An overview of data from Population census- A & N Islands

An old post which was written in November 2004. It could not be published since the Tsunami struck. And the draft was lost in the computer.  but traced back now.
Population census: Andaman & Nicobar Islands- an overview

Why Port Blair can be a better place to live in.

The census data has been published now. But for whole set of data, we have to wait more.  

The A & N Islands has a very peculiar setup altogether, given its geographical scattered-ness/ spread in the Bay of Bengal. This consists of numerous islands (including rocks) numbering more than 500. Few are inhabited and are separated by the deep-sea creeks.

However, the population comes out as 356000(census 2001). This projects the immense possibilities and potential for collecting data on various aspects, which due to some inherent problem of the census we are unable to collect. The left out portion of information on the populace can provide various insights on the socio-cultural set up of the population settled in these islands. This was initially started as the penal settlement during the British Raj for the political prisoners and freedom fighters. This territory has the distinction of hoisting the national flag prior the India got Independence. None other than our hero of freedom struggle the great Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose unfurled the flag. This part had been a occupied territory of Japanese, later freed by the British and again got freedom, when India became independent. Since then the place has been inhabited by the influx of the population.

Looking at the village summary of the A & N Islands census 2001 data, there was one table on population wise distribution of the villages. Table provided data on 1991 and 2001. In 1991 the number of villages having population of 1 to 200 were 284 that has decreased to 273 in 2001 census. Similarly the number of villages having population in bracket of 201 to 500 has also decreased from 95 in 1991 to 89 in 2001. Same is the case for the villages having population of 501 to 1000. Does this indicate anything?

The size of the population in the habitations is increasing at high pace. Most of the villages acquired the size of 1001- 2000 and 2001 to 5000. This has significance in light of the population growth rate. I mean that the population in villages has grown at high pace so that the number of villages having population of above 1000 has increased in this decade.

One of the comfort index for life is essentially the availability of drinking water. In Andaman and Nicobar Islands, 76% household have Tap water as source of drinking water. Since 86% household have source of water within or near their premises and only 14 percent have it away from their premises. This fact alone keeps this UT of Andaman at a unique place, Considering the remote and geographical spread of the Islands in Sea 

Sex ratio	2001	%	1991	%
<750	132	26.35	127	25.20
751- 900	165	32.93	183	36.31
901 - 1000	129	25.75	118	23.41
1001-1200	46	9.18	48	9.52
1200+	29	5.79	28	5.56
total	501		504

SEX RATIO:  The villages having sex ratio of less than 750 have increased in this decade. There are now 132 villages having the sex ratio <750 in comparison of 1991 census.

Now looking at the percentage distribution of the villages according to the sex ratio there is minute change. Does this indicate something? The sector working in the field of women empowerment and also for mother and child or in social sector, can very well say that the sex ratio is on decline. This is a situation of caution.

The sex ratio has declined in the category of 1000 to 1200 bracket. The data shows that the no of villages having the sex ratio of <750 has increased in the decade that is not at all good sign.

The ratio of women to the males overall has shown a decline. This should have to be looked into. As to what factors are responsible for decline in the sex ratio. This number should increase in the higher bracket, such as 1000 or above.  However there are many villages having sex ratio more than or equal to 1000 in A & N Islands.

Household and houses

                As per the 2001 census there are 104222 census houses in A & N Islands and out of these only 94196 houses are occupied and 10,026 are vacant census houses. Similarly, in rural areas there are 71,836 census houses out of which 64,744 are occupied. In Urban area out of 32,386 census houses 29,452 are occupied. Out of the occupied census houses only 74.92 percent houses are actual residence or are used as residence. On the other hand 1.97 percent houses are used as residence cum other uses.

Out of the total Census houses in A& N Islands about Ninety percent house are occupied and rest are vacant. Out of these ninety percent occupied houses only 75 percent houses are actually used for residential purpose, eight percent are shops/ business offices, approximately 2 percent houses are used as residence cum other uses. While 10 percent of the occupied houses are used as other non-residence purposes, there are 1.19 percent houses, which are used as temple and other places of worship. Occupied Houses which are used for residence cum other purposes, are more in rural areas (2.04%) than in urban area (1.81%).

