were rural and 49,777 were urban. There were 133,345 (52%) males and 124,692 (48%) females. Population in the age range 0–6 years was 49,452. Scheduled Castes numbered 49,252 (19.09%) and Scheduled Tribes numbered 31,267 (12.12%). Census towns in Giridih CD block were (2011 figures in brackets): Telodih (6,970), Sirsia (7,181), Maheshmunda (7,389), Akdoni Khurd (6,321), Dandidih (7,769), Paratdih (8,854) and Pertodih (5,293). Literacy census the total number of literate persons in Giridih CD block was 131,865 (63.22% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 80,135 (74.29% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 51,730 (51.36% of the female population over 6 years). The gender disparity (the difference between female and male literacy rates) was 22.93%. census, literacy in Giridih district was 63.14% Literacy in Jharkhand was 66.41% in 2011. Literacy in India in 2011 was 74.04%. See also – List of Jharkhand districts ranked by literacy rate Language and religion Khortha is the main spoken language. Hindi is the official language. Urdu and Santali are also spoken. Rural poverty 40-50% of the population of Giridih district were in the BPL category in 2004–2005, being in the same category as Godda, Koderma and Hazaribagh 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 Giridih CD block in 2011, amongst the class of total workers, cultivators numbered 12,706 and formed 18.11%, agricultural labourers numbered 15,571 and formed 22.20%, household industry workers numbered 2,706 and formed 3.86% and other workers numbered 39,159 and formed 55.83%. Total workers numbered 70,142 and formed 33.68% of the rural population, and non-workers numbered 138,118 and formed 66.32% of the 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,