Begowalਬੇਗੋਵਲ

Where is Begowal?

Begowal is a village of Pathankot tehsil in Pathankot district, Punjab, in the Majha region of the state. The 2011 directory recorded Dina Nagar, about 6 kilometres away, as its nearest town. The village falls in the Narot Jaimal Singh community development block and has its own gram panchayat. In the census record it carries village code 027655, and it covers 54 hectares.

Population and households

The 2011 census counted 2,490 people in Begowal: 1,307 men and 1,183 women, living in 495 households, an average of about 5.0 people per household. Spread over its 54 hectares, the population density works out to about 4,611 people per square kilometre. The sex ratio was 905 women for every 1,000 men. Children up to the age of six numbered 223, about 9 per cent of the village. Scheduled Castes made up 457 people, about 18 per cent of the population, and no Scheduled Tribe population was recorded.

Literacy in 2011 stood at 89.94 per cent among residents aged seven and above, with men at 93.05 per cent and women at 86.47 per cent. The census recorded 658 workers, about 26 per cent of the village. Of the 562 main workers, the largest group, 455, were other workers in trade, transport and services, ahead of 43 household industry workers and 36 cultivators on their own land. A further 96 people were marginal workers, employed for only part of the year.

Land and farming

Farming covers most of Begowal's land. Of the village's 54 hectares, 33 hectares were net sown area in the 2011 record, and every sown hectare was irrigated. Irrigation came mainly from wells and tube-wells (33 hectares). About 21 hectares were under non-agricultural uses such as the village settlement, roads and ponds. Farm power supply was recorded at 8 hours a day. With 44 cultivators and 33 agricultural labourers in the census, most farm work in the village is done by landholding families themselves.

Schools and facilities

For village facilities, the Census 2011 Village Directory is the fullest record available. Education in the village runs through one government primary school, one government middle school, one government secondary school and one government senior secondary school, so children can study in the village up to Class 12. 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 and an internet common service centre. Banking was available in the village itself, with a commercial bank branch and a cooperative bank branch. Domestic electricity supply was recorded at 18 hours a day.

Getting there

Begowal is reached by pucca, all-weather roads, and the 2011 directory recorded a private bus service in the village itself. The directory recorded Dina Nagar, about 6 kilometres away, as the nearest town, and the nearest railway station was within five kilometres. Pathankot, the tehsil headquarters, and Pathankot, the district headquarters, are the practical hubs for administration and onward travel. Neighbouring villages include Jani Chak, Taragarh, Mahi-Ul-Dinpur and Bhatoia.

What is the population of Begowal?

The population of Begowal was 2,490 at the 2011 census, living in 495 households in Pathankot tehsil of Pathankot district.

What facilities does Begowal have?

According to the Census 2011 Village Directory, Begowal has government schools from primary to senior secondary school level, an anganwadi centre and a post office.