CHAPTER 2
Demographic Features
2.1
The revised series of population projection based on final results of
2001 Census has recently been released by the office of the Registrar General of
India. According to these estimates the population of West Bengal as on 1st
October, 2006 was 8.58 crore. On 1st October, 2007 the total population is
expected to reach 8.67 crore, the rural population would be 6.21 crore and urban
population is likely to reach 2.45 crore. The male and female population would
be 4.47 crore and 4.20 crore respectively on 1st October, 2007 as forecaste by
SRS. On the other hand, according to Census 2001 figures, rural population of
West Bengal was 72.03% of the total population whereas the urban population
was 27.97% of the total population. The proportion of Scheduled Caste
population was 23.02% and the proportion of Scheduled Tribe population was
5.50%; thus, 28.52% of the total population of the state accounted for backward
classes according to Census 2001. The percentage of male was 51.72% and the
percentage of female was 48.28 % in 2001.
2.2
The age distribution of population for 2001 has been released by the
office of the Census operation. It has been noticed from this distribution that the
percentage of population in the age group 0-4 has been declined to 9.50% in 2001
in comparison with 11.49% of 1991 Census. In the next higher age group viz. 59 the percentage declined from 13.27% of 1991 Census to 11.84% in 2001. On
the other hand, the percentage of population in the age group 60 and above
increased from 6.05% of 1991 Census to 7.11% in 2001. These findings are
closely related to improvement of vital events like CBR, CDR and IMR
discussed in the following paragraphs.
2.3
The vital statistics for West Bengal, Crude birth rate, Crude death rate
and Infant mortality rate have declined over the years in West Bengal, both in the
rural and urban areas as can be seen from Table 2.1.
15
Table 2.1
Vital Rates in West Bengal and India
Birth Rate
Year
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
Ave.
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
Ave.
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
Ave.
West Bengal
Rural Urban Total
37.0
20.0
33.2
37.0
20.4
32.3
36.0
21.7
32.0
34.3
20.5
30.4
33.0
20.5
29.4
35.5
20.6
31.5
30.3
18.5
27.0
28.0
16.4
24.8
28.6
18.2
25.7
28.1
17.6
25.2
26.1
16.8
23.6
28.2
17.5
25.3
22.9
13.8
20.6
22.6
14.1
20.5
22.4
14.0
20.3
21.8
12.9
19.3
21.2
12.6
18.8
22.2
13.5
19.9
Death Rate
India
Total
33.9
33.8
33.7
33.9
32.9
33.6
29.5
29.2
28.7
28.7
28.3
28.9
25.4
25.0
24.8
24.1
23.8
24.6
West Bengal
Rural Urban Total
12.2
6.9
11.0
12.0
6.3
10.4
11.6
6.9
10.3
12.0
7.5
10.7
10.7
6.8
9.6
11.7
6.9
10.4
8.9
6.7
8.3
9.1
6.6
8.4
8.5
4.4
7.4
8.8
7.1
8.3
8.1
7.2
7.9
8.7
6.4
8.1
7.2
6.4
7.0
6.9
6.4
6.7
6.8
6.2
6.6
6.4
6.0
6.3
6.3
6.6
6.4
6.7
6.3
6.6
Infant Mortality Rate
India
Total
12.5
11.9
11.9
12.6
11.8
12.1
9.8
10.1
9.3
9.3
9.0
9.5
8.4
8.1
8.0
7.5
7.6
7.9
West Bengal
Rural Urban Total
98
44
91
93
52
86
93
48
84
88
55
82
80
46
74
90
49
83
76
47
71
71
38
65
64
33
58
64
52
62
61
45
58
67
43
63
54
37
51
52
36
49
48
34
46
42
32
40
40
31
38
47
34
45
Note: Birth Rate is number of live births per thousand population.
Death Rate is number of deaths per thousand population.
Infant Mortality Rate is number of infant death per thousand live births.
Ave. : Average.
Source : Sample Registration System, Registrar General, Govt. of India.
2.4
The birth rate, death rate as well as infant mortality rate in West Bengal
have been uniformly lower than those for India over the last two decades. In most
of the cases, the difference between the vital rates of West Bengal and India has
widened over the years.
