Spatio-Temporal Variation in Sex Ratio and Growth of Population in Rajasthan: A District Level Study

Sex ratio, which is defined as the number of females per thousand males, helps us in understanding the scoio-economic and cultural status of the study area. Sex ratio is one of the most important aspect of demographic study because it helps in understanding the relative survival of both male and female population. When the number of females exceeds that of males, sex ratio becomes favorable and it becomes adverse when the number of males exceeds to females. Sex ratio in Rajasthan as well as in India as a whole remained adverse to women, because it has been declining decade after decade. Present paper studies the spatio-temporal variation in sex ratio and growth of male and female population in Rajasthan at district level. Through this research paper, we will also analyze the various reason behind this declining sex ratio. In a state like Rajasthan sex ratio becomes a key factor in understanding the development, because sex ratio has got both demographic and socio-economic implication because the inequality between the growth of male and female population has been associated with several socio-economic factors. Due to cultural preferences in our country as well as in Rajasthan, gender discrimination is a common problem. Right from her own house to other places, women have to face discrimination, everywhere. As we know that Rajasthan the land of kings is known for its women folk who remained valiant, but in today?s patriarchal society women are lending a backward existence. Rajasthan the largest state of India and 8th most populous state, makes up 5.6 percent of country?s population in 2011, lags behind national average in terms of sex ratio by 15 points, with a sex ratio of 928 females per thousand males. A preference for son over daughter is deep rooted in the culture of Rajasthan, which has got important socio-economic implications and influences the fertility and mortality. Despite, modern day progress and women?s day celebration gender discrimination and inequality is dominant in Rajasthan. Present paper is mainly based on secondary sources of data collected from various government offices and website of Rajasthan government. To analyze the spatio- temporal variation in sex ratio and growth in male and female population, simple percentage method has been applied and different cartographic techniques like line growth and chloropleth maps have been used for the comparative analysis.