. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
12. "CD Block/ Tehsil Map of Hazaribagh". Maps of India. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
13. "District Census Handbook, Hazaribagh" (PDF). Census of India 2011 Page 26. Directorate of Census Operations, Jharkhand. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
14. "District Hazaribagh – Facts and Figures". Demography. Jharkhand Government. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
15. "District Census Handbook Hazaribag, 2011, Series 21, Part XII A" (PDF). Table 2, Page 31. Directorate of Census Operations, Jharkhand. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
16. "2011 Census C.D. Block Wise Primary Census Abstract Data(PCA)". Jharkhand – District-wise CD Blocks. Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
17. "Jharkhand Police". Contact Number. Jharkhand Government. Archived from the original on 6 December 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
18. "Official Website of Hazaribag District". Administration – Subdivision and Blocks. Jharkhand Government. Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
19. "Provisional Population Totals Paper 1 of 2011: Jharkhand". Sr. No. 5, Sheet 2. Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Government of India. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
20. "Literacy in India". Census 2011. Census population 2015 data. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
21. "Ranking of states and union territories by literacy rate: 2011" (PDF). Page 110. Government of India. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
22. "Table C-01 Population By Religion - Jharkhand". census.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
23. "Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Jharkhand". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
24. "Rural Poverty in Jharkhad, India" (PDF). Table I: Spatial Distribution of Poverty in Jharkhand. Munich Personal RePEc Archive. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
25. "Eliminating poverty" (PDF). Jharkhand government. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
26. "District Census Handbook 2011 Hazaribag, Series 21 Part XII A" (PDF). Table 30 and 34, Pages 51, 57-58. Directorate of Census Operations, Jharkhand. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
27. "District Census Handbook 2011 Hazaribag, Series 21 Part XII A" (PDF). Pages 24-25. Directorate of Census Operations, Jharkhand. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
28. "District Census Handbook, Hazaribag, 2011, Series 21, Part XII A" (PDF). Pages 575-579 Appendix I: Village Directory. Directorate of Census Operations, Jharkhand. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
29. "District Census Handbook, Hazaribag, 2011, Series 21, Part XII A" (PDF). Pages 11-14. Directorate of Census Operations, Jharkhand. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
30. "Economy of Hazaribagh". Hazaribaghonline. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
31. "Central Coalfields Limited". Areas - Hazaribag. CCL. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
32. "Backward Regions Grant Funds: Programme Guidelines" (PDF). Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 October 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
33. "Backward Regions Grant Fund". Press Release, 14 June 2012. Press Information Bureau, Government of India. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
34. "Churchu Hazaribagh". Plan India. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
35. "Churchu Hazaribagh". SUPPORT Hazaribagh India. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
36. Google maps
37. "Hazaribagh-Barkakana railway line opened for traffic". Business Standard India. Press Trust of India. 7 December 2016.
38. "District Census Handbook, Hazaribag, 2011, Series 21, Part XII A" (PDF). Pages 579-580 Appendix I: Village Directory. Directorate of Census Operations, Jharkhand. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
39. "District Census Handbook, Hazaribag, 2011, Series 21, Part XII A" (PDF). Pages 576-577 Appendix I: Village Directory. Directorate of Census Operations, Jharkhand. Retrieved 1 November 2017.