Indian J. Prev. Soc. Med. Vol. 44, No.3-4, 2013

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1 ISSN Indian J. Prev. Soc. Med. Vol. 44, No.3-4, 2013 AGE-SEX STRUCTURE AND SEX COMPOSITION: A WARD-WISE STUDY OF VARANASI CITY Neelam Pal 1 ABSTRACT The Varanasi city records a settlement history since 1000 BC. However, the present city has grown during the early 18th century and presents an archetype example of Indian Pilgrimage cities. As a social issue, the agesex structure and sex ratio are main variables to measure the socio-economic conditions of any region. Varanasi city shows a huge male preponderance in sex composition of the population. The Varanasi city demonstrates male dominance along with higher proportion (46.0%) of active age group due to male immigrants in search of jobs and its pull-effect. Additionally, the dependent population (0-19 years) and aged people (older than 59 years) show the trend and characteristics of a developing-and-traditional city. Present study is an attempt to present the age-sex structure and sex ratio study of the city on the ward-level and to highlight problems of the social structure of Varanasi city. The situation and results are presented through various tables and maps generated in ArcGIS. Tables and data are calculated on the basis of Census of India records. 1 Key Words: Sex Ratio, Age-Sex Structure, Population, Male Preponderance. INTRODUCTION Sex ratio (Females per 1000 males) and age-sex structure are two significant demographic ingredients to access the quality of population. 2 The balance between two sexes affects the social and economic relationship within a community. 3 Trewartha (1953) exactly observed that the proportion of the sexes is elemental to the geographic analysis of an area because it is not only an important feature of the landscape but it also influences the other demographic elements significantly and as such provide an additional means for analyzing the regional landscape. 4 The data interpretation of the city reveals increasing pressure of population upon limited natural resources, as well as countryside compels the rural males to move towards urban areas in search of job. The situation also indicates towards the employment restriction of female due to parda (Veil) system and to similar economic and other associated social factors. In earlier decades of 1921 and 1931, sex-ratio of the city shows a significant sharp decrease of 57 and 68 females respectively, and that status was maintained during whole century. The study also reveals some betterment of females in last four decades mainly in participation of economic activities and increasing literacy. As a characteristic of population the age-sex structure also provides a clue to assess reproductive behaviour of population, educational accomplishment, and its labour strength. The Varanasi city shows a very disappointing and least awaken age-sex condition, as per cent population is dependent and in growing age. 1. Ex Research Scholar, Dept. of Geography, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi Indexed in : Index Medicus (IMSEAR), INSDOC, NCI Current Content, Database of Alcohol & Drug Abuse, National Database in TB & Allied Diseases, IndMED, Entered in WHO CD ROM for South East Asia.

2 Sex Composition: Age and sex represent the characteristic of population with two basic components of biological facts, exercise considerable influence on various aspects of population. Singh (1985) said that age composition is one of the most suitable indicators of the level of the working capacity of the population. 2 The age sex structure is directly influenced by the mortality, fertility, and migration level. Sex composition has profound influence on the demographic structure. Age distribution of a region also has a specific socio-economic significance. The level of consumption, income, social services needed, participation in productive work, taking part in reproductive process and every sphere of one s life is effected by age. 5 The age and sex structure of population has a greater influence on the process of development in the study area like Varanasi city. The percentage of population distribution by age and sex shows the structure given in Table-1 & Fig.-2. The data indicate that the percentage of population has been decreasing in the ascending order of age group. The children below 09 year share high proportion (21.79% in 2001) of total population. About 47% population of the city area is below 19 years of age in this decade. The age group of years represents highest amount according to the population proportion and following this age group there has been gradual decrease in the percentage of population distribution. The percentage of elderly population is quite less mainly due to high death rate in the age group of older people. Table-1: Age and sex structure of Varanasi City, 2001 Age-Group Males Females Total Below Above Total (Source: District Census Handbook, 2001) The distribution of population varies by age and sex ratio according to the relative proportion of total population in different age group. Fig. 2 shows that the base of pyramid is broad, whereas it becomes narrow at the top, representing the above characteristics-peculiar to the developing society, and reflecting the high fertility and mortality rates. The two parts of the pyramid (male and female) are not exactly the same. This is mainly due to the different characteristics and magnitude of male and female population. In age group of below 09 years there exists high proportion of male children because of high mortality rate of female children. It is obvious from data and figure that proportion of dependent population (0-19 years) was 47.0%, which was larger than those of the earning population. About 47% population belonged to active and healthy age group (19-59) for working that includes 46.44% of males and 45.72% of females. The aged people elder than 59 years consists only 6.87% - a characteristic of developing countries as already mentioned. This situation occurs apparent due to religious significance of Varanasi, which is supposed to attract more aged people for permanent residence of people settled here for moksha (relief from transmigration) from various parts of the country. Varanasi dominates in male population over female population and this is also common in this type of religious cities. SEX-RATIO OF POPULATION Sex ratio is used to represent number of females/thousand males, and considered to be a primary variable of population characteristics. 6 India reveals very low sex ratio due to low level of woman s physical quality of life, marriage of girls in early age, general ignorance of females and inadequate medical amenities, and also due to male dominated society. Since sex ratio has very close relationship with the growth of population, in conservative Hindu society the operation of dependents, its evaluation at this juncture commonly appears imperative. Indian J. Prev. Soc. Med Vol. 44 No

