DECLINING SEX RATIO: AN ANALYSIS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO MAHARASHTRA STATE

BARAKADE A.J.¹*
¹Department of Geography, Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil Mahavidyalaya, Pandharpur- 413304, MS, India.
* Corresponding Author : barakadeankush@rediffmail.com

Received : 09-01-2012     Accepted : 09-04-2012     Published : 09-04-2012
Volume : 3     Issue : 1       Pages : 92 - 95
Geosci Res 3.1 (2012):92-95

Conflict of Interest : None declared

In this paper the present study reveals the district wise sex ratio in Maharashtra State during 1991- 2011. Maharashtra is the third largest State regarding the geographical area and second largest State in respect of population in India. It has studied on the basis census of 1991-2011. The sex ratio is usually defined as the number of females per thousand males. The sex ratio is large variation from one district to another district in Maharashtra State. Sex ratio in Maharashtra has declined over the century from 972 in 1901 to 925 in 2011. Mumbai City, Mumbai suburban and Thane district as it is 838, 857 and 800 respectively. Latur (924), Jalgaon (922), Osmanabad (920), Aurangabad (917), Beed (912) Pune (857), trend decline the sex ratio in all these districts during 2001-2011. There are many ups and downs in sex ratio over a period of time in 1901 to 2011. Some of the reasons commonly put forward to explain the consistently low levels of sex ratio are son preference, neglect of the girl child resulting in higher mortality at younger age. In this paper discussed the decaling sex ratio in Maharashtra. Secondly the sex ratio shows the diagrams, graphs, maps and tables were interpreted in the light of sex ratio.

Sex Ratio, Male-female, change of sex ratio, Mortality.

The sex composition of population is the basic demographic characteristics depending on directly incidence of birth, death and marriages. Sex ratio is one of the important indices to comprehend women’s health and position in any society. According to the Registrar General of India (RGI) recorded some big countries across the globe have reported a sharp decline in the number of women. China is a country sex ratio in 2001 was 944 and drastically it fell to 926 in 2011. While Nigeria’s sex ratio stood at 987 in 2011 as against 1016 in 2001. The sex ratio in India is 940 females per thousand male as per 2011 census and Maharashtra has 925. In India five States of or Union Territories decline in the female sex ratio Haryana (877), Delhi (866), Chandigarh (818), Dadar and Nagar Haveli (775) and Daman and Diu (618) In India Kannur district in Kerala State has a sex ratio of 1133 female per 1000 male. Jammu and Kashmir State has also a Ladakh district very low sex ratio of 583 female per 1000 male. In Arunachal Pradesh State in Tawang district has a sex ratio of 701 female per 1000 male. Sex ratio is one of the important indices to comprehend women’s health and position in any society. India has distinction along with China and a few South Asian countries having a deficit of females since long and still this ratio is in favour of men and proportion of women has continuously been decline. Sex ratio is one of the significant demographic development indices, which can determine the status of women in a region or country. The sex ratio consists of three factors viz; sex ratio at birth, differential in mortality of two sexes and sex selectively among migrants. It contrast and plays role by two sexes in economy and society, it relate with man power ethnicity, standard of living, social systems, religion, national income, education and housing etc. Many socio-economic relationships are intimately related to the balance or disparity in between them.
Sex ratio in Maharashtra has declined over the century from 972 in 1901 to 927 in 2011. Some of the reasons commonly put forward to explain the consistently low levels of sex ratio are son preference, neglect of the girl child resulting in higher mortality at younger age. There are several factors responsible for discrimination against the girl child such as preference for son, low status of women, social and financial security associated with sons, socio-cultural practices like dowry and violence against women.
The aim of the paper is to examine the decline sex ratio in Maharashtra State. Although the overall sex ratio in Maharashtra improved to 925 in census 2011 by 3 females compared to that of 2001. However, this figure conceals the large variations across districts in Maharashtra and a district geographical pattern. Though Ratanagiri, Gondia, Bhandara, Shindudurg and Solapur district mostly stable over a period of time. This point to the economic growth and human development, seldom move together, when it comes to improving gender relations Mumbai City, Mumbai Suburban, Thane, Nandurbar and Pune districts the fact that decline sex ratio during 2001-2011. It is clear that found Visaria (1969) also claimed that excess female mortality is the basic reason for declining sex ratio and excess female mortality in turn is the result of female foeticide, neglect of females and maternal mortality. Barbara Diane Miller (1989) examined the changes in the regional patterns of sex ratio in rural India from the censuses of 1961 and 1971. It was found that while sex differentials in childhood mortality were substantial and widely distributed in India at the time of the 1971 census. Yet another recent study of spatial variations in sex ratio in the context of India is Klasen and Claudia (2003), where they found literacy rate of women significant in lessening sex ratio. While increasing recourse to sex selective abortions worsen it. This paper examines the decline the sex ratio in Maharashtra of 35 districts over the last century and investigates of current trends of sex ratio.

The State of Maharashtra extends from 150 45’ North to 200 6’ North latitude and 700 36’ East to 800 54’ East longitude with geographical area of 3,07,713 sq. km. is undertaken for the present study of growth of population change in Maharashtra. It is bounded by Arabian Sea in the west, the State of Gujarat in the northwest. Madhya Pradesh in the north, Chhattisgarh in the east, Andhra Pradesh in the southwest, Karnataka in the south and Goa in the southwest. The present study the attempt is made changes in sex ratio of population during the 1991-2011 of Maharashtra [Fig-1] .

