Overview of the Hazaribag District

Hazaribag is 93 km. from Ranchi by road. It is located on N.H.33. The district of Hazaribag is situated in the north east part of North Chotanagpur Division. The boundary of this district consists of districts of Gaya (BIHAR) and Koderma in the north, Giridih and Bokaro in the east, Ramgarh in the south and Chatra in the west. The districts of Koderma, Chatra, Ramgarh and Giridih have been bifurcated from this district. The district of Hazaribag is situated in the north east part of North Chotanagpur Division.

The district of Hazaribag is a part of Chotanagpur plateau. This area is full of several plateaus, mountains and valleys. There are three natural divisions of this district – Medium Plateau, Lower Plateau and Damodar Valley. The district headquarter is a part of medium plateau, which is situated at the height of about 2,000 ft from the sea level. Except the western part of the medium plateau, the whole area is surrounded by the lower plateau. The height of lower plateau is about 1,300 ft above the sea level.Damodar Valley is in the southern part of this district where Ramgarh town is situated which is about 1,000 ft below the districts headquarter.

Economy

The economy of the people revolves round the forest, agriculture and minerals.

Agriculture

A large number of people are engaged in agricultural activities. Cultivation of paddy, maize, cereals, wheat, oil seeds etc. are common. The people are either working as agricultural labourers or cultivators. Kharif and Rabbi are the main agricultural seasons. Karma festival is celebrated for good production of crops.

Forest

Out of total geographical area of 4302 sq. k.m., forest area covers nearly 2566 sq. k.m. The tribal economy revolves around using forest products, by products and minor products. Kendu leaves, Bamboo and its manufactured products, Mahua, fruits, leaves (used is the making of dona, pattal), lac etc. play an important role in the economic activity of the people. People also hunt animals for food and ‘Jani shikar’ festival is related to this hunting habit.

Mines and Minerals

The geological reports say that the district is very rich in various mineral deposits. There is abundance of deposit of Coal, Bauxite, Laterite, Dolomite, and Graphite etc. Granite, Quartz, Fireclay, Felspar etc. The excavation and exploration of these minerals have provided job opportunities to the inhabitants of this hinterland to some extent because these minerals have not been fully explored at large scale and there are no mineral based industries in the district.

Animal Husbandry

The quality of livestock is very poor. Cow, goats etc. are of local variety and the average milk yield is very less. There is a vast scope in the field of animal husbandry in Hazaribagh.

Trade and Commerce

In place of old Mahajans and landlords, various banks are operating their branches is the district but it is a matter of fact that most of the villages are so scattered that the system of primary trade in the hands of vyaparis and village sahukars still continues. Paddy thrashing, dona pattal making, bamboo basket making, selling of mahua flowers. Lacs, kendu leaves and other minor forest produces are main components of trading activities. In the absence of major industries and employment opportunities, the options of economic development are limited. Animal husbandry, piggery and fisheries etc. have good potential, but this sector has still remained unexplored.

Demography

An official Census 2011 detail of Hazaribagh, a district of Jharkhand has been released by Directorate of Census Operations in Jharkhand. Enumeration of key persons was also done by census officials in Hazaribagh District of Jharkhand.
In 2011, Hazaribagh had population of 1,734,005 of which male and female were 891,179 and 842,826 respectively. There was change of 25.75 percent in the population compared to population as per 2001. In the previous census of India 2001, Hazaribagh District recorded increase of 26.13 percent to its population compared to 1991. 

The initial provisional data suggest a density of 403 in 2011 compared to 334 of 2001. Total area under Hazaribagh district is of about 4,302 sq.km.

Average literacy rate of Hazaribagh in 2011 were 70.48 compared to 57.75 of 2001. If things are looked out at gender wise, male and female literacy were 81.15 and 59.25 respectively. For 2001 census, same figures stood at 71.83 and 42.87 in Hazaribagh District. Total literate in Hazaribagh District were 1,029,415 of which male and female were 607,854 and 421,580 respectively. In 2001, Hazaribagh District had 675,463 in its total region.

With regards to Sex Ratio in Hazaribagh, it stood at 946 per 1000 male compared to 2001 census figure of 987. The average national sex ratio in India is 940 as per latest reports of Census 2011 Directorate

In census enumeration, data regarding child under 0-6 age were also collected for all districts including Hazaribagh. There were total 273,427 children under age of 0-6 against 267,969 of 2001 census. Of total 273,427 male and female were 142,129 and 131,298 respectively. Child Sex Ratio as per census 2011 was 924 compared to 972 of census 2001. In 2011, Children under 0-6 formed 15.77 percent of Hazaribagh District compared to 18.64 percent of 2001. There was net change of -2.87 percent in this compared to previous census of India.

Hazaribagh District population constituted 5.26 percent of total Jharkhand population. In 2001 census, this figure for Hazaribagh District was at 5.26 percent of Jharkhand population.