Analyzing the Census Data 2001 and 2011 of Chhattisgarh to Know Some Facts

Ashok Pradhan* and Gulshan Deshlahara

School of Studies in Anthropology, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur

ABSTRACT:

This paper examines the initial results from Census 1991, 2001 and 2011. This paper discusses the decadal growth rate, decadal growth rate difference, sex ratio, literacy rate and its growth pattern at the state and district level of Chhattisgarh. The male-female differentials in literacy rates are examined in some details. Considering the decline in the number of illiterates in the state for the first time, the paper examines the nature of changes that have taken place. The district- wise distribution of the population, sex ratio and literacy rate is mentioned and the factors responsible for a slow growth in literacy therein would be considered. The decadal growth rate increased to 22.59% from 18.06%; sex ratio is increased from 990 to 991 and the effective literacy rate of Chhattisgarh was 64.66% in 2001 which improved to 71.04% in 2011 according to the data of the Census of India.

KEYWORDS: Sex ratio, Literacy rate, Decadal growth rate, Census of India

INTRODUCTION:

“No nation, no society, no community can hold its head high and claim to be part of the civilized world if it condones the practice of discriminating against one half of humanity represented by women.”  – Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

Chhattisgarh, located in Central India, has been carved out of Madhya Pradesh to become the 26th state of the Indian Union on 1 November 2000. It is endowed with huge mineral deposits and forest resources. Chhattisgarh also has the largest concentration of Schedule Tribes in the country. Its cities, especially Raipur are full of migrants from other parts of the state.

The state has tropical climate with hot summer and cold winters. Chhattisgarh, one of the states or UT of India having total sq km area of 135,191 has density of 189 per Sq.km which is below the national average density of India which figures currently at 382. If measurement is shifted from Kilometer to Mile, Chhattisgarh’s total area becomes 52,198 Sq mi having density of approximately 489 per Sq mi. A large part of the state comes under Vindhyachal range that divides the Indian subcontinent into two.

Sex ratio is the ratio of males to females in a population. The primary sex ratio is the ratio at the time of conception, secondary sex ratio is the ratio at time of birth, and tertiary sex ratio is the ratio of mature organisms. The human sex ratio is of particular interest to anthropologists and demographers.

Literacy is a reasonably good indicator of development in a society. Spread and diffusion of literacy is generally associated with essential trait of today's civilization such as modernization, urbanization, industrialization, communication and commerce.

For the purpose of census, a person aged seven and above, who can both read and write with any understanding in any language, is treated as literate.

The decade of the 1990s has seen noteworthy progress in the field of elementary education. There has been progressive improvement in overall literacy levels across the country.⁵The rate of development in the field of education is low still the state has committed to spread the knowledge and freedom of thought among its citizens, which is reflected in its policy. The overall literacy rate for the state as per census 2001 is  64.66%, with male literacy rate at 77.86% and female literacy rate at 55.28% but for 2011 it is 71.04%, with male literacy rate at 81.45% and female literacy rate at 60.59%.

The state has been providing free and compulsory education to its children until they complete the age of fourteen years.  The state government is emphasizing more on the educational interests of the underprivileged sections, particularly, the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes to raise their literacy standards.  The state follows a uniform system of school education i.e. the 10+2 pattern. Schools in Chhattisgarh are either run by the state government or privately by trusts and individuals.  The higher educational status of the state is not less encouraged. The state has 8 universities, 3 medical colleges and a number of professional colleges.  Students after completion of their +2 (class XII) prepare to go for higher study. They continue their study with the subjects taken in +2 level or switch over to professional degrees like engineering, management and medical.  The state is stepping forth with focused growth on education particularly at the primary and secondary levels.

As of 2001 Census, Indian union was divided into 28 states and seven union territories. The number of districts in India has increased from 466 in 1991 to 593 in 2001, 127 new districts formed during the last 10 years.⁴

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:

1. To compare the data of Census 1991, 2001 and 2011 and find out the change in the various districts of the Chhattisgarh state.

2. Search for the relationship between the sex ratio and literacy rate on the population of Chhattisgarh

3. To find the change in the data regarding population, decadal growth rate and decadal growth rate difference.

4. Watch out the difference for sex ratio in different districts for the decades 1991-2001 and 2001-2011.

5. Analyze the literacy rate of 2001 and 2011 and find out the difference.

METHODOLOGY

Our work is completely based on the data of Census of India 1991, 2001 and 2011.

