# Faridkot district

Faridkot district is a district lying in the South-Western part of Punjab, India with Faridkot city as the district headquarters.

## Etymology

The district is named after its headquarters, Faridkot city, which in turn is named in the honor of Baba Farid, who was a Sufi saint and a Muslim missionary. The town of Faridkot was founded during the 13th century as Mokalhar by Raja Mokalsi, the grandson of Rai Munj, a Bhatti Chief of Bhatnair, Rajasthan. According to popular folklore, the Raja renamed Mokalhar to Faridkot after Baba Farid paid a visit to the town. It remained the capital during the reign of Mokalsi's son Jairsi and Wairsi.

## History

The region was a self-governing princely state during the British Raj period. Prior to independence, a large part of the district was under the rule of the Maharaja of Faridkot and later it became a part of the Patiala & East Punjab States Union (PEPSU ) in 1948. Before independence the Muslim population was 35% mainly from Jat, Mochi, Arain and Tarkhan castes who migrated to Pakistan and settled mainly in Okara, Kasur, Pakpattan and Bahawalnagar Districts. Faridkot was carved out as a separate district on 7 August 1972 out of the areas of erstwhile Bathinda District (Faridkot Tehsil) and Ferozepur District (Moga and Muktsar Tehsils). Further, in November 1995 the Faridkot District was trifurcated when two of its subdivisions viz. Muktsar and Moga were given the status of independent districts.

## Government body

Prior to independence large part of the district was under the princely rule of Sikh Maharaja of Faridkot and later it became part of the Patiala & East Punjab States Union (PEPSU ) in 1948. Faridkot was carved out as a separate district on 7 August 1972 out of the areas of Bathinda District (Faridkot Tehsil) and Ferozepur District (Moga and Muktsar Tehsils). However, in November 1995, the Faridkot District was trifurcated when two of its subdivisions viz Muktsar and Moga were given the status of independent districts.
Faridkot district is surrounded by district Ferozepur in the North-West, Muktsar in the South-West, Bathinda in the South, and Moga in the West. The District covers an area of 1469 km$^2$ which is 2.92% of the total area of the State and accommodates a population of 552,466, which is 2.27% of the total population of the State. It has three Subdivisions/ Tehsils namely Faridkot, Kotkapura and Jaito and a Sub Tehsil namely Sadiq comprising a total of 171 villages. Faridkot District has two development blocks namely Faridkot and Kotkapura.
In 2020, Faridkot has been made new police division. Earlier, Faridkot was part of Ferozepur police division. Moga and Mukatsar districts were also attached with Faridkot police division.

## Politics

| No. | Constituency | Name of MLA | Party | Bench |
| 87 | Faridkot | Gurdit Singh Sekhon | Aam Aadmi Party | Government |
| 88 | Kotkapura | Kultar Singh Sandhwan | Aam Aadmi Party | Government |
| 89 | Jaitu (SC) | Amolak Singh | Aam Aadmi Party | Government |

## Overview

The Faridkot district contains 2 Cities Faridkot, Kotkapura. More than 7 towns/villages are quite notable in the Faridkot area such as Jaitu, Bajakhana, Panjgarain Kalan, Deep Singh Wala, Golewala, Jhok Sarkari, Doad, Ghugiana, Sadiq, Chand Bhan, etc. Faridkot is a hub for premier educational institutions. North India's only Medical University i.e. Baba Farid University of Health Sciences is also named after Baba Farid besides Guru Gobind Singh Medical College, Engineering and Dental Colleges.
* Entrance of Farmer's House Faridkot
* Foundation Stone of Harindra - Civil Hospital Faridkot
* Foundation Stone of Harindra - Civil Hospital Faridkot
* Foundation stone of Govt. School of Bargari (Faridkot)
* Entrance of District Court Faridkot
* Foundation Stone of Davies Model Agricultural Farm and Farmers's House Faridkot
* Govt. Brijindra College Faridkot
* Govt.Brijindra College Faridkot