3 No. of sex ratio Neelam Pal Fig-1: Age and sex structure of Varanasi City, Males Females 25 Total Below Oct Above 80 Fig.-2: Sex Ratio (Female per 1000 males) Year India UP Varanasi City Fig. - 2: Source: Census of India More so as sex composition affects directly the incidence of birth, death, and marriage. It can be differentiating in migration status, occupational distribution and it is used as a basis of distinction in almost every aspect of social structure (Hawley, 1959). 7 A balance between the two sexes is essential for a healthy state of society; imbalance always leads to number of social problems. Davis (1951) has rightly remarked that the sex ratio of any city s population is a function of its migration strain. In other words, a function of how fast a city has grown in general if faster a city (has grown) - during the decade, the more masculine is its sex ratio at the end of the decade. 8 The Varanasi city is not an exception to this condition. It shows a masculine character in its population composition. In terms of Varanasi city, the sex-ratio is calculated as under, in terms of number of females per thousand males, calculated as under: P f 1000 P m (Here, P f = number of females, Pm= number of females) The trend of sex during last hundred years of period (from 1901 to 2001) had been fluctuating. Although the trend of sex ratio of the U.P. State and India was decreasing, yet it recorded wide fluctuation in case of Varanasi City. The sex Indian J. Prev. Soc. Med Vol. 44 No

4 ratio of India differed from the study area and Uttar Pradesh (U.P.). In the city of Varanasi the sex ratio had increased from 868 in 1991 to 876 in However, the overall trend of the country since 1901 showed a continuous trend towards decline, barring a marginal improvement in 1981 and 2001 (Table-2 & Fig.2). In Varanasi city the sex ratio showed masculine character in its population. By examining the above data it may be concluded that the sex ratio of the city fluctuating in near about similar character from 1901 to 1961, in which the two decadal years were marked with sharp decline, i.e and Here the sharp decline was noticed from 926 to 869 females/thousand male. This was because of immigration of male population towards city, in addition to continuous increase between 1971 and The increasing pressure of population upon limited natural resources based in the countryside compels the rural males to move to urban areas in search of job. The high cost of living in urban areas coupled with the problem of housing and prevailing joint family system, prevents such males to bring their families along with them and encourages a momentum of males alone. Table -2: Sex ratio (Female per 1000 Males) Year India UP Varanasi city (Source: District Census Handbook & Census of India) The disparity in the proportion of the population was mainly due to large inward-migration of males. In last four decades, a small upward increase in sex ratio was due to the change in attitude of the people towards the employment of female, their increasing literacy, abolition of parda (veil) system and to similar economic and other associated social factors. Due to the changing socio-economic structure of the society and break in traditional families, migrants to cities have started keep their families with them and women are finding employment in the cities, there by increasing sex ratio. Ward-Wise Sex Ratio: In 1961, there were 27 wards recorded average sex ratio below than 828, which was comparatively low to the State s average 907 and Nation s 941. The highest sex ratio was reported in Madanpura (935), followed by Pandeypur (904), and Rampurkalan (902). Lowest sex ratio was found in the ward of Shivpur (666), followed by Kamaccha (718), Sikraul (723), and Navapura (739). Rests of the wards were noticed with moderate sex ratio ( ) in the city. The trend of sex-ratio in this period was highly affected by immigrants of Bihar and West Bengal for weaving and dwellings with their families for religious causes. Widows were also migrated in this period to the area of Madanpura, Ramapura Kalan, and Ghat areas. Pandeypur area was an untouched rural effected area in 1961 with its high sex-ratio and traditional population. Other inner wards were merely affected by labourers, ritual workers, education related population with high male dominancy. The 1971 census of Varanasi city reported the sex ratio of 839 females per 1000 males. It is noted that three wards, viz. Shivpur, Nawapura, Sikraul had the lowest sex ratio of 706, 783, and 789, respectively. Whereas, the ward number 1, 2, 6, 7, 10, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, 24 had reported moderate sex ratio, ranging within 800 to 850. Madanpura ward noticed the highest sex ratio (921), which is more than the State s sex ratio, mostly due to its Muslims dominancy. In the decade of 1971, some weavers from Ghazipur, Mau and Buxar regions were settled in Ghat area with polygamy (more than one wife) customs, involvement of females in sari cutting, and continued widows influx, upholds the Indian J. Prev. Soc. Med Vol. 44 No

