Chenāri or Chanāri is a census town and corresponding community development block in Rohtas district of Bihar, India. As of 2011, the town of Chenari had a population of 6,569, while Chenari block had a population of 131,528. Major commodities produced in the town of Chenari are chironji, rice, and pulses. The census town of Bhardua is administratively counted as part of Chenari block.
Geography Most of Chenari block lies on the Rohtas plateau, a hilly region that forms an eastern flank of the Vindhya Range. In some parts of the block, the terrain is rugged enough to preclude any large-scale irrigation projects. The town of Chenari covers an area of 2.5 square kilometres, while the block as a whole covers an area of 190.5201 square kilometres.
History The Shergarh fort, located some 13 km south of Chenari town on a hill overlooking the Durgawati river, was first described in 1813 by Francis Buchanan, who attributed the fort's construction to Sher Shah Suri. More recently, however, P.C. Roy Choudhary has pointed out that the fort is uncharacteristic of Sher Shah's constructions and likely predated his rule. He posits instead that, after capturing nearby Rohtasgarh, Sher Shah repurposed the already-existing fort at Shergarh as a second line of defence, thus giving the fort its current name. The final date of Shergarh's abandonment is unknown.
Chenari was first listed as a census town in 2011.
Demographics As of 2011, the town of Chenari has a sex ratio of 929 females for every 1000 males, which is the highest among urban centers in Rohtas district. The ratio is lower in the rural parts of Chenari block, with 919 females for every 1000 males; the overall sex ratio of Chenari block is 920, which is about average for Rohtas district. The sex ratio was more equal among 0-6 year olds as of 2011, with 932 girls for every 1000 boys, which was again average in Rohtas. Members of scheduled castes made up 26.82% of the total population of Chenari block (27.42% in rural and 20.71% in urban areas), while members of scheduled tribes constituted 0.83% of the block's population (0.89% in rural and 0.17% in urban areas). The 26.82% scheduled caste membership was highest among all blocks in Rohtas district in 2011. The overall literacy rate of Chenari block as of 2011 was 70.8%; literacy was higher in urban areas than in rural ones, as well as higher in men than in women (80.41% of men but only 60.34% of women could read and write). Both the overall literacy rate and the gender disparity were roughly average for Rohtas district blocks.
Employment A majority of the workforce of Chenari block was employed in agriculture in 2011. 26.60% of the workforce was employed as cultivators who owned or leased their own land, while 49.18% were agricultural labourers who worked someone else's land for wages. 4.20% of workers were engaged in household industries. The remaining 20.02% were classified as other workers. In the town of Chenari itself, however, the majority of workers were engaged in non-agricultural work. Cultivators formed 3.95% of the workforce, agricultural labourers formed 3.08%, household industry workers formed 20.95%, and other workers formed the remaining 72.01%. The proportion of household industry workers in the town of Chenari was the highest among urban centres in Rohtas district, and the proportion of agricultural labourers was the lowest.
Amenities Of the 111 inhabited villages in the Chenari block, 51.35% (57 villages) had access to educational facilities in 2011, serving 81.76% of the rural population; both numbers were the lowest among CD blocks in Rohtas district. 7 villages (6.31%) had access to medical facilities, serving 12.63% of the population; both percentages were significantly below the district average. All villages had access to clean drinking water; however, none had access to tap water, with water being supplied instead by well and hand pump. 10 villages had post offices. 54 villages had telephone service, serving 77.93% of the rural population. 52 villages had transport communications (bus, rail, or navigable waterways), and 63 had pucca roads. Seven villages had banks and agricultural credit societies. 79 villages had access to electricity, serving 88.28% of the rural population, which was slightly below the Rohtas district average.
Land use In 2011, 66.74 of the district was under cultivation; 76.30% of the cultivated area was irrigated.
