stations. Agriculture Pakur is predominantly a hilly district. There is a narrow fertile alluvial tract bordering the Ganges Feeder Canal. While the hills stretch from the north to the south-east, the rest is rolling area, which is less conducive to agricultural operations than the alluvial strip. The net sown area of the district is around 28%. Thus though the district is predominantly agricultural it offers only limited opportunities to the people. Many people from the district migrate to the neighbouring districts of West Bengal during the agricultural seasons. In Hiranpur CD block 30.54% of the total area is cultivable area and 11.83% of the cultivable area is irrigated area. Stone chips industry Pakur is a centre of mining of black stone which is in great demand in the construction industry. There are four circles for mining of stone – Pakur, Hiranpur, Mahespur and Pakuria. Stone chips are mined in Hiranpur circle at villages such as Anguthia, Belpahari, Bhandaro, Bishanpur, Dharni Pahar, Dhowapahar, Fatehpur, Ganeshpur, Hathigarh, Harinduba, Jiyajori, Karanpura, Maharo, Mansighpur, Murgadanga, Pipaljoria, Pokharia, Pratappur, Ramakura, Rani Kola, Rajipur, Shiwlidanga, Silpahari, Suraidanga, Shaharpur, Talpahari and Vanpohira. Backward Regions Grant Fund Pakur district is listed as a backward region and receives financial support from the Backward Regions Grant Fund. The fund created by the Government of India is designed to redress regional imbalances in development. As of 2012, 272 districts across the country were listed under this scheme. The list includes 21 districts of Jharkhand. Education Hiranpur CD block had 15 villages with pre-primary schools, 85 villages with primary schools, 29 villages with middle schools, 2 villages with secondary schools, 3 villages with senior secondary schools, 32 villages with no educational facility. .*Senior secondary schools are also known as Inter colleges in Jharkhand Healthcare Hiranpur CD block had 2 villages with primary health centres, 11 villages with primary health subcentres, 1 village with maternity and child welfare centre, 1 village with allopathic hospital, 1 village with dispensary, 1 village with family welfare centre, 1 village with medicine shop. .*Private medical practitioners, alternative medicine etc. not included References Community development blocks in Pakur district