Social,
Environmental & Economic Sustainability
Our analysis of the rank of the district
Backwardness : Does not figure in list of 447 backward
districts
Sex Ratio Rank : 159
(Rank one is least sex ratio - Cenus 2001)
HIV Category District : D
(HIV Sentinel Surveillance 2004 - 2006)
Disability : 493 (Census 2001)
Literacy Ratio : 276 (Census 2001)
Minority : Does not figure in MCD
Challenges of the district : Our research
with local communities
Kathua is a backward district. In kathua women have
to face lot of hardships. The foremost problem women face is that
they are not allowed to go out for education. Women in this district
are not independent. Women have very limited employment opportunities
because there are no skill upgrading training programs through which
women can horn their skills. There is shortage of place where they
can start their own production unit.
Brief About Kathua District
Known as Gateway of Jammu & Kashmir State, Kathua
district lies in South-East of the State. It is located 32.17'
to 32.55' north latitude and 75.32' to 75.76' east longitude.
Spread over an area of 2651 sq.Kms constituting 1.9 per cent of
the total area of the State, the district has a population of
over 4.92 lakh as per 1991 estimates. The sex ratio as per 1981
census was 917 females per 1000 males and density of population
1.86 persons per Sq.kms as per 1991 estimates. The district has
literacy percentage of 31.90. For administrative, the district
has been divided into four tehsils namely Kathua,Hiranagar,Basholi
and Billawar. District broadly comprises three distinct zones.
These can be described as border, kandi and hilly areas.The two
main rivers of the district areRaviandUjhwhicharemajorcontributors
to the prestigious Ravi-Tawi Irrigation Complex. As regards the
main ethnic groups,hindus constitutes 91% of the district while
Muslims form 7% and Sikh2% of the population.The most important
minerals in the district are cement grade lime stone in Basholi.Dogri
is the main language spoken by the people of the district. There
are a number of Monuments in the district like towering forts
and magnificent places at kathua, Lakhanpur, Jasmergarh (Hiranagar),
Jasrota, Ramkote, Bhadu and Basholi.
Kathua District is located about 88 Kms. from Jammu, 390 Kms
from Srinagar and about 500 Kms. from Delhi and 25 Kms from Pathankote.
Kathua District is connected to Jammu, Srinagar, Pathankote, Delhi
through National Highway NH-1A. Regular Bus Service is available
for Jammu, Srinagar, Udhampur, Katra, Delhi, Pathankote, Chandigarh,
Shimla and all other major cities of Punjab, Himachal Paradesh,
Haryana, Delhi, UP, Rajasthan.
Kathua is connected through Rail Head to all major cities of
the Country. Kathua railway Station is located at Govindsar, 7
Kms from the City Chowk, Kathua. Nearest Airport is Jammu.
HISTORY
Though there is no detailed and fully documented history
of Kathua district. It is believed that One Jodh Singh a famous
Rajput of Andotra clan migrated from HASTINAPUR to KATHUA nearly
2000 years ago and settled here. The three Hamlets of Taraf Tajwal,
Taraf Manjali and Taraf Bhajwal were established by his three
sons Viz. Teju, Kindal and Bhaju. Their descendent are now called
as Tajwalia, Bhajwalia and Khanwalia Rajputs of Andotra sub-caste.
The conglomeration of these three hamlets was loosely called “KATHAI”
in earlier times which with the passage of time came to be called
as KATHUA.
GRREK historians, who provide an insight into the ancient history
of JAMMU HILLS prominently record the existence of two powerful
empires of Abhisara (Present day POONCH) and KATHAIOI at the time
of invasion of India by ALEXANDERA, Strabo describes KATHAIOI
as a mighty republic of that era located in the foot hills along
river RAVI. The topography of KATHAIOI corresponds with the present
day KATHUA. Starbo describes the people of the republic as epitone
of bravery and courage and records that they gave a tough fight
to invading Army of ALEXANDERA.
DOGRI & PAHARI are the main languages spoken. Hindi, English
and Urdu are the main medium of education. Offcial language is
Urdu.
