Poonch or Punch is a district of the Jammu division of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir in the disputed Kashmir region.[1] With headquarters in the town of Poonch, it is bounded by the Line of Control (boundary between Indian and Pakistan administered Kashmir) on three sides (north, west and south). The 1947-48 war between India and Pakistan divided the earlier district into two parts. One went to Pakistan and the other became part of the then-Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.[7]
Poonch district | |
|---|---|
 View of Mandi Town in Poonch | |
 Interactive map of Poonch district | |
![Poonch district is in the Jammu division (shown with neon blue boundary) of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir (shaded in tan in the disputed Kashmir region[1]](https://www.search.com.vn/wiki/en/File:Kashmir_region._LOC_2003626427_-_showing_Jammu_division_administered_by_India_in_neon_blue.jpg) Poonch district is in the Jammu division (shown with neon blue boundary) of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir (shaded in tan in the disputed Kashmir region[1] | |
| Coordinates (Poonch (town)): 33°42′N 74°14′E / 33.700°N 74.233°E | |
| Administering country | India |
| Union Territory | Jammu & Kashmir |
| Division | Jammu |
| Capital | Poonch |
| Headquarters | Poonch |
| Tehsils[2] | 1. Balakote, 2. Haveli, 3. Mandi, 4. Mankote, 5. Mendhar, 6. Surankote |
| Government | |
| • Lok Sabha Constituency | Anantnag - Rajouri |
| • MP | Mian Altaf Ahmad Larvi, JKNC |
| • Vidhan Sabha constituencies | 3 constituences |
| • District Magistrate | Ch. Mohd. Yasin, IAS |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,674 km2 (646 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,000 m (3,300 ft) |
| Population (2011)228 | |
| • Total | 476,835 |
| • Density | 280/km2 (740/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 8.1% |
| Demographics | |
| • Literacy[4] | 66.74% |
| • Sex ratio[4] | 893 ♀/ 1000 ♂ |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Dogri, English, Hindi, Kashmiri, Urdu |
| • Spoken | Gojri, Pahari |
| Time zone | UTC+05:30 (IST) |
| Vehicle registration | JK-12 |
| Major highways |  NH 144A |
| Website | poonch |
Geography
Poonch district has a total area of 1,674 square kilometres (646 sq mi). The district is bordered by Kulgam district, Shopian district and Budgam district in the east, Rajouri district to the south and Baramulla district and Haveli district, Pakistan administered Jammu and Kashmir to the north and Poonch district, Pakistani administered Kashmir to the west.
The district also de-jure includes the areas of Poonch Division under Pakistani control (Bagh District, Haveli District, Poonch District, Sudhanoti District).[8]
Administration
The district headquarters is in the Poonch city. Presently, district Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir is divided into six tehsils:
Each tehsil has its Tehsildar, who is the administrative head. The district is further divided into eleven. blocks: Poonch, Mandi, Loran Sathra Mendhar, Mankote Balakote, Surankote and Buffliaz.[9] The administrative head of each block is the Block Development Officer (BDO). Each block consists of a number of panchayats. Recently added One Sub Division(Surnkote), other is Mendhar. Poonch district has a total of 179 villages.