2.5
It is also evident from Table 2.1 that, although the vital rates are lower
in urban West Bengal than those in rural West Bengal, the declining trend for all
three rates is sharper in rural areas than in urban areas over decades and thus the
difference between rural and urban rates have considerably diminished. It can be
seen from Table 2.1 that in early 21st century (2001-05), Birth rate in rural West
16
India
Total
110
105
105
104
97
104
80
79
74
74
74
76
66
63
60
58
58
61
Bengal dropped down by 37.5%,Death Rate registered a downfall of 42.77% and
infant mortality rate is declined by 47.8% as compared to early eighties (198185).
2.6
The implementation of land reform measures led to the unleashing of
productive forces in Agriculture, Cottage and Small Scale Industry Sector and
Rural Service Sector. A rapid development took place in rural economy of West
Bengal, which has improved the social position and thereby the conciousness of
the rural population. The sharp decline registered in rural vital rates discussed
above is a manifestation of this socio-economic development.
2.7
The significant fact is that not only have the vital rates declined in the
rural areas, the vital rates for female in West Bengal have also progressively
declined, so that at present they are one of the lowest among the major states. In
Table 2.2, infant mortality rate by sex for rural and urban regions of the major
states in 2005 is shown.
Table 2.2
Infant Rortality Rate by Sex and Residence, 2005
( Number of infant death per thousand live births )
India/States
India
Bigger States
Andhra Pradesh
Assam
Bihar
Gujarat
Haryana
Karnataka
Kerala
Madhya Pradesh
Maharashtra
Orissa
Punjab
Rajasthan
Tamil Nadu
Uttar Pradesh
West Bengal
Total
58
57
68
61
54
60
50
14
76
36
75
44
68
37
73
38
Total
Male Female
56
61
56
66
60
52
51
48
14
72
34
74
41
64
35
71
38
58
69
62
55
70
51
15
79
37
77
48
72
39
75
39
Total
64
63
71
62
63
64
54
15
80
41
78
49
75
39
77
40
Rural
Male Female
62
66
62
69
61
61
55
54
15
77
40
77
46
71
38
75
40
64
72
63
64
76
55
16
84
42
79
51
79
40
79
40
Total
40
39
39
47
37
45
39
12
54
27
55
37
43
34
54
31
Urban
Male Female
37
43
38
36
45
36
40
37
11
52
25
50
32
37
30
53
28
Source : Sample Registration System, Registrar General, Govt. of India.
17
40
43
50
38
52
42
14
56
29
61
43
49
39
55
35
2.8
It can be seen from Table 2.2 that amongst the major states only Kerala,
Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have infant mortality rates lower than that of West
Bengal. The rank of rural Infant Mortality Rate of West Bengal is third, the states
of Kerala and Tamil Nadu being ahead of West Bengal in this respect. The most
significant fact in this respect is that there is no gender difference in Infant
Mortality Rate in rural areas of West Bengal. In urban areas of the state although
the rate is lower, next only to Kerala and Maharashtra, higher Infant Mortality
Rate for females is an area of concern. In conformity with low IMR in West
Bengal the Under-5 Mortality Rate, Neo Natal Mortality Rate, Early Neo Natal
Mortality and Perinatal Mortality Rate are also much lower than All India average
and remain at a level lower than most of the major states of India.
2.9
The significantly lower female infant mortality rate and female under
five mortality rate in West Bengal have got a positive effect on the Sex Ratio of
population aged 0-6. According to census 2001, amongst population 0-6, West
Bengal has got a sex ratio 960 which is much higher than the sex ratio of the total
population of West Bengal viz. 934. Regarding Sex Ratio of population aged 0-6,
West Bengal secured the third position jointly with Kerala marginally trailing
from Andhra Pradesh who secured the second position amongst major states as
indicated in Table 2.3. On the contrary, the states like Punjab,Haryana,Gujarat
and Rajasthan have got alarmingly low sex ratio amongst population 0-6 which
may cause undesirable imbalance in future generations In West Bengal this trend
has been successfully resisted.
Table 2.3
Sex Ratio ( 0-6 years ) in Major States of India
India/States
Sex ratio (0-6)
India
Major States
Andhra Pradesh
Assam
Bihar
Gujarat
Haryana
Karnataka
Kerala
Maharashtra
Madhya Pradesh
Orissa
927
961
965
942
883
819
946
960
913
932
953
18
Punjab
798
Rajasthan
909
Tamil Nadu
942
Uttar Pradesh
916
West Bengal
960
Note : Sex Ratio is number of females per thousand males.
Source: 2001 Census
2.10
In Table 2.4, death rate by sex in rural and urban areas in 2005 is given
for the bigger states. Now West Bengal has the lowest death rate along with
Kerala amongst the major states of India. Also, rural female death rate in 2005 in
West Bengal was second lowest after that of Kerala. Importantly, male death rate
in rural West Bengal was the lowest amongst the major states, even lower than
that of Kerala. Male death rate for the state as a whole is also the lowest.
