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CCHHAAPPTTEERR VV

SSEEXX RRAATTIIOO

5.1 INTRODUCTION

Sex ratio of human population is one of the basic demographic

characteristics, which is extremely vital for any meaningful demographic

analysis. Indian census has the tradition of bringing out disaggregated

information by sex on various aspects of population. Primarily it is the simple

count of males and females. Many socio-economic relationships intimately

related to the balance or disparity between the number of males and females

(Trewartha, 1969). Changes in sex composition largely reflect the underlying

socio-economic and cultural patterns of a society in different ways.

Sex composition of population is one of the key factors in a country’s

development and has both demographic and social implications. The proportion

of males and females in the population affect the social and economic

relationships within a region. Further data for sex ratio helps in various types of

planning and for the analysis of other demographic indicators like fertility,

mortality, migration and economic structure.

Sex composition is of great interest to the population geographers. Sex

ratio is a noteworthy demographic and cultural index. The ratio can reflect

biological, social, economic and migrational characteristics of population. A

vast imbalance in the sex ratio would tend to result in lower fertility and slower

growth. Important deviation from a balanced sex ratio originates from various

social and demographic factors. An analysis of sex ratio is important for a

proper understanding of various demographic characteristics of any region,

while sex ratio is an index to the economy prevailing in an area and is a

useful tool for regional analysis of other demographic elements like,

population growth, marriage rates, occupational structure, fertility rates, etc.

(Franklin, 1956).

Sex ratio generally influences the form and tempo of life in any country.

The balance between the sexes is an important aspect of population structure.

Trewartha (1953) observes the proportion of two sexes is fundamental to

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geographic analysis because it is an important demographic feature, which

influences the other demographic parameters significantly and also provides an

additional means for analysing the regional landscape.

Sex ratio is an important factor for determining the death rate of any

population. Women generally have lower death rates than men at most ages in

most countries. If females constitute more than half of the population, the total

death rate is considerably affected. The scarcity of either men or women of

adult age will reduce the marriage rate; and this will in turn affect the crude

birth rate.

It is clear from the earlier discussion that sex ratio is influenced by birth

rate, death rate and migration. Apart from these factors, natural calamities like

war, famine, earthquake and so on will have their effects on sex ratio. It also

depends on the status of women, nature of enumeration of sexes in a particular

population of an area. It is observed that the countries that were involved in

first and second World Wars had, therefore, more female population than

males, because males fought war and many males died in these wars. The wars

not only caused the high mortality among men but also reduced birth rate.

Likewise, epidemic like plague, influenza, malaria, cholera etc. considerably

changed the sex ratio. India has suffered from this kind of situation in the early

part of the twentieth century.

Of all the demographic attributes of population, the sex structure is one

of the most fundamental and directly related to the reproductive potential of the

humankind, deaths and marriages (United Nations, 1973).

In the present chapter, the attempt is made to provide an understanding

of the spatio-temporal trends in the sex ratio of human population in the study

region and its fluctuation over decades along with the comparative analysis of

India, the state of Maharashtra and the study region. All the relevant data

required for the purpose taken from the Census of India 1901 to 2001.

5.2 THE CONCEPT OF SEX RATIO

Sex ratio refers simply to the number of females per thousand male

population. Sex composition constitutes one of the most readily observable

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elements of population. It is an important aspect of population composition that

sets the future rates of fertility, mortality and migration.

The sex ratio is a function of three basic factors, i.e. sex ratio at birth,

differentials in mortality between sexes at different stages of life and sex

selective migration (Clarke, 1960). Primary sex ratio is the sex ratio at the time

of conception, secondary sex ratio is the ratio at the time of birth and tertiary

sex ratio is the ratio found at the time of enumeration (Ghosh, 1985).

The Indian censuses define sex ratio as the number of females per 1000

males. Influenced mainly by sex differential in mortality and migration and the

sex ratio at birth it is the basic social indicator to measure the prevailing equity

between males and females.

5.3 TRENDS IN SEX RATIO

It is a biological fact that more males are born than females. This does

not mean that all the regions have similar natural sex ratio. Males have

dominated sex ratio for population of India since long. In 1901, sex ratio for

India was 972 females per thousand males, since then the number of females

consistently declined except for few decades, so that in 2001, sex ratio for India

reached at 933 females per thousand males. In India, though mortality among

male children is high, sex ratio does not become balanced. Infant mortality

among females is higher than that among males. Likewise, maternal mortality

among females is quite high. Because of inadequate attention given towards

upbringing of children, mortality among female children is quite high. Besides,

due to high maternal mortality, life expectancy of females is low. Among those

dying due to epidemic diseases, and due to inadequate medical facilities,

proportion of female is quite high. Their number in total population declines

because of these reasons.

Sex ratio also varies from states in various parts of India. According to

2001 census, sex ratio for Kerala was 1058, followed by Tamil Nadu with 986.

On the other hand, it was the lowest in Haryana, which was 861, for Punjab and

Sikkim it was 874. Sex ratio for Maharashtra in 2001 was 922. In Kerala, both

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birth rate and death rate are low in comparison to those of the other sates of

India. Female mortality is relatively low due to availability of sound medical

facilities. Union Territories like Daman and Div (709), Chandigarh (773) Dadra

Nagar Haveli (811) also have a very low sex ratio, whereas Delhi, which is the

capital of India, has only 821.

Table 5.1

Trends in Sex Ratio (1901 to 2001)

Decades India Decadal

Variation Maharashtra

Decadal

Variation

Pune

Division

Decadal

Variation

1901 972 - 978 - 991 -

1911 964 -8 966 -12 977 -14

1921 956 -8 950 -16 964 -13

1931 952 -4 947 -3 969 5

1941 947 -5 949 2 969 0

1951 948 1 941 -8 975 6

1961 943 -5 936 -5 970 -5

1971 931 -12 930 -6 962 -8

1981 934 3 937 7 975 13

1991 927 -7 934 -3 963 -12

2001 933 6 922 -12 951 -12 Source : Census of India of concern years and concern regions.

Table 5.1 reveals the trends in sex ratio for India, Maharashtra and

Pune Division. Generally, from the above table, it is observed that the sex ratio

for all these hierarchical regions recorded the declining trends. There are too

many reasons behind it. Mostly the men-dominant community is the root cause

of this, throughout ancient India this is the basic reason for declining number of

females in the total population and many other reasons are tots of this. All these

hierarchical regions showed almost the same trends in the sex ratio, whereas

the study region i.e. Pune Division showed the better proportion of females as

compared to those of the nation and the state.

In general, it is found that, there is very dreadful condition of the

number of female population per thousand of male population. Today,

Government of India and many NGOs in the state, districts and tahsils have

started to implement many policies and awareness campaigns to stick out this

dreadful situation.

