Sometimes, the good news is inextricably tied up with the bad. Provisional data from Census 2011 indicate that India's population might stabilise soon with the slowing down of the growth rate. From 21.54 per cent in Census 2001, the decadal population growth fell to 17.64 per cent in 2011. In absolute terms, 2001-2011 is the first decade (if 1911-1921 is excluded) to add a smaller number to the population than the preceding decade. The other good news is that literacy rate climbed from 64.83 per cent in 2001 to 74.04 per cent in 2011. While literacy among males rose from 75.26 per cent to 82.14 per cent, an increase of 6.9 points, it rose among females from 53.67 per cent to 65.46 per cent, an increase of 11.8 points. Of the additional literates, women (110,069,001) outnumber men (107,631,940). The gap of 21.59 percentage points between men and women in 2001 now stands reduced to 16.68 points. The full census data, to be released next year, should provide policymakers a comprehensive view of where India stands on key indicators of socio-economic development, set against the goal of creating a more egalitarian and just society.
It is no surprise that the overall sex ratio (number of females for every 1,000 males) has shown improvement, from 932.91 in 2001 to 940.27 in 2011; a good part of this can be explained by the greater natural longevity of women and improvements in health care over the years. Lurking in the provisional population data, however, is a deeply disturbing set of statistics: a steep fall in the child sex ratio, which measures the number of girls for every 1,000 boys in the 0-6 years age group. The sex ratio in the 0-6 age group has been continually declining since 1961 but the fall from 927.31 in 2001 to 914.23 in 2011 is the worst since Independence. This trend and scale of decline in rising India is shocking. It can only be explained by the deadly application of the ‘son preference' on a growing scale — through the instrumentality of sex-selective abortion, or female foeticide. Attempts to tackle female foeticide through bans on sex-determination tests imposed by the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act have been largely ineffective. In his essay ‘Many faces of gender inequality' (Frontline, November 9, 2001), Amartya Sen drew on the 2001 Census data to highlight the fact that India split into two when it came to the sex ratio in the 0-6 age group: the South and the East had a decent ratio while the entire North and the West revealed a deeply disturbing picture. Even though the regional split concealed many micro-level variations, the contrast was striking. It would be interesting to see if the same regional pattern continues in the 2011 Census but the overall child sex ratio data, which throw sharp light on social mores, are depressing.
Keywords: Census 2011, population issue, Regulation and Prevention of Misuse Act, India's population
The social and ethical problem of enemical attitude towards the fair sex even in the most modern society may be attributed to the callous attitude of the governments that should make laws and enact them on a timebound manner to avoid the longterm crisis in the nearby future.
Female foeticide is a chronic problem which our country has been encountering since time immemorial.The traditional mindset of our Indian society which prefers male child over female has to undergo a massive transformation.Also the Govt should come down heavily on those involved in such barbarian practices.The govt should also take an initiative in organising programmes to educate the people in villages and rural areas.
just bringing in bans over determination of sex is not the way to control the sex selective abortions... a complete awareness needs to b created so that even after knowing that its a girl..parents give birth to it.
The slowing of the population growth rate in 2011 pegged at 17.64 per cent in the last 10 years which was growing at 21.64 per cent in 2001 is the most prominent finding of the provisional Census Report 2011. It is also certainly heartening to know that the literacy level of the Indians is increasing by leaps and bounds. While the literacy rate in Kerala is highest - 93.91 per cent, followed by Lakshadweep (92.28 per cent), the lowest is in Bihar (63.82 per cent) followed by Arunachal Pradesh (66.95 per cent). But our definition of literacy merely wants a person to read and write his own name and put his signature instead of the thumb impression. But this is not functional literacy but technical literacy for census figures. Certainly, we need to empower the marginalised sections of the society through educating them. English literacy will certainly be an added bonanza for the poor. Interestingly, the poorest of the poor have realised this thumb rule and therefore they choose to send their wards to English medium schools rather than vernacular schools. Although this may not be healthy for the growth of the Indian languages, the employment quotient forces the Indians to seek English education much to the chagrin of the satraps of regionalism. It is ironical that English remains a cementing factor in India even after the English have left us to our own destiny decades ago.
