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CHAPTER 1

THE ECONOMY OF ASSAM

The Assam economy represents a unique example of poverty amidst plenty. Inspite of being
richly endowed with natural resources, the State lags behind the rest of India in many aspects. To have
a glimpse of the State economy, the movement of a few macro economic indicators over time is being
analysed in this chapter.

1.1 State Income

The trend in the State Income and the per capita State Income both at current and constant
prices is shown in tables 1.1 through 1.4. The first two tables cover the first three decades of planning,
the third table covers the period between 1980-81 and 1992-93, (which can be taken as the aftermath
of the Assam movement) and the fourth table reflects the post liberalisation scenario.

The State Income moved upwards over time at a moderate rate keeping its share in National
Income more or less equal. But the per capita State Income remained lower than the National average
Per capita income all throughout. Rather,the difference between the two figures had an increase over
time. The difference between the two figures was very high in terms of current prices in 1955-56,
thereafter the gap narrowed down considerably in 1960-61. After that, the gap continued to rise and
reached the highest point in 1980-81.In the eighties it had a fluctuating but declining trend, narrowing
the gap between the all India average and the State per capita income. The difference became more
pronounced in the post liberalisation era. During the period 1993-94-200-01,at current prices, the
National Per Capita Income was 34.70- 66.69% higher than the State per capita income, while at
constant prices the difference continued to be in the range of 34.70-71.84%.

1.2 State of Agriculture

Agriculture is the mainstay of more than 70 per cent of the State’s population. According to
2001 Census, 2.66 crores of the total population of the State depend on agriculture fully or partially.
Out of the total geographical area of 78.43 lakh hectares, almost one third,(32.43 per cent, is under
net cultivation covering an area of 25.45 lakh hectares. The gross cropped area occupies about 37.96
lakh hectares. The cropping intensity is 149 per cent.

Nearly 40 per cent of State Income is contributed by agriculture. However, the share of agriculture
in State Income fluctuated over time. (Table 1.4). In the fifties, the share of agriculture in State Income

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was approximately 60%, in the eighties it was about 50-55%, in the nineties, it was only around 35%,
but in the first two years of the twenty-first century, the share of agriculture in the State Income has
once again moved up to 40-41%.

The State of Assam comprising 21 plains and districts and 2 hill districts fall under high
potential zone for increasing agricultural productivity.

In 1950-51, the yield of rice, the principal food of the region, was estimated at 772 lbs. for the
State as against the average yield of 596 lbs. per acre for all-India. (NCAER: 1960). The position of
the State did not remain intact over time. It had a fluctuating trend. The yield rate dropped to a level
lower than the all India average and also had fluctuations. In 1980-81, the all India average yield rate
of rice was 1335 kgs per hectare and the rate for Assam was 1126 kgs per hectare. In 1990-91, the
two rates were respectively 1751 and 1313 respectively. The trend in the production and productivity
of a few principal crops in the State (Table 1.5) shows a marginal increase in the yield rates of all the
principal crops except oilseeds and sugarcane.

The production of food grains, oilseeds and other important crops in the State has been reported
to be far below the targeted level during the 9th plan period. The annual production of rice has
maintained an upward trend but the total production was far less than the amount required for
providing food security to the people. The productivities of the food grains were lower than the all
India average rates also. Inadequate irrigation facilities, floods and traditional agricultural practices
are identified as the major causes of low production and productivity in agriculture in the State
(Planning and Development Department, Govt. of Assam: Draft Tenth Five Year Plan & Annual Plan:
2002-2003)

1.3 State of Industries

Petroleum and petroleum products and natural Gas are the major industrial products of the
State.

The State produces about 15.6 per cent of the world’s tea and 55 per cent of India’s tea
production. Some other industries are fertilizer, sugar, jute, silk,paper,plywood, rice mills and oil drilling
Handloom, & sericulture.

The major traditional industries of the State are weaving in country looms, pottery, black smithy,
bell-metal and brass-metal works, gold smithy, village carpentry, bamboo and cane works, spinning of
endi, muga and mulberry silk, vegetable dyeing, wood carving, hand pounding of rice, manufacture of
ivory products etc. Some of these industries are decaying due to competition from machine made
goods, lack of marketing facilities etc

The overall industrial scenario of the State is not very encouraging. The declining share of
agriculture in SDP is being taken over by the tertiary sector rather than the secondary sector. As a

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result, the share of the secondary sector in SDP has remained nearly the same over time. In 1955-
56, the share of the secondary sector in SDP at current prices was 20.2% and at constant prices it
was 17.2%, and in the nineties (Table 1.6), this sector has a much lower share in SDP both at current
and constant prices.

The position of the State in the industrial map of the country is abysmally low (Table: 1.7). This
can be gleaned from all the variables representing the industrial scenario of the State. The total
number of factories in the State account for only 1.23 percent of the country’s total. The total value
added by the factories is only 0.9 percent of the total value added by the same sector at the all India
level.

No perceptible improvement has been observed over time. While the number of factories increased
by 5.5 percent between 1993 –94 and 1994-95, and there is also an increase in fixed, working and
invisible capital, the overall scenario is gleam as there is a negative turn in the net income but a very
high rate of increase in the outstanding loan.

1.4 State of Poverty and Human Development

According to the Planning Commission estimates, in 1999-2000, the percentage of people below
poverty line in India was 26.10 and the percentage was10 points higher in Assam with 36.09. Assam
being the fourth State in terms of poverty ratio, next only to Orissa, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. This
is however a reduction compared to the estimates as per the 50th round of NSSO in 1993-94, which
was 45.01 against 40.86 for the Country as a whole

As reported in the Draft Tenth Plan of the State, the incidence of poverty in the State is even
higher. It is stated that as per report prepared by the Directorate of Economics and Statistics on the
basis of a Census on people below poverty line, conducted during the year 1998, 59.43 per cent of
the total rural households of Assam was living below the poverty line. On the basis of this figure, the
total number of people living below poverty line in Assam has been estimated at 111.54 lakh, which
is 49.77 Per cent of the total population of the State.

According to the latest estimates published by the Department of Panchayat and Rural Development,
Government of Assam, in its website, the magnitude of poverty in the State is alarming with

(i) Total BPL families in rural areas: 20,28,058 – SC: 2,59,316- ST: 4,28,337
(i) Percentage of BPL families in rural areas: 59.43%
(iii) Geographical distribution of poverty
(a) Highest PC of BPL families in the State: Goalpara (75.25%)
(b) Next Highest: Dhubri (75.03%)
(c) Lowest PC of BPL families in the state: Jorhat (41.00%) & Tinsukia (41.31%)

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 It is to be noted that there has been a decrease in the incidence of urban poverty in the State
over time and it has also been lower than the all India average, but the incidence of rural poverty
continues to be higher than the all India average and has not also shown any sign of improvement
over time.

Other indicators of poverty like Monthly per capita consumer expenditure, the proportion of
expenditure on food to total expenditure and level of food security also place Assam at a much lower
level than the all India average.

1.4.1 Monthly Per Capital Consumer Expenditure

According to NSSO 58th Round data, the average monthly per capita consumer expenditure in
Assam is marginally higher than the all India average but is the lowest among the North –Eastern
States. For rural Assam it is Rs.532.00 and against the all India average of Rs. 531.00 and an average
of Rs. 628.00 for the North Eastern States.

For Urban Assam, the average monthly per capita consumer expenditure with Rs.947.00 is much
lower than both the national average and the average for the N. E. States, the two figures being
respectively Rs. 1,012.00 and Rs.1,069.00

1.4.2 Proportion of Expenditure on Food to Total Expenditure

Generally, the proportion of expenditure on food to total expenditure is higher among the low
income groups. As such, this is regarded as an important indicator of poverty. As per the NSSO 58th
Round figure, Assam has a much higher percentage of expenditure on food to total expenditure than
the average all India percentage both in the rural (Assam: 64.13, India: 54.99) and urban (Assam :
49.21, India: 42.47) areas, the percentage being higher in the rural areas.