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Figure 5.1 clearly gives an idea about the trends in sex ratio for all three

hierarchical regions. From the above figure, declining trends in the sex ratio for

India, Maharashtra and Pune Division is clearly seen. The state of Maharashtra

showed almost the same trend as that of the nation, while the study region, i.e.

Pune Division showed highest sex ratio in all the investigated decades as

compared to those of India and Maharashtra, but it is also in declining manner.

We can comment that the decline in the sex ratio in the study region is less than

sex ratio those in the state and the nation.

In 1901, the sex ratio for India was 972, which came down and reached

at 933 in 2001. Sex ratio of Maharashtra (978) was quite high than that of India

in 1901 but it went down up to 922 in 2001. On the other hand, Pune Division

had 991 females per thousand males in 1901, which was the highest throughout

the investigation period and also highest in all three hierarchical regions. It also

declined in 2001 and went down up to 951, but still it was the highest than

those of the state and nation.

Figure 5.2 shows the decadal variations in sex ratio for the investigated

century for all the three hierarchical regions. Interestingly, it shows maximum

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columns in the downward direction, while only few columns went upward. It

means there were more negative fluctuations than the positive fluctuations in

the sex ratio for investigated century in all the three hierarchical regions.

1971-81 is only the decade, which showed the positive variation in the

sex ratio for India, Maharashtra state and Pune Division collectively. Apart

from that, during the decade 1921-31, Pune Division had positive fluctuation,

while Maharashtra and India had declining trends in the number of females per

1000 male. Moreover, in 1931-41, India showed a negative trend in sex ratio,

whereas Maharashtra experienced some positive trend and Pune Division

showed some kind of stability in the sex ratio. During the decade 1941-51,

India and Pune Division showed up growing trends in the sex ratio, while

Maharashtra state showed declining trend. Furthermore, during the decade

1991-2001, sex ratio for both Maharashtra state and Pune Division showed a

negative trend, whereas sex ratio for India during this decade recorded positive

trend. Otherwise, sex ratio for all these three hierarchical regions continuously

declined throughout the investigated century.

5.3.1 PRE-INDEPENDENCE PERIOD

During the very first decade of the investigated century i.e. 1901-1911,

India, Maharashtra and Pune Division experienced highest number of females

per thousand males. Besides, Pune Division recorded 991 females per thousand

males, which is the highest number of females in any studied regions as well as

any other investigated decades of the century. Likewise, Maharashtra state had

also recorded 978 females per thousand males, which is slightly higher than

that of the nation. Sex ratio for India in 1901 was 972.

From 1911, the decline in the sex ratio started for all the hierarchical

regions and was it continued throughout the century except few decades. In the

1911, the highest fluctuation observed in Pune Division with decline of 14

females, after that in Maharashtra, there was declined by 12 females per

thousand males and reached up to 977 for Pune Division and 966 females per

1000 males for Maharashtra. Sex ratio for India declined by eight females and

reached to 964 from 972.

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As we know the decade 1921 was great distinctive decade in the Indian

census, the growth rate of the population in this decade showed negative trends.

Epidemics, famines and other natural calamities in this decade affected the

mortality rate of the population particularly the females; hence, in this decade

Maharashtra showed highest variations throughout the century. Sex ratio

declined by 16 females for Maharashtra and reached at 950 from 966. Pune

Division recorded 964 females per thousand males, which was declined by 13.

Sex ratio for India, during this decade also declined by eight females and

reached from 964 to 956.

In the 1931, the fluctuation showed declining trend but in slower manner

as compared to those of earlier few decades, not only that but sex ratio for Pune

division also showed some positivity as compared to that of the last decade.

Sex ratio for Pune Division increased by five and reached at 969. Sex ratio

for India and Maharashtra still showed some negativity but not much as

those in the earlier decades. India recorded decrease in Sex ratio by four and

Maharashtra by three. India and Maharashtra had 952 and 947 females per

thousand males respectively during this census.

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In the last decade of the pre-independence period i.e. 1941, the sex ratio

showed some interesting trends in the three hierarchical regions. Sex ratio for

India showed still negative trend, with declined by five it reached up to 947.

Maharashtra state showed some positivity in the sex ratio and with increase by

only two recorded 949. Apart from this, Pune Division without any increase or

decrease kept constant sex ratio as that in the earlier decade and stick up to 969.

5.3.2 EARLY POST-INDEPENDENCE PERIOD

1951 was the first census year of liberated India. In this decade, India as

a whole showed some kind of rise in the female population. During this decade,

sex ratio for India increased only by one and reached 948. Sex ratio for Pune

division showed highest increase in this decade by six females and went up to

975. On the contrary, only Maharashtra state in this decade recorded decline in

the sex ratio by eight females and was 941.

In 1961, trends in the sex ratio again showed some negativity along with

some equality. It means all the hierarchical regions showed negative trends in

their sex ratio as compared to that of the last decade and sex ratio for all the

hierarchical regions decreased by five females per thousand males each.

Because of this decrease, sex ratio for India was 943, for Maharashtra it was

936 and for Pune division it was 970.

In 1971, sex ratio for India recorded the highest decrease throughout the

investigated century by 12 females and reached up to 931. Maharashtra state

and Pune division also showed negative trends in the sex ratio. Sex ratio for

Pune Division declined by eight females and reached up to 962. Sex ratio of

Maharashtra decreased by six females and came down to 930.

5.3.3 LATE POST-INDEPENDENCE PERIOD

Up to the last decade, i.e. 1971 the overall fall in the sex ratio for India

was 41, for Maharashtra it was 48, and for Pune Division it was 29. This

declining trend is big cause of worry for the developing country like India,

hence Government of India and some Non Government authorities started

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policies and programmes to stop this decrease, but the impact is not uniform in

all the regions of India due to traditional frame of mind of Indian community.

1981 was the only census, which showed positive trends in all the three

hierarchical regions. The highest increase in the sex ratio by 13 females was

observed in Pune Division. In the last decade of early post-independence

period, sex ratio for Pune Division was 962, which reached to 975. It was

mostly due to the out migration of population towards Mumbai, the capital of

Maharashtra state, which is nearest to Pune. Sex ratio of Maharashtra was

recorded as 937, with increase by seven as compared to that in the earlier

decade, while sex ratio for India reached up to 934 form 931 females per

thousand males, it means that the sex ratio for India increased by only 3.

Positive trend in the sex ratio during last decade was not continued in

the next decade of 1991. During this decade, all the hierarchical regions again

showed negativity in the trends in sex ratio. In the last decade, highest increase

in the sex ratio was found in Pune division, which was 13, but during this

decade sex ratio for Pune Division declined by 12 and came down to 963. Sex

ratio for India declined by seven females and reached up to 927. Sex ratio of

Maharashtra state also showed some decline by three and came down to 934.

