Bhikhi Khutraਭਿੱਖੀ ਖੁਟਰਾ

Where is Bhikhi Khutra?

Bhikhi Khutra is a village in Payal tehsil of Ludhiana district in Punjab, India. It lies in the Malwa region, and the 2011 directory recorded Maloud, about 10 kilometres away, as its nearest town. The village falls in the Dehlon community development block and has its own gram panchayat. In the census record it carries village code 033318, and it covers 232 hectares.

Population and households

The 2011 census counted 1,677 people in Bhikhi Khutra: 904 men and 773 women, living in 332 households, an average of about 5.1 people per household. Spread over its 232 hectares, the population density works out to about 723 people per square kilometre. The sex ratio was 855 women for every 1,000 men. Children up to the age of six numbered 139, about 8 per cent of the village. Scheduled Castes made up 909 people, about 54 per cent of the population, and no Scheduled Tribe population was recorded.

Literacy in 2011 stood at 83.16 per cent among residents aged seven and above, with men at 87.86 per cent and women at 77.73 per cent. The census recorded 708 workers, about 42 per cent of the village. Of the 545 main workers, the largest group, 366, were other workers in trade, transport and services, ahead of 67 household industry workers and 63 agricultural labourers. A further 163 people were marginal workers, employed for only part of the year.

Land and farming

Farming covers most of Bhikhi Khutra's land. Of the village's 232 hectares, 192 hectares were net sown area in the 2011 record, and every sown hectare was irrigated. Irrigation came mainly from wells and tube-wells (192 hectares). About 40 hectares were under non-agricultural uses such as the village settlement, roads and ponds. Farm power supply was recorded at 12 hours a day. The census recorded 65 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.

Health facilities recorded inside the village in 2011 included a primary health sub-centre, a dispensary and a veterinary hospital. Treated tap water was available in the village. 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

Bhikhi Khutra is reached by pucca, all-weather roads, and the 2011 directory recorded a private bus service in the village itself. The directory recorded Maloud, about 10 kilometres away, as the nearest town, and the nearest railway station was more than ten kilometres away. Payal, the tehsil headquarters, and Ludhiana city, the district headquarters, are the practical hubs for administration and onward travel. Neighbouring villages include Hans (Payal), Rara, Zirakh and Ghangas.

What is the population of Bhikhi Khutra?

The population of Bhikhi Khutra was 1,677 at the 2011 census, living in 332 households in Payal tehsil of Ludhiana district.

What facilities does Bhikhi Khutra have?

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