The Census of India 2001, has admittedly thrown up important
statistics concerning the population of the country first and foremost is our
population crossing the one billion (or100 crore) mark an asset in some sense
and an are of concern in many other ways. The pace of population growth saw a
slowing down during 1991-2001. Number of persons living in urban areas also
rose to 286 million in 2001 census constituting 27.8% of the population.
Next important highlight of one is to choose is the sharp
decline in child sex ratio (-06) from one census to another the child sex ratio
us the proportion of girls to 1000 boys in the age group 0-6 years in 1981 the
child sex ratio has been 962 which declined to 945 in 1991 census and then to
927 in 2001 census in some states especially in Haryana Punjab Himachal Pradesh
and Gujarat etc. the decline have been sharper. This eye opening revelations on
decline child sex ratio attributed among other reasons to preference of male
child in some sections of the Indian society and consequent sex selective pre
natal feticides shocked the country forcing many to take preventive action.
On the literacy font, due mainly to the concerted efforts of
the government, the male literacy rate in country crossed 75% mark and the
female literacy rate the 50% mark. A significant feature is the fall in the
absolute number of female illiterates in the country from 200 million is 1991
to 193 in 2001 census. Among the total number of literates, proportion of those
educated up to Primary level has been about 55.6% in 2001; surprise some to
learn that there were at least 2,351 villages in the country in 2001 with
population above 100 persons, which do not have even a single female literate.
In the economic front and important development as revealed
by census 2001 has been the decline in the growth of workers in agricultural
sector between 1991-2001. As India is growing and diversifying its economy,
more workers find workers in the non-agricultural sector, helping it to grow.
Spread of education, in different corners of the country, is a vehicle used by
the people in pursuing vocation in areas other than agriculture. Substantial
growth in number of female workers has been another shining example of
women’s empowerment.
Many such instances are revealed when one sifts through the huge
information collected in Census 2001. census organization on its part is
committed to present the results and develop new products allowing users to
examine the census data from a closer quarter than develop new products
allowing users to examine the Census data from a closer quarter than ever had
been possible using computing technology and the power of the Geographic
Information System (GIS). The results and the findings are always for the
benefit of our fellow countrymen.