Bhankharਭਂਖਰ

Where is Bhankhar?

Bhankhar is a village in Patiala tehsil of Patiala district in Punjab, India. It lies in the Malwa region, and the 2011 directory recorded Sanaur, about 10 kilometres away, as its nearest town. The village falls in the Bhunerheri community development block and has its own gram panchayat. In the census record it carries village code 036800, and it covers 585 hectares.

Population and households

The 2011 census counted 1,960 people in Bhankhar: 1,045 men and 915 women, living in 360 households, an average of about 5.4 people per household. Spread over its 585 hectares, the population density works out to about 335 people per square kilometre. The sex ratio was 876 women for every 1,000 men. Children up to the age of six numbered 215, about 11 per cent of the village. Scheduled Castes made up 350 people, about 18 per cent of the population, and no Scheduled Tribe population was recorded.

Literacy in 2011 stood at 68.83 per cent among residents aged seven and above, with men at 74.48 per cent and women at 62.5 per cent. The census recorded 626 workers, about 32 per cent of the village. Of the 572 main workers, the largest group, 301, were cultivators on their own land, ahead of 133 other workers in trade, transport and services and 105 agricultural labourers. A further 54 people were marginal workers, employed for only part of the year.

Land and farming

Farming covers most of Bhankhar's land. Of the village's 585 hectares, 542 hectares were net sown area in the 2011 record, and every sown hectare was irrigated. Irrigation came mainly from canals (20 hectares) and wells and tube-wells (522 hectares). Farm power supply was recorded at 8 hours a day. With 304 cultivators and 120 agricultural labourers in the census, most farm work in the village is done by landholding families themselves.

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, 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. The village had its own post office. It also had mobile phone coverage. Banking was available in the village itself, with a commercial bank branch and a cooperative bank branch. Domestic electricity supply was recorded at 12 hours a day.

Getting there

Bhankhar is reached by pucca, all-weather roads, and the 2011 directory recorded a private bus service in the village itself. The directory recorded Sanaur, about 10 kilometres away, as the nearest town, and the nearest railway station was more than ten kilometres away. Patiala, the tehsil headquarters, and Patiala, the district headquarters, are the practical hubs for administration and onward travel. Neighbouring villages include Batta, Balamgarh, Mandi and Balan.

What is the population of Bhankhar?

The population of Bhankhar was 1,960 at the 2011 census, living in 360 households in Patiala tehsil of Patiala district.

What facilities does Bhankhar have?

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