number of literate persons in Birni CD block was 83,928 (63.22% of the population over 6 years) out of which males numbered 53,591 (77.54% of the male population over 6 years) and females numbered 30,337 (45,00% of the female population over 6 years). The gender disparity (the difference between female and male literacy rates) was 32.54%. 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 Birni CD block in 2011, amongst the class of total workers, cultivators numbered 34,044 and formed 45.82%, agricultural labourers numbered 20,281 and formed 27.30%, household industry workers numbered 1,774 and formed 2.39% and other workers numbered 18,199 and formed 24.49%. Total workers numbered 74,298 and formed 43.85% of the total population, and non-workers numbered 95,153 and formed 56.15% 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, entertainment artistes and so on. Infrastructure There are 172 inhabited villages in Birni CD block. In 2011, 29 villages had power supply. No village had tap water (treated/ untreated), 168 villages had well water (covered/ uncovered), 163 villages had hand pumps, and all villages had drinking water facility. 26 villages had post offices, 5 villages had a sub post office, 11 villages had telephones (land lines)