In the last decade of the investigation century, Maharashtra and Pune

division recorded sex ratio of 922 and 951 respectively. It was again showed

negative trends and sex ratio for Maharashtra and Pune Division declined by 12

each as compared to that in the earlier decade. Only India recorded some

positive trend in the sex ratio, and reached up to 933 with an increase by six. It

has been observed that policies for the increasing birth of the girl child were

progressively adopted by the other states, however, Maharashtra state is still far

behind it.

Overall, decline in the sex ratio since 1901 was observed as the highest

(56 females) for Maharashtra as compared to those for India (39 females) and

Pune Division (40 females). It means that, all the three hierarchical regions

showed decline in the sex ratio by almost above 40 females, such decrease in

the sex ratio has created very alarming conditions. It is, therefore, necessary to

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put focus on this problem and policies and programmes have to be strongly

implemented to increase the percentage of female in the population, to reduce

female mortality, and to Save the Baby Girl for keeping further balance in the

sex composition.

5.4 DISTRICT-WISE TRENDS IN SEX RATIO (1901-2001)

In the year 2001, the sex ratio for Maharashtra was 922, it was very

much less than the other states of India. Tamil Nadu (986), Andhra Pradesh

(978), Orissa (972), Karnataka (964), Goa (960) these are few neighbouring

states of Maharashtra, which recorded superior sex ratio than that of

Maharashtra. There was an overall decline in the sex ratio in Maharashtra by 56

females since 1901, which was the highest as compared to many states in India.

The study region i.e. Pune Division consists the five districts, which

showed overall sex ratio as 951 females per thousand males. It means that the

study region had some better situation than the state average. From the analysis

of these districts’ data, it was found that Satara district was more favourable to

females followed by Kolhapur and Sangli. Pune and the Solapur districts were

not as favourable as the other three districts. Table 5.2 shows the district-wise

changes in the sex ratio over last century and also the decadal variation in it.

Table 5.2

District-Wise Sex Ratio (1901-2001)

Decades Pune D.V. Satara D.V. Sangli D.V. Kolhapur D.V. Solapur D.V.

1901 979 - 1031 - 984 - 975 - 985 -

1911 977 -2 1025 -6 951 -33 967 -8 967 -18

1921 957 -20 1030 5 942 -9 946 -21 943 -24

1931 952 -5 1006 -24 950 8 952 6 935 -8

1941 948 -4 1035 29 954 4 968 16 942 7

1951 934 -14 1051 16 968 14 970 2 945 3

1961 944 10 1047 -4 957 -11 967 -3 936 -9

1971 933 -11 1037 -10 949 -8 959 -8 933 -3

1981 937 4 1061 24 967 18 967 8 942 9

1991 933 -4 1029 -32 958 -9 961 -6 934 -8

2001 919 -14 995 -34 957 -1 949 -12 935 1 Note : D. V. = Decadal Variation

Source : Census of India of concern years and concern regions.

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It is clear from the table 5.2 that the trends in the sex ratio were not the

same in all the districts. Spatial as well as temporal changes are observed in the

sex ratio.

High sex ratio can be attributed to, (i) the region have male-selective

migration to urban areas of the state. Such male selective migration into the

urban areas is attributed to (a) prejudice against female employment and

mobility, (b) scarcity of jobs suitable for females and (c) problems of housing

and high cost of living in urban centres, which discouraged many male

migrants not take their families with them, (ii) due to the improvement in

medical facilities, female infant mortality rate decreased as well as female

longevity has also increased, (iii) females according to traditional views are

supported to be caretakers of households and also as a good agricultural labour

force (Chandana, 1986). Due to these facts, sex ratio of all these districts

was in between 900 and 1050, throughout the investigated century.

Figure 5.3 exposes the facts about district wise sex ratio for all the five

districts. It is clearly indicated that, Pune, Sangli, Kolhapur and Solapur

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districts showed almost the same trends in the sex ratio with some ups and

downs, while Satara was the only district, which showed different trend in sex

ratio in the investigated century. Sex ratio for Satara district was recorded

always above 1000 females per thousand males during 1901 to 1991, only in

the 2001 the sex ratio for Satara came down to 995 females per thousand

males. According to figure 5.3, sex ratio for Satara declined by 66 females

during last twenty years of the century. Satara has basically a hilly topography;

therefore, limited agricultural development, urbanisation and industrialisation

rate of this district is also low. Hence, out migration rate of the male population

in search of earning was high in the mid-century. On the other hand, Pune

district showed the highest decline in the sex ratio since 1901. This district

came forward as a most urbanised district in the study region over the decade,

therefore, rate of industrialisation was also high. Hence, the immigration rate of

male population had increased rapidly, which is the basic reason behind decline

in the sex ratio in the district.

Kolhapur district showed some better condition of the number of

females in total population. The figure 5.3 further reveals that Solapur district

had consistently lower sex ratio throughout the century and decline rate in sex

ratio since 1901 was also high next to that of Pune district.

Figure 5.4 put focus on the decadal fluctuations in the sex ratio in the

districts in the study region. According to this figure, the picture was very clear

that, only few decades of the mid century, sex ratio showed some positivity,

otherwise in the entire investigation period decadal fluctuation recorded

negative trends and it continued in the very first decade in the twenty-first

century also.

Only during 1971-81 decade, the sex ratio for all the districts in Pune

division has shown positive change. Apart from that, Satara district showed

some tall columns in the figure indicating positive change. During 1931-41 and

1941-51, the decadal variations showed some positivity in all the districts in the

study region except that of Pune district, whereas in 1951-61 decade, only Pune

district showed increase in the sex ratio than the other districts.

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It is interesting to note that Satara district had comparatively highest sex

ratio during all over the century except last two decades. Decrease in the sex

ratio of Satara district was found in the last twenty years (1981-2001).

5.4.1 PRE-INDEPENDENCE PERIOD

In the pre independence period, sex ratio for all the districts in the study

region was in general high. However, it declined over decades and in 2001,

most of time it reached at the lowest level.

In 1901, Satara district recorded the highest sex ratio, i.e. 1031, followed

by, Solapur and Sangli districts with 985 and 984. Pune district had 979

females per 1000 males whereas, sex ratio for Kolhapur district stayed at the

lowest point in 1901 i.e. 975.

During 1911, Satara district with sex ratio as 1025 remained at the first

position, but there was decline of six females as compared to that in the last

decade. With a decline of only two females than the earlier decade, Pune

district jumped up at the second position and had 977 females per 1000 males.

Kolhapur and Solapur district showed same sex ratio for the year 1911, both

had 967 females per 1000 males each, but taking into consideration the decadal

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variation, sex ratio of Solapur district declined with 18 females, while decline

in sex ratio of Kolhapur district was only of eight females. Apart from that,

Sangli district had 951 females per 1000 males and recorded horrible change in

the sex ratio in 1911, as compared to that of the previous decade with decline

of 33.

During the 1911-21, when the population growth of the India, and also

study region experienced negative trend due to various reasons during that

time, Satara district recorded some unbelievable changes in the sex ratio. Sex

ratio for Satara district increased with five females and reached up to 1030.