ANALYSIS OF DATA

Table No. 1: Population and decadal growth rate of Chhattisgarh

DISTRICT	POPULATION (2001)	POPULATION (2011)	DECADAL GROWTH  RATE (1991-2001)	DECADAL GROWTH  RATE (2001-2011)	DECADAL GROWTH RATE DEFERENCE (1991 – 2001)	DECADAL GROWTH RATE DEFERENCE (2001 - 2011)
Chhattisgarh	20795956	25540196	18.06	22.59	-7.67	4.53
1 Koria	585455	659039	18.06	12.40	-7.67	-5.66
2. Sarguja	1970661	2361329	16.99	19.74	-13.16	2.75
3. Jashpur	739780	852043	12.71	14.65	-4.04	1.94
4. Raigarh	1265084	1493627	18.68	18.02	-2.31	-0.66
5. Korba	1012121	1206563	22.55	19.25	-12.28	-3.3
6. Janjgir Champa	1316140	1620632	18.55	23.01	-12.8	4.46
7. Bilaspur	1993042	2662077	13.86	33.21	-12.38	19.35
8. Kabirdham	584667	822239	13.86	40.66	-12.38	26.8
9. Rajnandgaon	1281811	1537520	17.70	19.82	-4.73	2.12
10. Durg	2801757	3343079	16.88	18.95	-9.92	2.07
11. Raipur	3009042	4062160	18.97	34.65	-11.17	15.68
12. Mahasmund	860176	1032275	8.72	20.00	-10.66	11.28
13. Dhamtari	703569	799199	19.72	13.11	-4.43	-6.61
14.Kanker(N.Bastar)	651333	748593	18.84	15.00	-37.96	-3.84
15. Bastar	1302253	1411644	18.28	17.83	6.28	-0.45
16. Narayanpur		140206		19.49		New District
17.Dantewada (S.Bastar)	719065	532791	15.56	11.90	-6.38	-3.66
18. Bijapur		255180		8.76		New District

Source: Census of India 1991¹; Census of India 2001² and Census of India 2011³

Table No. 2: District-wise total population, decadal growth rate and sex ratio with rank

Name of State and Districts	Population		Decadal Growth Rate		Sex ratio
	Total	Rank	Percent	Rank	2001	2011	Difference
CHHATTISGARH	25540196		22.59		990	991	+1
Koriya	659039	15	12.40	16	946	971	+25
Surguja	2361329	4	19.74	7	972	976	+4
Jashpur	852043	11	14.65	14	999	1004	+5
Raigarh	1493627	7	18.02	11	994	993	-1
Korba	1206563	9	19.25	9	964	971	+7
Janjgir – Champa	1620632	5	23.01	4	998	986	-12
Bilaspur	2662077	3	33.21	3	971	972	+1
Kabirdham	822239	12	40.66	1	1002	997	-5
Rajnandgaon	1537520	6	19.82	6	1023	1017	-6
Durg	3343079	2	18.95	10	982	988	+6
Raipur	4062160	1	34.65	2	980	983	+3
Mahasamund	1032275	10	20.00	5	1018	1018	0
Dhamtari	799199	13	13.11	15	1004	1012	+8
Kanker	748593	14	15.00	13	1005	1007	+2
Bastar	1411644	8	17.83	12	1011	1024	+13
Narayanpur	140206	18	19.49	8	New District	998	-
Dantewada	532791	16	11.90	17	1016	1022	+6
Bijapur	255180	17	8.76	18	New District	982	-

Source: Census of India 2001 and Census of India 2011

Table No. 3: State and district-wise literacy rate with difference

Name of State/ Districts	Literacy Rate			Literacy Rate
	Persons	Males	Females	2001	2011	Difference
CHHATTISGARH	71.04	81.45	60.59	64.66	71.04	+6.38
Koriya	71.41	81.52	61.01	63.09	71.41	+8.32
Surguja	61.16	71.23	50.88	54.79	61.16	+6.37
Jashpur	68.60	78.24	59.05	63.77	68.60	+4.83
Raigarh	73.70	84.17	63.25	70.16	73.70	+3.54
Korba	73.22	83.88	62.26	61.71	73.22	+11.51
Janjgir – Champa	73.70	85.59	61.72	65.94	73.70	+7.76
Bilaspur	71.59	82.77	60.12	63.51	71.59	+8.08
Kabirdham	61.95	74.99	48.94	55.15	61.95	+6.8
Rajnandgaon	76.97	87.19	66.98	77.21	76.97	-0.24
Durg	79.69	88.80	70.51	75.62	79.69	+4.07
Raipur	76.43	86.50	66.21	68.51	76.43	+7.92
Mahasamund	71.54	83.01	60.37	67.01	71.54	+4.53
Dhamtari	78.95	88.84	69.24	74.89	78.95	+4.06
Kanker	70.97	80.98	61.08	72.93	70.97	-1.96
Bastar	54.94	65.70	44.49	43.91	54.94	+11.03
Narayanpur	49.59	58.97	40.22	New District	49.59	-
Dantewada	42.67	52.69	32.88	30.17	42.67	+12.5
Bijapur	41.58	51.42	31.56	New District	41.58	-

