Chahiaਚਹਿਆ

Where is Chahia?

Chahia is a village in Gurdaspur tehsil of Gurdaspur district in Punjab, India. It lies in the Majha region, and the 2011 directory recorded Gurdaspur, about 2 kilometres away, as its nearest town. The village falls in the Gurdaspur community development block and has its own gram panchayat. In the census record it carries village code 028174, and it covers 57 hectares.

Population and households

The 2011 census counted 733 people in Chahia: 393 men and 340 women, living in 141 households, an average of about 5.2 people per household. Spread over its 57 hectares, the population density works out to about 1,286 people per square kilometre. The sex ratio was 865 women for every 1,000 men. Children up to the age of six numbered 52, about 7 per cent of the village. Scheduled Castes made up 573 people, about 78 per cent of the population, and no Scheduled Tribe population was recorded.

Literacy in 2011 stood at 75.18 per cent among residents aged seven and above, with men at 85.71 per cent and women at 63.09 per cent. The census recorded 210 workers, about 29 per cent of the village. Of the 83 main workers, the largest group, 68, were other workers in trade, transport and services, ahead of 6 cultivators on their own land and 5 agricultural labourers. A further 127 people were marginal workers, employed for only part of the year.

Land and farming

Farming covers most of Chahia's land. Of the village's 57 hectares, 31 hectares were net sown area in the 2011 record, and every sown hectare was irrigated. Irrigation came mainly from wells and tube-wells (31 hectares). About 26 hectares were under non-agricultural uses such as the village settlement, roads and ponds. Farm power supply was recorded at 14 hours a day. The census recorded 9 cultivators and 25 agricultural labourers, so farming supports many labouring families as well as landholders.

Schools and facilities

The Census 2011 Village Directory gives the fullest picture of village facilities. 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. Treated tap water was available in the village. 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 18 hours a day.

Getting there

Chahia is reached by pucca, all-weather roads; the nearest bus service was within five kilometres. The directory recorded Gurdaspur, about 2 kilometres away, as the nearest town, and the nearest railway station was within five kilometres. Gurdaspur, the tehsil headquarters, and Gurdaspur town, the district headquarters, are the practical hubs for administration and onward travel. Neighbouring villages include Halla, Barnala, Sadhu Chak and Gidar Windi.

What is the population of Chahia?

The population of Chahia was 733 at the 2011 census, living in 141 households in Gurdaspur tehsil of Gurdaspur district.

What facilities does Chahia have?

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