During this decade, only Satara district showed positive trends in the sex ratio,

while remaining districts continued their negative trend as in the previous

decade. Due to various epidemics, famines and other natural calamities, in this

decade, the sex ratio for Solapur, Kolhapur and Pune districts was reduced by

above 20. Solapur district has 943 females per 1000 males with highest decline

by 24 females as compared to that of the last decade, whereas Kolhapur district

was lagging with 21 females during this decade, and with this decline in sex

ratio, Kolhapur district reached at 946. Pune district had 957 females per 1000

males and if compared to that with the previous decade, there was total decline

of 20 females per thousand males.

The sex ratio for Satara district recorded the highest decrease in 1931,

and with decrease of 24, it was 1006. Along with this decrease, sex ratio for

Satara stayed above thousand and also kept the successive margin from other

districts in the study region. Sex ratio for Sangli and Kolhapur districts showed

some positive trends, whereas Pune and Solapur districts continued their

negative trends. Kolhapur district (952) experienced increase in the sex ratio by

six, while Sangli district (950) recorded increase in the sex ratio by eight. Pune

district had 952 females per 1000 males but showed negative change by

declined of five as compared to that of the earlier decade. During this decade

Solapur district was on the last position with sex ratio of 935 and decadal

reduction of eight.

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Even in this decade also, Satara district continuously kept the first

position in the sex ratio, which was always above 1000. In the last census

i.e. 1941 of the pre independence period, with the increase of 29 females per

thousand males, sex ratio of Satara again boosted up and reached at 1035. It

was observed that, during this decade Pune district alone showed some

negativity in the sex ratio, while all the remaining districts recorded increase in

the sex ratio. After Satara, Kolhapur district recorded highest increase in its sex

ratio by 19, and reached at 968. Solapur district had 942 with increase of seven

as compared to that of the last decade, likewise, Sangli district also showed

increase in the sex ratio with four and had 954 females per thousand males.

During this decade, negative change in the sex ratio was observed only in Pune

district, where, there was a decline in the sex ratio by four and the actual figure

was 948.

5.4.2 EARLY POST-INDEPENDENCE PERIOD

The temporal changes were always differing from the district to district.

In the very first decade of the post independence period i.e. 1951 census, for

only Pune district showed negative trend otherwise positive change was

observed in case of remaining districts. The sex ratio for Pune district was 934,

a reduction by 14 females. While sex ratio for Sangli district, was gained by 14

females and reached at 968 females per 1000 males. Kolhapur and Solapur

districts added two and three females respectively in their sex ratio, and their

sex ratio was 970 for Kolhapur and 945 for Solapur district, while Satara

district added 16 females to its sex ratio. In the last two decades, sex ratio for

Satara positively increased by 45 females and rested at top of the table with

1051.

There was adverse situation observed in the 1961 as compared to that of

the last decade. In the last decade, only Pune district showed negativity in the

sex ratio and other districts recorded increase in the sex ratio, but during this

decade, only Pune district recorded increase, while remaining districts recorded

decrease in the sex ratio. Sex ratio for Pune district reached at 944 with a gain

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of 10. Sangli district recorded highest decrease by eleven in the sex ratio;

likewise, Solapur district reduced its sex ratio by nine. Sex ratio for Sangli and

Solapur came down to 957 and 936 respectively. This time, after having

remarkable increase during the last two decades Satara district recorded

decrease in the sex ratio by four and rested at 1047, still more than the other

districts. Kolhapur district with the decline of three in the sex ratio had 967

females per 1000 males during 1961.

In the decade of 1961-71, sex ratio for all the districts of the study

region showed some equality in the negativity. It means all the districts, which

are investigated, recorded negative growth in the sex ratio during this decade.

Pune and Satara districts were ahead of other districts in the decline of sex

ratio. Highest reduction was found in Pune district, which was by 11, and the

sex ratio for Pune was 933. After Pune districts, Satara district with the decline

of 10 females and rested at 1037. Sangli and Kolhapur districts lost eight

females each in their sex ratio as compared to those of previous census, and the

sex ratio for these districts were 949 and 959 respectively. Only three females

were deducted from the previous sex ratio of Solapur districts, and with 933

females per 1000 males, maintained its last position.

5.4.3 LATE POST-INDEPENDENCE PERIOD

Very surprising temporal changes were observed during the census

1981. It is very interesting to note that, in the last decade, the negative trend

was found in all the districts in Pune Division, whereas in this decade, an

increase in the sex ratio was recorded in all the districts in the study region.

Moreover, this was the only decade, which showed an increasing trend in the

sex ratio for all the districts at the same time in the study region, throughout the

investigated century. The highest increase was observed again in Satara district

i.e. by 24 females per thousand males, and Sangli district recorded an increase

18 females in its sex ratio. Solapur and Kolhapur districts recorded an increase

of nine and eight females in the sex ratio respectively. Sex ratio for Pune

district increased from 933 to 937 as compared to the past decade. While,

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Satara again reached at it apex with 1061, this was the highest sex ratio

recorded by any district in any of the decade. Kolhapur and Sangli districts

recorded same number of females each i.e. 967, while Solapur district recorded

942 females per 1000 males.

In the 1991, sex ratio for all the districts continued to show declining

trend. Most horrible change was found in the sex ratio of Satara district, with a

decline of 32 females per 1000 males, it rested at 1029. Sex ratio of Kolhapur

district stood at second position with 961 with a decline of six females as

compared to the sex ratio of the past decade. Sangli district recorded 958

females per 1000 males with a decrease of nine females. Solapur (934) and

Pune (933) districts recorded almost the same sex ratio for this census, with a

decadal decrease of eight and four females respectively.

During the last decade of the investigation period i.e. 2001, Satara

district had a decline by 34 females and rested first time below 1000 i.e. 995

per thousand males. Apart from this, Pune district recorded 919 females per

1000 males, which was the lowest sex ratio recorded by any district during the

entire investigation period. Kolhapur district with a decrease of 12 females had

949 females per 1000 males. Sex ratio for Sangli district (957) was reduced by

only one female, while Solapur district (935) recorded increase of one female

in the sex ratio as compared to that of the last decade.

Overall, a declining trend in the sex ratio was seen since 1901 onwards

till 2001. Satara district showed most surprising changes in the sex ratio.

However, Satara had the highest sex ratio than any other districts in the study

region. On the other hand, Solapur district remained on the last position with

lowest sex ratio for most of the time. The sex ratio was declined in Pune district

(60 females) since 1901 to 2001, followed by Solapur district (50 females).

During the century, Satara districts lost 36 females per thousand males,

whereas Sangli and Kolhapur districts have lost 27 and 26 females respectively

per thousand males.

