Variahਵਰਿਆਹ

Where is Variah?

Variah is a village of Zira tehsil in Ferozepur district, Punjab, in the Malwa region of the state. The 2011 directory recorded Makhu, about 2 kilometres away, as its nearest town. The village falls in the Makhu community development block and has its own gram panchayat. In the census record it carries village code 034324, and it covers 85 hectares.

Population and households

The 2011 census counted 820 people in Variah: 431 men and 389 women, living in 165 households, an average of about 5.0 people per household. Spread over its 85 hectares, the population density works out to about 960 people per square kilometre. The sex ratio was 903 women for every 1,000 men. Children up to the age of six numbered 95, about 12 per cent of the village. Scheduled Castes made up 126 people, about 15 per cent of the population, and no Scheduled Tribe population was recorded.

Literacy in 2011 stood at 76.28 per cent among residents aged seven and above, with men at 80.89 per cent and women at 71.14 per cent. The census recorded 231 workers, about 28 per cent of the village. Of the 104 main workers, the largest group, 63, were cultivators on their own land, ahead of 39 other workers in trade, transport and services and 1 agricultural labourers. A further 127 people were marginal workers, employed for only part of the year.

Land and farming

Farming covers most of Variah's land. Of the village's 85 hectares, 70 hectares were net sown area in the 2011 record, and every sown hectare was irrigated. Irrigation came mainly from canals (1 hectares) and wells and tube-wells (69 hectares). About 16 hectares were under non-agricultural uses such as the village settlement, roads and ponds. Farm power supply was recorded at 8 hours a day. With 65 cultivators and 39 agricultural labourers in the census, most farm work in the village is done by landholding families themselves.

Schools and facilities

For village facilities, the Census 2011 Village Directory is the fullest record available. Education in the village runs through one government primary school, so children can study in the village up to Class 5. The village also had an anganwadi centre and an ASHA health worker.

No health facility was recorded inside the village in 2011. The village had its own post office. It also had mobile phone coverage. It had no bank branch or ATM in the 2011 record; the nearest bank was within five kilometres. Domestic electricity supply was recorded at 12 hours a day.

Getting there

Variah is reached by pucca, all-weather roads; the nearest bus service was more than ten kilometres away. The directory recorded Makhu, about 2 kilometres away, as the nearest town, and the nearest railway station was within five kilometres. Zira, the tehsil headquarters, and Ferozepur town, the district headquarters, are the practical hubs for administration and onward travel. Neighbouring villages include Sadarwala, Mohkamwala Alias Araianwala, Chak Dhangarh and Qutabpura.

What is the population of Variah?

The population of Variah was 820 at the 2011 census, living in 165 households in Zira tehsil of Ferozepur district.

What facilities does Variah have?

According to the Census 2011 Village Directory, Variah has a government primary school, an anganwadi centre and a post office. It had no bank branch inside the village in that record.