Mixed results

THE JUSTIFIABLY NOTEWORTHY features in the provisional results of the population census of 2001 pertaining to a national reversal of the adverse sex ratio, increase in the rates of literacy and deceleration in population growth would have to be viewed against the persistence of large problem areas in different States. For instance, the rather small growth in the all-India sex ratio for the first time in a century to 933 females per 1000 males, six up from the last census figure of 927, is best contrasted with a decline in sex-ratios in as many as five major States in the last decade, or even the healthier ratio in 1901 which continues to remain a distant possibility. Thus, Kerala's impressive 1058 would have to be viewed against Haryana (861), Delhi (821) and Dadra and Nager Haveli (811). However, to point to the decline in the sex-ratio and the increase in literacy in Himachal Pradesh as conclusive proof against the broad correlation between higher female literacy and women's status would be to ignore the positive links between these variables in many States. The other disturbing development is a decline in sex-ratios in the child population in the 0-6 age-group from 945 in 1991 to 927 in 2001 in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Uttaranchal, Maharashtra and the Union territory of Chandigarh. It is significant that except the last three States, the decline also holds good for the all-age ratios.

On the literacy front, there has been a decline during 1991- 2001 in the absolute number of illiterates. The total figure is 31.96 million - 21.45 million among males and 10.51 million among females. However, any talk in terms of a decline in the number of illiterates does not amount to much unless this is viewed against the increase in the total population and new entrants to the tally of illiterates. On the contrary, the literacy rates among the population seven years and above for the country at 65.38 per cent appears to be far more credible. The corresponding figures for males and females are 75.65 and 54.16 per cent respectively; that is, three-fourths of the male population and more than half of the female population in the country are literate today. This also means a jump of 13.17 percentage points from 52.21 in 1991 to 65.38 in 2001. The increase in literacy rates among males and females are 11.72 and 14.87 percentage points respectively, thus reducing the gap in male and female literacy rates from 28.84 in the 1991 Census to 21.70 percentage points in 2001.

The addition of about 161 million persons during the past decade to India's 1991 population of 846,302,688 calls for more sober reflection. In other words, the meagre decline in growth rate is no cause for celebration even though the progress in these 10 years has admittedly been the slowest since independence. The halt is almost imperceptible, with the annual growth rate still above the 2 per cent mark. Here again, familiar grey areas continue to loom large while pockets of success continue to thrive and widen, but only gradually. Bihar has recorded the maximum increase in population growth, whereas Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh have registered the lowest growth. Uttar Pradesh continues to be the most populous State with 16.17 per cent of the country's population; followed by Maharashtra with 9.42 per cent and Bihar at 8.07 per cent. West Bengal happens to be the most densely populated State with 904 persons living per square km, followed by Bihar with 880 persons.

While the provisional totals put out by the Census Department would await further inputs both in terms of raw data and sociological analysis, it is certain that the shrill cries of nationalism and jingoism of recent memory would have to soon make way for a hardnosed approach to the mammoth task of nation- building.

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Section  : Opinion
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