As of the 2011 census, Bharmaur had a population of 39,113, with a population density of just 21 persons per square kilometer, making it one of the most economically and socially backward regions in Himachal Pradesh. Historically, the Gaddis have faced geographic and political isolation, which has contributed to their socio-economic deprivation. The economy of the region is predominantly agricultural, with sheep and goat rearing being common livelihoods. The process of development in Bharmaur began in the 1970s when the Gaddis were officially recognized as a 'scheduled tribe.' In 1974, as part of the Fifth Five Year Plan, the government introduced the Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP), which focused on bridging the developmental gap between Bharmaur and other regions of Himachal Pradesh. This initiative led to the designation of Bharmaur as one of the five Integrated Tribal Development Projects (ITDP) in the state, with priorities on transport, communications, agriculture, and community services. The most notable outcome of the ITDP has been the substantial development of infrastructure, including schools, healthcare facilities, potable water systems, roads, and electricity, especially benefiting villages along the river Ravi in the Holi and Khani areas. However, remote villages in the Tundah and Kugti areas still lack sufficient infrastructure. Socially, the region has seen significant improvements, such as a dramatic increase in literacy rates and a decline in child marriage. Female literacy rose from a mere 1.88% in 1971 to 65% in 2011, while gender inequality in education has also decreased. Traditionally, the Gaddis followed a subsistence agricultural and pastoral economy, focusing on foodgrain production and livestock. However, over the last three decades, the cultivation of pulses and other cash crops has increased, although crop cultivation is still reliant on traditional methods. Pastoralism, which was once central to the Gaddi way of life, has seen a decline, with only about one-tenth of households continuing the practice of transhumance.