Source: Census of India 2001 and Census of India 2011

The population of Chhattisgarh and its entire districts has increased in 2011 except in Dantewada due to division two districts South Bastar and Bijapur. The decadal growth rate (2001-2011) is decreasing for the districts like Koria, Raigarh, Korba, Dhamtari, Kanker, Dantewada and Bastar. All of these districts belong to tribal belt of Chhattisgarh.

When the data is analyzed while comparing the two decades 1991-2001 and 2001-2011; it is found that the decadal growth rate difference is decreasing for the districts Dhamtari and Bastar. For Dhamtari, the decadal growth rate and the decadal growth rate difference have decreased due to decrease in population. But in case of Bastar even though the population is increasing, there is minor decrease in the decadal growth rate for 2001-2011 in comparison to 1991-2001 but there is a huge variation in the decadal growth rate difference.

With regards to Sex Ratio also known as Gender Ratio, Chhattisgarh surpass average sex ratio of India. India’s average Gender Ratio increased to 940 from the past figure of 933. As of 2011, Chhattisgarh’s Sex Ratio stands out at 991 which were at 990 in 2001 census.

On one hand the sex ratio is decreasing for the districts like Raigarh, Janjgir-Champa, Kabirdham, Rajnandgaon and it is constant for district Mahasamund. But on the other hand it is increasing for rest of the districts except Narayanpur and Bijapur since they are the newly formed districts of the state.

Maximum increase of 25 in the sex ratio is seen in the tribal dominant district Koriya where the literacy rate increased from 63.09% to 71.41% which sounds good. Maximum decrease from 65.94% to 73.70% is seen in Janjgir-Champa district.

Overall in all the districts of the state the literacy rate of females is lower than that of males; also it is increased after one decade in many of the districts but in Rajnandgaon, Kanker, Bastar and Dantewada the literacy rate is decreased. These districts are actually the tribal concentration regions where the government is putting more efforts to raise the education level of the persons but then also the literacy rate is decreasing its one of the reason could be Naxalism problem.

The correlation between sex ratio and literacy rate of total population for 2001 is negative (-0.095); for males it is -0.147 and for females it is -0.016.

The correlation between sex ratio and literacy rate of total population for 2011 is negative (-0.181); for males it is -0.180 and for females it is -0.165.

FINDINGS:

1. The population of Chhattisgarh and its entire districts has increased in 2011 except in Dantewada due to division of the district into two districts i.e. South Bastar and Bijapur.

2. In 2011 there is a minor increase in negative correlation between sex ratio and literacy rate in comparison to correlation of sex ratio and literacy rate of 2001.

3. It is well known that education is considered as an indicator of development and increasing the gender equality but for Chhattisgarh when correlation is applied between sex ratio and literacy rate; negative correlation is found it means that education is not playing a major role in imparting gender equality.

4. The sex ratio of tribal concentrated districts are found to be more in comparison to other districts due to their culture and tradition although the literacy rate of this regions are comparatively low than other districts.

5. We think modern and literate societies are more gender biased than simple societies due to their patrilineal system and tradition.

CONCLUSION:

Literacy is regarded as one of the powerful factor for development. In tribal societies, there is no distinction between male child and female child therefore gender quality is high in their society which is seen in tribal dominant districts of Chhattisgarh.  The study shows that there is a slight negative correlation between sex ratio and literacy rate for 2001 census but has increased for census 2011. In order to increase the gender equality some other social measure should be taken along with education.

REFERENCES:

1. Census of India 1991, Office of the Registrar General, India.

2. Census of India 2001, Office of the Registrar General, India.

3. Census of India 2011, Office of the Registrar General, India.

4. Christophe Z Guilmoto, S Irudayar Rajan (2002) “District Level Estimates of Fertility from India's 2001 Census” Economic and Political Weekly Vol. 37, No. 7, pp. 665-672

5. Vimala Ramachandran (2003) “Gender equality in education in India” Gender and Education for All: The Leap to Equality ; United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization 2004/ED/EFA/MRT/PI/59

Received on 16.08.2011

Accepted on 28.08.2011

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