At the end of the investigation, this is clearly observed that, situation of

the females in the male dominated society is very poor, and it is becoming

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worse day by day and decade by decade. This is a bad situation, and has

created blockages for further development of our society and nation. Hence, it

is necessary to sort out this problem very urgently by implementing various

policies and programmes, awareness campaigns, providing necessary medical

and other supplementary facilities for women.

5.5 SPATIO-TEMPORAL CHANGES IN SEX RATIO

The district-wise analysis already tells the story about the dreadful

condition of the sex ratio in the study region. According to this analysis, it

is clearly shown that the sex ratio for the study region was high in the

pre-independence period, but it has dropped down to a very great extent during

the century.

Sex ratio for Satara district was always the highest, whereas Solapur

district recorded the lowest sex ratio throughout the investigated period. The

highest decline since 1901 was observed in Pune district, while in the 2001,

entire study region recorded lowest number of females per thousand males.

Hence, for the detail and micro level analysis tahsil-wise, spatio-temporal

analysis has been made in the research, it also helped to examine the

geographical and other factors affecting the sex ratio of the study region.

Table 5.3 focuses on the tahsil-wise sex ratio for the study region for the

last 30 years of the investigated century (1971-2001). The spatial patterns of

sex ratio have been discussed with the help of this table. The table further

reveals the decadal variations in the sex ratio for all the 58 tahsils comprising

the study region, along with disparity in the sex ratio within the study region

can be measured. This may help to analyse spatio-temporal changes in the sex

ratio for the study area during the period under investigation.

The process of urbanisation, migrational patterns and natural hazards

like droughts affected sex disparity and differences in the sex ratio in the

region. Based on the sex ratio the study area is divided into four groups

viz. (i) above 1100 (ii) 1051 to 1100 (iii) 1001 to 1050 and (iv) below 1000 sex

ratio, the tahsils included in the study region were further described on the

basis of these above-mentioned groups.

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Table 5.3

Tahsil-Wise Sex Composition (1971-2001)

Sr.

No. Tahsils 1971 1981 1991 2001

Decadal Variation

1971-81 1981-91 1991-01

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Pune District 933 937 933 919 4 -4 -14

1 Junnar 1029 1030 1002 976 1 -28 -26

2 Ambegaon 1017 1030 1014 987 13 -16 -27

3 Shirur 981 996 969 934 15 -27 -35

4 Khed 980 981 960 927 1 -21 -33

5 Maval 918 921 926 903 3 5 -23

6 Mulsi 1003 1004 972 921 1 -32 -51

7 Haveli 875 871 882 865 -4 11 -17

8 Pune City 868 890 919 917 22 29 -2

9 Daund 953 952 933 927 -1 -19 -6

10 Purandar 1000 1033 989 958 33 -44 -31

11 Velhe 1037 1078 1038 1008 41 -40 -30

12 Bhor 1079 1099 1044 1011 20 -55 -33

13 Baramati 953 958 940 936 5 -18 -4

14 Indapur 938 939 931 930 1 -8 -1

Satara District 1037 1061 1029 995 24 -32 -34

15 Mahabaleshwar 958 940 892 973 -18 -48 81

16 Wai 1098 1112 1076 1021 14 -36 -55

17 Khandala 1043 1062 999 960 19 -63 -39

18 Phaltan 952 972 952 953 20 -20 1

19 Man 1005 1039 996 995 34 -43 -1

20 Khatav 1073 1107 1064 1024 34 -43 -40

21 Koregaon 1055 1099 1050 1000 44 -49 -50

22 Satara City 1032 1064 1013 973 32 -51 -40

23 Jaoli 1188 1231 1176 1100 43 -55 -76

24 Patan 1097 1177 1131 1089 80 -46 -42

25 Karad 977 968 985 961 -9 17 -24

Sangli District 949 967 958 957 18 -9 -1

26 Shirala 1045 1066 1047 1020 21 -19 -27

27 Walwa 934 945 942 938 11 -3 -4

28 Palus N. A. N. A. N. A. 934 N. A. N. A. N. A.

29 Khanapur 1008 1046 1029 1000 38 -17 -29

30 Atpadi 979 1002 952 986 23 -50 34

31 Tasgaon 945 956 955 966 11 -1 11

32 Miraj 903 922 929 943 19 7 14

33 Kavathemahankal 959 986 971 962 27 -15 -9

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Table 5.3 continued...

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

34 Jat 944 962 934 948 18 -28 14

35 Kadegaon N. A. N. A. N. A. N. A. N. A. N. A. N. A.

Kolhapur District 959 967 961 949 8 -6 -12

36 Shahuwadi 1051 1103 1077 1049 52 -26 -28

37 Panhala 951 965 949 921 14 -16 -28

38 Hatkanangale 889 896 912 911 7 16 -1

39 Shirol 926 923 934 941 -3 11 7

40 Karveer 909 906 918 917 -3 12 -1

41 Bavada 1157 1169 982 969 12 -187 -13

42 Radhanagari 953 980 972 946 27 -8 -26

43 Kagal 956 976 969 949 20 -7 -20

44 Bhudargad 1017 1279 1024 995 262 -255 -29

45 Ajara 1108 1171 1143 1082 63 -28 -61

46 Gadhinglaj 1001 1037 1020 1016 36 -17 -4

47 Chandgad 1005 1040 1045 1033 35 5 -12

Solapur District 933 942 934 935 9 -8 1

48 Karmala 939 950 933 925 11 -17 -8

49 Madha 935 942 925 922 7 -17 -3

50 Barshi 936 947 942 929 11 -5 -13

51 Solapur N. 914 933 941 958 19 8 17

52 Mohol 935 937 927 920 2 -10 -7

53 Pandharpur 927 934 7 927 -7 917 -10

54 Malshiras 930 936 6 924 -12 923 -1

55 Sangola 959 975 16 944 -31 936 -8

56 Mangalwedha 938 941 3 915 -26 917 2

57 Solapur S. 932 917 -15 929 12 933 4

58 Akkalkot 948 964 16 948 -16 953 5 Source : Census of India of concern years and concern districts

Table 5.3 discloses the sex ratio for the tahsils in the study region.

A tahsil-wise analysis reveals some ups and downs in the sex ratio during last

thirty years of the investigated century (Fig 5.5).

5.5.1 CHANGES IN SEX RATIO (1971)

In the census year 1971, the tahsils namely Jaoli (1188) from Satara

district, Bavada (1157) and Ajara (1108) tahsils from Kolhapur district

had maximum sex ratio, which was more than 1100. Basically, these tahsils

are having an undulating terrain, lowest rate of urbanisation, insignificant

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industrialisation, traditional ways of farming, very low employment

opportunities and lack of infrastructure. As a result, out migration of male

population is comparatively high, therefore, these tahsil were having more

female population than the male population.