There are 73062 households in A & N Islands and about 51 percent households are in owned houses, while 22 percent households are living in rented houses. Out of the 20048 households in the municipal council of Port Blair, 40.61 percent live in owned houses while 42.85 percent households live in rented houses.

Most of the houses in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are having two rooms. About 40 percent households have two dwelling rooms and 31 percent households have only one dwelling room. Approximately 2 percent households have six or more dwelling rooms. Same trend is in Port Blair municipal council area where about 41 percent households have two dwelling rooms and 36 percent households have only one. About three percent households don’t have any exclusive room.

About half of the households residing in the Port Blair municipal area are living in the rented houses and only half of the households own the houses.  Among the rented houses there are 44 percent households enjoying separate one room, while out of the owned houses only 30 percent households have one room.

Out of total households, 72 percent have single married couples in A &N Islands, this percent in west Bengal is 74.5 and 70.7 in Sikkim. This reflects on our social behavior that indicates that society at large prefers the nuclear family instead of combined family across the states.

In A & N Islands the percentage of households with two married couples is 7.  While percent of households having three married couples is one and only 0.08 percent households had five or more married couples in single households. 

COMFORTABLE PLACE( for couples) TO LIVE IN:-

One of the “comfort indicators” for any place may be thought of as having an independent sleeping room by the married couples. People in Mumbai very well know the value of living space (read as freedom space)

In A & N Islands, Out of total married couples 60 percent have independent sleeping rooms. This percent is 57 and 51 in respect of the West Bengal and Sikkim respectively.  In A& N there is sharp difference in the availability of independent sleeping room to married couples vis-à-vis Urban and Rural. In Urban area of A&N islands this percentage is 71.4 and for rural it is 55.21, District wise the percent is 64.14 for Andaman and 30.86 in Nicobar. 

 

Does that show any indication of housing problem or any difference in the housing pattern among the districts. In the municipal council alone the 71.33 percent of married couples enjoy the privilege of independent sleeping room. As per the census definition the room exclusively under possession of household is to be counted under this category. May be in Nicobar mostly houses are in shape of Hut or katcha type hence the counting of the separate dwelling rooms becomes difficult, Resulting in this type of statistic. However the cultural practices have influence on usage of rooms or a house(especially as we are looking at a room exclusive for use for a couple).  If we see the tribal village with the eyes of so called our civilized view, then there bound to be lot of difference. Each civilization has its own yardstick for everything. Therefore inferences on such type of statistics are to be drawn in that context only and not to be generalized.

While I was developing upon this abstract, on 26^th December 2004 the tsunami and quake hit the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Devastation is unknown and cannot be assessed soon. In Nicobar District several islands faced the tidal waves and lost many lives. Loss is still unknown. However estimated figures have to be yet to be ascertained. 

 

As per 2001 census, the population of Carnicobar was 20000 in 17 habitations, whereas the population of the Nancowry block was 22000 comprising of 156 habitations. The Campellbay with 4000 people and Malacca with 3000 people were the two habitations with largest population. Other habitations were having population less than 2000. Still few deaths will be un-accounted for.

URBANISATION:-

Urbanisation is considered as a global phenomenon. There was only one urban centre in Andaman Nicobars and it was the city of Port Blair having population of 75000. In census 2001, Two census towns made their entry on the map. The ward no 1 of the Garacharma panchayat which was a neighborhood of the Port Blair City, grew in bounds and acquired the status of census town with the population more than 9000. Whereas another hub close by but accessible by a sea route of 5 to 10 minutes also grew and acquired the status of census town with a population of almost 7000. These two are the best example of pace of urbanization in Andamans. Port Blair the capital city was only 15 less from 1 lakh mark of population. It is buzzing with more than 22 thousands households and more than 37% of work participation rate.  Female work participation rate is just 15% whereas the percentage of female share in city population is almost 45%.

Work participation rates are about 36% and 31% for Garacharma and Bambooflat respectively. In both census towns the share of female population is almost 46 %. The female Work participation rate is 18 and 14 in Garacharma and bambooflat respectively.  

Census town		literacy	work participation	% female popln	female work participation
Port Blair	99984	77.08	36.75	44.62	14.92
Garacharma (CT) - Ward No.1	9427	75.36	35.70	46.79	18.36
Bambooflat (CT)	6787	71.75	30.87	46.63	13.84