Economy
In 2006 the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Poonch one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640).[10] It is one of the three districts in Jammu and Kashmir currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).[10]
Politics
Poonch district has 3 assembly constituencies: Surankote, Mendhar and Poonch Haveli. On 19 November 2018, the assembly was dissolved by Governor Satya Pal Malik. The former MLA of Poonch Haveli is Shah Mohammed Tantray of JKPDP, Mohammed Akram of Indian National Congress represented the Surankote constituency and Mendhar was represented by Javid Rana of Jammu & Kashmir National Conference. Poonch district comes in Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha constituency. The present MP of Jammu–Poonch constituency is Jugal Kishore Sharma of the BJP.[11][12]
Demographics
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1901 | 102,011 | — |
| 1911 | 112,009 | +9.8% |
| 1921 | 117,759 | +5.1% |
| 1931 | 127,477 | +8.3% |
| 1941 | 140,446 | +10.2% |
| 1951 | 147,489 | +5.0% |
| 1961 | 154,532 | +4.8% |
| 1971 | 170,787 | +10.5% |
| 1981 | 224,197 | +31.3% |
| 1991 | 290,727 | +29.7% |
| 2001 | 372,613 | +28.2% |
| 2011 | 476,835 | +28.0% |
| † 1951 and 1991 populations are estimated Source: Census of India[13] | ||
According to the 2011 census Poonch district, India has a population of 476,835,[14] roughly equal to the nation of Suriname.[16] This gives it a ranking of 548th in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of 285 inhabitants per square kilometre (740/sq mi). Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 27.97%. Poonch has a sex ratio of 893 females for every 1000 males (which varies with religion),[14] and a literacy rate of 68.69%. The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes account for 0.1% and 36.9% of the population of the district.[17] The district is 90.45% Muslim.[14]
Religion
As of 2011[update], the proportions of different religions in the district were as follows: Islam (90.45%), Hinduism (6.84%), Sikhism (2.35%), Christianity (0.20%), not stated (0.15%), and others (0.02%).[14]
Only 8.1% of the district's population lived in urban areas. The proportions of religions in urban areas differed from the district as a whole, being: Islam (51.38%), Hinduism (32.82%), Sikhism (14.62%), Christianity (0.96%), not stated (0.20%), and others (0.03%).[14]
| Poonch district: religion, gender ratio, and % urban of population, according to the 2011 Census.[14] | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hindu | Muslim | Christian | Sikh | Buddhist | Jain | Other | Not stated | Total | |
| Total | 32,604 | 431,279 | 958 | 11,188 | 83 | 10 | 2 | 711 | 476,835 |
| 6.84% | 90.45% | 0.20% | 2.35% | 0.02% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.15% | 100.00% | |
| Male | 23,684 | 220,636 | 614 | 6,497 | 76 | 5 | 1 | 386 | 251,899 |
| Female | 8,920 | 210,643 | 344 | 4,691 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 325 | 224,936 |
| Gender ratio (% female) | 27.4% | 48.8% | 35.9% | 41.9% | 8.4% | 50.0% | 50.0% | 45.7% | 47.2% |
| Sex ratio (no. of females per 1,000 males) | 377 | 955 | 560 | 722 | – | – | – | 842 | 893 |
| Urban | 12,677 | 19,848 | 371 | 5,647 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 76 | 38,630 |
| Rural | 19,927 | 411,431 | 587 | 5,541 | 75 | 7 | 2 | 635 | 438,205 |
| % Urban | 38.9% | 4.6% | 38.7% | 50.5% | 9.6% | 30.0% | 0.0% | 10.7% | 8.1% |
Major clans and ethnicities include Gujjars, Bakerwals, Muslim Jats , Mughals, Syeds, Punjabis, Paharis, Kashmiris and Muslim Rajputs. mostly reside on the slopes of mountains. The inhabitants typically cultivate small plots of land, and own some cattle. Gujjars and Bakerwals (nomadic tribes) speak Gojri, apart from Kashmiris the rest of the population speak Pahari-Pothwari, Poonchi, Kaghani besides Punjabi and only a minuscule population may be speaking Dogri.[18][19]
Transportation
Air
The Poonch Airport is a non-operational airstrip located in Poonch which is mainly used by the Indian Army. The nearest airport is Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport in Srinagar which is located around 180 kilometres from Poonch town.
Rail
There is no railway connectivity to Poonch yet. There are plans to build the Jammu–Poonch line in the near future to connect Poonch with Jammu.[20] The nearest major railway station is Jammu Tawi railway station which is located 235 kilometres from district headquarters Poonch.
Road
Poonch district is connected to the summer capital Jammu by the NH 144A alongside other intra-district roads. It also has road connectivity with Srinagar through the picturesque Mughal Road. There are plans to upgrade the existing NH 144A to four-lane for faster movement of traffic.[21] A bus across the LOC, the Poonch–Rawalakot Bus has helped to re-establish ties across the border.