Villages Apart from the census towns of Chenari and Bhardua, Chenari block contains 111 inhabited villages and 42 uninhabited ones, for a total of 153 villages: Village name Total land area (hectares) Population (in 2011) Khurmabad 569 6,555 Ibrahimpur 93.4 115 Saraiya 108 409 Sabrabad 153 1,576 Tekari 223 2,083 Basantpur 106.8 685 Kenar Khurd 100.4 1,249 Kenar Kalan 316.1 3,404 Sarean 68.1 345 Chandar Kaithi 165.1 971 Bhabhasi 86.7 615 Naraura 89.8 764 Harnagra 87 353 Belahan 58.2 0 Raghunathpur 38.6 138 Barahtali Chhotki 93.1 718 Barahtali Barki 113 969 Jagdishpur 73.6 0 Mahasi 39.7 0 Jag Dehra 43.8 443 Dumri 274 1,040 Langar Kakai 214 1,416 Pia Khurd 151.8 403 Pia Kalan 170.8 1004 Pora 146 472 Chitra Tanr 193 680 Chanhrua 106 1,181 Nakta 44 747 Phulwaria 64 2,811 Telari 161 2,080 Baniadih 96 147 Renria Kalan 176 1,403 Kaithi 209 746 Tenduni 68 637 Tekari 12.1 0 Nuawan 168.3 307 Paharpur 26.8 0 Bijarhi 89 567 Basgitia 26.8 0 Khaira 83.7 938 Kusaha 37.7 0 Dhuraha 42.1 0 Salthua 82.2 120 Mahuat 27.6 233 Ubhawan 61.1 1,027 Dewararh 68.7 423 Garo 62.3 0 Renria Khurd 36.8 201 Shahpur 127.4 991 Gajrarh 61.6 532 Chhotki Malahar 106.9 0 Mathahi 28.4 539 Malahar Kalan 185.4 1,203 Karanpura 80.6 1,344 Charahi 125.1 1,234 Narayanpur 176.8 1,496 Kinarchola 178.9 843 Chaukhara 42.4 370 Dighat 103.2 898 Maura 68.4 290 Bansil 128.7 556 Sahasi 98.7 372 Naraina 197.8 2,353 Sonbarsa 24.3 0 Puraini 45.7 0 Semri 79 582 Dehria 45.7 1,452 Bhataula 36.8 0 Khujha 65.2 0 Hata 267.4 3,072 Birnagar 107.6 595 Lanji 206.4 2,346 Banauli 154.1 2,292 Ghanpura (V) 21.1 0 Pataundha 118.2 1,230 Lodhi 115 998 Datauli 156 717 Katra 46.6 428 Khadauli 68.9 1,629 Pewandi 246.8 5,366 Atraulia 124.6 0 Churesar (V) 102.4 0 Ganeshpur 73.4 1,008 Mugra (V) 82 91 Doia 280.9 1,690 Lohara 213.4 830 Karechh 145.7 399 Nandu Siarha 108.4 610 Mainpura 95 0 Langri (V) 51 0 Tetari 109.7 1,163 Mamrezpur 74.2 682 Rahulia (V) 25.9 0 Ramgarh 135.2 1,239 Turki 168.4 743 Sado Khar 299.1 3,401 Laurpitai (V) 45.7 0 Bharhua 28.4 0 Mahuli 54.2 167 Usra 20.3 0 Chanpura 76.4 146 Kaparpura 25.4 0 Kishunpura 60.8 142 Panapur 15 0 Urda 118.3 1,380 Lachhanpura 39.3 0 Thunhi 46.1 0 Maihaicha 74.1 483 Ghuripur 44.9 0 Karma Digar 46.65 0 Dewadihi 319.3 2,489 Samhauta 95.2 558 Kunrwa 21.85 170 Pilkhi 169.7 2,175 Belaspur 31.76 237 Dihi 137.7 848 Lohari 45.7 0 Pethiawan 110.9 1,597 Sohan Chak 83 315 Pakaria 46.1 268 Khurnu Kalan 309.6 2,379 Chaukhammha 49 0 Magajpura 236 1,019 Naibhui 17.92 0 Neuri 102 701 Khurna 47 566 Bagaicha 43.7 0 Rakba 119 458 Rampur 63.1 479 Gangapur 98.7 102 Jararhi 88 375 Pachaura 290.6 608 Ugahni 349.3 3,829 Paharpur 58.8 619 Bairia 136.4 1,003 Khaira 39.3 0 Chikhuria 66.8 582 Nayakpur 119.9 1,168 Malahipur 172 5,382 Karma 584 1,661 Dafarpur 215.7 0 Badal Garh 724 232 Kota 205.6 0 Shergarh 325.9 0 Urdaga 1339.9 245 Bhurkura 1524.4 527 Auraiya 611.4 458 Bhunda Dih 164.3 0 Tengra 560.4 707 Marpa 731.2 0 Phulwaria 801.3 0 Betari 601 0 Suggikhoh 389.8 0
See also Chenari (Vidhan Sabha constituency)
References