Chenari, India


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, while members of scheduled tribes constituted 0.83% of the block's population. 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. 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 Chenari block, 51.35% 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 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, 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 nameTotal land area Population
Khurmabad5696,555
Ibrahimpur93.4115
Saraiya108409
Sabrabad1531,576
Tekari2232,083
Basantpur106.8685
Kenar Khurd100.41,249
Kenar Kalan316.13,404
Sarean68.1345
Chandar Kaithi165.1971
Bhabhasi86.7615
Naraura89.8764
Harnagra87353
Belahan58.20
Raghunathpur38.6138
Barahtali Chhotki93.1718
Barahtali Barki113969
Jagdishpur73.60
Mahasi39.70
Jag Dehra43.8443
Dumri2741,040
Langar Kakai2141,416
Pia Khurd151.8403
Pia Kalan170.81004
Pora146472
Chitra Tanr193680
Chanhrua1061,181
Nakta44747
Phulwaria642,811
Telari1612,080
Baniadih96147
Renria Kalan1761,403
Kaithi209746
Tenduni68637
Tekari12.10
Nuawan168.3307
Paharpur26.80
Bijarhi89567
Basgitia26.80
Khaira83.7938
Kusaha37.70
Dhuraha42.10
Salthua82.2120
Mahuat27.6233
Ubhawan61.11,027
Dewararh68.7423
Garo62.30
Renria Khurd36.8201
Shahpur127.4991
Gajrarh61.6532
Chhotki Malahar106.90
Mathahi28.4539
Malahar Kalan185.41,203
Karanpura80.61,344
Charahi125.11,234
Narayanpur176.81,496
Kinarchola178.9843
Chaukhara42.4370
Dighat103.2898
Maura68.4290
Bansil128.7556
Sahasi98.7372
Naraina197.82,353
Sonbarsa24.30
Puraini45.70
Semri79582
Dehria45.71,452
Bhataula36.80
Khujha65.20
Hata267.43,072
Birnagar107.6595
Lanji206.42,346
Banauli154.12,292
Ghanpura 21.10
Pataundha118.21,230
Lodhi115998
Datauli156717
Katra46.6428
Khadauli68.91,629
Pewandi246.85,366
Atraulia124.60
Churesar 102.40
Ganeshpur73.41,008
Mugra 8291
Doia280.91,690
Lohara213.4830
Karechh145.7399
Nandu Siarha108.4610
Mainpura950
Langri 510
Tetari109.71,163
Mamrezpur74.2682
Rahulia 25.90
Ramgarh135.21,239
Turki168.4743
Sado Khar299.13,401
Laurpitai 45.70
Bharhua28.40
Mahuli54.2167
Usra20.30
Chanpura76.4146
Kaparpura25.40
Kishunpura60.8142
Panapur150
Urda118.31,380
Lachhanpura39.30
Thunhi46.10
Maihaicha74.1483
Ghuripur44.90
Karma Digar46.650
Dewadihi319.32,489
Samhauta95.2558
Kunrwa21.85170
Pilkhi169.72,175
Belaspur31.76237
Dihi137.7848
Lohari45.70
Pethiawan110.91,597
Sohan Chak83315
Pakaria46.1268
Khurnu Kalan309.62,379
Chaukhammha490
Magajpura2361,019
Naibhui17.920
Neuri102701
Khurna47566
Bagaicha43.70
Rakba119458
Rampur63.1479
Gangapur98.7102
Jararhi88375
Pachaura290.6608
Ugahni349.33,829
Paharpur58.8619
Bairia136.41,003
Khaira39.30
Chikhuria66.8582
Nayakpur119.91,168
Malahipur1725,382
Karma5841,661
Dafarpur215.70
Badal Garh724232
Kota205.60
Shergarh325.90
Urdaga1339.9245
Bhurkura1524.4527
Auraiya611.4458
Bhunda Dih164.30
Tengra560.4707
Marpa731.20
Phulwaria801.30
Betari6010
Suggikhoh389.80