Karalਕਰਲ

Where is Karal?

Karal is a village of Dinanagar tehsil in Gurdaspur district, Punjab, in the Majha region of the state. The 2011 directory recorded Gurdaspur, about 10 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 028361, and it covers 330 hectares.

Population and households

The 2011 census counted 690 people in Karal: 356 men and 334 women, living in 114 households, an average of about 6.1 people per household. Spread over its 330 hectares, the population density works out to about 209 people per square kilometre. The sex ratio was 938 women for every 1,000 men. Children up to the age of six numbered 69, about 10 per cent of the village. Scheduled Castes made up 3 people, about 0 per cent of the population, and no Scheduled Tribe population was recorded.

Literacy in 2011 stood at 75.68 per cent among residents aged seven and above, with men at 83.86 per cent and women at 67.21 per cent. The census recorded 195 workers, about 28 per cent of the village. Of the 185 main workers, the largest group, 100, were other workers in trade, transport and services, ahead of 55 agricultural labourers and 28 cultivators on their own land. A further 10 people were marginal workers, employed for only part of the year.

Land and farming

Farming covers most of Karal's land. Of the village's 330 hectares, 227 hectares were net sown area in the 2011 record, and every sown hectare was irrigated. Irrigation came mainly from canals (227 hectares). About 103 hectares were under non-agricultural uses such as the village settlement, roads and ponds. Farm power supply was recorded at 8 hours a day. The census recorded 29 cultivators and 57 agricultural labourers, so farming supports many labouring families as well as landholders.

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.

Health facilities recorded inside the village in 2011 included a primary health centre, a primary health sub-centre and a veterinary hospital. Drinking water came from untreated tap water supplies. The village had a sub post office. It also had a PDS ration shop and mobile phone coverage. Banking was available in the village itself, with a commercial bank branch. Domestic electricity supply was recorded at 12 hours a day.

Getting there

Karal is reached by pucca, all-weather roads, and the 2011 directory recorded a private bus service in the village itself. The directory recorded Gurdaspur, about 10 kilometres away, as the nearest town, and the nearest railway station was more than ten kilometres away. Dinanagar, the tehsil headquarters, and Gurdaspur town, the district headquarters, are the practical hubs for administration and onward travel.

What is the population of Karal?

The population of Karal was 690 at the 2011 census, living in 114 households in Dinanagar tehsil of Gurdaspur district.

What facilities does Karal have?

According to the Census 2011 Village Directory, Karal has a government primary school, an anganwadi centre and a sub post office.