Seraikela block

Seraikela block (also spelled as Saraikela or Seraikella) is a CD block that forms an administrative division in the Seraikela Sadar subdivision of Seraikela Kharsawan district, in the Indian state of Jharkhand.

History
The British conquered Kolhan in 1837 and consequently formed a new district Singhbhum with headquarters at Chaibasa. In 1854, Singhbhum “became a non-regulation district under the jurisdiction of the Lt. Governor of Bengal”. The Rajas of Porhat/ Singhbhum, Seraikela and Kharswan held sway over their kingdoms under British protection. The native states of Seraikela and Kharsawan acceded to the Indian Union in 1948. Subsequently, Singhbhum district was divided into three subdivisions – Sadar, Dhalbhum and Seraikela. In 1956, along with the reorganisation of the states, three police stations of Manbhum district, namely Patamda, Ichagarh and Chandil were transferred to Singhbhum district. While Patamda was added to Dhalbhum subdivision, Ichagarh and Chandil to Seraikela Sadar subdivision. Seraikela Kharsawan district was carved out of West Singhbhum district in 2001. The district has two subdivisions – Seraikela Sadar and Chandil. The headquarters of the district is at Seraikela town.

Maoist activities
According to a PIB release in 2018, Seraikela Kharswan was not included in the list of the thirty districts most affected by Left wing extremism in the country. The list includes thirteen districts of Jharkhand.

Jharkhand Police has mentioned “Nimdih, Chandil, Chowka, Ichagarh, Tiruldih, Kharsawan and Kuchai” police station areas of Seraikela Kharsawan district as Naxalite affected.

Hemant Soren, Chief Minister of Jharkhand, has claimed, in September 2021, that as a result of the effective action against left wing extremism, the “presence of hardcore Maoists has been limited to mainly four regions, namely Parasnath Pahar, Budha Pahar, Tri-junction of Seraikela-Khunti-Chaibasa district in Kolhan division and some of the areas along the Bihar border”.

Geography
Sini, a census town in Seraikela CD block, is located at 22.8012°N, 85.9444°W.

The old and undivided Singhbhum district, of which the present Seraikela Kharsawan district was a part, has been described as “part of the southern fringe of the Chotanagpur plateau and is a hilly upland tract. There are hills alternating with valleys, steep mountains, deep forests on the mountain slopes, and, in the river basins, some stretches of comparatively level or undulating country.”

It has an elevation range of 178-209 m. Subarnarekha and Kharkai are important rivers in the district. Chandil Dam has been built across the Subarnarekha, after Karkari River joins it.

Seraikela CD block is bounded by Chandil CD block on the north, Adityapur CD block on the east, Gobindpur CD block on the south, and Khuntpani CD block in West Singhbhum district and Kharsawan CD block on the west.

Seraikela CD block has an area of 268.53 km2. Seraikella police station serves Seraikela CD block. The headquarters of Seraikela CD block is located at Saraikela town.

Population
According to the 2011 Census of India, Seraikela CD block had a total population of 79,507, of which 73,125 were rural and 6,383 were urban. There were 39,989 (50%) males and 39,518 (50%) females. Population in the age range 0–6 years was 12,179. Scheduled Castes numbered 5,558 (6.99%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 38,194 (48.04%).

The only census town in Seraikela CD block is (2011 population figure in brackets): Sini (6,382).

Literacy
According to the 2011 census, the total number of literate persons in Seraikela CD block was 43,502 (64.61% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 25,999 (77.00% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 17,503 (52.15% of the female population over 6 years). The gender disparity (the difference between female and male literacy rates) was 24.84%.

census, literacy in Seraikela Kharsawan district was 68.85%. 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 Mother Tongue 2011 data, in the Seraikela subdistrict (including Seraikela statutory town), Bengali was the mother-tongue of 27,970 persons forming 29.83% of the population, followed by (number of persons and percentage of population in brackets) Odia (21,070/ 22.47), Ho (20,906/ 22.30), Santali (12,699/ 13.54%), Hindi (6,095 / 6.50%), Mundari (2,091/ 2.23%), Urdu (1,129/ 1.20%), Bhumij, (1,125/ 1.20%), and persons with other languages as mother-tongue (674/ 0.72%). ‘Other languages ‘ included 207 persons having Maithili, 218 persons having Telugu as mother-tongue. Persons with Hindi as their mother-tongue included 475 persons having Bhojpuri, 218 persons having Magadhi/Magahi as mother-tongue.

