Sociology

Chapter-2
The Demographic structure of the Indian Society
Notes
Demography is the systematic study of the population of a country, area, community,
etc. The term is of Greek origin and is composed of the two words, demos (people)
and graphein (describe).
Demography studies the trends and processes associated with population including
– changes in population size; patterns of births, deaths, and migration; and the
structure and composition of the population, such as the relative proportions of
women, men and different age groups.
There are two types of demography:
Formal Demography: statistical analysis of population i.e., total population, number
of males, number of females, number of youth, working population, rural urban
(quantitative data)
Social Demography: birth rate, death rate and migration that happens in a particular
society.
All demographic studies are based on processes of counting or enumeration – such
as the census or the survey – which involve the systematic collection of data on the
people residing within a specified territory
Demography is a field that is of special importance to sociology:
The emergence of sociology and its successful establishment as an academic discipline
owed a lot to demography.
Two different processes happened to take place at roughly the same time in Europe
during the latter half of the eighteenth century – the formation of nation-states as the
principal form of political organisation, and the beginnings of the modern science of
statistics.
The modern state had begun to expand its role and functions. It had, for instance, begun
to take an active interest in the development of early forms of public health
management, policing and maintenance of law and order, economic policies relating to
agriculture and industry, taxation and revenue generation and the governance of cities
Demographic data are important for the planning and implementation of state policies,
specially those for economic development and general public welfare.
Social statistics, when they first emerged, also provided a strong justification for the
new discipline of sociology. Aggregate statistics – or the numerical characteristics that
refer to a large collectivity consisting of millions of people – offer a concrete and strong
argument for the existence of social phenomena.

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Distinction between formal demography and a broader field of population studies
(social demography)
Formal demography is primarily concerned with the measurement and analysis of the
components of population change. Its focus is on quantitative analysis for which it has a
highly developed mathematical methodology suitable for forecasting population growth
and changes in the composition of population.
Population studies or social demography, on the other hand, enquires into the wider
causes and consequences of population structures and change. Social demographers
believe that social processes and structures regulate demographic processes; like
sociologists, they seek to trace the social reasons that account for population trends.
The Malthusian Theories of Population Growth
Malthusian Theory was propounded by Sir Thomas Robert Malthus.
He argued that human populations tend to grow at a much faster rate than the rate at
which the means of human subsistence (specially food, but also clothing and other
agriculture-based products) can grow. Therefore humanity is condemned to live in
poverty forever. While population rises in geometric progression (i.e., like 2, 4, 8, 16, 32
etc.), agricultural production can only grow in arithmetic progression (i.e., like 2, 4, 6, 8,
10 etc.). The only way to increase prosperity is by controlling the growth of population.
He identified two ways of controlling population growth, positive check and preventive
check. Positive check: Natural disasters cause many people die and the population is
naturally controlled If one doesn't take care of themselves nature will take care of them
e.g. earthquakes, tsunami. Preventive check: Man made e.g. late marriage, celibacy,
contraceptives etc.
Criticism of Malthusian Theory
Malthus's theory was challenged by theorists who claimed that economic growth could
outstrip population growth. The most effective refutation of his theory was provided by
the historical experience of European countries.
The pattern of population growth began to change in the latter half of nineteenth
century, and by the end of the first quarter of the twentieth century these changes were
quite dramatic.
Birth rates had declined, and outbreaks of epidemic diseases were being controlled.
Malthus’s predictions were proved false because both food production and standards of
living continued to rise despite the rapid growth of population.
Malthus was also criticised by liberal and Marxist scholars for asserting that poverty
was caused by population growth.
The critics argued that problems like poverty and starvation were caused by the
unequal distribution of economic resources rather than by population growth.
An unjust social system allowed a wealthy and privileged minority to live in luxury while
the vast majority of the people were forced to live in poverty.

