Even as Odisha grapples with the ignominy of high female foeticide, its tribal population has given a ray of hope. Sex ratio among the Scheduled Tribe (ST) has jumped handsomely as the latest Census results would show. From 1,003 females for every 1,000 male in 2001, sex ratio among the tribals has jumped to 1,029, registering a 26 point increase.
The Primary Census Abstract for 2011, which was released here on Thursday, showed that ST population in the State has increased from 95,90,756 in 2011 from 89,94,967 in 2001. In terms of absolute numbers, the ST population rose by 14,45,675 thereby registering a 17.7 per cent growth rate.
Similarly in gender composition, there were 47,27,732 males as compared to 48,63,024 females. The ST share in overall population rose from 22.1 per cent in 2001 to 22.8 per cent this time.Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who released the census abstract here said population of the State has increased at 14 per cent, a rate lower as compared to the last decade when the rate was 16.3 per cent. The overall population stood at 4,19,74,218.
Naveen said it was the consistent efforts of the Government in the field of girl child education and women empowerment that the female population growth rate has risen from 13.67 per cent in last decade to 14.43 per cent during 2001-2011. During the decade, the overall sex ratio rose by seven points from 972 to 979 which is higher than the national sex ratio. Director, Census Operations, Bishnupada Sethi informed that highest number of ST population was recorded at Mayurbhanj where their number stood at 14,79,576, whereas Puri had the lowest just 6,129.
Similarly, the Scheduled Caste (SC) population in the State rose by seven points, increasing to 71,88,463. It, however, recorded a decadal growth of 18.2 per cent, higher as compared to the ST population. In the last decade, their proportion in the State population was 16.5 per cent which has risen to 17.1 per cent. Sonepur district has the highest proportion of SC population, while Gajapati has the lowest.
The primary census report revealed that there has not been much of a difference between the provisional and the final outcome, the total population count rising by just about 26,000. Ganjam has the highest rural population of 27,61,030 which is 7.9 per cent of the State’s rural headcount while Khurda recorded highest urban population of 10,84,316, about 15.5 per cent of the urban population of Odisha.
The growth of rural population was 11.8 per cent whereas urban population grew by 26.9 per cent.
While Balangir recorded the highest decadal growth in rural population at 22.7 per cent, Nayagarh recorded the highest growth in urban population by 115.1 per cent.