The present study has been undertaken with the following specific objectives.
• To study the arithmetic sex ratio of population in study region.
• To find out the changing pattern of population sex ratio during 1991-2011.

The present study is primarily based on secondary data collected from decennial census Reports of Government of India. Covering sex ratio, of thirty five districts in Maharashtra. The data have been analyzed for sex ratio as the number of females per 1000 males. Sex ratio is measured in terms of number of females per thousand males. The sex ratio is measured given the following formula.
Formula = Female Population
Sex Ratio = ----------------------------- X 100
Male Population
To make the comparative analysis the sex ratio of changes has also been computed. It can give better understanding regarding the issues pertaining to up and downs in either of the sex ratios.

[Table-1] and [Fig-2] below shows that the trends in sex ratio in Maharashtra from 1901 to 2011. According to the findings of the census of India the imbalance in the number of males and females starts in the beginning. The decennial conducted in Maharashtra suggest that there has been an almost monotonic decline in the sex ratio in Maharashtra. In 1901, the sex ratio was 978 females for every 1000 males by 1991 it had reached the lowest point at 922. In census 2011, the sex ratio increased by three points to 925.
As per 2011 census, population is 112372972, out of which 58361397 male and 54011575 female in Maharashtra. Total sex ratio in Maharashtra is 925 females per thousand male and it varies from one district to another district. The findings the number of females is quite less as compared to males. The sex ratio at the beginning of the period in 1901 was 978
and there after showed continuous decline until 1971. In 1981 there was a marginal increase of seven points, but State saw the sharpest decline of three points in sex ratio from 934 in 1991. Decrease of twelve points from 934 in 2001 to 925 is an improvement and three points in 2011.
Thus for recent period there is some primary evidence that sex ratio at birth in the Maharashtra as a whole possibly lower than generally accepted range of 922-925 males get preferential treatment while females are neglected. More females die in Maharashtra, at infancy, as well as reproductive period. Several reasons are the consistently low levels of sex ratio and further decline in the Maharashtra. Some of the important reasons commonly as given below.
1) Neglect of the girl child
2) High maternal mortality
3) Sex selective
4) Female infanticide
With small family norms, many young couples do not for a second child happens to be a male. Higher female life expectancy is likely to initiate a new trend and tilt the scale in favour result in sex ratio.

[Table-2] and [Fig-3] and [Fig-4] shows that out of a total of 35 districts in Maharashtra, 22 districts have negative sex ratio of below 777 females per thousand males in 2001 and 838 females per thousand males in 2011 in Mumbai City. Ratanagiri (1123) and Shindhudurg (1037) districts recorded the highest sex ratio with sex ratio above 1000 mark despite the fact that both have shown decline in sex ratio of population during 2001-11 by (-13) and (-42) respectively. The decline of sex ratio such districts are Ahmednagar (-6), Aurangabad (-8), Beed (-24), Buldhana (-18), Dhule (-3), Gadchiroli (-1), Gondiya ( -9), Hingoli (-18), Jalgaon (-11), Jalna (-22), Latur (-11), Nanded and Nadurbar (-5), Osmanabad (-12), Parbhani (-18), Pune (-9) Raigarh (-21), Ratanagiri (-13), Satara (-9), Shindhudurg (-42), Solapur (-3), Washim (-13) during 2011. This is also the range in State level average of 925 and national average 940 females per thousand males. There are 13 districts within the stable over sex ratio recorded are Akola (4), Amravati (9), Bhandara (3), Chandrapur (11), Kolhapur (4), Mumbai City (61), Mumbai suburban (35), Nagpur ( 16), Nashik (4), Sangli (7), Thane (22), Wardha (11) and Yavatmal (2) during [Fig-3] and [Fig-4] shows the top districts according to the sex artio are Ratanagiri (1123), Shindhudurg (1037), Gondiya (996), Bhandara (984) and Solapur (932) during 2011 compared to in 1991 sex ratio decline Ratanagiri (1205), Shindhudurg (1137). The finding of the bottom districts having the lowest sex ratio of the population in the State. Mumbai City the lowest sex ratio at (838) followed by Mumbai Suburban (857), Thane (880), Pune (910), Beed (912), Aurangabad (917), Osmanabad (920) find the bottom districts in State during 2011. The very low sex ratios in the large metropolitan area like Mumbai City, Mumbai Suburban, Thane and Pune districts could be influenced due to the inflow of male migrants seeking work in industrial, commercial, construction, informal and other sectors of the economy, opportunities of better jobs and education.

The sex ratio for the Maharashtra State large variation during the study period. Proportion of females per thousand males is not satisfactory in the study region. According to 2011 there are 925 females per thousand males. Attitude of preference of male child and neglecting female child result this type of imbalance. The paper examined the intertemporal and spatial trends and socioeconomic of the spatial variations in the relative neglect of girl child in Maharashtra. The argument that economic value of women increases, higher educational attainment and participation in economic activity. Rather, the aggregate evidence could be interpreted as the improving female education and despite the improving socioeconomic characteristics. The existence of gender discriminatory practices which starts even before birth, which requires urgent attention of public policy, as improving literacy and economic value of women is necessary but not sufficient for enhancing the relative life chances of girl child.

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	Fig.1
	Fig. 2- Source- Govt. of Maharashtra: Census of India
	Fig. 3-
	Fig. 4- Source- Census of India 2011
	Table 1- Maharashtra: Sex - Ratio
	Table 2- Maharashtra: Sex Ratio (1991-2011)