Saharwa

Saharwa (Hisar) सयाहड़वा
Village
Saharwa (Hisar) Show map of Haryana Saharwa (Hisar) Show map of India Location in Haryana
Coordinates: 28°55′27″N 75°44′23″E / 28.92427106456666°N 75.73974892089836°E / 28.92427106456666; 75.73974892089836Coordinates: 28°55′27″N 75°44′23″E / 28.92427106456666°N 75.73974892089836°E / 28.92427106456666; 75.73974892089836
Country	India
State	Haryana
District	Hisar district
Tehsil	Hissar-1 Tehsil
Population (2011)
• Total	4,804
ISO 3166 code	IN-HR
Website	haryana.gov.in

Strawberry fields in the deserts of Saharwa village

Strawberry fields in the deserts of Saharwa village

Saharwa (सयाहड़वा) is a village in Hisar tahsil and district in Haryana located on the Hisar-Isarwal road about 28 km from Hisar. It is situated at the boundary of the Hisar and Bhiwani districts. It also marks the onset of Thar desert. Saharwa village was established about 350 years ago in what was then Punjab province. The village has over last decade became known for strawberry cultivation, and it is now the second largest producer of strawberries after Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra.^[1] There is a small but locally revered temple of Khattu Shyamji. In 2013 the village was identified by the Geological Survey of India as having large reserves of gypsum.^[2]

Demographics

A total of 4804 people reside in Saharwa, divided into 905 families. 2525 residents are males, while 2279 are females, according to the Population Census 2011. The population of children with age 0-6 is 598 which makes up 12.45% of total population of village. The average sex ratio of Saharwa is 903,which is higher than the Haryana state average of 879. The child sex ratio as per the census is 987, higher than the Haryana average of 834.^[3]

Saharwa village has lower literacy rate than Haryana as a whole. In 2011, literacy rate was 70.38% compared to 75.55% in Haryana. Male literacy stands at 79.99% while female literacy is at 59.59%.

Jat is the major caste in Sharawa village. Schedule Caste (SC) constitutes 12.41% of total population in the village. The village currently doesn’t have any Schedule Tribe (ST) population. Out of total population, 2302 were engaged in work activities. 69.90% of workers describe their work as Main Work (Employment or Earning more than 6 Months) while 30.10% were involved in Marginal activity providing livelihood for less than 6 months. Of 2302 workers engaged in Main Work, 1152 were cultivators (owner or co-owner) while 179 were Agricultural labourers.^[4]

Amenities

Saharwa has got one of the oldest and largest rural water works in the state (established in 1971). It is a canal based water works facility spread over several acres of land. There are three chaupals/ paras (परस) (Badi, Choti,Harijan). Choti paras has been recently renovated. There is an old Ayurvedic dispensary (very poorly maintained ) and well maintained dispensary for the cattle. Saharwa is part of Talwandi Rukka Primary Health Centre and Mangali Community Health Centre. There are 3 Anganwadi in Saharwa. There is a Govt high school (Boys) established in the year 1971 and a Primary Girls only school also. There is 1 private school. A 11kv sub-station for the village is situated in periphery of the village. There are 5 ponds (Bharana, Kikrala,Mahendrana,Johdi,Thukhrala) in the village. The ones situated close to village are more of dirty water collections of huge size. A co-operative society and Sarva Haryana Gramin Bank Branch is located at the bus stand.

Picture showing traditional gateway at the entrance of Indian villages

There is small market to meet of the routine requirements at the bus stand. Located very close to the bus stand is local wine shop (ठेका देसी शराब). There is post office also (Saharwa is one of the 45 post offices of Hisar district with pincode 125001).^[5]

Economy

There are several brick klins in the village, existing since last 3 decades.^[6] Over last few years several agro-based industries like poultry farms, swine farms have also come up in the village. There is a small unit for manufacturing packaging material strawberry in the village. Several poly farms have also come up over the years. There is a very old cotton and oil mill towards the eastern border of the village. There are several workshops near the bus stand mostly related to vehicle repair and fabrication. Recently a new world calss dairy farm (Utsuk Dairy) has also come up in Saharwa. In year 2015, a ultra modern bio floc shrimp farm (DN Farms) was established. This is first of its kind in the entire North India.^[7]

Administration

Saharwa is part of Nalwa Chaudhry (Vidhan Sabha constituency) and Hisar (Lok Sabha constituency). Saharwa is part of Hisar Zila Panchayat (Ward 11) and Hisar-1 (Ward 22) block samiti. Brahm Dev, an influential farmer and pioneer of strawberry cultivation in the village is current Zila Panchayath member and Baby Jaybhagwan is the current Block samiti member from Shararwa. Local administration is through Panchayat (elected body) and Patwari (revenue officer).Panchayat is headed by Sarpanch (Current surpanch Mr.Ashwani Kumar).Panchayath of Sharawa has got 15 wards. Census village code of Saharwa is 06-080-00394-060932.

Climate & Geology

Saharwa has a continental climate, with very hot summers and relatively cool winters. Summer starts in April and lasts till the middle of October. May is the hottest month, with the maximum day temperatures in the 48 °C (118 °F) range. Hot winds, locally known as 'Loo', are strong and frequent from May to July. Intermittent dust storms are common. Hisar experiences a weak monsoon, from late June to September, with about 15 inches (380 mm) of rain. Winter starts in November and is mild and sunny, although temperatures may reach freezing on some nights. Most of the soil of Saharwa is sandy soil. Few acres of land especially on north-western side has clay soil. On the southern end of the village is an artificial lake created by over flow of the water of the BN Chakarbarthy (renamed Siwani Feeder)canal at first pump house.

Transportation

Saharwa is well connected by bitumen roads. It lies at the junction of Siwani-Tosham road and Hisar-Isarwal road. There is hourly bus service from Hisar. The nearest major railway station is Siwani (15 km away) and Hisar (28 km).

Signboard at entrance of village depicting distance from Hisar

References