Spatial and temporal variation of the aged in tribal dominance areas of North Eastern Region of India (A Geographical Perspective)

 

Dr. Markynti Swer

 

ABSTRACT:

This study aims at mapping the proportion of aged 60 years and above and ageing index in the Areas of Tribal Dominance of North Eastern region of India so as get an insight into the magnitude of population ageing as well as rural and urban variation in the region by a spatial- temporal analysis for the period of three decades from 1971 onwards.

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Population ageing currently is more advanced in developed countries (in terms of the proportion of all persons aged 60 and over), developing countries too are ageing, and at a much more rapid pace than has been the case in most developed nations because of faster declines in fertility.

Kohli found that India has been undergoing Demographic Transition with expectation of life on the increase and decline in birth rate. Therefore such dynamic changes do affect the status of the aged in the family and the community. According to him there is a wide variety in culture and in socio-economic situation and heterogeneous nature of population in the country, which also has been affecting status of the aged in India. He analyzed social problems relating to the aged like family support system, health in old age, social adjustments etc.¹

 

Singh (2001) describes ageing trends in Punjab and found the rate of growth of the 60+ population (2.81 per cent) in the state is higher than that for the general population (2.10 per cent). The rising number of older persons in India in general and in Punjab in particular is a matter of serious concern and social planning.²

 

The North East region is one of the most ethnically and linguistically diverse regions in India. Each of the states that form this part of  India has its own culture and tradition. Assam occupies the lush lowlands of the Brahmaputra valley and is the most densely populated. Arunachal pradesh occupies the densely forested  and sparsely populated foothills of the Himalayas. Meghalaya with its pine clad hills and lakes, is famous as the wettest region of the world. Nagaland has a rich war history that attracts tourists. The other three states- Manipur known as the ‘land of jewels’, Mizoram and Tripura make up a fascinating area consisting of green valleys, lush hills with variety of flora and fauna. About three quarter of the region is covered by hilly terrain and one quarter is made up of the four plain areas of Assam Brahmaputra and Barak valleys, the Tripura plains, and the Manipur plateau. Those in the thinly populated

 

 

areas are the people we now call “tribal”, and in the fertile plains and plateau are mainly the “non tribal” people who comprise more than 80 percent of the total population.³

 

Tribes are the people with special attachments to land, kinship ties, a unique culture, certain religious beliefs, particular activities or material possessions that differentiated and separated them from the mainstream. The tribes are in subordinate roles for they had less political power and less access to resources, technology and other forms of power.⁴

 

As compared to the general population, there appears to be more even distribution of males and females among the scheduled Tribes. In India, the sex ratio (female per 1000 males) of the population is favorable to males; the census further reveals that the sex composition among the tribal is relatively more balanced than that of that non-ST population. This suggest that female in the tribal society are not neglected; the social and cultural values protect their interest. Tribal population is increasing in numbers and the percentage of aged also increasing in numbers.⁵

 

North East India region is characterized by a pronounced ethnic, cultural, religious, and linguistic diversity. In the seven states of North East India, the percentage of tribal population varies significantly. In the states of Assam, Tripura and Manipur with relatively low relief the proportion of tribal population is relatively less accounting for 12.40 percent, 31.10 percent and 34.41 percent respectively (2001 Census). In Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland the percentages of tribal population to the total population of the respective states are much higher.

 

 

 

Table 1.1. North East India-Proportion of Scheduled Tribe in three decades (percentage)

Source: Census of India 1981, 1991 and 2001 Series-1 India Part 2 B (iii) PCA ST ⁶

 

 

 

Table 1.2. North East India-Proportion of Scheduled Tribes of each States (percentage)

Source: Population Profile, Census of India, 2001 ⁷

 

With a proportion as high as 94.50 percent (table 3.2), the tribes account for the highest proportion in Mizoram. The tribal population accounts for nearly 89 percent and 86 percent in Nagaland and Meghalaya. A majority of the population belongs to tribal segment in Arunachal Pradesh.

