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Journal Article

On the demography of the 1991 census.

TL;DR: An analysis of preliminary data from the 1991 census of India is presented in this article, showing that India's true population size is very much larger than is indicated by the census and the post-enumeration check results are a poor indicator of the true level of underenumeration.
Abstract: An analysis of preliminary data from the 1991 census of India is presented. "Indias true population size is very much larger than is indicated by the census--and the post-enumeration check results are a poor indicator of the true level of underenumeration. While there has probably been considerable fertility and mortality decline in India during the 1980s it is much less certain that the last decade has witnessed any reduction in the rate of population growth. A picture of constant rate of population growth between 1971-81 and 1981-91 is far more convincing--coupled with a higher rate of all-India growth during the 1961-71 decade." The author also suggests that it is unlikely that the relative mortality experienced by females has deteriorated. (EXCERPT)
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the relationship between fertility decline in India and the evidence of an increase in sex bias and found that fertility decline led to a reduction in excess mortality of adult females.
Abstract: This study examines the relationship between fertility decline in India and the evidence of an increase in sex bias. Data were obtained from the 1981 and 1991 Registrar General of India and from Khanna re-study villages in the Punjab (moderate-fertility population) and in Kerala (low-fertility population) in 1991. Total fertility declined by 20% during 1981-91. The number of sons desired by women who were childless declined by only 7.4%. Among the Khanna sample reduced fertility led to a decline in excess mortality of women from 9% to zero when the sex bias was unchanged and fertility level varied. When fertility was kept constant at a low level and the sex bias varied excess mortality of women increased from zero to 25%. The findings suggest that changes in birth distribution by parity outweigh intensified sex bias at lower parities. The sex ratios of children during 1981-91 rose in all states including the south where the sex ratio has generally been more balanced. Data indicate that over a million additional girls aged 0-6 years were missing during 1981-91. Declining fertility led to a reduction in excess mortality of adult females. The sex ratios of age-specific deaths remained constant during 1979-81 and 1990-91. The author estimates how much the sex ratio of children can be attributed to sex-selective abortions. During 1981-91 about 4.2 million excess postnatal deaths occurred among girls or 4 excess postnatal deaths for each excess prenatal death among girls (1 million aborted female fetuses). This suggests that sex-selective abortion accounted for the missing girls. The sharpest rise in the sex ratio at birth with parity was in Punjab for 1990-91. The model of the relationship between the decline in total fertility in each major state with a change in the sex ratios of children during 1981-91 indicated that the sex ratio increased more in northern states with less fertility decline.

373 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
29 Jul 2011-Science
TL;DR: The specificities in the demographic transition in India are investigated in terms of various demographic parameters and the lack of homogeneity in the transition across states in the country.
Abstract: This paper discusses emerging demographic patterns and its opportunities and challenges for India. It investigates the specificities in the demographic transition in terms of various demographic parameters and the lack of homogeneity in the transition across states in the country. It presents some opportunities that can arise from having demographic changes, particularly the demographic dividend and interstate migration to overcome labor shortage in some parts. At the same time, there are serious challenges in the form of enhancing human capital development, addressing the issue of skewed sex ratio, and the possible rise in social and political unrest and conflict.

131 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is found that male preference in different cultures does not necessarily lead to sex-selective abortion among mothers born in India and living in Britain, which is inconsistent with previous suggestions that Asian populations have a higher "natural" sex ratio at birth.
Abstract: Comparative studies of the sex ratio at birth between countries are limited partly because physiological and/or genetic variation appears to exist between populations and partly because methodological differences in data acquisition and birth registration practices may bias estimates of the ratio. Although many immigrants to Britain come from cultures with a high degree of son preference no quantitative evidence has been reported that addresses the possibility of sex-selective abortion by immigrants from these countries. Using the robust data registration system for births in the United Kingdom by birthplace of mother we compare sex ratios at birth between major categories of immigrant mothers and mothers born in the UK. (excerpt)

131 citations

01 Jan 1997
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors define gender-sensitive indicators and explain why they should be used to evaluate the Canadian International Development Agencies' development initiatives what types of gender sensitive indicators exist what are their limitations and how they can be used at various levels especially in projects with an enduser focus.
Abstract: This guide defines gender-sensitive indicators and explains why they should be used to evaluate the Canadian International Development Agencys development initiatives what types of gender-sensitive indicators exist what are their limitations and how they can be used at various levels especially in projects with an end-user focus. After an introductory chapter chapter 2 describes the purpose of the guide and its audience as well as the concepts and background to indicator use. The 3rd chapter provides a description of gender-sensitive indicators details differences in quantitative and qualitative indicators matches indicators to development objectives and reviews various types of indicators (risk input process output and outcome). Chapter 4 concentrates on indicators at the branch and region/country level while chapter 5 looks at project-level indicators. Annexes define key terms; list criteria for the selection of indicators; give examples of region/country-level objectives; describe participatory evaluation and qualitative indicators; review education and health indicators and methodological problems associated with their use; and offer examples of 1) a sample Egyptian project using indicators related to women work and labor force participation 2) a sample project from Honduras using indicators related to water supply and sanitation 3) a sample project from Bangladesh using indicators of training in agriculture 4) indicators of womens empowerment in Bangladesh and 5) two sample projects on empowerment/participation. A comprehensive bibliography is also included.

55 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors reviewed the 2001 Indian census results and drew several provisional conclusions as to what they imply and concluded that the true population is believed to be even larger than expected.
Abstract: This paper reviews key features of the 2001 Indian census results and draws several provisional conclusions as to what they imply. Overall the provisional results of the 2001 census present a mixed picture. The population count of 1027 million as of March 1 2001 was larger than expected and the true population is believed to be even larger. Previously May 11 2000 was designated as the day of the birth of Indias billionth citizen but the census results imply that the population had actually reached 1 billion in late 1999. However allowing for a plausible underenumeration the date could well have been in 1998. Indias rate of population growth is falling obviously because the birth rate is falling faster than the death rate; the true growth rate of the population during the 1991-2001 intercensal decade was probably somewhere between 1.93% and 1.84%. This implies that during 1981-91 the population grew by a few million more than 163 million while during 1991-2001 it probably grew by a few million less than 180 million. Finally very little can be read into the indicated decline in population masculinity although there are signs of increased masculinity in four major states.

49 citations

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While there has probably been considerable fertility and mortality decline in India during the 1980s it is much less certain that the last decade has witnessed any reduction in the rate of population growth.