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Theory of Demographic Transition
Population growth is linked to overall levels of economic development and that every
society follows a typical pattern of development-related population growth.
There are three basic phases of population growth-
1. Primitive Stage-underdeveloped countries (Africa).
2. Second Stage-developing countries (India, Pakistan) stage of transition-» countries
are moving from underdeveloped to developed.
3. Third Stage-Developed countries (USA, UK).
Underdeveloped Countries (stage 1)
* Birth rate is high since people are unaware of the advantages of having small families,
they are not educated.
* Death rate is also high since health and medical facilities are not available. Therefore
population is low.
Developing Countries (stage 2)
* Birth rate is high as we live in a patriarchal society where men decide how many
children must be born and male child is preferred.
* Illiteracy and people are ignorant.
* Death rate is also low since health and medical facilities are available. Therefore
population is high and results in population explosion.
* Demographic Dividend when the working population increases more than the non
working population.
Developed Countries (stage 3)
* Birth rate is low, people are educated and aware and use contraceptives, birth control
is popularised.
* Death rate is also low because of availability of health and medical facilities. Therefore
population is low.
Population Explosion: When the birth rate of a country is high and the death rate is low
because of availability of health and medical facilities.
Therefore population is exploding, increasing.
Common Concepts of Population
Birth Rate: Number of live births per thousand population.
Death Rate: Number of deaths per thousand population. Also called mortality rate.
Rate of natural increase: Difference between birth rate and death rate in an area.
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Replacement Level: Present generation replaces the previous/older generation.
Zero level: Replacement is same. Same number of people replace same number of older
generation called stabilised level (parents replaced by 2 children).
Negative level: Number of people replacing older generation are less (parents replaced
by child).
Population explosion: Number of people replacing the older generation is more.
Working population is more than the dependent population.
Fertility Rate: Number of live births between the age of 15-49 yrs per thousand
women.
Total Fertility Rate: Number of women who give birth to children in a particular area at
a particular age (15-49 yrs)
Infant Mortality Rate: Number of infants who have died below the age of 1 per
thousand live births.
Maternal Mortality Rate: Number of women who die during child birth per thousand
population.
Life expectancy Rate: Number of years that one is expected to live as determined by
statistics may be individually qualified by the person's condition, race, sex, age or other
demographic factors.
Sex Ratio: Number of females per thousands males.
Age structure: The structure of the population in terms of age (in India 0-15 = youth,
15-65 = Working population, above 64 years = dependent population)
Dependency Ratio: The number of people who are not working and are dependent on
the working population. Ratio of the dependent population to the working population is
higher.
Demographic Dividend: When the working population in a country is more than the
dependent/non working population. Positive: Economic growth for the country
although it is a temporary phase.
Size and Growth of India's Population
* Today the population of India is very high but it has not always been high. Growth has
been up and down.
Causes:
(a) Epidemics
(b) Natural Disasters/Famine
* Epidemics: Disease which is widespread and affects lakhs of people in a large area.

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For example, during the World War there spread the Spanish influenza. It affects the
throat and cavity and you choke and die. It is believed to have killed more people than
any war.
* It spreads very fast and is contagious because: (i) Sanitation conditions were very bad.
(ii) Medical facilities were low.
(iii) Soldiers moved from place to place and spread it, (iv) Chemical explosion/fumes in
the air.
* They are less common now because (a) Better medical facilities.
(b) There are vaccinations.
(c) Sanitary conditions have been improved. (d) Awareness of people have increased.
* In India we still have some epidemics like swine flu, chickenguniya, plague, malaria etc.
* Famine: There is scarcity of food, shortage of food supply and production.
It is of two types
1. Natural: excessive rainfall, no rainfall, drought.
2. Manmade: excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers, lack of transport and
communication facilities, distribution of grain by government is not sufficient and
proper preventive method should be taken.
* Dr. Amartya Sen, "It is not necessary that famine is due to lack of food grain but it could
be due to lack of efficient distribution, failure of entitlements and inability of people to
buy or otherwise obtain food."
It can be controlled by
(i) Efficient distribution of food grains by improving transportation and community.
(ii) Green Revolution has increased the supply of food grains despite varying amounts of
rainfall.
(iii) Medical facilities- If an area is experiencing famine, the government takes caution/
measures to see that the people are given help.
* NREGA-National Rural Employment Guarantee Act: Takes care to see that everyone is
employed so that if there is a famine they can move somewhere else and buy food.
Total Fertility Rate
- When the birth rate is high and death rate is low it results in population explosion.
- In a country birth rate is still high because of :
(i) Mindset of people (ii) Desire for male child (iii) Patrilineal society
Replacement Level