 

Birth and death rates in most states in the region has been showing decline over the years. Table 3.3 reveals that overall birth rate in Manipur and Tripura has decreased to 14.9 per thousand- the lowest in the region and much below the national average. States like Nagaland and Mizoram too have birth rates lower than the national average. Only Assam and Meghalaya show high fertility level with birth rates higher than national average. Even Arunachal Pradesh has birth rate lower than national average. A similar pattern is obtained with regard to death rate. Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura and Mizoram have death rates much below the national average. Only Meghalaya records a death rate higher than the national average.

 

Except Meghalaya, which is continuing to experience high natural growth on account of exceedingly high fertility rates, all other states in the region are now getting into low growth regime when compared to the national average. There has been profound decline in infant mortality rate all over the region except in Assam and Meghalaya. Demographic parameters have shown improvements in the region as a whole more particularly in two states of Tripura and Manipur closely followed by Mizoram and Nagaland. The situation however remains largely unchanged in Assam and Meghalaya.

 

Table 1.3. Estimated Birth rate, Death rate, Natural Growth Rate and Infant Mortality Rate, 2010

States	Birth Rate	Death Rate	Natural Growth rate	Infant Mortality Rate
Ar. Pradesh	20.5	5.9	14.6	31
Assam	23.2	7.2	14.9	58
Manipur	14.9	4.2	10.7	14
Meghalaya	24.5	7.9	16.6	55
Mizoram	17.1	4.5	12.5	37
Nagaland	16.8	3.6	13.2	23
Tripura	14.9	5	9.9	27
India	22.1	7.2	14.9	47

Source: SRS Bulletin, Sample Registration System, and RGI,              2011 ⁸

 

MATERIAL AND METHOD:

The necessary materials for the study have been collected from the secondary sources such as the age tables from census reports. Besides, data available from National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-1, NFHS-II and NFHS-III has been profitably used for macro understanding of the process of ageing in India and in the North-East India.

 

The old age proportion calculated on the basis of the proportion of the aged defined 60 years and above. The temporal analysis was confined to a period of 30 years beginning from 1971 to 2001, by analyzing ageing index as one of the indicators, as it is widely believed that the ageing process has been far more strongly manifested in India since the seventies. They are calculated as below:

 

Elderly Population = 60/64+ years

 

Ageing Index (AI)= (Elderly Population/ Youth Population)* 100

 

 

RESULTS:

Inter district variation in proportion of the aged

As many as 38 districts, cutting across state boundaries have been identified as areas of tribal dominance as they contain more than 50 percent of their population categorized as scheduled tribes. By and large these districts correspond to the hilly and mountainous tract. It is evident from fig. 2.1 that average proportion of the aged in areas of tribal dominance shows marginal decline over the years with a stable standard deviation and co-efficient of variation.

 

Figure 2.1: Areas of Tribal Dominance-Proportion of the Aged (Overall) **

 

Proportion of the aged males has been slightly higher on an average in all the years though the gap is reducing in recent years (fig. 2.2).

 

Figure 2.2. Areas of Tribal-Dominance: Sex Differential in Proportion of the Aged **

 

Fig 2.3. Areas of Tribal-Dominance: Rural and Urban Differential in Proportion of the Aged **

 

There exists a large gap in the proportion of the aged belonging to rural and urban component of the population with urban areas invariably supporting less aged people in their population compared to the rural population (Fig. 2.3). There is less inter district variation as far as rural population is concerned as evident from generally lower standard deviation and co-efficient of variation. The same however is not true of urban component that shows extreme inter district variation in the proportion of the aged in urban population.

 

The aged comprised over 6 percent in Naga hills in 1971 except the southern part, a few districts in Manipur Hills, and Tripura (fig. 2.4). The lowest proportion (below 4 percent) was seen in the central Arunachal Himalayas. In the remaining areas of tribal dominance, the proportion varied between 4 and 6 percent. The pattern remained constant with minor changes up to 1991. In 2001 however more areas experienced greater proportion of the aged and these included pockets in Arunachal Himalayas, a few districts in Naga Hills, a few in Manipur Hills, Tripura, and in Mizo Hills. Central Arunachal, western Naga Hills, and eastern slope of Meghalaya plateau represented areas with lowest proportion of the aged, often below 4 percent of the population.

