Simdega block

According to the 2011 Census of India, Simdega CD block had a total population of 72,131, all of which were rural. There were 36,093 (50%) males and 36,038 (50%) females. Population in the age range 0-6 years was 11,428. Scheduled Castes numbered 8,326 (11.54%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 49,242 (68.27%).[7]

According to the 2011 census, the total number of literate persons in Simdega CD block was 41,314 (67.86% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 22,931 (75.40% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 18,383 (60.33% of the female population over 6 years). The gender disparity (the difference between female and male literacy rates) was 15.07%.[7]

As of 2011 census, literacy in Simdega district was 67.59%. Literacy in Jharkhand was 67.63% in 2011.[13] Literacy in India in 2011 was 74.04%.[14]

See also – List of Jharkhand districts ranked by literacy rate

According to the Population by Mother Tongue 2011 data, in the Simdega subdistrict, Hindi was the mother-tongue of 82,912 persons forming 71.87% of the population, followed by (number of persons and percentage of population in brackets) Kharia 18,435/15.98%, Urdu (6,200/ 5.37%), Mundari (4,964/ 4.30%), Kurukh (1,613/ 1.40%), and persons with other languages as mother-tongue (1,247/ 1.08%). ‘Other languages’ included 284 persons having Bengali, 267 persons having Odia and 232 persons having Maithili as mother-tongue. Persons having Hindi as mother-tongue included 65,043 persons having Sadri/ Sadan, 2,995 persons having Nagpuri, 618 persons having Bhojpuri, 605 persons having Magahi/Magadhi, 279 persons having Marwari, as mother-tongue.[15]

Note: An attempt has been made to include all language groups each with at least 300 persons as their mother-tongue and only those groups with less than 300 persons as their mother-tongue are included in the “other languages” category. Comparatively smaller language groups with 200+ persons as their mother-tongue are mentioned in the text. Many languages have sub-groups. Those who are interested can see the reference for more details.

Hindi is the official language in Jharkhand and Urdu has been declared as an additional official language.[16]

According to the Population by Religious Communities 2011 data, in the Simdega subdistrict, Christians numbered 55,349 and formed 48.10% of the population, followed by (number of persons and percentage of population in brackets) Hindus (46,934/ 40.79%), Muslims (7556/ 6.57%), persons who did not state their religion (146/ 0.13%), and ‘Other religious communities’ (5,090/ 4.42%).[17]

Scheduled Tribes numbered 424,407 and formed 70.78% of the total population of Simdega district. Within the scheduled tribes the more populous tribes were (percentage of ST population in 2011 in brackets): Munda, Patars (33.61%), Kharia, Dhelki Kharia, Dudh Kharia, Hill Kharia (25.42%), Oraon, Dhangar Oraons (20.13%), Gonds (5.77%) and Lohras (5.32%).[18]

The District Census Handbook, Simdega, mentions, “Simdega is one of the least developed districts in the country... As per the survey conducted for the year 1997 –2002 five-year plan more than 60% of population is below poverty line.”[19]Another report says that 80% and over of the population of Simdega district were in the BPL category in 2004–2005.[20]In 2011-12, the proportion of BPL population in Simdega district came down to 38.26%.[21]According to a study in 2013 (modified in 2019), "the incidence of poverty in Jharkhand is estimated at 46%, but 60% of the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes are still below poverty line."[22]

In Simdega CD block in 2011, amongst the class of total workers, cultivators numbered 21,299 and formed 44.90%, agricultural labourers numbered 12,431 and formed 26.20%, household industry workers numbered 1,292 and formed 2.72% and other workers numbered 12,418 and formed 26.18%. Total workers numbered 47,440 and formed 41.23% of the total population, and non-workers numbered 67,635 and formed 58.77% of the population.[23]

There are 61 inhabited villages in Simdega CD block. In 2011, 22 villages had power supply. 2 villages had tap water (treated/ untreated), 61 villages had well water (covered/ uncovered), 59 villages had hand pumps, and all villages have drinking water facility. 4 villages had post offices, 9 villages had sub post offices, 5 villages had telephones (land lines), 41 villages had mobile phone coverage. 36 villages had pucca (paved) village roads, 20 villages had bus service (public/ private), 1 village had auto/ modified auto,11 villages had taxi/ vans, 30 villages had tractors. 1 village had a bank branch, 2 villages had agricultural credit societies, 4 villages had public library and reading rooms, 32 villages had ration shops, 37 villages had assembly polling stations.[24]

According to the District Census Handbook, Simdega, the rural population depends mainly on agriculture for a living. Agriculture in Simdega is in a very primitive state. The district has about 32% of forested area. Out of 1,34,024 hectares of cultivable land only 4,669.83 hectares of land is irrigated. Agriculture is mainly dependent on seasonal rain. The average rainfall of the district is 1100-1200 mm but much of it remains unutilised.[25]

Simdega 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.[26][27]