5 same condition of high sex-ratio in inner wards. After 1971 war some Bangladeshi inhabitants (with majority of female) also settled in Katuapura, Kamalpura and Konia wards area, which resulted to the high sex-ratio in these wards in the later decades also. In Varanasi city the sex ratio was just 857 female per 1000 males in During this census, two wards (Chittanpura, Kamalgarha) had relatively better sex ratio over the State s average sex ratio, i.e. 933 and 907, respectively (Table 2), whereas, Shivpur, Dhoopchandi, and Assi wards noticed the lowest sex ratio during the decade that were only 739, 746, and 790, respectively, mainly due to preponderance of more elderly males residing there because of the religious notions to these places. According to 1991 Census, city s average sex ratio was just 868 females per 1000 males. In this Census, also the three wards, i.e. Chittanpura, Bandhu Kacchibagh, Nawapura, had better sex ratio than the State s average, which was 920, 915, and 901, respectively. Whereas lowest range of sex ratio noticed in Sikraul (811), Dashashwamedh (818), Lahartara (818), Nadeser (824), and Assi (830) wards. There were 90 wards and the average sex ratio of Varanasi Municipal Corporation was 876 females per 1000 males in During this Census the lowest sex ratio was in the ward of Naria (694), followed by Sikraul (769), Tilbhandeshwar (779), Karaundi (786), and Inderpur (791). The highest range of sex ratio was found in the Kalbhairav, Baluabeer, Sarai Gobardhan, Rajabazaar, and Sigra wards recording ratio of 931, 928, 927, 925, and 924, respectively. Rest of the wards had moderate sex ratio. After 1991, Varanasi city came to the stage of million-plus and as a multifunctional city, which made the trade, commerce and education more significant with the religious nature of the city and showing results into present scenario of sex-ratio. Reasons for difference in ward-wise sex-ratio are a conclusive expression on the basis of perception of the old natives and recorded through detailed interviews of different wards. Selection of persons was from different income-groups, professions, religion and costs. CONCLUSION In last four decades (1961 to 2001), there was a subsequent and slow increase of females in sex-ratio. The low sex ratio of females indicates about poor and traditional socio-economic conditions of the women in the holy city Varanasi. Above all, the main thing responsible for low sex ratio is immigration of large number of males from the rural surroundings in search of employment without their families. Due to this reason female s percentage was comparatively high in the city core, while males were dominant in outer wards of the Varanasi city. It is significant that the amount of dependent population (0-19 years) is very high (47.03%) which is owing to high birth rate and immigration factors. Active and earning population (20-59 years) is slightly less (about 01 per cent) than dependent population, indicates towards high migration from the neighbouring vicinity. As per data the healthy population (20-59 years) of males (24.76%) is comparatively much higher to the females (21.34%) indicates to the less role of women in economic activities and their underprivileged conditions and old-traditional characteristics of developing cities. REFERENCES 1. Census of India District Census Handbook of Varanasi Part XIII-B Primary Census Abst. Govt. Press, Allahabad. 2. Singh RB. Geography of Rural Development. (The Indian Micro Level Exp). Inter-India, New Delhi, 1985, p Chandana RC. Geography of Population: Concept, Determinants and Patterns. Kalyani Pub., Ludhiana, 2006, p Trewaetha GT. A Case for Population Geography, Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 1953, Vol Mishra BD. An Introduction to the Study of Population. South Asian Publishers Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi, Premi, Mahendra K. Population of India in the New Millennium Census National Book Trust, New Delhi, Hawley AH. Population Composition in Hauser, Philip M. and Duncan, Otis (eds.). The Study of Population: An Inventory and Appraisal. University of Chicago Press, Chicago: 1959, pp Davis Kinsley. The Population of India and Pakistan. Rouledge & Kegan Paul, London, Indian J. Prev. Soc. Med Vol. 44 No