## List of villages

* Ahel
* Arayianwala Kalan
* Arayianwala Khurd
* Aulakh
* Bageana
* Bajakhana
* Bargari
* Beguwala
* Behbal kalan
* Behbal khurd
* Bhag Singh wala
* Bhagthala Kalan
* Bhagthala Khurd
* Bhairon-Ki-Bhatti
* Bhana
* Bihlewala
* Bholuwala
* Bir Bholuwala
* Bir Chahal
* Bir Sikhanwala
* Burj Jwahar singh
* Burj Masta
* Buttar
* Chahal
* Chak Dhudi
* Chak Kalyan
* Chak Sahu
* Chak Seman
* Chak Shama
* Chambeli
* Chand baja
* Chaina
* Chet Singh Wala
* Chugewala
* Dabrikhana
* Daggo Romana
* Dallewala
* Dana Romana
* Dawareana
* Deep Singh Wala
* Deviwala
* Dhab Sher Singhwala
* Dhaipai
* Dhilwan Kalan
* Dhilwan Khurd
* Dhimanwali
* Dhudi
* Dhurkot
* Dod
* Faridkot (Rural)
* Ghaniewala
* Ghoniwala
* Ghuduwala
* Ghugiana
* Ghumiara
* Gondara
* Golewala
* Gurusar
* Hadialeana
* Hari Nau
* Hariewala
* Hassan Bhatti
* Jalaleana
* Jand Sahib
* Jandwala
* Janerian
* Jeonwala
* Jhakhar Wala
* Jhariwala
* Jhok Sarkari
* Jhotiwala
* Kabalwala
* Kamiana
* Kanianwali
* Kaler
* Kauni
* Khara
* Khemuana
* Khilchi
* Kingra
* Koharwala
* Kotha Guru
* Kothe Kehar Singh
* Kot Sukhia
* Lambwali
* Malla
* Matta
* Machaki Kalan
* Machaki Khurd
* Machaki Mal Singh
* Marahar
* Mallewala
* Mandwala
* Mani Singh Wala
* Maur
* Mehmuana
* Midu Maan
* Mishriwala
* Moranwali
* Mumara
* Nangal
* Naraingarh
* Nathalwala
* Nathewala
* Pakhi Kalan
* Pakhi Khurd
* Pakka
* Panjgrain Kalan
* Pehluwala
* Phide Kalan
* Phide Khurd
* Pindi Balochan
* Pipli (Village)
* Qila Nau
* Rajowala
* Ratti Rori
* Rupianwala
* Sadhanwala
* Sadhuwala
* Sadiq
* Saideke
* Sandhwan
* Sangatpura
* Sango Romana
* Sangrahoor
* Sarawan
* Sher Singh Wala
* Sibbian
* Sikhanwala
* Simrewala
* Sirsari
* Sukhanwala
* Tehna
* Thara
* Virewala Kalan
* Virewala Khurd
* Wander Jatana
* Wara Daraka
* Rorikapura

## Demographics

According to the 2011 census Faridkot district has a population of 617,508, roughly equal to the nation of Solomon Islands or the US state of Vermont. This gives it a ranking of 519th in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of 424 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,100/sq mi). Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 12.18%. Faridkot has a sex ratio of 889 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 70.6%. Scheduled Castes made up 38.92% of the population.

### Gender

The table below shows the sex ratio of Faridkot district through decades.
Sex ratio of Faridkot district :
| Census year | Ratio |
| 2011 | 890 |
| 2001 | 883 |
| 1991 | 883 |
| 1981 | 879 |
| 1971 | 866 |
| 1961 | 849 |
| 1951 | 856 |
The table below shows the child sex ratio of children below the age of 6 years in the rural and urban areas of Faridkot district.
Child sex ratio of children below the age of 6 years in Faridkot district :
| Year | Urban | Rural |
| 2011 | 844 | 854 |
| 2001 | 797 | 820 |

