Assam's population growth rate declines

NEW DELHI, March 26: In a significant development with wider ramifications, the Northeastern States including Assam (barring Nagaland) have shown a decline in population growth rate, according to the results of the provisional Census report 2001, released here this evening. Contrary to widespread apprehension that the population of Assam may again mark a sharp growth, it has been revealed by the Census report that population of Assam has reached 2.66 crore (26,638,407) marking a growth of 13.85 per cent. This marks a decrease in growth rate which was recorded at 24.24 per cent according to 1981-1991 Census. The male population reached 13,787,799, while the female population has reached 12,850,608. The population density of Assam has, however, shown an increase and recorded at 340 persons per square km from 286 per sq km in 1991. The State's literacy rate has increased to 64.28 per cent, with more male literate (77.58 per cent) than female (56.03) per cent. What has come as a surprise to the Census officials was that Nagaland has shown a sudden jump in decadal population growth rates of 64.41 per cent from 56.08 per cent in 1981-1991, indicating that the State may be the next victim of illegal infiltration from across the border. The population of the State has reached 1.99 crore (1,988,636). The density of population per square km in Nagaland has also recorded an increase to 120 from 73 persons. Another significant revelation was that Tripura, one of the worst infiltration-affected State, has shown a decadal decrease in population growth rate from 34.30 per cent to 15.74 per cent in 2001 census. The State's density of population per square km, however, continue to increase from 263 to 304 persons. The other States in the Northeast recorded the following population: Arunachal Pradesh (1,091,117), Manipur (2,388,634), Mizoram (891,058), Meghalaya (2,306,069). Mizoram in the Northeast is the second highest literate State with 88.49 per cent of its population being literate and it is next only to Kerala which has a literacy rate of 90.92 per cent. Announcing the provisional Census report, the Director General of Census Commissioner JK Bansial said that the country's population has crossed the billion mark and stood at 1,027,015,247, exceeding even the estimated growth rate by 14 million. Significantly, West Bengal, another State seriously affected by infiltration, has been declared as the most densely-populated State in the country with 904 persons living per square km followed by Bihar with 808 persons. Replying to questions he said that the full break-up and analysis of the population pattern would be available in about two years time as all the details from the village level are to be computed. He, however gave a error margin of 1 to two per cent to the provisional figures of the population released today. Uttar Pradesh continues to be the most populous State in the country with 16.7 per cent of India's population followed by Maharastra (9.42 per cent) and Bihar (8.07 per cent).