GEOGRAPHY
Kathua District is situated at 320 17' to 320 55’ North
Latitude and 750 70' to 760 16’ East longitude. The District is
surrounded by Punjab in the South-East, Himachal Pradesh in North-East,
District Doda and Udhampur in North and North-West, Jammu in the
West and Pakistan in the South-West. It has an area of 2651 Sq
Kms. The district can be conveniently divided into three distinct
Agro-climatic regions. The area falling South of Pathankot-Jammu-Srinagar
National Highway consists of deep alluvial soils. The area is
mostly irrigated and quite productive. This area touches Pakistan
and Punjab border and it is also popularly called Border Area.
The second zone falling north of the National Highway extends
upto foothills of Himalayas and falling mostly in Shivalik ranges
is called Kandi area. It is characterized by shallow soils full
of boulders with negligible natural water resources. The area
faces acute shortage of water and the productivity of the land
is very marginal. Part of Kathua, Barnoti, Hiranagar, Ghagwal,
Basohli and Billawar block falls in this category. The third area
falls beyond Shivalik ranges and extends upto to Peer Panchal
ranges. This area is mountainous in nature with little potential
for agriculture.
CLIMATE
The areas falling in Kathua district experiences wide
range of climate from sub-tropical to temperate area and even
alpine in higher regions of Bani and Lohai-Malhar blocks. Because
of altitudinal varities, there is vast difference between the
temperature of two plain thesils of Kathua and Hiranagar with
those of Hilly Tehsils of Basohli and Billawar. The Summer temperature
rises as high as 48 degree Celcius in the plains and Winter temperature
in the upper hilly areas touches sub-zero. Most of the Higher
areas in the BASOHLI AND BILLAWAR Tehsils experiences SNOWFALLS
for most part of the year. The District experiences rainfall during
Winter and early Summer primarily from western disturbances and
monsoon rains from second week of July onwards. The hilly areas
receives more rains than the plains. The annual rainfall in the
district is approx. 1672 mm.
CULTURE
Kathua District is broadly comprises three distinct
zones Viz. Border, Kandi and Hilly. Billawar, Bani, Basohli and
Lohai –Malhar Blocks of the district comes under HILLY Area, The
culture of this area is PAHARI which resembles the culture of
Himachal Paradesh. The other part of the district has DOGRA Culture.
Dogri is the main language spoken by the people of the district.
Though the dogri spoken in some parts of the district has the
influence of Punjabi tone also but the rural areas specially the
Hilly areas are free from Punjabi. Their main language is DOGRI/PAHARI.
The Language is the rural and hilly areas has maintained its native
purity, accent and sweetness. However a very small section of
the Population residing in Lohai-Malhar and BANI Blocks also speaks
Kashmiri. GOJRI is also spoken by the Gujjar Community settled
here and there. However, Dogri is main language spoken in the
district.
The district is culturally an integerated part of Jammu region
and all important religious fairs like Lohri, Maha Shivratri,
Id-ul-Fitr, Holi, Ramnavmi, Baisakhi, Basantpanchami, Martyr’s
day of Guru Arjun Dev, Raksha Bandhan, Janam Ashtami, Mahanavami,
Dussehra, Diwali, id-ul-zuha, Guru Ravi Dass’s b’day, Mahatama
gandhi’s b’day Guru Govind Singh’s b’day, Chacha Nehru’s birthday.
Above all, the Independence Day and Republic Day are celeberated
with great enthusiasm. Holy Navratras also provide special occasion
for worship and pilgrimage to holy places culminating into small
to big fairs. Ram Lilas are organized in every town as well as
in every village of the district. The most famous Ram Lila is
performed in BASOHLI. Historical Placesand Monuments
Jasrota
Was founded by Raja Jas Dev of Jammu in 1019 A.D.Jasrotias ruled
this state upto 1834 A.D., when it was given to Raja Hira Singh.
Billawar
Tehsil headquarter town of the district is belived to be capital.
In earlier times Billawar is known as Vallapura, the hilly state
finds mention in the Rajatarangni as capital of the state till
1630 A.D.
Mankote
Was fonded by Raja Manak Dev, a contemporary of Raja Narsingh
Dev of Jammu(1272-1314 A.D.). It was renamed by Raja Suchet Singh
(1822-43) as Ramkote.
Lakhanpur
Raja Sangram Singh,founded Lakhanpur state.Lakhanapur is known
as the gateway of Jammu & Kashmir.
Bhadu
A prominent town of Billawar tehsil. Bhadu town is situated on
Bhini nallah, a tributary of Ujh river.
Tirikote
Near Jasrota and Jandi near Hiranagar were also important states/principalities
in the district.
