Sikkim’s population has grown a slim 12% over the last 10 years


MORE GIRLS BEING BORN IN SIKKIM THAN BOYS; UNDER 6-YEAR-OLDS MAKE UP 10% OF THE POPULATION

source:SIKKIM NOW
GANGTOK: The latest Census data should spread some cheer among those who see influx as a threat to Sikkim – the decadal population growth in Sikkim from 2001 to 201 has been a 12.36%, a substantial drop from the 33.07% population growth recorded in the previous decade 1991 to 2001. The nation’s population by comparison has grown by 13.12% over this decade [2001-2011].
Of course, this revelation also pulls the rug from under the feet of those who have been flagging “influx” as a threat, specially when one considers the fact that a sizeable chunk of this population growth over the past decade has been of newborns, with children under the age of 6 making up slightly over 10% of the total population.
The largest population explosion in Sikkim was recorded in the decade of 1971-81 when the population increased by 50.77%.

Among the districts, East Sikkim recorded the highest population growth between 2001 to 2011 at 14.80% [down from 37.32% growth in 1991-2001], and the lowest population growth of 5.67% has been recorded in North Sikkim. In the last decade of 1991-2001, North Sikkim’s population had grown by 31.34%. The slump in North Sikkim’s growth rate needs deeper enquiry because it is obviously below even the population replacement growth rate and unless it is explained to out-migration to other districts, warrants special attention.
As per the provisional Census 2011 data released today, Sikkim has posted a total population of 6,07,688 made up of 3,21,661 males and 2,86,027 females.
Since 2001, Sikkim has added 66,837 [12.36%] people to its population; 33,177 new males [11.50% of the total population] and 33,660 females [13.34%].
As one would have noticed, the number of females in the population growth is marginally higher and this has contributed to a slightly improved sex ratio in the State. There are now 889 women against every 1,000 males. This sex ration was 875 to 1,000 in 2001.
Among the districts, West Sikkim has the best sex ratio of 941 ladies for every 1000 men. This was 929 to 1000 ten years ago. The worst performing in this indicator is North Sikkim which has barely 769 females to 1,000 males. Even this is a slight improvement over the figures for 2001 when it was 750-1,000.
East Sikkim has a sex ratio of 872:1,000 against the 844-1,000 in 2001 and South Sikkim has 914 females against 1,000 males. This is the only district to post a fall in the sex-ratio. Ten years back this comparison was 927:1,000.
The ladies are improving in literacy indicators. Although the total number of literate women at 76.43% is still lower than the literacy rate of 87.30% of the males, the ladies have shown a stronger improvement, having grown from 60.41% in 2001 against the 76.04% males who were literate at that time. Sikkim’s overall literacy rate stands at 82.20%.
The worst performing in literacy indicators is North Sikkim with 77.39% literacy which also has the lowest female literacy rate of 69.92%.
East district stands on top with 84.67% followed by south district [82.07%] and west district [78.69%].
Interestingly, against a total population growth in the last 10 years of 66,837 people, children under the age of 6 make up 61,077 [10.05%]. Of these toddlers, 31,418 [9.77% of the male population] are boys and 29,659 [10.37% of the female population] girls.
These figures were presented during the official release of the “Provisional Population Totals Paper-1 of Census 2011” for Sikkim, which was released by the HRD Minister, NK Pradhan, today.
Addressing the function, the Minister mentioned that the data has presented positive indicators for Sikkim and attested that the developmental model in place here was working well.
On the fall in the growth rate, he pointed out that the decline was a national trend and shows that the efforts and programmes of the central and state governments were bearing fruit.
The Minister also mentioned that the increase in the literacy levels could also be one of the factors leading to the decrease in the growth rate, arguing that once the literacy levels rose, birth rates came down.
He stressed that now it was the duty of the planning sector of the country to work with these figures to make the future of the country even brighter.
Director of Census Operations, Sikkim, Bhagwan Shankar, mentioned that in the coming days, figures on other parameters collected in the Census will be released.
He also highlighted the various figures included in the provisional populations totals and mentioned that the state has been doing well in all indicators.

[SAGAR CHHETRI]