Palaharਪਲਹਰ

Where is Palahar?

Palahar is a village of Mukerian tehsil in Hoshiarpur district, Punjab, in the Doaba region of the state. The 2011 directory recorded Mukerian, about 8 kilometres away, as its nearest town. The village falls in the Talwara community development block and has its own gram panchayat. In the census record it carries village code 031328, and it covers 274 hectares.

Population and households

The 2011 census counted 902 people in Palahar: 453 men and 449 women, living in 178 households, an average of about 5.1 people per household. Spread over its 274 hectares, the population density works out to about 329 people per square kilometre. The sex ratio was 991 women for every 1,000 men. Children up to the age of six numbered 133, about 15 per cent of the village. Scheduled Castes made up 275 people, about 30 per cent of the population, and no Scheduled Tribe population was recorded.

Literacy in 2011 stood at 91.68 per cent among residents aged seven and above, with men at 94.64 per cent and women at 88.89 per cent. The census recorded 138 workers, about 15 per cent of the village. Of the 28 main workers, the largest group, 26, were other workers in trade, transport and services, ahead of 2 cultivators on their own land. A further 110 people were marginal workers, employed for only part of the year.

Land and farming

Farming covers most of Palahar's land. Of the village's 274 hectares, 94 hectares were net sown area in the 2011 record, and 16 hectares of it were irrigated. Irrigation came mainly from wells and tube-wells (16 hectares). About 48 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 8 cultivators and 51 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 2 government primary schools, one government middle school and one government secondary school, so children can study in the village up to Class 10. The village also had an anganwadi centre and an ASHA health worker.

Health facilities recorded inside the village in 2011 included a community health centre and a dispensary. Treated tap water was available in the village. It also had a PDS ration shop and mobile phone coverage. Banking was available in the village itself, with a cooperative bank branch. Domestic electricity supply was recorded at 18 hours a day.

Getting there

Palahar is reached by pucca, all-weather roads, and the 2011 directory recorded a private bus service in the village itself. The directory recorded Mukerian, about 8 kilometres away, as the nearest town, and the nearest railway station was more than ten kilometres away. Mukerian, the tehsil headquarters, and Hoshiarpur city, the district headquarters, are the practical hubs for administration and onward travel. Neighbouring villages include Bhol Kalota, Basantpur, Bringli and Batwara.

What is the population of Palahar?

The population of Palahar was 902 at the 2011 census, living in 178 households in Mukerian tehsil of Hoshiarpur district.

What facilities does Palahar have?

According to the Census 2011 Village Directory, Palahar has government schools from primary to secondary school level and an anganwadi centre.