Mehalਮੇਹਲ

Where is Mehal?

Mehal is a village in Dharamkot tehsil of Moga district in Punjab, India. It lies in the Malwa region, and the 2011 directory recorded Dharamkot, about 16 kilometres away, as its nearest town. The village falls in the Dharamkot community development block and has its own gram panchayat. In the census record it carries village code 034088, and it covers 485 hectares.

Population and households

The 2011 census counted 1,314 people in Mehal: 678 men and 636 women, living in 263 households, an average of about 5.0 people per household. Spread over its 485 hectares, the population density works out to about 271 people per square kilometre. The sex ratio was 938 women for every 1,000 men. Children up to the age of six numbered 150, about 11 per cent of the village. Scheduled Castes made up 585 people, about 45 per cent of the population, and no Scheduled Tribe population was recorded.

Literacy in 2011 stood at 72.51 per cent among residents aged seven and above, with men at 79.33 per cent and women at 65.25 per cent. The census recorded 457 workers, about 35 per cent of the village. Of the 393 main workers, the largest group, 200, were other workers in trade, transport and services, ahead of 95 cultivators on their own land and 92 agricultural labourers. A further 64 people were marginal workers, employed for only part of the year.

Land and farming

Farming covers most of Mehal's land. Of the village's 485 hectares, 442 hectares were net sown area in the 2011 record, and every sown hectare was irrigated. Irrigation came mainly from wells and tube-wells (170 hectares). About 43 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 97 cultivators and 119 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. The village had a sub post office. It also had mobile phone coverage. Banking was available in the village itself, with a cooperative bank branch. Domestic electricity supply was recorded at 12 hours a day.

Getting there

Mehal is reached by pucca, all-weather roads, and the 2011 directory recorded a private bus service in the village itself. The directory recorded Dharamkot, about 16 kilometres away, as the nearest town, and the nearest railway station was more than ten kilometres away. Dharamkot, the tehsil headquarters, and Moga city, the district headquarters, are the practical hubs for administration and onward travel. Neighbouring villages include Longiwind, Dargah Saidan, Singhpur Urf Munan and Nihalgarh.

What is the population of Mehal?

The population of Mehal was 1,314 at the 2011 census, living in 263 households in Dharamkot tehsil of Moga district.

What facilities does Mehal have?

According to the Census 2011 Village Directory, Mehal has a government primary school, an anganwadi centre and a sub post office.