Should not a study be conducted before we conclude on the basis of mere statistical figures the reasons for the decrease in the child sex ratio? We all know how wrong statistics can be, and how useless it sometimes tend to be. Whilst it is the symptom of a problem, it is not a diagnosis.
We cannot link technologically processed statistics to the many subjectivities involved with issues like female foeticide or sex preference. i believe that such a study should be undertaken by an eclectic group - one consisting of not just statisticians, who, like IT employees, use just their heuristic knowledge and inclinations to draw conclusions from data, but also of social scientists, sociologists, literature people, journalists, and since this is India, representatives from local religious groups.
There might be many root issues which have to addressed, instead of simply enforcing a solution for what seems to be the surface problem. For example, how much has the government gone ahead to gender sensitivise educational books, and conduct gender sensitivity programmes in various institutions? The Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act is just a surface reaction to the problem, isn't it?
The preference for the male child has still a reality for even high class learned populace of India.It is sad but true.The declining child sex ration poses a greater challenge in front of us.
It is an hour that we need to wake up and see the real shine of 'Shining India'
Legislation, if not backed by social change, will do little to better our child sex ratio. The social position and dignity of women has to be in par with men; only than can we have real improvements here. Practices such as dowry, if not stopped, will continue to be major hurdles in this regard. Hence, the importance of social education can hardly be over-exaggerated to tackle this social malaise.
This we can purely say curse of technology,decreasing sex ratio in child group.To remove this curse women should come forward and take care of their child.Being the responsible citizens ,it is duty of each and every person to inform concerned authorities ,if in your neighbore there occurs the act of abortion or killing of female foetus.Strict steps should be taken by the government of states like Haryana,where decrease in sex ratio is most alarming.
Decreasing sex ratio in child group is alarming & is a sign of future social imbalance and related consequences. India has history of polygyny but data now indicating towards polyandry in future.
The skewed sex-ratio is sending alarm bells as in the long run it may lead to social tensions.The government and the social scientists should redouble their efforts to reverse this trend in order to save mankind as legal measures alone may not be of any help.
The increment in literacy is like a boon but decrease in child ratio 0-6 is like a curse. I want to know one thing what is the importance of that literacy if people are still discriminating between boys and girls. Education is the weapon fighting against female foeticide. and my question is are we using this weapon fighting against it. perhaps not, that why 927.31 girls in 2001 behind 1000 boys and 914.23 in 2011.
Can't we still we wake up? The child sex ratio is adversely decreasing. Every year sixty thousand children are going missing. DO the children have no rights? can't this be an alarm bell for the vote hungry, and vote-minded politicians that they start implementing the PNDT act and article 23 & 24 of the constitution sincerely. I think these people will enforce these measures strictly only when their own children would not get brides for themselves . please do need-full urgently to protect the rights of children especially of female ones.
Reduction in population growth rate and increase in literacy percentages are a good sign indeed.The two factors have a close bearing on each other.Clearly,what the Central and State governments are doing in this regard are bearing fruit.The laggard states also have to be pulled up.The drop in child sex ratio is most alarming.The Home Secretary himself admitted that efforts in this direction have been a disaster.This has to be improved.Child births must be registered immediately at every Health Center.Maternity facilities must be made free at these centers.This way all girl children can be 'accounted' for and future steps can be taken to track and monitor their welfare.Programmes sensitizing the public against female infanticide must be taken up on a war footing.Female infanticide has to be treated at par with murder.
Statistics is all about legerdemain. This season, 'Gender Equality' is offered to distract attention from the simple fact that millions of enslaved or starving Indians are classified as 'above poverty line'. When the choice is between corruption and food insecurity for the vast majority, this is the sort of thaumaturgy that pulls Padma Awards out of a hat.
If we wish to really enlighten the general public about falling female population and its adverse impact on our future as a decent society, we have to use very effective public campaign to discourage killing of female foetus. Secondly, we should also give very high cash incentives to 'daughters(s)only' families. We can provid for special scholarships and education facilities for the girl- child. The existing incentives given to the parents of the girl-child should be increased substantially and people should be proud of their daughters.
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