                          

                                

Fig.2.4. Inter District Variation in Proportion of the Aged (Overall) **

 

 

2.1.1 Rural

Figure 2.5 reveal that a very large parts of the Northeast had greater proportion of the aged in its rural population in 1971 with 26 of the districts supporting over 6 percent of their rural population in aged category. However, in the subsequent decades, the proportion of rural aged has seen massive decline in many districts with bulk of these tribal districts containing 4 to 6 percent aged in their population.

The highest proportion of the rural aged (above 6.1 percent) was found in western and central northern part of Arunachal Himalayas, northern Naga Hills, Tripura hills and central Mizo Hills. Central Arunachal Himalayas and eastern Meghalaya plateau continued to support very few (less than 4 percent) aged in their rural population.

 

2.1.2. Urban

In contrast, figure 2.6 reveals that proportion of the aged in urban population in the tribal areas is showing increase over the years. More districts are recording increase in the proportion of urban aged since 1971. For example, 28 districts in 1971 had less than 2 percent aged in the urban population, which progressively declined to 14 districts in 2001. Number of districts where the aged constituted more than 4 percent of the total urban population however remained constant. Most of the districts with very low proportion of the aged moved from less than 2 percent category to 2-4 percent category. The spatial pattern has however shows remarkable consistency with Tripura Mizoram and eastern Manipur hills showing areas of greater proportion of aged persons in the urban population while Arunachal Himalayas, Meghalaya plateau, Assam Hills, Northern and western Manipur Hills and Nagaland containing far fewer aged in their urban population.

                                                

Fig.2.5. Areas of Tribal Dominance-Inter District Variation in Proportion of the Aged (Rural) **

                     

Fig.2.6. Areas of Tribal Dominance-Inter District Variation in Proportion of the Aged (Urban) **

 

 

3.1 Inter district variation in ageing index

As far as ageing index in the tribal area is concerned, the average picture shows a decline in the index up to the year 1991 but a substantial increase in the index by 2001. Inter district variation too has increased as the ageing index improved in 2001 (fig. 3.1).

 

Fig 3.1. Areas of Tribal-Dominance- Ageing Index (Overall) **

 

Figure 3.2 reveals the ageing index of males and females in areas of tribal dominance increased in 2001 after a declining trend. However, the gender gap too has increased since 1991compared to a more balanced male-female ageing index in 1971. In fact the gender gap was huge in 1991 and that the gap has certainly reduced in the year 2001.

 

Fig 3.2. Areas of Tribal-Dominance-Sex Differential in Ageing Index **

 

In the areas of tribal dominance the rural urban contrast in ageing index is quite striking. Ageing index for the rural population far exceeds that of the urban population consistently over the years since 1971 (fig. 3.3). However, there is also a consistent increase in the ageing index for both rural and urban segment of the population. The intensity of spatial variation in ageing index, particularly for the urban component of the population, is borne by high index of standard deviation and co-efficient of variation (fig. 3.3).

 

Fig 3.3. Areas of Tribal-Dominance- Rural and Urban Differential in Ageing Index **

 

It is evident from figure 3.4 that the spatial pattern in ageing in tribal areas of the region underwent significant changes in the four decades of demographic history. There has been an accentuation in the extent of spatial variation in ageing over the last two decades preceding 2001. In 1971, the ageing index was high (above 12.1) in the eastern Naga Hills, Manipur Hills and in the lone Tripura hill district. Arunachal Himalayas, Meghalaya plateau except the western part and south Mizo Hills had only 9 aged persons per cent of the child population. Higher ageing index was noticed in northern Naga Hills and Tripura in the year 1981. A larger number of districts witnessed a fall in the ageing index. The pattern as far as higher ageing index remained unchanged in 1991 though there was higher spatial variation in ageing index as evident from many districts experiencing decline in ageing index below 6 percent. With increase in ageing index in 2001, the highest ageing index (above 18.1 percent) was found in northern tip of Arunachal Himalayas. Most of Manipur Hills, northern and central Mizoram, a few districts in Naga hills represented areas with substantive increase in ageing index. The lowest ageing index (below 12) was located in central and eastern part of Arunachal Himalayas, southern and central Naga Hills, Meghalaya plateau and a southern Mizo Hills.

