Soniਸੋਨੀ

Where is Soni?

Soni is a village in Garhshankar tehsil of Hoshiarpur district in Punjab, India. It lies in the Doaba region, and the 2011 directory recorded Garhshankar, about 20 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 031906, and it covers 90 hectares.

Population and households

The 2011 census counted 788 people in Soni: 402 men and 386 women, living in 169 households, an average of about 4.7 people per household. Spread over its 90 hectares, the population density works out to about 876 people per square kilometre. The sex ratio was 960 women for every 1,000 men. Children up to the age of six numbered 60, about 8 per cent of the village. Scheduled Castes made up 427 people, about 54 per cent of the population, and no Scheduled Tribe population was recorded.

Literacy in 2011 stood at 81.18 per cent among residents aged seven and above, with men at 83.15 per cent and women at 79.17 per cent. The census recorded 385 workers, about 49 per cent of the village. Of the 189 main workers, the largest group, 75, were other workers in trade, transport and services, ahead of 71 cultivators on their own land and 28 agricultural labourers. A further 196 people were marginal workers, employed for only part of the year.

Land and farming

Farming covers most of Soni's land. Of the village's 90 hectares, 77 hectares were net sown area in the 2011 record, and 69 hectares of it were irrigated. Irrigation came mainly from wells and tube-wells (69 hectares). About 13 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 82 cultivators and 90 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. 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

Soni is reached by village roads; the nearest bus service was within five kilometres. The directory recorded Garhshankar, about 20 kilometres away, as the nearest town, and the nearest railway station was five to ten kilometres away. Garhshankar, the tehsil headquarters, and Hoshiarpur city, the district headquarters, are the practical hubs for administration and onward travel. Neighbouring villages include Aima Jattan, Nurpur, Chak Soni and Paddi Khutti.

What is the population of Soni?

The population of Soni was 788 at the 2011 census, living in 169 households in Garhshankar tehsil of Hoshiarpur district.

What facilities does Soni have?

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