Katihar - A District of Purnia Division

Katihar District of Bihar

Quick Facts - Katihar District

Area: 3, 057 sq. kms

Population: 23,92,638 (12,46,872 males, 11,45,766 females), Sex Ratio: 1000:920

Total Literacy: 35.29%

Head Quarters: Katihar

Sub Divisions of Katihar: Katihar, Barsoi, Manihari

Blocks of Katihar: Katihar sub division has 10 blocks, namely: Katihar, Korha, Falka, Barari, Sameli, Kursela, Pranpur, Hasanganj, Dandkhora and Mansahi.

Barsoi sub division has 4 blocks, namely Barsoi, Kadwa, Azamnagar and Balrampur, while Mainhar sub division consists of two blocks – Manihar and Amdabad.

Nearby Districts of Katihar: Kishanganj, Araria, Purnea and Uttar Dinajpur (West Bengal)

Nearby Towns from Katihar: Kishanganj (100 km), Darjeeling (160 km), Purnea (70 km), Katihar (110 km) and Araria (60 km)

Industries of Katihar: Jute and Paper mills

Main Crops of Katihar: Paddy, Wheat, Banana, Jute and Makhana

Major Rivers of Katihar: Mahananda, Ganges, Koshi and Righa

Member of Parliament Katihar: Nikhil Kumar Choudhary (BJP)

MLAs of Katihar: Tar Kishore Prasad (Katihar – BJP), Bhola Ray (Kadwa – BJP), Dulal Chandra Goshwami (Balrampur – Independent), Binod Kumar Singh (Pranpur – BJP), Manohar Prasad Singh (Manihari – JDU), Bibhasha Chandra Choudhary (BJP – Barari) & Mahesh Paswan (BJP – Korha)

Katihar is a big district and considered among the important districts of Bihar since a long time. Established on October 2, 1973 as a separate district after bifurcation from the old Purnea district, Katihar district is divided into three Sub-divisions and further divided into 16 blocks. Situated in north eastern part of Bihar, Katihar district is flanked by Purnea (north & west), Bhalgalpur (south), Sahebganj (south) and West Bengal (east). The district headquarters is quite developed and dotted with many big shopping complexes, departmental stores, educational institutes, government and private banks. Katihar Jn Railway Station is also a major railhead of Bihar and served by many trains including Rajdhani Express from Delhi and other express trains from rest of the country.

Quite surprisingly and sadly, apart from the district headquarters and sub divisions like Barsoi and Manihari, most of the part of Katihar is backward. People living in the remote areas are still facing the problem of electricity and proper road communication. In fact, Katihar district face the wrath of major rivers Ganges, Mahananda and Koshi every year during rainy season. Almost every year the district is hit by flood and property worth in crore gets destroyed. Because of rain the soil of the district become sandy that is considered not suitable for cultivation. Katihar has a small hillock in Manihari Block that is composed of nodular lime stone.

Because of less literacy rate, majority of the population is dependant on farming and agriculture. However, the massive flood badly affects the people who suffer huge monetary loss. Although Katihar has a Jule Mill, but is not alone enough to turn the fortune of the local people. The Centre as well as State government run many projects especially employment generating projects in the district. NREGS (National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme) is one of the recent project that ensure 100 days job for the people living in the village area. Sarva Shikha Abhiyan (SSA) and Mid Day Meal (MDM) are other government run projects currently working in Katihar.

Like other Surjapuri dominated areas, Katihar too is a culturally rich district and home to skilled artisans. The rural women of Katihar are highly skilled and stitches beautiful bed-sheets locally called as ‘Bhutia’. With the help of small needles and coloured threads the women make beautiful ‘Bhutia’ and express their creativity with impressive designs of trees, brackets, some figures, etc. You can also see the example of skilled artisans in the mud houses that are washed with blue colour and borders of windows to doors are exquisitely designed. Fairs and festivals are the essential part of the locals and all the religious festivals and special occasions are celebrated with great enthusiasm.