Bathalਬਥਲ

Where is Bathal?

Bathal is a village of Garhshankar tehsil in Hoshiarpur district, Punjab, in the Doaba region of the state. The 2011 directory recorded Garhshankar, about 14 kilometres away, as its nearest town. The village falls in the Garhshankar community development block and has its own gram panchayat. In the census record it carries village code 031945, and it covers 127 hectares.

Population and households

The 2011 census counted 345 people in Bathal: 163 men and 182 women, living in 68 households, an average of about 5.1 people per household. Spread over its 127 hectares, the population density works out to about 272 people per square kilometre. The sex ratio was 1117 women for every 1,000 men. Children up to the age of six numbered 39, about 11 per cent of the village. Scheduled Castes made up 62 people, about 18 per cent of the population, and no Scheduled Tribe population was recorded.

Literacy in 2011 stood at 76.8 per cent among residents aged seven and above, with men at 87.07 per cent and women at 67.3 per cent. The census recorded 106 workers, about 31 per cent of the village. Of the 73 main workers, the largest group, 51, were cultivators on their own land, ahead of 19 other workers in trade, transport and services and 3 agricultural labourers. A further 33 people were marginal workers, employed for only part of the year.

Land and farming

Farming covers most of Bathal's land. Of the village's 127 hectares, 117 hectares were net sown area in the 2011 record, and 18 hectares of it were irrigated. Irrigation came mainly from wells and tube-wells (18 hectares). About 8 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 52 cultivators and 31 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.

No health facility was recorded inside the village in 2011. Drinking water came from untreated tap water supplies. The village had a sub 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

Bathal is reached by pucca, all-weather roads; the nearest bus service was within five kilometres. The directory recorded Garhshankar, about 14 kilometres away, as the nearest town, and the nearest railway station was within five kilometres. Garhshankar, the tehsil headquarters, and Hoshiarpur city, the district headquarters, are the practical hubs for administration and onward travel. Neighbouring villages include Jassowal, Helar, Dadial and Badowal.

What is the population of Bathal?

The population of Bathal was 345 at the 2011 census, living in 68 households in Garhshankar tehsil of Hoshiarpur district.

What facilities does Bathal have?

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