Total six tahsils including Wai (1098), Patan (1097), Khatav (1073) and

Koregaon (1055) tahsils from Satara district, Bhor (1079) tahsil from Pune

district and Shahuwadi (1051) from Kolhapur district, had sex ratio between

1051 and 1100. Most of these tahsils are situated in the ranges of Sahyadri.

Backwardness in agriculture, lack of any employment opportunity, due to

unfavourable physical conditions, forced the male population to go out to big

cities.

There were 12 tahsils in the study region having sex ratio between 1001

and 1050 females per 1000 males. Pune district has four tahsil viz. Velhe

(1037), Junnar (1029), Ambegaon (1017) and Mulsi (1003), while Satara and

Kolhapur districts have three tahsils each, which recorded sex ratio between

1001 and 1050.

Khandala (1043), Satara City (1032) and Man (1005) from Satara

district and Bhudargad (1017), Chandgad (1005) and Gadhinglaj (1001) from

Kolhapur district were in this category. Shirala (1045) and Khanapur (1008)

tahsils from Sangli district also placed in this category.

Remaining 37 tahsils were having less than 1000 females per 1000

males. Surprisingly, all the tahsils from Solapur district were having less than

1000 females per 1000 males. On the other hand, Satara district had only three

tahsils namely Karad (977), Mahabaleshwar (958) and Phaltan (952) in

this category. Pune and Sangli district were having nine and eight tahsils

respectively in this category, whereas six tahsils from Kolhapur district had less

than 1000 females per 1000 males. It is appallingly noted that, Pune City (868)

and Haveli (875) tahsils from Pune district and Hatkanangale (889) tahsil from

Kolhapur district had sex ratio less than 900. Pune City and Haveli tahsils from

Pune districts are the most urbanised tahsils; hence, immigration rate of male

167

population from other rural areas in search of employment is high due to these

they had lowest sex ratio in 1971 (Fig. 5.5 A).

5.5.2 CHANGES IN SEX RATIO (1981)

During the decade 1971-81, only seven tahsils had negative trends in the

sex ratio, it means that above 80 per cent of the tahsils included in the study

area had positivity in their sex ratio.

There were eight tahsils from the entire study region included in the first

category of sex ratio (above 1100 females per 1000 males) during 1981. As

compared to that of the previous decade, five more tahsils were newly added

to this category during this decade. From Kolhapur district, Bhudargad (1279)

and Shahuwadi (1103) were newly added to this category along with Ajara

(1171) and Bavada (1169). While, Bhudargad was the tahsil, which recorded

maximum increased in sex ratio by 262. In Satara district along with Jaoli

(1231), three more tahsils were included in this category namely Patan (1177),

Wai (1112) and Khatav (1107). In these three tahsils, Patan recorded more

fluctuations in sex ratio (80 more females per 1000 males) as compared to the

earlier decade. It was observed that Satara and Kolhapur districts were

dominant in this category since last two decades.

Satara district dominated the second category (1051 to 1100 females per

1000 males) with three tahsils viz. Koregaon (1099), Satara City (1064) and

Khandala (1062). As compared to the previous decade, Wai, Patan and Khatav

tahsils showed increase in their sex ratio and jumped up to above category,

while Satara City and Khandala tahsil boosted their sex ratio and swap up one

category. Pune district had two tahsils in this category, from them Velhe (1078)

tahsil increased its sex ratio by 41 as compared that in the previous census,

newly included in this category, while Bhor tahsil (1099) was still in this

category. Sangli district had not a single tahsil in this category during last

decade. However, in this decade, Shirala tahsil with 21 more females per 1000

males and had sex ratio of 1066 was added to the category. Kolhapur and

Solapur districts had not any tahsil under this category during the decade.

168

169

Pune district had the highest number of tahsils in the third category

(1001 to 1050 females per 1000 males), there were four tahsils in this category

from them Junnar (1030), Ambegaon (1030) and Mulsi (1004) these tahsils

continued with this category, whereas Purandar (1033) with increase of

33 females was newly added in this category. Two tahsils each from Sangli and

Kolhapur districts were included in this category. These were Khanapur (1046)

and Atpadi (1002) from Sangli district and Chandgad (1040) and Gadhinglaj

(1037) from Kolhapur district. Man tahsil (1039) from the Satara district was

included in this category.

The last category (less than 1000 females per 1000 males) was mostly

dominated by Solapur district, infact all the tahsils from the Solapur district

were included in this category in the last decade. Pune district with eight tahsils

stood second in this category, whereas sex ratio for Haveli (871) and Pune

City (890) was found below 900 females per 1000 males. Seven tahsils from

Sangli district were also include in this category, while almost 50 per cent

tahsils from Kolhapur district were included in this category. Hatkanangale

tahsil (896) from the Kolhapur district recorded awful sex ratio, which was

under 900 during this decade (Fig. 5.5 B).

5.5.3 CHANGES IN SEX RATIO (1991)

The trend in sex ratio showed much atrocious situation during the

decade 1981-91. As mentioned above in the previous decade, there were only

seven tahsils having decrease in the sex ratio, while over 80 per cent tahsils

showed increase in the sex ratio. This situation overturned during 1981-91,

when there were only 11 tahsils, which showed some positivity in the sex ratio,

on the contrary, almost 78 per cent tahsils recorded decline in their sex ratio as

compared to that in the previous decade.

There were only three tahsils having favourable conditions for female

population in 1991. Jaoli (1176) and Patan (1131) from Satara district and Ajara

(1143) from Kolhapur district were in the category of sex ratio more than 1100.

Ajara and Jaoli tahsils were most consistent during past thirty years and stuck to

this category since 1971, while Patan also stuck to this category since last decade.

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171

Wai (1076) and Khatav (1064) tahsils from Satara district and

Shahuwadi (1077) from Kolhapur district, were in the second category (1051 to

1100). All these three tahsils were in the first category, which dropped down

their sex ratio and came down to second category. Among them Khatav

and Wai tahsils from Satara district reduced their sex ratio by 43 and 36

respectively, in addition Shahuwadi tahsil from Kolhapur district dropped

down its sex ratio by 26.

Bhudargad (1024) tahsil form Kolhapur district recorded the highest

decrease by 255, swap from first category to third category (1001 to 1050),

along with Bhudargad (1024), Chandgad (1045) and Gadhinglaj (1020) tahsils

from Kolhapur district rested in this category. Junnar (1002) and Ambegaon

(1014) tahsils from Pune district maintained this category, whereas Bhor

(1044) and Velhe (1038) tahsils fell one category down as compared to that of

the previous. Koregaon (1050) and Satara city (1013) from Satara district, and

Shirala (1047) and Khanapur (1029) from Sangli district were included in this

category. Among them only Khanapur tahsil maintained its position as in the

past decade, whereas other tahsils came down from second category.

