[1] The Maoist insurgency started spreading around the mid-1990s and poses a big challenge to peace and development of the district.

It “is involved in abduction, extortion, extortion killings.” The banned organisation is active largely in the eastern part of the district mainly in Kamadara, Basia, Palkot, Gumla, Raidih, Sisai and Bharno police stations.

In order to counter the activities of the insurgents, arms, ammunition and security equipment have been provided in every police station.

The pat region is spread across Bishunpur, Chainpur and Ghaghra CD blocks.

The rest of the district occupies a part of the Ranchi Plateau with an average elevation of 2,300 feet.

[11] According to the 2011 Census of India, Raidih CD block had a total population of 71,443, all of which were rural.

The gender disparity (the difference between female and male literacy rates) was 17.59%.

[14] Scheduled Tribes numbered 706,754 and formed 68.94% of the total population of Gumla district.

Note: An attempt has been made to include all language groups each with at least 300 persons as their mother-tongue and only those groups with less than 300 persons as their mother-tongue in the census data are normally included in the “other languages” category.

Comparatively smaller language groups with 200+ persons as their mother-tongue are mentioned in the text.

[22] In Gumla district, only three CD blocks, namely Sisai, Bharno and Kamdara, have plain lands.

“The main economy of the village depends upon agriculture, forest produce, cattle development, and other labour activities...” About 70% farmers belong to the small and marginal category and have small plots scattered all around.

The fund, created by the Government of India, is designed to redress regional imbalances in development.