Bhelਭੇਲ

Where is Bhel?

Bhel is a village in Jalandhar West tehsil of Jalandhar district in Punjab, India. It lies in the Doaba region, and the 2011 directory recorded Bhogpur, about 15 kilometres away, as its nearest town. The village falls in the Adampur community development block and has its own gram panchayat. In the census record it carries village code 030588, and it covers 126 hectares.

Population and households

The 2011 census counted 609 people in Bhel: 316 men and 293 women, living in 128 households, an average of about 4.8 people per household. Spread over its 126 hectares, the population density works out to about 483 people per square kilometre. The sex ratio was 927 women for every 1,000 men. Children up to the age of six numbered 48, about 8 per cent of the village. Scheduled Castes made up 432 people, about 71 per cent of the population, and no Scheduled Tribe population was recorded.

Literacy in 2011 stood at 87.52 per cent among residents aged seven and above, with men at 92.44 per cent and women at 82.22 per cent. The census recorded 218 workers, about 36 per cent of the village. Of the 217 main workers, the largest group, 86, were agricultural labourers, ahead of 71 other workers in trade, transport and services and 60 cultivators on their own land. A further 1 people were marginal workers, employed for only part of the year.

Land and farming

Farming covers most of Bhel's land. Of the village's 126 hectares, 118 hectares were net sown area in the 2011 record, and every sown hectare was irrigated. Irrigation came mainly from wells and tube-wells (118 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. The census recorded 60 cultivators and 87 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. Drinking water came from untreated tap water supplies. It also had a PDS ration shop and mobile phone coverage. It had no bank branch or ATM in the 2011 record; the nearest bank was five to ten kilometres away. Domestic electricity supply was recorded at 18 hours a day.

Getting there

Bhel is reached by pucca, all-weather roads, and the 2011 directory recorded a private bus service in the village itself. The directory recorded Bhogpur, about 15 kilometres away, as the nearest town, and the nearest railway station was five to ten kilometres away. Jalandhar West, the tehsil headquarters, and Jalandhar town, the district headquarters, are the practical hubs for administration and onward travel. Neighbouring villages include Sarobad, Najka, Mahaddipur and Khojkipur.

What is the population of Bhel?

The population of Bhel was 609 at the 2011 census, living in 128 households in Jalandhar West tehsil of Jalandhar district.

What facilities does Bhel have?

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