Chatra district forms a part of the Upper Hazaribagh Plateau, Lower Hazaribagh Plateau and northern scarp. Located at an elevation of about, the general slope of the district is from north to south. Red lateriteacidic soil predominates in an area that is primarily dependent upon rain-fed agriculture. Around 60% of the district is covered with forests. The district has a population density of 275 persons per sq km. Around two-thirds of the families in the district live below poverty line. In the extreme south of the district some portions of Tandwa CD Block are part of North Karanpura Coalfield.
Jharkhand is one of the states affected by Maoist activities. As of 2012, Chatra was one of the 14 highly affected districts in the state. 5 persons were killed in Chatra district in 2012, but Maoist activities, such as arms training camps and organisation of ‘Jan Adalats’ were on the decline. As of 2016, Chatra was identified as one of the 13 focus areas by the state police to check Maoist activities.
Geography
Location
is located at. It has an average elevation of 252 metres. Shaligram Ramnarayanpur CD Block is bounded by Banke Bazar, Sherghati and Dobhi CD Blocks in Gaya district of Bihar in the north, Kanhachatti CD Block in the east, Chatra and Kunda CD Blocks in the south and Pratappur CD Block in the west. It is located 30 km from Chatra, the district headquarters.
Area
Shaligram Ramnarayanpur CD Block has an area of 513.18 km2.
Gram panchayats
There are 28 panchayats and 270 villages Hunterganj CD Block. Gram panchayats of Shaligram Ramnarayanpur CD block/ panchayat samiti are: Nawadih Panari, Jabra, Meerpur, Nawadih, Daha, Gerua, Lenjwa, Genjina, Pandepura Khurd, Baluri, Auru, Khuntikewal Khurd, Dumrikala, Chakla, Karma, Karailibar, Jori Kalan, Salaiya, Joldiha, Dantar, Painikala, Kataiya, Tawagada, Kobna, Kedikala, Tihet, Uraili and Gosaidih.
Demographics
Population
As per the 2011 Census of India Shaligram Ramnarayanpur CD Block had a total population of 187,590, all of which were rural. There were 96,328 males and 91,262 females. Population below 6 years was 36,604. Scheduled Castes numbered 69,944 and Scheduled Tribes numbered 628.
connects Sonbarsha with Muzaffarpur, Patna, Gaya, Dobhi, Hunterganj and Chatra and terminates at its junction with NH 39 in Chandwa CD Block in Latehar district. NH 22 crosses NH 19 at Dobhi in Gaya district of Bihar.