1.4.3 Level of Food Security

As per the NSSO 58th Round figures, the food availability status in rural Assam is the lowest
among all the states of India with only 943 households per thousand getting enough food throughout
the year against the al India average figure of 982. The other North Eastern States and Orissa also
show very low food security level (944 per thousand households having enough food throughout the
year) but are marginally better placed than Assam. The number of households not having enough food
in no month of the year is also highest in Assam with 46 per thousand , Orissa and the other North-
Eastern States getting the second and the third positions with only 24 and 11 per thousand respectively.
The all India average in this category is as low as 5. In the case of urban Assam , however, all the
sample households reported to be having enough food throughout the year, while the all India average
is lower than that of Assam, with 995 per thousand. The North Eastern States and Orissa also are
worse off than Assam with 991 and 988 per thousand respectively. In the case of urban areas West
Bengal has the worst position with only 984 households per thousand having enough food throughout
the year.

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1.4.4 Position of the State in the National Human Development Report

The National Human Development Report 2001 places Assam at the 14th place in terms of the
Human Development Index value, among the 15 States compared and at the 26th place among the
32 States compared in terms of the Human Development Index. In the 27th place among the 32 States
compared in terms of Human Poverty Index 29th out of the 32 States compared in terms of Gender
Disparity Index Rank.

Among the Demographic Indicators

The State is below the national average in the case of sex ratio, both rural and urban dependency
ratios, but better with respect to child sex ratio.

As to Income, work and Poverty

Per Capita Net State Domestic Product is lower than the national average, Percentage of Persons
in Labour Force and Percentage of Female in Labour Force in the State are lower than the National
average, the Percentage of Population Below Poverty Line is above the National Average.

As to literacy and education

The State is above the National Average in terms of female literacy rate but below the same
in case of male literacy rate and total literacy rate. Literacy Rates for rural female and urban male
and female are higher in the State but the national average rural male literacy rate is higher than that
of the State. Gross Enrolment Ratios for Class I-V (6-11 years) for both boys and Girls are higher in
the State but the Teacher-Pupil ratio (Primary School) in the State is lower than that of the National
Average.

In the health sector

Life Expectancy at Birth for both Rural and Urban areas are lower in the State than the National
Average. Infant Mortality Rate, Under 5 Mortality Rates for both the male and the female and the
Maternal Mortality Rates are higher in the State.

Total Fertility Rate is the same as the National Average but the Percentage of underweight
children is lower in the State.

The Percentage of houses with access to safe drinking water and the Percentage of houses with
access to toilet facilities are lower in the State.

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CHAPTER 2

DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE

2.1 Population Size

In 1901, the Population of Assam was only 33 lakh against the all India total of 2,384 lakh. As
such it was only 1.38 per cent of the total population of India. In 1981,Assam’s share in the total
population of the country increased to 2.90 per cent. According to the1991 census the population of
Assam was 22,414,322 with 11,657,989 males and10, 756,333 females, while as per the provisional
population totals of 2001 Census, the population size of Assam became 26,638,407 persons with
13,787,799 males and 12,850,608 females. The present share of the population of Assam in the total
population of India is 2,59 percent.

2.1.1 Rural Urban Disparity As per 2001 census

Only 12.72 percent of the total populations of the State are in urban areas compared to the all
India percentage of 27.78.

2.1.2 SC/ ST Population

The SC/ST and OBC population of the State is more than 46% of the total population of the
State. The break-up of population under these categories are not yet available as per the recent census
of 2001. As per 1991 Census, 12.82 per cent of total populations in the State are STs and 7.40 per
cent are SCs against the all India percentages of 8.08 and 16.48 respectively. The OBC population was
categorically enumerated in the census operation of 1931 only. The estimated OBC population as per
census of 1931/1951 will be around 66.55 lakhs comprising 25%of the State’s total population.

Majority of the ST population (13.94 per cent) in the State are in rural areas while the percentage
of SCs in urban areas is more than the percentage in rural areas.

The highest percentage of STs reside in North Cachar Hills, while the highest percentage of SCs
are in Cachar district.

Inter district differences in the rural- urban distribution of the SC and ST population also exists.

2.1.3 Female Headed Households

According to NFHS-2, in Assam the total percentage of female-headed households was 12.1%,
which was above the all India average of 10.3%.In the urban areas of Assam it was 12.1 %, which

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is also above the all India average of11.1%. Only the rural percentage is below the all India average,
the corresponding percentages being 8.4 and 10.0.

As per NSSO 55th round data the rural percentage of female-headed households in India is
10.4% as against 8.4% in the same category in Assam

The urban percentage of female-headed households in India was 9.4% as against 10.3% in the
State.

Thus the number of female-headed households in urban areas of Assam is on the higher side.

2.2 Growth Rate of Population

The growth rate of Population of the State had a continuous increase with marginal fluctuations
from 1901 to 1971. The growth rate during this period was much higher than the growth rate of the
population of the country. Since 1981, it showed a decelerating trend. In 1981, it was estimated to
be lower than the growth rate of population of the country, in 1991 it was marginally higher than the
latter. In 2001, it decreased considerably and the population in the State grew at a lower rate than
the all India population growth rate. This decadal variation of total population was of 18.85 per cent
in the State and the all India growth rate was 21.34 per cent.

2.2.1 Rural Urban Disparity in the Growth Rate of Population

Decadal growth rate of urban population continued to be much higher than the growth rate of
rural population during all the census years. Between 1901 and 1921, the urban population increased
by 20.55 per cent against the rural growth rate of 16.91 per cent. Between 1991 and 2001 the urban
growth rate was 36 .24 against the rural growth rate of only 16.67 per cent. The record growth rate
was between 1951 and 1961, when the urban growth rate was 126.57 per cent against rural growth
rate of 30.87 per cent.

2.2.2 Growth Rate of Female Population

The decadal growth rate of female population was 19.47 per cent in 1991-2001, which was
lower than the all India growth rate of female population (21.79 per cent) during the same period.

2.3 Population density

Corresponding to the high growth rate of population, there has also been an increase in the
density of population in the State. However, the density of population in the State continued to be
lower than the all India average density upto 1961.It abruptly jumped up in 1971 and continued to
rise since then. As per 2001 Census, the density of population in the State is 340 against the all India
average of 324.

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2.4 Inter district disparities

As to the inter district distribution of population, it can be observed that the population is very
unevenly distributed across the districts. The densities of population ranges between 38 persons per
sq. km. In North Cachar Hills to 604 persons per sq. km. In Nowgong. Density of population is highest
in Dhubri with 584, followed by Kamrup with 579.Out of the 23 districts only 6 districts have population
densities lower than the national average. These districts are North Cachar Hills, Karbi Anglong,
Dhemaji, Golaghat, Kokrajhar and Sonitpur Among the districts Kamrup occupies the first position with
percentage of urban population being the highest for 1961, 1971, 1991 and 2001. According to latest
figures of 2001, the rate of urban population in Kamrup is 35.81% which was 32.76% according to
1991 census. Kamrup is followed by N.C Hills occupying the 2nd position according to both 1991 and
2001 figures (31.19 % in 2001 and 22.87 % in 1991)

2.4.1 Inter District disparities in decadal growth rate of population

As to the inter district variations in the decadal growth rate of population, during 1901 to 1911,
the erstwhile Goalpara which was later divided into the four districts of Kokrajhar, Dhubri, Goalpara
and Bongaigaon, registered the highest growth rate, which decelerated between 1921 and 1961 and
then again picked up since 1961. In 1991-2001, the growth rate of population in these districts again
dampened. North Cachar Hills and Darrang had negative growth rates of population during 1901-11,
thereafter it increased in both the districts continuously upto 1941, had somewhat decelerated in
1941-51, then again started moving up. In North Cachar Hills, it moved up so much that the growth
rate between 1971-91 was 98.30 per cent against the State average of 53.26 per cent. In 1991-
2001,Kamrup district showed the highest rate of growth at 25.75 per cent, which is also much higher
than the all Assam growth rate of 18.85 during the decade. On the contrary, Nalbari, the border
district of Kamrup shows the least growth rate of population at 11.98 during the period. Dhemaji
district which showed the highest rate of growth in population during the period 1971-1991, at 107.50
descended to the 11th position of the 23 districts, during the decade 1991-2001 with 18.93 per cent.