 

                        

Fig. 3.4. Areas of Tribal Dominance-Inter District Variation in Ageing Index (Overall) **

 

 

3.1.1. Rural

The highest ageing index (above 12.1 percent) of the rural population in 1971 was seen in Naga Hills, Manipur Hills, and Tripura. Meghalaya plateau represented an area of low rural ageing index of 6 or less which was joined by more areas with lower ageing index in 1981 including Arunachal Himalayas, southern Assam Hills, southwest Naga Hills and south Mizo Hills. Districts with higher rural ageing index shrunk further to include northwestern Naga Hills and Tripura only (fig. 3.15). With a rural ageing index as high as 18 or more, the index increased in more districts to include northern and western Arunachal Himalayas, pockets of northern Naga Hills, southern Manipur Hills, and northern Mizo Hills in 2001. Central Arunachal Himalayas, parts of Naga Hills, Meghalaya plateau, and southern Mizo Hills continued to represent areas with relatively low (below 12) rural ageing index despite overall increase (fig 3.5).

 

3.1.2. Urban

With the exception of the lone Tripura district, southern Manipur Hills and northern Mizo Hills (fig. 3.6) the urban population elsewhere had an ageing index below 9 in 1971 in areas of tribal dominance. The index was even lower than 3 in Arunachal Himalayas, Naga Hills, northern Manipur Hills, southern Hills of Assam, Meghalaya plateau and northeastern Mizo Hills. The pattern underwent only minor changes in 1981 and 1991.

 

Ageing index in urban population in tribal dominated districts experienced a general increase in nearly the entire region in 2001 with some areas, notably parts of Naga Hills, one district in Meghalaya, nearly the whole of Mizo Hills, one district of Manipur Hills and one in Nagaland recording an index as high as 21 or more. Arunachal Himalayas, Naga Hills, and southern Mizo Hills continued to have extremely low (less than 6) ageing index for the urban population.

 

Fig 3.5. Areas of Tribal Dominance-Inter District Variation in Ageing Index (Rural) **

 

Fig 3.6. Areas of Tribal Dominance- Inter District Variation in Ageing Index (Urban) **

 

DISCUSSION:

Going by the ageing process in the tribal areas of the North East region, it is clear that the process of ageing is manifestly less evident as the aged as a proportion of the total population is far below the regional and national average. Even ageing index is much lower except in 2001 when it has shown some improvement.

It is ironical that in 1971, some four decades ago the proportion of the aged was very high in the Naga Hills particularly the northern part, a few pockets in Manipur Hills and Tripura hills, but it declined in subsequent period due largely to enhanced fertility in these areas in the intervening period.

 

Significantly, the rural population contains a far greater proportion of the aged while the urban areas support fewer aged in comparison. This is in correspondence to regional and national level reality, which only proves that the rural population bears the brunt of ageing much more than the urban. This is true of the dominantly tribal areas of the North East India too.

 

The overall ageing index is increasing over decades though at a pace much slower than overall, but understandably rural areas had higher ageing index compared to the urban which are far more youthful in their age composition.

 

NOTES AND REFERENCES:

1      Kohli, A. S.  Social Situation of Aged in India, Man in India, 1998. Vol. 78 No 1 and 2 – March-June pp 165 – 167.

2      Singh, K.P.,  Ageing Trends in an Agrarian States – A case study of Punjab, Guru Nanak Journals of Sociology, 2001.Vol. 22, No.1, April p 17-19.

3      Raatan T.  History, Religion and culture of North East India. 2011.Isha Publication Delhi, , p10.

4      Sharma L.   Dynamics of Indigenous People in India. International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), 2009.p1-6

5      Census of India for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Economic Survey of Delhi 2007-2008, p338

6      Census of India 1981, 1991 and 2001 Series-1 India Part 2 B (iii) PCA ST.

7      Population Profile, Census of India, 2001. Office of the Registrar General and census Commissioner, India.

8      Sample Registration System (SRS) Bulletin, and Registrar General of India (RGI), 2011. Office of the Registrar General and census Commissioner, India.

        **Census of India, 1971,1981,1991 and 2001. Office of the Registrar General and census Commissioner, India.

 

 

Received on 03.08.2016

Modified on 02.09.2016

Accepted on 11.10.2016

© A&V Publication all right reserved

Research J. Humanities and Social Sciences. 7(4): October- December, 2016, 313-324.