over 6 years) and females numbered 19,428 (45.76% of the female population over 6 years). The gender disparity (the difference between female and male literacy rates) was 28.88%. See also – List of West Bengal districts ranked by literacy rate Language and religion In the 2001 census, Bengali was the mother tongue for 76.6% of the population of the district, followed by Santali 11.4%, Kurmali Thar 7.7%, Hindi 1.9%, Urdu 1.1%, Khortha/ Khotta 0.3%, Telugu 0.2%, Odia 0.1%, Mundari 0.1% and other languages 0.4%. There is a tribal presence in many of the CD blocks of the district. Santali was spoken by around 14% of the population of the earlier Manbhum district. Some people also speak Mundari or Kolarian languages such as Kurmali, Mundari and the languages of the Bhumij or Mahli communities. The West Bengal Official Language (Second Amendment) Bill, 2012, included Hindi, Santhali, Odiya and Punjabi as official languages if it is spoken by a population exceeding 10 per cent of the whole in a particular block or sub-division or a district. Subsequently, Kamtapuri, Rajbanshi and Kurmali were also included in the list of minority languages by the West Bengal Official Language (Second Amendment) Bill, 2018. However, as of 2020, there is no official / other reliable information about the areas covered. In the 2011 census Hindus numbered 53,699 and formed 55.27% of the population in the Manbazar II CD Block. Muslims numbered 1,323 and formed 1.36% of the population. Christians numbered 61 and formed 0.06% of the population. Others numbered 42,081 and formed 43.31% of the population. Others include Addi Bassi, Marang Boro, Santal, Saranath, Sari Dharma, Sarna, Alchchi, Bidin, Sant, Saevdharm, Seran, Saran, Sarin, Kheria, and other religious communities. Rural Poverty According to the Rural Household Survey in 2005, 32.85% of total number of families were BPL families in Purulia district. According to a World Bank report, as of 2012, 31-38% of the population in Purulia, Murshidabad and Uttar Dinajpur districts were below poverty level, the highest among the districts of West Bengal, which had an average 20% of the population below poverty line. Economy Livelihood In the Manbazar II CD block in 2011, among the class of total workers, cultivators numbered 13,866 and formed 26.93%, agricultural labourers numbered 32,070 and formed 62.28%, household industry workers numbered 935 and formed 1.82% and other workers numbered 4,621 and formed 8.97%. Total workers numbered 51,492 and formed 52.99%