All the districts of the State also show an increasing rate of urban population over the years
except in case of Dhubri where urban population has decreased in the last decade, from 12.16 % in
1991 to 11.66 % in 2001.. For both the districts of Kamrup and N.C Hills, the rate of growth of urban
population is higher than the state average and the all India average.

The lowest rate of urbanization may be observed in Nalbari (2.31% and 2.41 %) according to
census figures of both 1991 and 2001 respectively.

2.5 Unnatural Growth Rate

The actual growth rate of population in Assam since 1961 happened to be much higher than
the natural growth rate determined by the difference between the birth rate and the death rate. In
1975 alone this difference was 2.18 per cent. This unnatural growth rate has been attributed mainly
to the large scale cross border migration.

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2.5.1 Rates of Migration

As per 1991 census, the proportion of in-migrants to total persons is 10.40 % for the State. Inter
district differences are also visible for the same with some districts having a percentage higher than
the State average. Among the districts, Dhemaji ranks first with a percentage of 24.02 in-migrant
persons followed by N.C Hills (20.12 %) and Kamrup(16.55 %), each district figures being above the
State average. The lowest percentage of in-migrants may be observed at Barpeta, which records a
figure of only 5.38 %.

The sex ratio among the migrant population is 1175.18 showing a larger proportion of female
in-migrants as compared to males.

The sex ratio of the migrant population is in favour of women in most of the districts. Barpeta
tops the list with a figure of 1703.09 followed by Dhubri (1632.05), both the figures being higher than
the State average. Only in some districts like Kamrup, Tinsukia, Karbi Anglong, N.C Hills the proportion
of in-migrant females is lower per thousand males with N.C Hills recording the lowest figure of 617.42,
which is below the State average.

The percentage of in-migrant persons from other districts of the State to total in-migrant
persons is 62.43 for the State. Among the districts Dhemaji records the highest rate of 84.84 in the
above category followed by Nalbari (78.58 %) and Golaghat (77.19 %) , all these figures being above
the State average.On the other hand, it is lower in Karimganj, Cachar, Nogaon , Tinsukia and Barpeta
had lower than the State average of in migration from other districts

The sex ratio is 1327.80, which shows a higher rate of in-migration for females from other
districts of the State as compared to males. For most of the districts of the State, the sex ratio is
higher signifying a higher rate of in-migration of females relative to per thousand males. Barpeta has
the highest sex ratio (2823.53) in this category followed by Karimganj and Hailakandi. It is only for
the three districts of Dhemaji, Karbianglong and N.C Hills that the in migration of females is lower
relative to per thousand males.

The percentage of in-migrant persons from other States/UTs to total in-migrant persons is 23.01
for the State. Among the districts Tinsukia records the highest rate of 37.34 % in the above category
followed by Dibrugarh(34.56 %) and Dhubri (31.21 %) , all figures being above the state average.

The sex ratio is 739.87, which shows a lower rate of in-migration for females from other States/
UTs relative to per thousand males.

Among the districts, Dhubri occupies the first position in this category (1798.28) followed by
Karimganj (1489.78), both the figures being higher than the State average. The sex- ratio is the lowest
for Sibsagar (491.78)

The percentage of in-migrant persons from other countries to total in-migrant persons is 14.56
for the State. Among the districts, Dhemaji records the highest rate of 62.01 % in the above category
followed by Cachar (37.57 %) both figures being above the state average.

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The sex ratio is 834.06, which shows a lower rate of in-migration for females from other
countries relative to per thousand males.

Among the districts Cachar occupies the first position in this category (948.92) followed by
Hailakandi (936.93) and Karimganj (930.34), the figures being higher than the State average for each
of the mentioned districts. The sex- ratio is the lowest for Sibsagar (647.06)

2.6 Sex Ratio

The sex ratio in Assam, as per the 2001 census is 932 against the all India average of 933. This
is an improvement over the sex ratio in 1991 by 9 points against the al India average improvement
of 6 points during the period. The decadal variation in the sex ratio for India indicates that over the
decades there has been a steady decline in the female sex ratio whereas in case of Assam, the sex
ratio had a fluctuating increase over time. In 1901 the sex ratio was 919, it decreased to 915 in the
next decade, which further showed a decline till 1951. In the year 1961, the sex ratio showed a little
improvement with the increase in the ratio from 868 in the previous decade to 869 in 1961. From 1961
onwards, there has been a steady increase in the ratio till the present census of 2001 however,
throughout the period the sex ratio in the State continued to be below the national average value. The
difference between the two values touched the all time high of 77 points in 1951.

2.6.1 Inter district disparities in sex ratio

In 2001, Karbi Anglong with the highest sex ratio at 992 and again N.C. Hills at the lowest with
883. Rural sex ratio was the highest in Lakhimpur with 958 and the urban sex ratio was the highest
in Cachar with 955.

Whereas the State registered an increase in sex ratio in the last decade (1991-2001) from 923
to 932, the districts of Dhubri, Jorhat and Karimganj showed a decline in the ratio during the period.

According to 1971 census, Goalpara registered the highest sex ratio among the districts at 939
and N.C. Hills the lowest at 841 against the then State average of 896.

In 1991,Dhubri district showed the highest sex ratio at 950 while N.C. Hills the lowest at 857.

In 1991 rural sex ratio was the highest in Dhubri with 953 while in terms of the urban sex ratio
Hailakandi occupied the top position with 944 in.

2.6.2 Child Sex Ratio

Comparing he sex ratio of total population, child population and population aged 7 and above
in Assam with the all India average figures for the census years 1991 and 2001, it has been observed
that the child sex ratio in Assam is much higher than the all India average in both the census years.
However, there has been a decline in the ratio over the last decade. In 1991 the child sex ratio for
Assam was 975, which decreased to 964 in 2001. But the sex ratio of population aged 7 and above

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showed an increasing trend for both India and Assam. The ratio of Assam increased from 910 in 1991
to 926 in 2001 while that of India in 1991 increased from 923 to 935 in 2001.

2.6.3 Inter –District Disparities in Child Sex Ratio

Dhubri registered the highest rural sex ratio of child population at 986 among the districts of
Assam in the 2001 census whereas it was in the 10th position with the rural sex ratio of 729 in the
1991 census. The district of Jorhat registered the lowest sex ratio of child population in the rural areas
at 895 in the 2001 census. The district of Goalpara registered the highest urban sex ratio of child
population at 1004 in the 2001 census whereas it was ranked third at 971, following Sibsagar (991)
and Barpeta (972) of urban child sex ratio in the 1991 census. Kamrup District with the urban sex ratio
of child population at 888 in 2001 census was the lowest. The district of N.C. Hills, which registered
the highest rural sex ratio of child population at 995 in 1991 census dropped to 18th position in the
2001 census with the ratio at 942. Though the urban sex ratio of child population was highest in the
district of Sibsagar in 1991 census, it dropped to 20 th position in the 2001 census with the ratio at
914.

2.7 Birth Rate and Death Rate

The death rates of Assam in 1992 and 1993 at 10.6 and 10.2 respectively were higher than the
all India rates of 10.1 and 9.3 respectively. The female death rate in Assam has dropped from 10.3
in 1992 to 10.1 in 1993, which are below the male rates of 10.8 and 10.2 respectively. The rural death
rate in Assam at 10.8 in the year 1992 was below the all India rate of 10.9 in that year. But in contrast
to the all India rate of 1993, which dropped to 10.6, the rate in Assam rose to 11.0 in that year. This
rise in death rate was mainly because of the rise in female death rate in the State from 10.6 to 11.0
in the mentioned years. The urban death rate in Assam in 1992 and 1993 at 7.4 and 6.7 respectively
were higher than the all India rates of 7.0 and 5.8 respectively. On the other hand the urban female
death rate of Assam in 1992 at 6.6 was below the all India rate of 6.8 in that year. In the next year
the female urban rate of Assam dropped to 5.7 but continued to be higher than the all India rate,
which dropped to 5.2.