Table 2.4
Death Rate by Sex and Residence, 2005
( Number of deaths per thousand population )
Total
Rural
Urban
India/States
India
Total
Male
Female
Total
Male
Female
Total
Male
Female
7.6
8.0
7.1
8.1
8.5
7.7
6.0
6.5
5.5
7.3
8.7
8.1
7.1
6.7
7.1
6.4
9.0
6.7
9.5
6.7
7.0
7.4
7.7
9.3
8.2
7.6
7.0
7.6
7.6
9.2
7.4
10.1
7.2
7.0
8.0
6.9
7.9
8.0
6.6
6.3
6.6
5.2
8.6
5.9
8.8
6.1
6.9
6.7
7.9
9.2
8.3
8.0
7.0
7.9
6.3
9.8
7.4
9.9
7.2
7.2
8.2
8.4
9.8
8.4
8.8
7.4
8.3
7.6
10.1
8.3
10.5
7.8
7.2
8.7
7.4
8.5
8.1
7.2
6.5
7.5
5.2
9.5
6.5
9.2
6.6
7.2
7.6
5.9
5.6
6.6
5.8
5.8
5.6
6.5
6.1
5.7
7.0
5.8
6.2
6.2
6.1
6.6
6.5
5.9
5.8
6.3
7.8
6.4
6.2
7.2
6.2
6.5
7.1
5.7
4.6
6.7
5.7
5.8
4.9
5.3
5.7
5.1
6.8
5.4
5.9
5.4
Bigger States
Andhra Pradesh
Assam
Bihar
Gujarat
Haryana
Karnataka
Kerala
Madhya Pradesh
Maharashtra
Orissa
Punjab
Rajasthan
Tamil Nadu
19
Uttar Pradesh
West Bengal
8.7
6.4
8.8
7.0
8.6
5.7
9.1
6.3
9.2
6.8
9.1
5.7
6.8
6.6
7.0
7.5
6.5
5.6
Source : Sample Registration System, Registrar General, Govt. of India.
2.11 In respect of Birth rate, West Bengal ranked fourth amongst major statesKerala , Tamil Nadu and Punjab being ahead of it. While West Bengal has the
lowest urban birth rate amongst the major states the rural birth rate also have
registered substantial decline in last few years to reach a level of only 21.2 in
2005.
Table 2.5
Birth Rate by Residence for India and Major States, 2005
( Number of live births per thousand population )
India
Total
Rural
Urban
23.8
25.6
19.1
19.1
25.0
30.4
23.7
24.3
20.6
15.0
29.4
19.0
22.3
18.1
28.6
16.5
30.4
18.8
20.1
26.6
31.2
25.5
25.7
22.1
15.1
31.6
19.6
23.2
18.8
30.2
16.9
31.3
21.2
16.7
15.3
23.8
21.0
21.0
17.9
14.8
22.0
18.2
16.3
17.0
23.8
16.0
26.5
12.6
Bigger States
Andhra Pradesh
Assam
Bihar
Gujarat
Haryana
Karnataka
Kerala
Madhya Pradesh
Maharashtra
Orissa
Punjab
Rajasthan
Tamil Nadu
Uttar Pradesh
West Bengal
Source: Sample Registration System, Registrar General, Govt. of India.
2.12
All these figures indicate that the general health of the population
specially that of rural population has improved over the years. This is particularly
significant for the rural female population and the female child. This, as was
20
noted earlier, is not merely because of the rising living standard but also is related
to the improving social status of women in rural West Bengal.
2.13
In Table 2.6, other important health indicators for West Bengal and India
are shown.