The category of the lowest sex ratio (less than 1000) was again

dominated by Solapur district, and all the 11 tahsils from Solapur district were

still included in this category. Followed by Pune district, unfavourable for

female population, and 10 tahsils were positioned in this category. Haveli tahsil

(882) still recorded the lowest sex ratio, on the contrary tahsil of Pune City

(919) stuck to this category with little increase by 29 in the sex ratio. Eight

tahsils from Sangli district and five tahsils from Satara district were placed in

this category. Moreover, seven tahsils from Kolhapur district were also

included in this group. It is important to note that Bavada tahsils jumped down

from first category to the last, it was mostly due to the population of this tahsil

was transferred to newly formed Sindhudurg district (Konkan Division). Apart

from this, there were many other reasons like uneven topography, unfavourable

climatic condition, heavy rainfall, lack of irrigation, low level of urbanisation

and negligible industrialisation affected the sex ratio of the tahsil (Fig. 5.5 C).

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5.5.4 CHANGES IN SEX RATIO (2001)

It is a wakeup call to all of us, that not a single tahsil from the study

region, was placed in the first category of sex ratio (above 1100) in 2001. It

means that almost all the tahsils showed declining trend in sex ratio with few

exceptions. Mahabaleshwar and Phaltan tahsils from Satara district, Atpadi,

Miraj, Jat and Tasgaon tahsils from Sangli district, Shirol from Kolhapur

district and Solapur North, Akkalkot, Solapur South and Mangalwedha tahsils

from Solapur district recorded some positive trend in the sex ratio; on the

contrary, all the tahsils from Pune district showed negativity in the sex ratio in

2001.

Jaoli (1100) and Patan (1089) from Satara district and Ajara (1082) from

Kolhapur district, were found in the second group (1051 to 1100), which were

constantly placed in the first category since last twenty to thirty years. In this

decade, Jaoli and Ajara tahsils recorded highest decrease in the sex ratio with

76 and 61, besides; Patan tahsil declined its sex ratio by 42.

In the third group (1001 to 1050 females per 1000 males), there were

eight tahsils, out of them three tahsils were from the Kolhapur district, namely

Shahuwadi (1049), Chandgad (1033) and Gadhinglaj (1016). Moreover, two

tahsils each from Pune and Satara districts were included in this category, viz.

Bhor (1011) and Velhe (1008) from Pune and Khatav (1024) and Wai (1021)

from Satara district. Shirala (1020) was the only tahsil from Sangli district

included in this class. Most of the tahsils in this group came down from the

second category.

Some 47 tahsils out of 58 in Pune Division were included in the last

category (less than 1000) during the last decade of investigation. Many of them

were swapped down from the third category. All the tahsils (11 tahsils) from

the Solapur district were in this category since 1971. This district was very

consistently unfavourable for the growth of female population. Likewise, Pune

district had 10 tahsils out of 12 included in this group, in addition to that, there

were nine tahsils from Sangli, eight tahsils from Kolhapur and seven tahsils

from Satara district found in this last category during 2001(Fig. 5.5 D).

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Fig. 5.5 and Fig. 5.6 give clear idea about the declining trend in the sex

ratio in the study region along with the spatial disparities. The tahsils situated

in the western part of the study region showed some better conditions of female

population. These tahsils mainly suffered from undulating terrain, heavy

rainfall, unfavourable climatic conditions, low agricultural productivity, low

level of urbanisation and poor industrialisation, as a result of this out migration

rate of the male population was high for the economic survival of the people,

which affected the sex ratio. Most commonly, all the tahsils from the Solapur

district showed low sex ratio, due to scarcity of rainfall, dry land for

agriculture, occasional situation of droughts increased the mortality rate mostly

of the females population.

5.6 ZONES OF SEX RATIO

The spatio-temporal analysis of sex ratio as per 2001 census helped to

demark the Zones of Sex Ratio (Fig. 5.6). Three zones of sex ratio are given

below –

I. Zone of high sex ratio having more than 1000 females per 1000

males,

II. Zone of moderate sex ratio having between 951 and 1000 females

per 1000 males, and

III. Zone of low sex ratio having less than or equal to 950 females per

1000 males

5.6.1 ZONE OF HIGH SEX RATIO

Sex ratio refers simply to the number of females per thousand male

populations, hence, in this part, the tahsils, which were having female

population above 1000 to the proportion of the 1000 males considered are

included in the zone of high sex ratio.

In the early decades of the 20th

century, population growth was

minimum, low urbanisation and poor industrialisation, subsistence agriculture

were the basic means of economic survival. Because of this, migration rate

was also minimised, due to lack of medical facilities, and other epidemic and

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175

natural calamities mortality rate of male population was maximised. Due to this

situation, the sex ratio was comparatively high. However, as time passed, male

population was getting more and more dominant in number and it affected

number of female population.

Total eleven tahsils were included in this zone, four tahsils each from

Satara and Kolhapur districts, two from Pune district and only one tahsil from

Sangli district. These are namely Jaoli, Patan, Khatav and Wai (Satara district),

Ajara, Shahuwadi, Chandgad and Gadhinglaj (Kolhapur district), Bhor and

Velhe (Pune district) and Shirala (Sangli district).

Except Khatav tahsil from Satara district, all the tahsils viz. Jaoli, Patan,

Wai, Ajara, Shahuwadi, Chandgad, Gadhinglaj, Bhor, Velhe and Shirala

located at the Western Ghats or Sahyadrian ranges. Because of this, these

tahsils have undulating terrain, limited land for agricultural, unfavourable

weather conditions, low degree of urbanisation, very low and poor and almost

lack of industrial development. All these factors forced the migration of males,

in search of livelihood, so males’ out migration rate was high. This male out

migration has played a major role in the increase of sex ratio in these tahsils. In

addition to that, sound and improved medical facilities provided at the village

level, which resulted in to decreasing female mortality rate in these tahsils,

which is responsible for increase in the sex ratio in these tahsils (Fig. 5.7).

5.6.2 ZONE OF MODERATE SEX RATIO

Some tahsils in the study region were continuously having a sex ratio

between 951 to 1000 females per 1000 males since 1971. According to 2001

census figures, these tahsils have been categorised to the zone of moderate sex

ratio.

There were 19 tahsils in the zone of moderate sex ratio. Satara district

had most of tahsils in this zone, specifically, Koregaon, Man, Satara,

Mahabaleshwar, Karad, Khandala and Phaltan. These seven tahsils had sex

ratio between 951 and 1000. Four tahsils from Sangli district were included

in this zone, which are Khanapur, Atpadi, Tasgaon and Kavathemahankal,

176

whereas Pune district had three tahsils viz. Ambegaon, Junnar, and Purandar in

this zone of moderate sex ratio. Bhudargad and Bavada from Kolhapur district

and Solapur North and Akkalkot tahsils from Solapur district were included in

this zone.

