Dard Pora is a village which is located in the Kupwara sub-district of Kupwara district in the state of Jammu & Kashmir, India. According to the Census 2011, the village has a total population of 3,329 persons, comprising 1,726 males and 1,603 females. The village consists of 549 houses, indicating an average household size of 6.06 persons per house. This relatively large household size reflects the traditional joint family structure commonly found in rural Kashmir, where multiple generations often live together under one roof.
Gender Demographics in Dard Pora
Dard Pora exhibits a well-balanced gender composition with males comprising 51.8% of the population and females making up 48.2%. The village has a sex ratio of 929 females per 1,000 males, which is slightly lower than the national average of 943 females per 1,000 males (Census 2011) but higher than Jammu & Kashmir’s state average of 889.
This healthy sex ratio is encouraging and indicates balanced demographic patterns. The near-equal distribution between males and females suggests stable community dynamics and positive gender balance, reflecting favorably on the village’s social structure.
Literacy Statistics in Dard Pora
Dard Pora has a total literate population of 1,470 persons, with an overall literacy rate of 44.16%, which is significantly below the national average of 74.04%, reflecting the educational challenges faced by border areas in Jammu & Kashmir:
- Male literate population: 934 persons
- Female literate population: 536 persons
- Male literacy rate: 54.12%
- Female literacy rate: 33.44%
The gender gap in literacy is substantial, with a difference of 20.68 percentage points between male and female literacy rates. While 934 males are literate, only 536 females have achieved literacy, indicating significant barriers to women’s education in the village. The overall literacy rate suggests ongoing educational challenges requiring comprehensive interventions and infrastructure development across the community.
Employment and Work Participation
Dard Pora shows the following employment patterns:
- Total working population: 944 (28.36% of total population)
- Male work participation rate: 45.54%
- Female work participation rate: 9.86%
The overall work participation rate of 28.36% is relatively modest, and there is a notable gender disparity in workforce participation. While 45.54% of males are engaged in economic activities, only 9.86% of females participate in the workforce—meaning 158 women out of 1,603 are counted as workers. This low female work participation rate suggests considerable barriers preventing women from engaging in formal economic activities, though it shows slightly better participation than some neighboring villages.
Age Structure and Child Population
The census data reveals important insights about the village’s age composition with a population aged 0-6 years numbering 716 persons (21.51% of total population). The child population represents more than one-fifth of the total population, indicating a young demographic profile considerably higher than the national average of 13.59% for the 0-6 age group. This implies continued demand for childcare facilities and primary education infrastructure.
According to the census data, the village has no Scheduled Caste population (0% of total population), reflecting the distinct social structure characteristic of the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley region.
Housing and Living Conditions
With 549 houses accommodating 3,329 people, Dard Pura has an average household size of 6.06 persons, which is higher than the national average of approximately 4.9 persons per household, reflecting traditional extended family arrangements.
| Indicator | Dard Pora | National Average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population | 3,329 | – | – |
| Household Size | 6.06 | 4.9 | +1.16 |
| Sex Ratio | 929 | 943 | -14 |
| Literacy Rate | 44.16% | 74.04% | -29.88% |
| Male Literacy | 54.12% | 82.14% | -28.02% |
| Female Literacy | 33.44% | 65.46% | -32.02% |
| Work Participation | 28.36% | ~39% | -10.64% |
| Male Work Participation | 45.54% | ~56% | -10.46% |
| Female Work Participation | 9.86% | ~26% | -16.14% |