Albert Ekka (Jari) block

Albert Ekka (Jari) block is a CD block that forms an administrative division in the Chainpur subdivision of Gumla district, in the Indian state of Jharkhand.

History
Albert Ekka, was born in village Jari. He was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest award for valour in the face of the enemy.

Gumla became a subdivision of Ranchi district in 1902 and it became a separate district in 1983. Simdega district was carved out of Gumla district in 2011. Subsequently, Gumla district was divided into three subdivisions – Gumla Sadar subdivision (with Gumla, Ghaghra, Bharno, Bishunpur, Raidih and Sisia blocks), Basia subdivision (with Palkot, Basia and Kamdara blocks), and Chainpur subdivision (with Chainpur, Albert Ekka (Jari) and Dumri blocks).

Maoist activities
The Maoist insurgency started spreading around the mid-1990s and poses a big challenge to peace and development of the district. It “is involved in abduction, extortion, extortion killings.” The banned organisation is active largely in the eastern part of the district mainly in Kamadara, Basia, Palkot, Gumla, Raidih, Sisai and Bharno police stations. In order to counter the activities of the insurgents, arms, ammunition and security equipment have been provided in every police station. It includes bullet-proof and landmine-proof vehicles.

Geography
In the southern portion of Gumla district, there are flat topped hills called pat, with an elevation ranging from 2,500 feet to 3,000 feet. The pat region is spread across Bishunpur, Chainpur and Ghaghra CD blocks. The highest areas are Netarhat pat (3,356 ft), Lamiti pat (3,777 ft) and Galgat pat (3,823 ft). The rest of the district occupies a part of the Ranchi Plateau with an average elevation of 2,300 feet.

Three major rivers flowing through Gumla district are North Koel River, South Koel River and Sankh River.

Albert Ekka (Jari) CD block is bounded by Dumri and Chainpur CD blocks on the north, Raidih CD block on the east, Jashpur and Manora CD blocks in Jashpur district of Chhattisgrh on the south, and Kusmi CD block in Balrampur district of Chhattisgarh on the west.

Albert Ekka (Jari) CD block has an area of 208.72 km2. Jari police station serves Albert Ekka (Jari) CD block. The headquarters of Albert Ekka (Jari) CD block is located at Jari village.

Population
According to the 2011 Census of India, Albert Ekka (Jari) CD block had a total population of 30,926, all of which were rural. There were 15,786 (51%) males and 15,140 (49%) females. Population in the age range 0–6 years was 5,122. Scheduled Castes numbered 1,142 (3.69%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 23,733 (76.74%).

Literacy
According to the 2011 census, the total number of literate persons in Albert Ekka (Jari) CD block was 18,433 (71.43% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 10,396 (79.47% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 8,037 (63.17% of the female population over 6 years). The gender disparity (the difference between female and male literacy rates) was 16.29%.

census, literacy in Gumla district was 66.92%. Literacy in Jharkhand was 67.63% in 2011. Literacy in India in 2011 was 74.04%.

See also – List of Jharkhand districts ranked by literacy rate

Language and religion
According to the Population by Religious Communities 2011 data, in Albert Ekka (Jari) subdistrict, Christians numbered 18,428 and formed 59.59% of the population, followed by: (number of persons and percentage of population in brackets) % of the population, followed by: (number of persons and percentage of population in brackets) Hindus (6,802/ 21.99%), ‘Other religious communities’ (3,646/ 11.79%), Muslims (1,950/ 6.31%), and persons who did not state their religion (50/ 0.16%).

Scheduled Tribes numbered 706,754 and formed 68.94% of the total population of Gumla district. Within the scheduled tribes the more populous tribes were (percentage of ST population in 2011 in brackets): Oraon, Dhangars (62.63%), Munda, Patars (11.70%), Kharia, Dhelki Kharia, Dudh Kharia, Hill Kharia (9.07%), Lohras (5.77%) and Chik Baraik (2.57%).

According to the Population by Mother Tongue 2011 data, in the Albert Ekka (Jari) subdistrict, Kurukh was the mother-tongue of 18,651 persons forming 60.35% of the population, followed by (number of persons and percentage of population in brackets), Hindi (12,144/ 39.29%), persons with other languages as mother-tongue(111/ 0.56%). Persons with Hindi as mother-tongue included 9,943 persons having Sadri/Sadan, 1,289 persons having Nagpuri as mother-tongue.

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 in the census data are normally 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.

Overview
80% and over of the population of Gumla district were in the BPL category in 2004–2005. In 2011-12, the proportion of BPL population in Gumla district came down to 36.75%. 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."

Livelihood
In Albert Ekka (Jari) CD block in 2011, amongst the class of total workers, cultivators numbered 6,670 and formed 75.75%, agricultural labourers numbered 1,273 and formed 14.46%, household industry workers numbered 336 and formed 3.82% and other workers numbered 526 and formed 5.97%. Total workers numbered 16,254 and formed 53.43% of the total population, and non-workers numbered 14,402 and formed 46.57% of the population.

Infrastructure
There are 51 inhabited villages in Albert Ekka (Jari) CD block. In 2011, 5 villages had power supply. 6 villages had tap water (treated/ untreated), 51 villages had well water (covered/ uncovered), 51 villages had hand pumps, and all villages have drinking water facility. 2 villages had post offices, 9 villages had sub post offices, 1 village had telephone (land line), 17 villages had mobile phone coverage. 51 villages had pucca (paved) village roads, 18 villages had bus service (public/ private), 1 village had taxi/van, 17 villages had public distribution system, 5 villages had assembly polling stations.

Agriculture
In Gumla district, only three CD blocks, namely Sisai, Bharno and Kamdara, have plain lands. Rest of the district is mostly undulating in nature. Forests cover around 27% of the total area. About 35% of the total geographical area of the district is under cultivation. Out of 3.296 lakh hectare cultivable lands, only 22,056 hectare of land is under assured irrigation coverage. “The main economy of the village depends upon agriculture, forest produce, cattle development, and other labour activities...” About 70% farmers belong to the small and marginal category and have small plots scattered all around. Percentages of landless farmers are negligible.

Backward Regions Grant Fund
Gumla 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.

Education
Albert Ekka (Jari) CD block had 25 villages with pre-primary schools, 43 villages with primary schools, 13 villages with middle schools, 4 villages with secondary schools, 8 villages had no educational facility. *Senior secondary schools are also known as Inter colleges in Jharkhand

Healthcare
Albert Ekka (Jari) CD block had 1 village with primary health subcentre, 4 villages with allopathic hospitals. *Private medical practitioners, alternative medicine etc. not included.