Out of them Ambegaon, Junnar and Purandar tahsils from Pune district,

Satara, Mahabaleshwar and Khandala from Satara district and Bhudargad

and Bavada tahsils from Kolhapur district were having unfavourable

physiographical conditions. Basically, these tahsils are located on the

Sahyadrian ranges mainly the Shambhoo-Mahadeo ranges. Due to the adverse

physiographical location, these tahsils suffered from many socio-economic

problems such as hostile climate, low agricultural productivity, low degree of

urbanisation, poor industrialisation, lack of basic infrastructural facilities, lack

of good facilities of transportation and communication. Due to these problems,

these tahsils faced economic backwardness. These conditions force the males

to migrate to nearby urban areas for their survival. Moreover, hilly topography

influenced the physic of the people, therefore, their immune system became

strong, and it is scientifically proved that, immune system of women is much

stronger than men, hence; the mortality rate was also low in these tahsils. These

reasons mostly reflected on the sex ratio in above said tahsils (Fig. 5.7).

Some 64 per cent tahsils from Satara district were in this zone, whereas

17 per cent tahsils from Kolhapur district and about 18 per cent tahsils from

Solapur district were in this zone of moderate sex ratio.

5.6.3 ZONE OF LOW SEX RATIO

As per the investigation, 30 tahsils (50.0 %) had less than 950 females

per 1000 males. These tahsils are included in the zone of low sex ratio. It

means that there were 30 tahsils from entire study region were in the zone of

low sex ratio, which is a major reason of worry. Thus, lot of extension work

has to be done as early as possible to improve the number of females per

thousand males.

Solapur district was leading district in this zone with nine tahsils

(81.81 %); it means that almost all the tahsils from Solapur district recorded

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low sex ratio. Particularly, Sangola, Solapur South, Barshi, Karmala,

Malshiras, Madha, Mohol, Pandharpur and Mangalwedha tahsils from Solapur

district were the part of the zone of low sex ratio. Similarly, Pune district also

had nine tahsils (64.28 %) in the zone of low sex ratio. Baramati, Shirur,

Indapur, Khed, Daund, Mulsi, Pune City, Maval and Haveli tahsils from Pune

district have been included in the zone of low sex ratio.

Kolhapur district had 50 per cent tahsils in the zone of low sex ratio.

Kagal, Radhanagari, Shirol, Panhala, Karveer and Hatkanangale tahsils from

Kolhapur district were included in this zone. Likewise, four tahsils (40.0 %)

from Sangli district, namely, Jat, Miraj, Walwa and Palus were also included in

the zone of low sex ratio. More surprisingly, Satara district had not any single

tahsil in the zone of low sex ratio (Fig. 5.7).

It is observed that, highly urbanised and industrialised tahsils from the

study region were placed in this zone of low sex ratio; immigration was the one

of the reasons for this. Besides, male dominated community, early marriages,

illiteracy among women, importance of male child in a patriarchy, physically

and mentally tortured girl increasing their mortality are the reasons for low sex

ratio in these tahsils.

5.7 CONCLUSION

In the pre-independence period, India suffered from the British rule,

hence there were no such population control policies implemented. Therefore,

birth rate was high, on the other hand, due to unfavourable living conditions,

epidemics, famines, lack of medical facilities and illiteracy, the death rate was

at the apex. This situation caused to decline in growth rate of the population,

however in the longevity of female population was relatively high. Because of

this, the sex ratio in the earlier decades of the century was comparatively high,

however, decade after decade sex ratio showed decreasing trend.

Sex ratio for India and Maharashtra showed almost the same trend

during the investigated century, while in comparison with the general

population of India and Maharashtra, the population in Pune Division is

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characterised by a relatively high sex ratio. This high sex ratio for the study

region is a result of high sex ratio of rural and less urbanised regions. It is

because of prejudices towards the migration of females for economic activities.

It is observed from district level analysis of sex ratio that, Satara district

showed highest sex ratio than any other districts in the study region throughout

the century. During the same time, Solapur district recorded minimum sex

ratio. Since 1901 towards the end of the century, Pune and Solapur districts had

maximum decline in the number of women. In all cases, sex ratio is affected by

the nature and volume of migration and the nature of the economy of the

region.

It is found that, a population, which has a higher proportion of females

also, has a relatively lower death rate as compared to the population where

males preponderate, and when the proportion of females is small then it leads

to the emergence of many social and moral evils like prostitution, impairing the

moral of the workers, etc. The scarcity of either women or men of adult age

will reduce the marriage rate; and this will affect the crude birth rate. Early

marriage, absence of birth control, children at early age and frequency of birth,

led to the death of many women in the reproductive age. Early marriages also

led to diseases of the uterus and vagina. Early intercourse is injurious to women

health. Apart from that, in our Indian community, our social customs are

mostly against the females and keep them behind curtains since past. In our

patriarchy community, male child has much importance; therefore, everyone

in the family takes much care of the baby boy. On the other hand, baby girls are

not carefully looked after, hence, infant mortality among girls is very high.

Today, it is so easy to find out sex of the child before birth, with use of

ultrasound techniques as well as cryonic biopsy. If female has girl child in her

womb then she will pressurised to abort the girl child. As a result, the baby

girls are killed in womb before birth.

The variation in the migrational trends causes Spatio-temporal variations

in sex ratio within the region. It is noticed that, net migration is an important

factor of population growth in the developing urban areas that manipulate the

179

sex ratio; consequently, the sex composition of the net migration is also a

dominant component in ascertaining the sex ratio of such urban areas.

Negativity or positivity in the sex ratio of the study region is influenced

by many geographical factors also including undulating physiography, lack of

fertile land, lack of water resources, unfavourable climatic conditions are the

responsible factors for the meagre development of land resources. Moreover, in

the most of the areas, there was heavy burden of population on agriculture,

therefore, the excess work force and consequently unemployed manpower has

been provoked to move to nearby urbanised and industrialised areas, which

offer prospects of employment. The urban centres and industrialised sectors

pull the population towards them by offering numbers of job opportunities.

They have pulled male population as per their merits and demand of the

industrial sectors. However, many urban centres have not accommodated all

the families of the workers, due to housing problem and scarcity of

accommodations, mostly migration is men dominated. This typical situation

affects the male-female ratio in the rural and economically backward areas.

Spatially, the sex ratio of population in Pune Division varied from tahsil

to tahsil. It was the lowest as 868 females per thousand males in Pune City

tahsil in 1971, whereas it was the highest 1279 in Bhudargad tahsil of Kolhapur

district in 1981. It clearly indicates that, the areas like Pune City tahsil

exhibiting augmentation in the employment opportunities are attracting mostly

male migrants, hence, it is characterised by low sex ratio. On the contrary, the

areas such as Bhudargad tahsil with economic backwardness and unfavourable

climatic and physiographic conditions push mostly the male population out of

the areas in search of employment, resulting into high sex ratio.

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1. Census of India, 1971, 1981, 1991, 2001

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13. Trewartha, G. T. (1969) : A Geography of Population : World Patterns,

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