The female death rate in the age group 15-49 in NFHS-2 and SRS reports were 4.5 and 4.4
respectively, which were higher than that of the males in the group at 3.3 and 4.1 respectively. The
crude death rate has dropped to 9.5 and 9.9 as recorded by NFHS-2 and SRS respectively from the
NFHS-1 rate of 11.3. The crude death rate of females at 8.6 in NFHS-2 was below the CDR of males
at 10.3 in that survey. But the CDR of females in SRS at 9.9 was found to be higher than the CDR
of males at 9.8 in that survey.

The death rate in the age group 5 to 14 as reported by NFHS-2 and SRS at 2.6 and 2.8
respectively was found to have dropped than the reported rate of 3.1 in NFHS-1.

As per the SRS Bulletin, October 2002,in 1998, the death rate in Assam decreased to 10.0 and
thereafter the steady decreasing rate continued and dropped down to 9.5 in 2001 but remained higher

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than the all India average rate of 8.4. Over the period between 1998 and 2001, the rural death rates
declined in Assam as well as at the all India level. But the rates for urban Assam had a fluctuating
increase during the period.In 2001, the rural death rate in Assam was 9.8, marginally higher than the
all India rate of 9.0, while the death rate in urban Assam was 6.6, 0.3 per cent higher than the all
India rate of 6.3.

The Birth rates in Assam continued to be higher than the all India average birth rates from 1951
to 1971. Although census was not conducted in Assam in 1981, as per interpolated figures, the birth
rate in Assam was lower than the all India average birth rate, this continued till 1991. But in 2001,
the rural birth rate in Assam with 27.8 was higher than the all India average rural birth rate of 27.1
although the birth rates for urban areas for the same year was lower in Assam with 18.5 against the
all India urban birth rate of 20.2. The SRS data for the period 1998-2001 confirm that the birth rates
in rural Assam continued to be higher than the corresponding all India rates, whereas for urban areas,
it was the reverse.

As per 1991 census, Karimganj registered the highest Crude Birth Rate (CBR) among the districts
of Assam at 48.52, which was higher than the all Assam Crude Birth Rate of 31.47. Dibrugarh district
registered the lowest CBR at 24.39.

2.8 Fertility Rate

The Total Fertility Rate for rural Assam in 1992-93 at 3.68 was higher than the than all India
value of 3.67, while the urban rate was lower for Assam at 2.53 against the all India rate of 2.70.In
1998-99, both the rural and urban rates in Assam were much below the all India average rates. The
rural and urban total fertility rates for Assam were respectively 2.39 and 1.50 against the all India
corresponding rates of 2.27 and 3.07.

The Census figures for 1991show wide inter district variations in the fertility rate. The highest
rate has been registered in Karimganj with 7.08 and the lowest in Dhemaji with 3.25. Kamrup and
Dibrugarh appear among the districts with lower fertility rates while Karimganj is joined by Barpeta
and Nalbari as the districts with high fertility rates

2.9 Age at Marriage

The effective age at marriage of females in Assam in 1991, 1992 and 1993, though showed a
little variation, remained almost the same during the years at 20.5, 21.3 and 20.9 respectively.
However the effective ages in Assam in the mentioned years were higher than the all India effective
age at marriage in the respective years at 19.5, 19.5 and19.6 respectively. The effective age at
marriage in the rural areas of Assam in 1991, 1992 and 1993 at 20.3, 20.8 and 20.5 respectively had
only marginal changes over these years but continued to be higher than the all India effective age at
marriage in the corresponding years at 19.2, 19.3 and 19.4 respectively. The urban effective age at
marriage of females in Assam in the years 1992 and 1993 also continued more or less at the same

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level at 23.5 and 23.2 respectively, but was much higher than the all India effective age at 20.2 and
20.5 respectively. However in 1991, the effective age at marriage in Assam at 20.0 was almost at par
with the all India effective age of 20.6.

The mean age at marriage for Assam in the year 1991 was 18.23, in rural areas it was 18.15,
marginally lower than in the urban areas, which was 18.84. There was an upward revision in the mean
age at marriage. The mean age at marriage for those who married during 1981-86 was 18.49, in
1986-91, it increased to 18.92, in urban areas, it increased from 19.54 to 20.37 and in rural areas
it increased from 18.36 to 18.73.

2.9.1 Districts with Mean Age at Marriage below 18

The districts of Dhubri, Rural Bongaigaon, Goalpara, Rural Kamrup, Rural Darrang, Rural Barpeta
and Rural Nagaon have mean age at marriage less than 18 years with rural Dhubri having the lowest
age of 16.74 years. However, in all these districts the mean age at marriage has improved over the
years.

2.10 Maternal Mortality Rate

Assam has a high maternal mortality rate and there has been an increase in the rate over time.
It increased from 401 per thousand to 409 per thousand from 1997 to 1998. However, the all India
average maternal mortality rate is also very high, 407 per thousand in 1998, although there was a
decline from the 1997 rate of 408

2.11 Infant and Child Mortality

Infant mortality rates, under five mortality rates and mortality rate in the age group 5-9 continued
to be higher in Assam than the all India average upto the early nineties. The infant mortality rate used
to be higher among the males but the mortality rate in the age group 5-9 and under 5-mortality rate,
specifically in rural areas, happened to be higher among the female.

The age specific death rates in Assam in the below 5 age group were 19.7 and 26.9 as recorded
by NFHS-2 in 1997-98 and SRS in 1997 respectively as compared to the NFHS-1 report in 1991-92
at 32.1In the post 1991 period, however, the position showed some improvement. For the period 1991-
2003, in all the years except 1993,1994 and 1995, the IMR in urban areas of Assam remained lower
than the all India average IMR. But the downward trend in the urban IMR also had a reverse turn in
2003, the number again increased to 38.

In the rural areas, the figures were fluctuating till 1996, but worsened continuously thereafter
and the distance from the all India average figure also increased. A positive point to be noted is that
there has been a downward turn in the figure in 2003 to 73 from 79 in 1998. But the value in 2003
was still higher than the all India average of 69.

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The combined value however continued to be higher in Assam in all the years except in1992.
The infant mortality rate in Assam in the year 2003 at 70 was found to be better than those in the
previous three years viz., 1997, 1998 and 1999 when the mortality rate was estimated to be a constant
76 but was much higher than the all India infant mortality rates of 71,72,70 and 64 in the years
1997,1998,1999 and 2003 respectively. Similarly, though the infant mortality rate in rural areas of
Assam in 2003 at 73 was lower than the rates of 79,80 and 79 in the years 1997-99 respectively but
was estimated to higher than the all India rates of 77,77,75 and 69 in the years 1997-99 and 2003.

The child mortality rate in the age group 0 to 4 years of Assam in the year 1997 at 26.9 percent
was higher than the all India percentage of child mortality in the mentioned group at 23.1.

The NFHS-2 figures for neonatal, post neonatal, infant and under five mortality rates in 1998,
place Assam at a lower position in terms of neonatal, post neo natal, infant and under five mortality
rate and only marginally better than the all India average figure in terms of child mortality rate. The
data on IMR for 1998 compared to the combined value for rural and urban areas, shows considerable
improvement within a single year, but the value is higher than the one targeted at in the National
Policy for Children 1974

Child mortality rate in the under 5 age group in Assam during the period 1992-96 at 122.6,
though higher than the all India rate of 110.5 during the period, was a marked improvement from the
rate of 212.0 during the period 1970-75 in the State.

The female child mortality rate in the age group 0 to 5 years, during the period 1992-96 in
Assam at 124.5 was higher than the all India rate of female child mortality at 116.5 during the period,
though an improvement from the rate of 206.9 during the period 1970-75. However the female child
mortality rate in the under five age group in the period 1970-75 in Assam with 206.9 was lower than
the all India rate of 224.2 during the period.

