Begowalਬੇਗੋਵਲ

Where is Begowal?

Begowal is a village of Nawanshahr tehsil in SBS Nagar district, Punjab, in the Doaba region of the state. The 2011 directory recorded Nawansahar, about 18 kilometres away, as its nearest town. The village falls in the Aur community development block and has its own gram panchayat. In the census record it carries village code 032223, and it covers 367 hectares.

Population and households

The 2011 census counted 760 people in Begowal: 382 men and 378 women, living in 141 households, an average of about 5.4 people per household. Spread over its 367 hectares, the population density works out to about 207 people per square kilometre. The sex ratio was 990 women for every 1,000 men. Children up to the age of six numbered 105, about 14 per cent of the village. Scheduled Castes made up 743 people, about 98 per cent of the population, and no Scheduled Tribe population was recorded.

Literacy in 2011 stood at 80 per cent among residents aged seven and above, with men at 86.77 per cent and women at 73.33 per cent. The census recorded 213 workers, about 28 per cent of the village. Of the 198 main workers, the largest group, 160, were cultivators on their own land, ahead of 29 other workers in trade, transport and services and 5 agricultural labourers. A further 15 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 367 hectares, 277 hectares were net sown area in the 2011 record, and every sown hectare was irrigated. Irrigation came mainly from wells and tube-wells (277 hectares). About 90 hectares were under non-agricultural uses such as the village settlement, roads and ponds. Farm power supply was recorded at 10 hours a day. With 165 cultivators and 8 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, 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. 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 10 hours a day.

Getting there

Begowal is reached by pucca, all-weather roads; the nearest bus service was within five kilometres. The directory recorded Nawansahar, about 18 kilometres away, as the nearest town, and the nearest railway station was more than ten kilometres away. Nawanshahr, the tehsil headquarters, and Nawanshahr, the district headquarters, are the practical hubs for administration and onward travel. Neighbouring villages include Burj Tehal Dass, Phambra, Pandrawal and Grupar.

What is the population of Begowal?

The population of Begowal was 760 at the 2011 census, living in 141 households in Nawanshahr tehsil of SBS Nagar district.

What facilities does Begowal have?

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