Note: An attempt has been made to include all language groups each with at least 500 persons as their mother-tongue and only those groups with less than 500 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.

According to the Population by Religious Communities 2011 data, in the Seraikela subdistrict (including Seraikela statutory town), Hindus numbered 60,126 and formed 64.13% of the population, followed by (number of persons and percentage of population in brackets) Muslims (3,581/ 3.82%), Other religious communities (29,111/ 31.05), Christians (762/ 0.81%), and persons who did not state their religion (179/ 0.19%).

In Seraikela Kharsawan district, Scheduled Tribes numbered 255,626 and formed 24.00% of the total population. The larger groups within the scheduled tribes, with percentage of the ST population, were Santals 50.80%, Ho 34.87%, Mundas, Patars 17.60% and Oraons, Bhangar Oraons 4.12%.

Overview
In Seraikela Kharsawan district, 70-80% of the population were in the BPL category in 2004–2005. In 2011-12, the proportion of BPL population in Seraikela Kharsawan district came down to 33.6%. 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 Seraikela CD block in 2011, amongst the class of total workers, cultivators numbered 9,881 and formed 26.74%, agricultural labourers numbered 12,201 and formed 33.02%, household industry workers numbered 1,020 and formed 2.76% and other workers numbered 13,851 and formed 37.48%. Total workers numbered 36,953 and formed 39.41% of the total population, and non-workers numbered 56,806 and formed 60.59% of the population.

Infrastructure
There are 168 inhabited villages in Seraikela CD block. In 2011, 149 villages had power supply. 56 villages had tap water, 165 villages had well water (covered/ uncovered), 153 villages had hand pumps, and all villages have drinking water facility. 7 villages had post offices, 6 villages had sub post offices, 5 villages had telephone (land line), 101 villages had mobile phone coverage. 167 villages had pucca (paved) village roads, 2 villages had bus service (public/ private), 1 village had autos/ modified autos, 2 villages had taxi/ vans, 17 villages had tractors. 5 villages had bank branches, 4 villages had agricultural credit societies, 1 village had public library and reading room, 43 villages had availability of newspapers, 19 villages had ration shops, 6 villages had weekly haat, 55 villages had assembly polling stations.

Backward Regions Grant Fund
Seraikela Kharsawan 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.

Transport
The Tatanagar-Bilaspur section of the Howrah-Nagpur-Mumbai line passes through Adityapur, Seraikela and Kharsawan CD blocks of Seraikela Kharsawan district. There are stations at Adityapur, Gamharia, Birbans, Sini, Mahali Marup and Rajkharsawan.

Education
Seraikela CD block had 33 villages with pre-primary schools, 134 villages with primary schools, 62 villages with middle schools, 12 villages with secondary schools, 4 villages with senior secondary schools, 28 villages with no educational facility. .*Senior secondary schools are also known as Inter colleges in Jharkhand

Culture
Seraikela Chhau dance is one of the popular folk dance forms. It “has been approved by UNESCO in the year 2010 as intangible Heritage of India”. The royal family of Seraikela has contributed enormously to the development of the traditional dance form.

Healthcare
Seraikela CD block had 2 villages with primary health centres, 6 villages with primary health subcentres, 3 villages with maternity and child welfare centres, 2 villages with allopathic hospitals, 1 village with dispensary, 1 village with veterinary hospital, 30 villages with medicine shops. .*Private medical practitioners, alternative medicine etc. not included