Population Growth

  In 1901 West Bengal's population (as per its current boundaries) stood at 17 million, rising to 68 million in 1991.As recorded in the last (2001) census, the total population of the state (41.5 million males and 38.7 million females) constituted about 8 per cent of India's population as contrasted to the state's three per cent share in the country's land area. The state's population growth rate showed a welcome decline from 24.7 per cent during 1981-91 to 17.8 during 1991-2001, more impressive than the corresponding decline at the all-India level from 23.9 to 21.3 per cent .Within West Bengal, Medinipur was the most  populous district in 1991 as well as in 2001. As shown in Appendix Table AD 1, Medinipur was closely followed by several districts of South West Bengal, including North and South 24 Parganas. This Table also indicates the considerable variation in district level population growth during 1991-2001, from 1.4 per cent per year in Bankura, Purulia and Koch Behar  to more than 2 per cent annual growth in the 24 Parganas, Dinajpur and Murshidabad.. It may be noted that some of the districts with high population growth rates are  situated along the international boundaries of West Bengal, with sizeable immigration from across the borders contributing to their  changing demographic profile

  Population Density, Urbanization, Composition of Population

West Bengal now has the dubious distinction of having the highest population density - 904 persons per square kilometre as against the national average of 324 persons. Table D I presents a demographic profile for West Bengal, India and  15 'major' states including population growth rates, population density, urbanisation . The other features - male-female ratio, infant mortality rate, maternal mortality rate, literacy level and work participation rate - will be discussed in the appropriate sections that follow.

From 1971 to 1991, the share of urban population in the state increased from about 25 to 27 per cent, while for India as a whole urbanisation was taking place at a faster pace,  reaching 25.7 per cent from less than 20 per cent in 1971.Till 1991, urban population in certain districts of West Bengal constituted only 8 to 10 per cent of total population, including Koch Behar in North Bengal and Bankura and Purulia in South Bengal. Family migration into cities has also grown at a significant pace, specially in Kolkata and adjoining areas , with a substantial presence of women migrants. One dimension of rising population density and growing urbanisation is that it tends to affect the quality of life for women, in the context of  a growing lack of civic amenities (shelter, sanitation, health care), specially in city slums, apart from  rising levels of  criminality and violence .

The population of West Bengal represents a mix of religions with Hindus , Muslims , Christians and Sikhs (   63.4, 10.4, 0.2 and 0.07 per cent respectively in 1991), living in a traditional ambience of communal harmony. Muslims constitute a higher proportion of the population in rural areas  (22 per cent) than in urban areas (6 per cent).Scheduled castes and scheduled tribes respectively formed   24 and a little less than six per cent of the state's population in 1991, vis-à-vis related all-India figures of 16.5 and 8 per cent.

Women-headed households

Women-headed households tend to be a particularly disadvantaged segment of society and thus need a special place in development programmes . According to the findings of the 50^th Round of National Sample Survey (NSS) held in 1993-94, West Bengal had about 11.6 and 4.6 million woman-headed households in rural and urban areas, accounting for roughly one-tenth of total households.

Women with disability

  It is estimated that about 2 per cent of the state's population suffer from some form of disability .The 47^th Round of the National Sample Survey (NSS)  reported 1484 and 1283 women with disability per one lakh female population in rural and urban areas of West Bengal in 1991, while the comparable all India figures were 1694 and 1361 [i] According to recently released official data, West Bengal has 18.47 lakh physically and mentally challenged persons , with 8.6 and  4.1 lakh suffering from sight related and mobility related conditions and 2.7 lakh from mental disability. [ii] Of the total disabled, persons suffering from mental problems constitute14.7 per cent, which is  a higher proportion than the comparable all-India figure of 10.3[iii]. Studies have shown that disabled women are at a greater disadvantage than disabled men and non-disabled women but as emphasized in one study -undertaken by a Kolkata based researcher of considerable promise who is herself  physically challenged -" Experiences have shown that a woman with disability can excel in her career as well as be a good home maker, wife and mother. They are able to perform all responsibilities expected of a typical stereotype image of a woman with some alteration in their physical environment as well as changed attitude of the people concerned. "[iv]

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