- Source: Poonch District, India
Poonch or Punch is a district of the Jammu division of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir in the disputed Kashmir region. 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.
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).
Administration
The district headquarters is in the Poonch city. Presently, district Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir is divided into six tehsils:
Haveli Tehsil
Mandi Tehsil
Mendhar Tehsil
Surankote Tehsil
Mankote Tehsil
Balakote Tehsil
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. 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). It is one of the three districts in Jammu and Kashmir currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).
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. Poonch district comes in Anantnag-Rajouri constituency. The present MP of Anantnag-Rajouri constituency is Mian Altaf Ahmed Larvi of JKNC.
The current MLAs of Poonch Haveli and Mendhar are Ajaz Ahmed Jan and Javed Ahmed Rana of the JKNC. While Surankote is represented by Independent politician Choudhary Mohammad Akram.
Demographics
According to the 2011 census Poonch district, India has a population of 476,835, roughly equal to the nation of Suriname. 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), 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. The district is 90.45% Muslim.
= Religion
=As of 2011, 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%).
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%).
Major clans and ethnicities include Muslim Gujars, Bakerwals, Jats, Mughals, Syeds, Punjabi Jats, Paharis, Kashmiris and Muslim Rajputs. mostly reside on the slopes of mountains. The inhabitants typically cultivate small plots of land, and own some cattle. Muslim Gujjars and Bakerwals (nomadic tribes) speak Gojri, apart from Kashmiris who speak Kashmiri the rest of the population speak Pahari, Poonchi, Kaghani besides Punjabi and only a minuscule population may be speaking Dogri.
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. 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. A bus across the LOC, the Poonch–Rawalakot Bus has helped to re-establish ties across the border.
Education
= Schools
=There are more government schools than private institutes.The major and well known educational institutions in the city include:
Christ School Dungus Poonch
Christ School Degwar
Nanak Academy, Purani Poonch
Sai School of Education
Government Boys Higher Secondary School Poonch, Near Poonch Stadium
Nagbani School Poonch
Government Girls Higher Secondary School, Sheesh Mahal
Islamia School Parade Poonch
Zamia Ul Uloom School
Zia Ul Uloom School
Anwar ul Quran
Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Surankote
Gallery
See also
1947 Poonch Rebellion
1963 Poonch Indian Air Force helicopter crash
Poonchi (disambiguation)
Moghul road
Pir Panjal
Poonch Division (Pakistan)
References
External links
Official website of District Poonch
2011 District Census Handbook
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- Jammu
- Daftar kode pos di India
- Srinagar
- Banjir Pakistan 2022
- Poonch District, India
- Poonch District, Pakistan
- History of Poonch District
- Poonch (town)
- Poonch
- Javed Ahmed Rana
- Poonch District
- 1947 Poonch rebellion
- Poonch Airport
- Military operations in Poonch (1948)