The child mortality rate in 1991 census in the age group 0-1 year in Assam at 92 was lower
than the rates of 101 and 116 in the age groups 0-2 years and 0-5 years respectively in the year. The
female child mortality rate of 87,98 and 115 in the age groups (0-1),(0-2) and (0-5)years respectively
were found to be lower than the male child mortality rate of 96, 104, and 118 in the age groups
respectively of Assam in 1991.

2.11.1 Inter district differences in child mortality rates

Among all the districts of the State, Dhubri registered the highest child mortality rates in the
age groups (0-1),(0-2) and (0-5)years respectively at 128, 143 and 166 respectively in 1991 census.
It is worth mentioning that the female child mortality rates for the age groups (0-1),(0-2) and (0-
5)years, were also the highest in the district of Dhubri at 132,137 and 162 respectively, which were
much worse than the all Assam female child mortality rate in the respective age groups. Jorhat was
better with the lowest child mortality rates of 47, 49 and 77 for the age groups (0-1), (0-2) and (0-

)51(
5)years respectively. Dibrugarh ably followed Jorhat with the child mortality rates at 51, 59 and 77
respectively in the mentioned age groups. Jorhat registered the lowest female child mortality rate in
the age group 0-5 years at 76 and shared the lowest rate in the age group 0-2 years with Dibrugarh
at 58. On the other hand, Dibrugarh reported the lowest mortality rate in the age group 0-1 year at
45.

2.12 Expectation of life at birth

The expectation of life at birth in Assam during the period 1989-93 at 54.9 is lower than the
all India rate of 59.4. A woman in Assam has higher life expectancy than her male counterpart within
the State in both rural and urban areas, but in both cases she has lower life expectancy than her
average Indian counterpart. The male female gap in life expectancy in rural Assam is 0.7 years and
in Urban Assam, the difference is even higher, 1.1 years.

The expectation of life at birth increased gradually both in Assam and in India over time. The
expectation of life at birth in Assam increased from 53.9 in 1987-91 to 55.7 in 1991-95 and 56 in
1992-96 but lagged behind the all India figures of 58.2 60.3 and 61 respectively. The rural expectancy
of life at birth in Assam during the period 1992-96 was 56 against the corresponding all India life
expectancy of 61 years . The urban expectancy of life at birth in Assam and India during same period
were respectively 65 and 66. The female expectancy of life at birth in Assam during the period 1987-
91 at 54.5, though increased to 56.1 in the period 1991-95, remained below the all India female life
expectancy rates of 58.6 and 60.9 respectively.

2.13 Expectation of Life at the age of 40

The number of persons not expected to survive beyond the age of 40 is higher in Assam
signifying a lower life expectancy in the State than the all India average. Male female and rural
differences in the phenomenon exists and it goes against the female and also against the rural areas
for both the all India and the State level and is true for both the periods, i.e., 1981 and 1991. In 1981,
27.2 rural females in Assam and 24.3 rural males were not expected to survive beyond the age of 40
against the all India figures of 27.1 and 23.4 respectively. In the urban areas only 16.3 percent
females in Assam and 15.7 per cent males were not expected to live beyond the age of 40 against
the all India average rates of 14.7 and 13.6 respectively. There has however been an improvement
between 1981 and 1991 both at the all India and the State level, for both the male and the female
and also for both the rural and the urban areas.

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CHAPTER 3

LITERACY AND EDUCATION

3.1 Level and Trend in Literacy Rate

Assam is one of the States in India having female literacy rates above the all India average. The
male female gap in the literacy level is also narrower than the all India average and in conformity with
the trend in the all India rate, has been declining over time.

Looking at the trend in literacy rates in the State compared with the all India average, it can
be seen that female literacy rate in the State remained above that of the all India average rate
throughout the period, i.e., 1961-2001.Male literacy rate in the State, was higher than that of the
national average rate in 1961 but not in the other years. Male Female combined literacy rate was
higher than the national average rate in 1961, was lower in 1971, marginally higher in 1991 and then
became significantly lower in 2001.

The male female gap in the literacy rate was higher than the national average in 1961,but
dropped considerably thereafter. In 2001, this gap for the State is only 15.9 per cent against the
national average of 21.70 per cent.

3.1.1 Inter District disparities in Literacy Rate

According to the census reports of 1991 and 2001, Jorhat District of Assam registered the
highest literacy rate among the districts at 65.51 and 77.91 respectively whereas Dhubri District
reported the lowest at 38.36 and 49.86 respectively. The female literacy rate of Jorhat is the highest
among the districts of Assam in both the census years of 1991 and 2001 at 56.88 and 72.54
respectively in contrast to Dhubri , which recorded the least rates at 28.79 and 42.64 respectively. But
Kamrup district, which registered the highest male literacy rate of 73.29 in 1991, dropped to third
place in 2001 census at 81.24, below Jorhat (82.76) and Sibsagar (82.08).

3.1.2 Literacy Rates of Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes

Literacy Rates of Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in the State have been much higher
than the all India average but these are lower than the total literacy rates in the State. This is true
for both male and female literacy rates.

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3.1.3 Literates/Illiterates in the age group 7-14

Although the literacy rate in the State is quite high, the percentage of illiterate boys in the age
group 7-14 is higher than the corresponding all India average, thereby increasing the total percentage
of illiterate children in the said age group.

3.1.4 Adult Literacy Rate

The adult literacy is rate among the women in the State is higher than the all India average while
the adult male literacy rate is lower than that of the all India average rate.

3.2 Age-Specific Enrolment Ratio

In 1991, in rural Assam, the Age-Specific Enrolment Ratio for boys in the age group 6-11, at
47.0 was higher than that of the girls at 40.8, but the rate for girls was higher than the national
average enrolment ratio for girls in the same age group, which were 39.3. This happens to be true
also for the urban areas The urban enrolment ratios are much higher than the rural enrolment ratios,
for Assam boys 69.6 per cent, for Assam girls 66.0 per cent and for all India boys and girls 70.7 and
65.8 respectively. The rural urban combined figures are somewhat different. The rate of enrolment
among boys within the State is higher than of the girls but the rates for both the boys and the girls
are lower in the State than the all India average. It is interesting to note that the enrolment ratio in
the age group 11-14 years is higher than that in the 6-11 years age group.

3.2.1 Girls Enrolled in Various School Stages

The enrolment rate of girls in class 1-V in 1978 was 42.13 for all castes in Assam against the
all India percentage of 38.27. In 1993, the corresponding percentages were 45.46 and 43.16.For
classes VI-VIII and IX onwards also a similar trend exists, i.e., the rate for Assam is higher than that
of all India and there is an upward movement. This pattern is true for both rural and urban areas.
Enrolment ratios however have gone down in higher stages of schooling. The increases in the enrolment
rates have been quite visible in the case of SCs and STs.

3.2.2 Classwise enrolment upto higher secondary classes in Assam

Male female difference in schooling is perceptible right from the early years of schooling. The
sex ratio for Pre-primary to higher Secondary level has been estimated to measure the deprivation rate
of the girls. It can be observed that even at pre –primary stage, only 726.7 girls for every 1000 boys
go to school. The ratio at class I stage is somewhat better. After that, the ratio declines and in Class
V it becomes only 721.02.In Classes VI and VII, the ratio is somewhat better, but in Class VIII, it goes
down to a very low level of 713.99.The sex ratio goes to its nadir in Class XI, where the number of
boys happens to be double that of girls. In Class XII, the ratio again improves marginally. The low sex
ratio at higher classes than in the lower classes only signifies the higher dropout rate among girls. It

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need be mentioned that all these ratios are much below the child sex ratio as well as the sex ratio
of total population in the State.

3.2.3 Women in Higher Education

At higher education stage also, the sex ratio is against women and does not conform to the sex
ratio of the total population in the State except at the PH.D. level. The sex ratios are the lowest in
the Commerce stream and the highest in the Arts stream. But even in the Arts stream, the sex ratio
is only 668.12. Female enrolment as percentage to total in the pre degree level is 49.20 per cent while
at the Degree standard and above, it is only 33.62 per cent.

