Low Fertility Rate Among Sikhs In Punjab

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Census shows Punjab may no more be land of opportunities

CHANDIGARH: The 2011 census strengthens fears that Punjab may no more be a land of opportunities, recording the lowest population growth among major north Indian states, at 1.3% per annum.

Despite this, Punjab has been able to arrest total fertility rate at 1.91, down from 2, as per the national family health survey 2007.

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Yet, it may also show that Punjab is not attracting migrants, indicating trouble for both farm and industry sectors. In fact, people might be leaving the state in large numbers either for abroad or within the country, Population Research Centre (PRC) professor AK Nanda told TOI here on Tuesday. The only other large states in the league of Punjab are Orissa and West Bengal at 1.3% growth rate per annum.

However, it is surprising that all these three states are studies in contrast. While Punjab remained an advanced state for decades, Orissa houses the highest number of poor in the country and West Bengal has seen the best land reforms, panchayati raj and family health programmes. All the three states have done well in controlling birth rates.

While Orissa and West Bengal may have seen a lot of efflux and less flow of Bangladeshis now, Punjab's case is interesting, Nanda said. Punjab has, however, been successful in controlling the fertility rate despite the fact that it has nearly 30% Scheduled Caste population, whose fertility is higher across the country. Even SCs have tried to keep pace with other castes, despite having a marginally higher fertility rate than others in the state.

A big contribution in controlling population seems to have come from Sikhs, whose total fertility rate was pegged at 1.89 as per the national family health survey, 2005-2006, as against Hindu women's rate of 2.05 children during their productive lifespan, the population expert said. One of the reasons of low birth rate in Punjab has been its social and women empowerment programmes, in force for decades and are better than most north Indian states, Nanda said.

Haryana has figured among the poorest performers as its population growth rate is 1.83% per annum, which is even higher than the national average of 1.6%. Being near NCR, the state has seen a lot of influx but its social indicators like infant mortality have been poor. Women empowerment has not just got off the ground amidst ascenario where "honour" issues have been denying women freedom and empowerment. One of the most surprising elements of population growth rate has been in Jammu and Kashmir at 2.2% per annum despite the fact that the state virtually does not have poor and illiterate.

An expert, refusing to be identified, said that high growth rate in population in the troubled state could be due to heavy presence of armed forces, which he calculated in millions. It was also felt that census this time was more effective as violence did not allow much census counting in 2001 and in 1991 in Jammu and Kashmir. Muslims have otherwise seen higher birth rate in the country, he said.

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-04-06/india/29387994_1_fertility-rate-growth-rate-punjab