### Religions

Religion in Faridkot district (2011) :
| Religion | Religion | Percent | Percent |
| Sikhism | Sikhism | 76.08% | 76.08% |
| Hinduism | Hinduism | 22.89% | 22.89% |
| Islam | Islam | 0.51% | 0.51% |
| Other or not stated | Other or not stated | 0.52% | 0.52% |
The table below shows the population of different religions in absolute numbers in the urban and rural areas of Faridkot district. Note:- The separation of Moga and Muktsar district from Faridkot in 1995 caused significant changes in the population numbers after that year.
Absolute numbers of different religious groups in Faridkot district :
| Religion | Urban (2011) | Rural (2011) | Urban (2001) | Rural (2001) | Urban (1991) | Rural (1991) |
| Hindu | 1,12,625 | 28,738 | 97,765 | 21,937 | 1,97,618 | 98,506 |
| Sikh | 1,00,593 | 3,69,196 | 93,290 | 3,33,814 | 1,42,770 | 9,87,591 |
| Muslim | 1,503 | 1,622 | 729 | 1,010 | 447 | 4,697 |
| Christian | 743 | 484 | 543 | 396 | 1,181 | 1,209 |
| Other religions | 1,587 | 417 | 1,244 | 164 | 15,538 | 656 |
Religious groups in Faridkot District (British Punjab province era) :
| Religious group | 1881 | 1881 | 1891 | 1891 | 1901 | 1901 | 1911 | 1911 | 1921 | 1921 | 1931 | 1931 | 1941 | 1941 |
| Religious group | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % |
| Sikhism | 40,187 | 41.42% | 47,164 | 41% | 52,721 | 42.21% | 55,397 | 42.52% | 66,658 | 44.24% | 92,880 | 56.51% | 115,070 | 57.74% |
| Islam | 29,035 | 29.92% | 34,376 | 29.88% | 35,996 | 28.82% | 37,105 | 28.48% | 44,813 | 29.74% | 49,912 | 30.37% | 61,352 | 30.79% |
| Hinduism | 27,463 | 28.3% | 33,079 | 28.75% | 35,778 | 28.64% | 37,377 | 28.69% | 38,610 | 25.63% | 20,855 | 12.69% | 21,814 | 10.95% |
| Jainism | 349 | 0.36% | 408 | 0.35% | 406 | 0.33% | 409 | 0.31% | 473 | 0.31% | 550 | 0.33% | 800 | 0.4% |
| Christianity | 0 | 0% | 13 | 0.01% | 11 | 0.01% | 6 | 0% | 107 | 0.07% | 167 | 0.1% | 247 | 0.12% |
| Zoroastrianism | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Buddhism | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Judaism | — | — | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Others | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Total population | 97,034 | 100% | 115,040 | 100% | 124,912 | 100% | 130,294 | 100% | 150,661 | 100% | 164,364 | 100% | 199,283 | 100% |
| Note1: British Punjab province era district borders are not an exact match in the present-day due to various bifurcations to district borders — which since created new districts — throughout the historic Punjab Province region during the post-independence era that have taken into account population increases. Note2: British Punjab province era figures are for Faridkot State. |||||||||||||||

### Languages

* Punjabi (91.79%)
* Hindi (6.91%)
* Others (1.3%)
At the time of the 2011 census, 91.79% of the population spoke Punjabi and 6.91% Hindi as their first language.

## Health

The number of registered doctors in the Faridkot district were 1,345 and 2,997 registered nurses, as of year 2018.
The table below shows the data from the district nutrition profile of children below the age of 5 years, in Fridkot, as of year 2020.
District nutrition profile of children under 5 years of age in Fridkot, year 2020 :
| Indicators | Number of children (<5 years) | Percent (2020) | Percent (2016) |
| Stunted | 13,534 | 28% | 35% |
| Wasted | 4,931 | 10% | 23% |
| Severely wasted | 1,328 | 3% | 11% |
| Underweight | 9,973 | 21% | 27% |
| Overweight/obesity | 1,313 | 3% | 1% |
| Anemia | 32,889 | 76% | 61% |
| Total children | 48,111 | | |
The table below shows the district nutrition profile of Fridkot of women between the ages of 15 and 49 years, as of year 2020.
District nutritional profile of Fridkot of women of 15–49 years, in 2020 :
| Indicators | Number of women (15–49 years) | Percent (2020) | Percent (2016) |
| Underweight (BMI <18.5 kg/m^2) | 31,663 | 16% | 11% |
| Overweight/obesity | 76,581 | 39% | 24% |
| Hypertension | 50,788 | 26% | 12% |
| Diabetes | 29,369 | 15% | NA |
| Anemia (non-preg) | 123,249 | 63% | 43% |
| Anemia (preg) | 6,298 | 58% | 27% |
| Total women (preg) | 10,907 | | |
| Total women | 194,368 | | |
The table below shows the current use of family planning methods by currently married women between the ages of 15 and 49 years, in Faridkot district.
Family planning methods used by women between the ages of 15 and 49 years, in Faridkot district :
| Method | Total (2015–16) | Urban (2015–16) | Rural (2015–16) |
| Female sterilization | 48.1% | 46.6% | 48.7% |
| Male sterilization | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.2% |
| IUD/PPIUD | 11.1% | 11.8% | 10.9% |
| Pill | 2.4% | 2.2% | 2.5% |
| Condom | 12.1% | 19.6% | 9.5% |
| Any modern method | 73.9% | 80.1% | 71.7% |
| Any method | 81.5% | 85.0% | 80.3% |
| Total unmet need | 5.6% | 2.3% | 6.8% |
| Unmet need for spacing | 4.1% | 1.4% | 5.1% |
The table below shows the number of road accidents and people affected in Gurdaspur district by year.
Road accidents and people affected in Gurdaspur district by year :
| Year | Accidents | Killed | Injured | Vehicles Involved |
| 2022 | 140 | 103 | 70 | 180 |
| 2021 | 116 | 89 | 52 | 118 |
| 2020 | 135 | 107 | 69 | 118 |
| 2019 | 134 | 106 | 62 | 128 |