Percentage of SCs and STs enrolled at pre degree level is only 12.53 and 16.56 and at the
Degree Standard and above, the percentages are respectively for SCs 9.08 and for STs 12.84.

The percentage of women at the Degree Standard and above is higher, among both the SCs and
STs than in the total category, the percentages being 44.61 and 44.02 respectively. In the M.A and
M.Sc classes although the representation of SCs and STs is very small, only between 7-10 per cent,
the percentage of females within each group is quite high. In M.Sc. , the percentage of female
enrolment is 33.56 for SCs and32.68 for STs, against the common percentage of 32.92.

3.3 Drop-out Rates

A very significant negative factor perceptible in the educational sector leading to colossal waste
of financial and human resources is the phenomenon of drop outs. The drop out rates in class I-V for
the years 1981-82 to 1998-99, show that the rates for Assam were considerably higher than the all
India average rates. The percentage of drop-outs among girls continued to be much higher at both
the State and the all India level. Drop-out rates in classes I-VIII are higher than that in classes I-V and
is the highest in Classes I-X. The difference between the dropout rates at the all India level with that
in Assam has widened at higher stages of schooling.

The reasons for drop-out have been identified as

● Participation of household economic activities

● Not interested in education
● School too far (mostly in SC/ST Communities)
● Poverty
● Lack of Awareness and other economic reasons.
● Low percentage of female teachers in schools
● Inadequate facilities for girls in schools like absence of toilet and non-availability of water etc.
are also regarded as factors contributing to increased drop out rates.

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3.4 Statistics Relating to Schools in Assam

Statistics relating to the school education are also not very encouraging for the State. The
number of schools increased only about threefold during 1951-52 to 2001-02, much lower a rate than
the rate of growth of population. As a result the number of primary schools per thousand population
also remained very low, only 1.13 in 2001-02, which is lower than the number in 1951-52.The number
of upper primary schools per thousand population has been even lower, only 0.25 in 2001-02, i.e., only
one upper primary school for 4000 population on an average.

The conditions in schools also is a deterring factor leading to high drop-outs, for example, the
teacher-pupil ratio in Assam is lower than that of India and has not shown much improvement over
time. In 1951-52 it was 38 and in 2001-02, it increased to only 47. Within this period, the Teacher
Pupil Ratio had gone down to 35 in 1971-72 and 1981-82. The teacher –pupil ratio at the upper
primary and the secondary level is even worse. In 1997-98, the ratio was 24 for the upper primary
level and 21 for the secondary level. In the State against the all India ratios of 37 and 29 respectively.

In 1992-93, the ratio had improved over that of 1982-83 and also was higher than the all India
average at the primary and the upper primary level although it was much lower at the secondary level.

3.5 Number of female teachers in Schools and Colleges

In the State, although at the pre-primary level cent percent teachers are female, right from the
primary level, it goes down to below 30 per cent except in the Junior Colleges. In 2001, the total
number of female teachers in primary schools in Assam was 25,007 against a total number of 86,887
teachers, only 28.78 per cent, at middle level 11,756 against a total of 57,457, i.e., 20.46 per cent,
at high school level 12,478 against 47,493 (26.27%) and at Higher Secondary level 5,779 against
20,410(28.31%). In the districts also, only the Junior Colleges have a higher percentage of female
teachers.

3.5.1 Inter district Disparities in the Number of female teachers in Schools and Colleges

Among the districts, Sibsagar tops the list in terms of percentage of female teachers, with more
than 30 per cent female teachers at all levels. Barpeta is the lowest with less than 20 per cent female
teachers at all levels of school. In case of middle schols, Dhubri is at the lowest point with only 6.42
per cent female teachers. North Cachar Hills and Hailakandi also get better positions with more than
30 per cent female teachers except at the middle level, where the percentage of female teachers is
very low. Dibrugarh has more than 30 per cent female teachers at the primary, middle, secondary and
Higher Secondary level but slightly lower at college level. Golaghat, on the other hand has above 30
per cent at all levels except at the middle level and in Arts, Science and Commerce Colleges.

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KOOB-MASSA

CHAPTER 4

HEALTH

While the State is better off than many other States of the country in literacy level, the State
is in a bad shape in terms of health status as well as health infrastructure. Health conditions of women
and children are reflected in the infant and child mortality rates and maternal mortality rate, expectation
to life at birth, expectation of life beyond the age of 40 etc. These rates, as discussed in Chapter2,
show the poor performance of the State.

According to NFHS-2, the neonatal and post neonatal mortality rates in Assam at 44.6 and 24.9
respectively are also marginally higher than the all India rates of 43.4 and 24.2 respectively.

4.1 Percentage Distribution of Live Births By Type Of Medical Attention Received By The Mother

It is observed that the institutional medical help received by the mother at the time of delivery
in Assam for the years 1992, 1993, 1994 are 18.2, 18.4 and 20.5 per cent respectively are below the
all India averages of 24.4, 24.5 and 22.3 respectively. But it is seen that though the all India percentage
of institutional help has dropped from the year 1993 to 1994, the in Assam the rate has improved.
The help rendered by untrained and others constitute a large percentage in Assam, which were 69.6,
68.6, and 64.5 for the years 1992, 93, &94 respectively as compared to the all India percentages of
52.7, 51.3, & 50 respectively. It is noteworthy to mention that in the years 1992,93, &94 the help by
untrained professionals in Assam in the urban areas were 31.3, 25.7, 20.4 per cent respectively which
is in sharp contrast to the all India percentages of 17.2, 11.8, & 11.5 respectively.

The rural urban difference in institutional delivery is very prominent for both the State and the
all India level. However, at the all India level, there has been deterioration between 1992 and 1994,
in this regard, whereas the position of Assam improved and in 1994, institutional deliveries in rural
Assam came up to 17.5 against the all India percentage of 16.9. Institutional deliveries in the urban
areas also showed a decreasing trend in the average all India value, while it improved in Assam and
reached a position higher than that of the all India level in 1994.

According to NFHS-1 and 2, the percentage of births attended by health personals is much lower
in the State than the national average in both the rural and the urban areas and the difference has
increased over time. In 1998-99, the percentage of births attended by health personals in Assam was
21.5 against the all India average percentage of 42.3.

)12(
 Percentage of Births Delivered in Medical Institutions in Assam was only 11.1 in 1992-93 and
increased to 17.6 in 1998-99, against the all India averages of 25.5 and 33.6 respectively. The rural
urban difference has been prominent in both the years.

The percentages of Births Delivered in Medical Institutions by SC and ST women were lower than
those of others.

In addition to the fact that more women in Assam do not get medical attendance during
childbirth, the percentage being 38.4 for Assam and 32.20 for the all India average, assistance from
Government appointed doctors, nurses and midwife is also lower in Assam. This is true for both the
rural and the urban areas and the rural areas lack the facility in a bigger scale.

This inadequacy of medical support is an important factor contributing to the higher incidence
of infant mortality rates and maternal mortality rates in the State.

4.2 Incidence of anaemia

Incidence of any anaemia and moderate anaemia is higher among the women of Assam than
the all India average but the percentage of women suffering from severe anaemia is lower. The
percentage of women suffering from any anaemia is higher in rural areas and among the illiterate in
the State as well as at the all India level.

Within the State, more women from other castes suffer from anaemia than the Scheduled Caste
and Scheduled Tribe women. However, more Scheduled Caste women in the State suffer from Anaemia
compared to the all India level.

4.3 Vaccinated women and Children

Percentage of women receiving Two Doses or More of TT Vaccination during Pregnancy was only
51.7 per cent in Assam in 1998-99 as against the all India average of 66.8 per cent. There has
however been considerable improvement between the two NFHS period. Sharp rural urban differences
are perceptible in both the State and the all India level. These differences have narrowed down in the
all India level but has widened in the State.

