Dhaktanaਧਕਟਨਾ

Where is Dhaktana?

Dhaktana is a village of Balachaur tehsil in SBS Nagar district, Punjab, in the Doaba region of the state. The 2011 directory recorded Balachaur, about 4 kilometres away, as its nearest town. The village falls in the Balachaur community development block and has its own gram panchayat. In the census record it carries village code 032450, and it covers 60 hectares.

Population and households

The 2011 census counted 522 people in Dhaktana: 265 men and 257 women, living in 118 households, an average of about 4.4 people per household. Spread over its 60 hectares, the population density works out to about 870 people per square kilometre. The sex ratio was 970 women for every 1,000 men. Children up to the age of six numbered 46, about 9 per cent of the village. Scheduled Castes made up 5 people, about 1 per cent of the population, and no Scheduled Tribe population was recorded.

Literacy in 2011 stood at 76.47 per cent among residents aged seven and above, with men at 89.3 per cent and women at 63.09 per cent. The census recorded 317 workers, about 61 per cent of the village. Of the 171 main workers, the largest group, 143, were cultivators on their own land, ahead of 21 agricultural labourers and 7 other workers in trade, transport and services. A further 146 people were marginal workers, employed for only part of the year.

Land and farming

Farming covers most of Dhaktana's land. Of the village's 60 hectares, 48 hectares were net sown area in the 2011 record, and every sown hectare was irrigated. Irrigation came mainly from wells and tube-wells (48 hectares). About 8 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 149 cultivators and 155 agricultural labourers, so farming supports many labouring families as well as landholders.

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. Treated tap water was available in the village. The village had a sub post office. 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

Dhaktana is reached by pucca, all-weather roads, and the 2011 directory recorded a private bus service in the village itself. The directory recorded Balachaur, about 4 kilometres away, as the nearest town, and the nearest railway station was more than ten kilometres away. Balachaur, the tehsil headquarters, and Nawanshahr, the district headquarters, are the practical hubs for administration and onward travel. Neighbouring villages include Akliana, Mauhar, Bungri and Madhiani.

What is the population of Dhaktana?

The population of Dhaktana was 522 at the 2011 census, living in 118 households in Balachaur tehsil of SBS Nagar district.

What facilities does Dhaktana have?

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