Table 2.6
Health Indicators - West Bengal and India
Birth Rate
Total
18.8
23.8
West Bengal
India
Total Fertility Rate
Total
2.3
3
West Bengal
India
Death Rate
Total
6.4
7.6
West Bengal
India
Infant Mortality Rate
West Bengal
India
Infant Mortality Rate by Sex
Total
38
58
Total
38
58
West Bengal
India
Death Rate by Sex
Total
6.4
7.6
West Bengal
India
Peri-natal Mortality Rate
Total
29
33
West Bengal
India
Neo-natal Mortality Rate
Total
30
West Bengal
21
2005
Rural
21.2
25.6
2003
Rural
2.5
3.2
2005
Rural
6.3
8.1
2005
Rural
40
64
2005
Male
38
56
2005
Male
7
8
2003
Rural
33
36
2003
Rural
33
Urban
12.6
19.1
Urban
1.6
2.2
Urban
6.6
6
Urban
31
40
Female
39
61
Female
5.7
7.1
Urban
9
20
Urban
16
India
Maternal Mortality Rate per
100000 live births
West Bengal
India
Expectation of Life at Birth
West Bengal
India
37
41
22
2001-03
194
301
2001-2006
Male
Female
66.08
69.34
64.11
65.43
Source : Sample Registration System, Registrar General, Govt. of India
2.14
The performance of West Bengal is far better than the all India average
in respect of all the health indicators shown in Table 2.6..
2.15 However, while the improvement in these health indicators in West Bengal
specially compared to other states is encouraging, there are few areas of concern.
As per reports of National Family Health Survey and other surveys nutritional
level of children, pregnant women and adolescent girls is far from satisfactory.
Also, there are regional variations suggesting lower socio-demographic status in
some districts in northern and western part of the state.
2.15.
The State Government has been successful in involving the common
people through the Panchayats and NGOs in the implementation of the family
welfare programmes in the state. This coupled with improvement in socioeconomic factors discussed earlier has been instrumental in the successful
implementation of family welfare programmes in the states as will be evident
from Table no. 2.7.
22
Table 2.7
Family Planning Acceptors in West Bengal
Year
Total Family Planning acceptors
2001 - 2002
2002 - 2003
1176638
1190676
2003 - 2004
1227420
2004 - 2005
1362269
2005 - 2006
1443939
2006 - 2007
(Up to October'06)(P)
1230503
Source: Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of West Bengal.
2.16
As already noted, the spread of education has been one of the factors for
declining vital rates in the state. It is shown in Table 2.8, that average literacy
among acceptors of family welfare measures was higher than the average literacy
among the general population. Thus , literacy is an important factor in the
acceptance of family welfare methods.
Table 2.8
Percentage of Literates Among Acceptors of Family Welfare Methods
in West Bengal 2005 - 06
Sterilisation I U D
Husband
87.06
89.29
Wife
74.77
85.83
Source: Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of West Bengal.
2.17
The declining age of the wife and the average number of living children
of a sterilization acceptor also indicate the success of the family welfare
programme. In 2005-06, average age of the wife of Sterilisation acceptor was
28.16 years and the number of living children was 2.64. In the mid-eighties, these
were 34 years and 3.34, respectively.
23
2.18
The State Government has also involved the panchayats, municipalities
and NGOs in implementing the immunization programmes in the state. The
general awareness of the common people on the necessity of immunization as a
result of spreading literacy and better socio demographic status as indicated
earlier has been leading factor for the success of these programmes. In Table 2.9,
progress under major immunization programmes is shown.
Table2.9
Progress of Major Immunisation Programmes in West Bengal
( In number)
Methods
TT(PW)
DPT
POLIO
BCG
MEASLES
1421388 1549157 1554285 1772284
1274284
1481285 1533887 1556175 1784424
1503905
1512125 1621658 1605785 1855722
1520463
Year
2003 - 2004
2004 - 2005
2005 - 2006
2006 - 2007
(Upto October'06)(P)
897147
828070
834130
975944
866011
Source: Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of West Bengal.
P = Provisional.
2.20 Table 2.10 shows a comparative study between the results of NFHS- 1 and
NFHS- 3 regarding immunization of children in West Bengal.
Table 2.10
Child Immunization in West Bengal
Description
Children 12-23 months
fully immunized (BCG, measles and 3 doses each
of polio/DPT) (%)
Children 12-23 months who have received
BCG(%)
Children 12-23 months who have received 3
doses of polio vaccine (%)
24
NFHS - 1
(1992-93)
34.2
NFHS - 3
(2005-06)
64.3
63.1
90.1
56.0
80.7
Children 12-23 months who have received 3
doses of DPT vaccine (%)
Children 12-23 months who have received
measles vaccine (%)
51.9
71.5
42.5
74.7
Source : National Family Health Survey (NFHS).
2.21
The State has taken up a massive programme for eradication of
Poliomyelitis through (a) coverage of all infants by Oral Polio Vaccine regularly
and (b) conduction of special programme of Pulse Polio Immunization (PPI) .
Several rounds of Pulse Polio Immunisation programmes were conducted in the
state and almost all the children below five years were covered under this
programme.
25