Only 17.0 per cent Children aged 12-23 Months in Assam have been fully vaccinated in 1998-
99 against the all India average of 42.0 per cent. The figure shows a decline over time from 19.4 in
1992-93 .The rural urban difference is also quite striking, with only 14.9 per cent in rural areas against
50.1 per cent being fully vaccinated in 1998-99 in Assam as against the all India percentages of 36.6
and 60.5 respectively..

Regarding male female difference, it is biased towards the female in Assam in 1992 but has
been in favour of the male child in 1998-99.

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KOOB-MASSA

Number of Children aged 12-23 Months Not Vaccinated is much higher in rural areas, higher
in the State than the all India average and also higher for the female in both the State and the country
as a whole. The difference of the State average and the National average figures is quite striking, 45.6
and 32.3 respectively for the female child in 1992-93, 34.7 and 16.7 respectively for rural areas in
1998-99. There has however been an improvement over time.

4.4 Incidence of ailments and treatment

Number of persons reporting acute ailment is very high in both the rural and urban areas, it is
higher in the State (per thousand rural male 61, rural female 85, urban male 63, urban female 86),
than the all India average (per thousand rural male 41, rural female 44, urban male 39, urban female
43) and it is also higher among the female. As to chronic ailments, the all India average number is
higher, but females outnumber males even in this aspect.

However, very few persons out of those who fall sick are hospitalised. In rural Assam, 11.25 per
cent of the ailing patients were reported to be hospitalised out of which 8.42 per cent are female and
13.24 per cent male. In urban Assam, 21.13 per cent ailing men and 7.69 per cent ailing women were
hospitalised. All India averages in this regard were in rural areas 25.92 per cent male and 22.81 per
cent female and in urban areas 39.21 per cent male and 34.48 per cent female persons were reported
to be hospitalised. It can be observed that the percentage of persons receiving treatment is much lower
in Assam both for the male and the female and also in both the rural and the urban areas.

The gender gap in treatment provided is very much visible and the difference is wider in Assam.

4.5 Family Planning

As per NFHS-2, the desired fertility rate for the women of Assam was 1.75 against the actual
fertility rate of 2.31 against the all India average desired fertility rate of 2.13 reveals the strong desire
of the women of Assam for limiting the family size. Knowledge of any method of contraception as well
as any modern method is nearly universal B with regard to current use of family planning method, the
State with 43 per cent has been grouped among the States with low level of current use., next only
to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.. The use of family planning methods varied among different
socio-economic groups. It was higher among the urbanites, the educated and those having higher
standard of living. Among the religious groups, the highest percentages of women practicing family
planning methods were the Hindus. Among the SCs, STs and OBCs, the highest percentage has been
reported from the OBCs, the percentage of women from the other two groups is also high. Although
the modern methods are most popularly used, even traditional methods are used by quite a large
number of women. About one third of the users choose traditional methods of family planning Less
than two third of users use public sector source.

4.5.1 Couple protection Rate

Couple protection Rate in Assam was higher than the all India average in 1992-93, but the
position got reversed in the urban areas in 1997-98 with a decline in the rate. In the rural areas,

)32(
although the rate improved even in case of Assam, the rate of improvement was better in the all India
average, so the position of Assam was below that of the all India average. In 1997-98, the rural urban
combined couple protection rate was only 48.2 for all India and 43.3 for Assam.

4.6 Health Infrastructure

The health facilities in the State is not commensurate with its growing population. There is not
even one (0.6) hospital per lakh of population against the all India average of 1.51 hospitals per lakh
of population, only 48.38 hospital beds per lakh of population against the all India average of 93
hospital beds per lakh of population, only 1.76 numbers of allopathic practitioners per lakh of population.
Even this limited number of facilities is very unevenly distributed among the districts.

To cite an example, Dibrugarh with 119.03,Sonitpur with 99.94,Kamrup with 98.89 are above
the national average number of hospital beds per lakh of population while the districts like Morigaon
with 20.62, Lakhimpur with 35.55, Hailakandi with 14.7 are far below the State average even.

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KOOB-MASSA

CHAPTER 5

OCCUPATIONAL DISTRIBUTION AND WORK PARTICIPATION RATE

5.1 Labour force participation:

As per NSSO 55th Round data, labour force participation rates in Assam are lower than the all
India average rates in all categories except a marginally higher position in case of urban male labour
force in 1999-2000. Both male and female labour force participation rates in the all India level had
a continuous decline in both rural and urban areas from 1983 to 1999-2000, i.e., as per 38th , 50th
and 55th Rounds of NSS reports. But the trend in the growth rates of employment over the period of
1983 to 2000 for the State had a fluctuating increase. The latest NSSO 58th Round Report on
Household Consumer Expenditure and Employment-Unemployment Situation in India also confirms the
improving employment scenario in the State and also for all India.

5.2 Employment status

According to NSS 55th Round data, among principal status workers in Assam Rural Female Work
Participation Rate((FWPR) was 87 and Urban Female Work Participation Rate (FWPR) was 97 and were
much below the all India average rates 231 and 117 respectively and substantially lower than the male
work participation rates of 506 and 507. According to the 58th Round, i.e. in 2002, the corresponding
rates were : rural FWPR in the State : 116 ,urban FWPR in the State: 101. Both the rates are higher
than the 55th Round figures but lower than both rural and Urban MWPR in the State which were
respectively 552 and 516. Both MWPR and FWPR in the State, rural as well as urban, were lower than
the corresponding all India rates. In the category of all Workers also the rural and urban FWPR in the
State, according to NSSO 55th Round, were respectively 151 and 112 against MWPR of 529 and 151
and the all India Rural and Urban FWPR of 299 and 139. In the case of all workers also, the difference
between the FWPR in Assam with the MWPR and also with the all India rates of FWPR persists in both
rural and urban areas even according to the NSSO 58th Round data. As per the NSSO 58th Round data,
the rural and urban FWP Rates in Assam were respectively 218 and 110 against the all India rates
of 281 and 140 and the MWPR in the State of 569 for rural and 518 for urban areas.

As per data published by the Ministry of Labour, Government of India, in case of the organised
sector employment, the private sector employs more than the public sector in Assam, but the all India
average picture is the reverse. Between 1991 and 2000, the private sector employment increased by
3.20 per cent as against the all India growth rate of 4.59 per cent. During this period, public sector

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employment in Assam grew by 6.82 per cent while the all India growth rate in this respect was only
1.35 per cent.

In Assam, the proportion of women employed in the private sector is higher than in the public
sector. In 2000,in the private sector, the percentage of women employees was 47.63 against 14.75 in
the public sector. Percentage of women in the central government is the lowest, 6.98 against the
highest women employment of 48.23 in large private sector establishments

By analysing the Census data on main workers, marginal workers and total workers also one can
observe that the female work participation rate is much lower than the male work participation rate
in the State. The percentage of total male workers in 2001 is 49.9 against 20.8 female workers.
Percentage of main female workers is 9.7 against 42.3 male workers. But the percentage of marginal
female workers is higher than the percentage of male marginal workers at 11.1and 7.6 respectively.
Between 2000-2001 the percentage of total male workers had an increase while percentage of total
female workers decreased. Both male and female workers increased in the case of marginal workers.

Taking up the distribution of percentage of workers among male and female for the rural areas
of the State, it is seen that that the percentage of total workers among the male in the rural areas
has shown a marginal increase. Total workers among the female have shown a marginal decrease
during the decade. But most significant development during the decade is the significant fall in the
percentage of main workers for both the sexes.

In the urban areas of the State, the picture is quite gloomy so far as the percentage of workers
is concerned. The percentage of workers although increased up to 32 per cent in 2001 from 30.9 per
cent in 1991 yet it continued to be below the State average and also the rural employment rate. The
percentage of main workers, on the other hand has shown a decline during the last decade in the
urban areas of the State while marginal workers have shown a corresponding increase.

2001 census data also reveals a large scale variation in the percentage of workers among male
and female, the figures being 51.0 per cent and 10.3 per cent respectively notwithstanding the fact
that the size of female workers has grown up from 7.5 per cent in 1991 to 10.3 per cent in 2001.
In case of male main workers there was a decline between 1991 and 2001 although the percentage
of female main workers have slightly increased in the same period.

