the highest amongst all blocks of the district. Hindus constituted 22.32% of the population. In the district as a whole, Hindus constituted 44.45%, Muslims 32.74% and Christians 6.01% of the population. The percentage of scheduled tribes in the population of Pakur CD block was 15.48%, the lowest amongst all blocks of the district. In the district as a whole, scheduled tribes constituted 44.59% of the population. Around 85% of the tribal population was composed of Santhals. There are two primitive groups in the district – Mal Paharias and Sauria Paharias. Pakur CD Block covers an area of 221.71 km2 and has 36 panchayats, 155 inhabited (chiragi) villages and 34 uninhabited (bechiragi) villages. At the time of the 2011 census, 75.05% of the population spoke Bengali, 12.06% Santali, 5.03% Hindi, 3.58% Khortha, 1.50% Bhojpuri and 1.16% Urdu as their first language. Rural poverty 50-60% of the population of Pakur district were in the BPL category in 2004–2005, being in the same category as Sahebganj, Deoghar and Garhwa districts. Rural poverty in Jharkhand declined from 66% in 1993–94 to 46% in 2004–05. In 2011, it has come down to 39.1%. Economy Livelihood In Pakur CD block in 2011, amongst the class of total workers, cultivators numbered 10,360 and formed 9.13%, agricultural labourers numbered 22,460 and formed 19.79%, household industry workers numbered 9,835 and formed 8.67% and other workers numbered 70,817 and formed 62.41%. Total workers numbered 137,318 and formed 41.88% of the total population. Non-workers numbered 190,597 and formed 58.12% of total population. Note: In the census records a person is considered a cultivator, if the person is engaged in cultivation/ supervision of land owned. When a person who works on another person's land for wages in cash or kind or share, is regarded as an agricultural labourer. Household industry is defined as an industry conducted by one or more members of the family within the household or village, and one that does not qualify for registration as a factory under the Factories Act. Other workers are persons engaged in some economic activity other than cultivators, agricultural labourers and household workers. It includes factory, mining, plantation, transport and office workers, those engaged in business and commerce, teachers and entertainment artistes. Infrastructure There are 156 inhabited villages in Pakur CD block. In 2011, 69 villages had power supply. 9 villages had tap water (treated/ untreated), 138 villages had well water (covered/ uncovered), 112