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* Kerala and Tamil Nadu: Zero/stabilised level due to literacy.
* Uttar Pradesh: Very high replacement level (4:1); it can be good increase in youth
population.
Low Fertility Rate
* Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar,
Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh (Mostly northern states due to desire for male child).
Age Structure of Indian Population
* 0-15 years - Youth Population
* 15-64 years - Working Population
* Above 64 years - Old/Retired Population
* Demographic Dividend: Working population is higher than the non-working
population.
* Kerala: Good age structure ~ increase in working population, the literacy rate is very
high, so they are educated about economic growth.
* Uttar Pradesh: Increase in working population because of large working youth
population, decreasing aged population.
* Demographic Dividend can be maintained by better education, awareness etc.
Advantage-current working population is large and it has a relatively small aged
population to support.
The Declining Sex Ratio in India
* Number of females per thousand males of a population.
* Child sex ratio-Number of girls per thousand boys.
* Sex ratio has always been a concern in India.
Reasons for declining sex ratio:
(i) Mindset of the people
(ii) Neglect of girl child
(iii) Female foeticide/infanticide
(iv) Maternal mortality rates-women die during child birth.
* The child sex ratio is still very scary as there is a drastic fall.
* Prosperous states such as Punjab and Haryana have maximum female infanticide and
down with burning because
Dowry is very high and parents want to save money.

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People want only 2 or 3 boys, therefore when they get a girl, they kill it and have a
boy.
* Sonography: to know the sex of the child.
* The Pre Natal Diagnostic Technique Act/Regulation and Prevention of Misuse Act
which came up in 1996 and was later enforced in 2003.
* This does not allow the sex of the child to be known.
Literacy
* Literacy is the ability to read or write.
* Education is a combination of formal and informal education.
* Kerala has the maximum literacy rate whereas Rajasthan and Northern states have low
literacy rate.
* There are three categories:
(i) Gender: more males are literate to females but it is becoming higher.
(ii) Social Group: higher income families have more literacy level than those with lower
income families. Government is trying to bridge the gap through reservation for SC's and
ST's.
(iii) Regions: Kerala has high literacy level as compared to Rajasthan, Bihar which have
low literacy level.
Rural-Urban Differences
* There is migration from rural areas to urban areas as there are better job
opportunities etc.
* 68.8% of our population still lives in rural areas.
* Though agriculture is the main activity in rural areas, there are many non agricultural
activities, such as post office, teaching, small businesses, transport and communication.
* Reasons for migration from rural to urban areas:
Mass media is responsible for making the rural area aware of the urban area and one of
the causes of migration from rural to urban.
Many resources of the rural areas is being taken away. Such as rivers drying up, I
land due to construction is making them move to urban areas. '
In urban areas there is anonymity and no one cares about caste etc.
People who are not educated can pick up any job they like in urban areas.
* Metropolis: City with infrastructure and the suburbs are different.
* Megapolis: City with infrastructure and the suburbs are included, for example, NCR.

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Population Policy of India
* In 1952 the National Family Planning Programme (NFPP) was introduced.
* It tried to influence the rate and pattern of population in socially desirable direction.
* Its objectives were:
Population should be controlled and awareness should be spread in a way which is
socially desirable.
Control the birth/reduce birth rate through birth control methods.
* During emergency by Indira Gandhi (1975-76) All fundamental rights are taken away.
Press was censored.
Anybody could be put in jail without a trial.
Mass sterilization programme was introduced by Sanjay Gandhi, the younger son of the
then prime minister of India Mrs. Indira Gandhi to control population.
In this tubectomy was performed for women and vasectomy for men was conducted in a
very haphazard manner.
All government teachers, doctors were under a lot of stress due to the mass sterilization
camp.
It was renewed as National Family Welfare Programme (NFWP).
In this people could only be sterilized if the people agree to do it and their signature was
needed.

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