5.2.1 Age distribution of workers

The age specific principal worker population ratio for each age group is less than the all India
average except in the 50-54 age group.

A disturbing feature observed in the principal worker population ratio in Assam is that in the
case of urban male the ratio is higher than the all India average in the age group 5-9 signifying a
higher incidence of child labour in the urban areas of Assam. Other than this, principal worker

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population ratio for Assam is higher than the all India ratio for the age groups 45-49 and 55-59 while
for the remaining groups the ratio is lower than the all India average.

Another notable feature in the age specific principal worker population ratio for the urban
female in Assam is that in the age groups 10-19, the ratio is significantly higher than the all India
average. This implies that a large chunk of female teenage workers are regarded as principal workers.
For all other age groups principal worker population ratio for female in Assam is lower than the all
India average.

As per Census data, the percentage of total workers to total population shows a slight decline
from 36.1 in 1991 to 35.9 percentage in 2001 for Assam. This trend is more significant in case of
main workers, which show a decline from 31.2 percent in 1991 to 26.6 percent in 2001. However the
marginal workers have registered an abnormal increase to 9.3 percent during the same period. Similar
trend is observed in case of rural areas of the State. But in case of urban areas a marginal increase
is noticed in case of total workers. Main and marginal workers show the trends of variation similar to
rural areas.

5.2.2 Inter district Variations

Analysing Census data by districts, it has been observed that 12 out of 23 districts of the State
have the percentage of total workers above the State level and in the remaining 11 districts, the figures
are below the State average. The highest percentage of total workers, in 2001, has been recorded in
the district of Lakhimpur (56.1) while the lowest percentage is found in Dhubri (28.9) district.

Work participation rate is the highest for both the categories of main and marginal workers in
Lakhimpur while the lowest percentage for main workers is observed in Karimganj and that of marginal
workers in Dhubri.

In 2001, the female work participation is the highest in the district of Lakhimpur with 62.1.
Although this district was in the top most rank also in 1991, the difference between first and second
ranked district of Dhemaji in terms of percentage was less than 6 points in 1991 and increased to
more than 13 percentage points in 2001. The position in terms of percentage of female workers
appears to have improved in the districts of Golaghat, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Kokrajhar, Nalbari,
Goalpara, Hailakandi, Morigaon and Barpeta. Whereas seven districts viz., Sibsagar, N.C Hills, Sonitpur,
Darrang, Bongaigaon,Cachar and Nagaon. The other six districts viz, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Karbi Anglong,
Kamrup and Karimganj have maintained their ranks of 1991 Census, in 2001 Census also. The work
participation rates among female have gone up in 10 out of 23 districts of the state while this rate
have shown a decline in the remaining 13 districts.

5.2.3 Occupational Distribution: From Census figures, it can also be observed that among the
total workers, 39.2 per cent are engaged as cultivators 13.5 per cent as agricultural labourers, 3.4 per
cent are in household industry and the rest 43.9 percent are as other workers. There is sharp male

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female difference in all occupation groups. Among cultivators the male female ratio is 38.7:40.4,
among agricultural labourers 12.3: 16.5, in household industries it is 1.7: 7.9. It can be observed that
the percentage of female workers is higher in all the agriculture-based occupations in rural areas. In
case of the occupations in rural areas other than those mentioned above, the male female ratio is
43.9:35.2. These figures only reconfirm the higher rate of participation of women in agricultural
activities. From the NSSO data also it is evident that the FWPR in agricultural and allied activities is
higher than MWPR, although MWPR by itself is also higher in the agricultural sector compared to the
secondary and tertiary sectors. FWPR in Assam is lower than the all India average in the primary and
the secondary sectors but is much higher in the tertiary sector. On the other hand, MWPR in Assam
is higher than the all India average rate in the primary and the tertiary sector but much lower in the
secondary sector.

As to the Inter District differences, it can be observed that the percentage of workers engaged
in cultivation is higher than the State average (39.2 percent )in the districts of Dhemaji (73.0),
Lakhimpur (67.9), Karbi Anglong (59.3),Marigaon (52.6), N.C Hills(49.4), Golaghat (46.8), Darrang
(45.5), Kokrajkar (42.5)and Barpeta (40.7).

The remaining 14 districts have shown to be below the State average.

The percentage of agricultural labourers accounts for 13.5 percent of total workers of the State.
The highest percentage of agricultural labourers is found in Dhubri (23.8) while the lowest is observed
in N.C Hills (5.1) district.

The next category of workers engaged in household industry constitutes only a meagre 3.4 for
the State as a whole. Majority of the workers in household industries are female, 7.9 per cent against
1.7 per cent male. Among the districts the percentage of female workers in household industries is
highest in the district of Kamrup (16.9) closely followed by Karimganj (16.1) Barpeta and Nalbari while
it is lowest in the district of Tinsukia (2.3).

As mentioned earlier, the percentage of male workers is higher in the category of other workers.
Among the districts, Cachar records the highest percentage of other workers while the lowest is
observed in Dhemaji.

A close view of the percentage of other workers at the district level reveals that the percentage
of male workers is generally outnumber the female workers almost in all the districts of the Brahmaputra
valley and in the two hill districts of Assam In the three districts of Surma Valley viz. Cachar, Karimganj
and Hailakandi, the percentage of females far exceed the percentage of male.

It may be mentioned here that the percentage distribution of only the Main workers by industrial
category has been shown as per the 1991 Census (Assam State District Profile 1991) unlike the 2001
Census (Census of India 2001. Assam Provisional Population Totals. Paper-3 of 2001) where the data
of Total (Main+ Marginal) workers are shown separately. Thus it is not possible to compare the two
sets of data.

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Nevertheless, to have an idea of Main workers engaged in different sectors in Assam data for
1991 census is being analysed.

An equal percentage of male main workers and female main workers are employed in cultivation
in urban areas, but in the rural areas, the percentage of male main workers engaged in cultivation is
higher than that of the female main workers.

As expected, the percentage of main workers engaged in cultivation in urban areas is lower than
that of rural areas but significantly the percentage of females engaged in cultivation in the urban areas
is also higher than the male percentage.

In case of agricultural labourers, differences exist with regard to male and female percentages
in both the rural and the urban areas, the proportion being higher for the male, but that too only
marginally.

In case of Livestock, Forestry, fishing, Hunting and plantations, orchards and Allied activities,
the percentage of females engaged is quite higher than that of male and the same trend is visible in
case of rural and urban areas.

The percentage of persons engaged in Mining and Quarrying is marginal and more so in the
case of female in both the rural and urban areas.

In manufacturing, processing, servicing and repairs in the household industry the percentage of
females outnumber the male in both rural and the urban areas. In manufacturing, processing, servicing
and repairs in the non-household industry the percentage of females is considerably lower than that
of male in both rural and the urban areas.

Participation rate of women is very low in administrative, executive and managerial works. As
per 1991 census only 0.82 per cent men and 0.13 per cent women are in this category of work.
Women’s participation rate is nearly at par with men in community, social and personal services, and
as service workers with 10.8 per cent male and 8.7 per cent female participation rate in the first
category and 3.13 male and 2.06 female participation rate in the second category.

Women outnumber men in Professional, technical and related works, with female participation
rate of 5.28 per cent against the male participation rate of 4.21.

5.3 Growth in Employment

The growth rate of employment in the country as a whole for the period 1993-94 to 1999-2000
happened to be lower than the preceding period viz., 1983 to 1993-94 in all categories, i.e., for both
rural and urban and male and the female. For the State, the growth rates were somewhat different.
The growth rates were better in the later period for the male and the combined male-female for both
rural and urban areas. Growth rate of employment of the rural female slowed down in the later period

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but for the urban female it was better. This implies that in the post liberalisation period, the growth
rate of employment in the country as a whole has slowed down. Growth of employment for the rural
female in the State also slowed down.

5.4 Incidence of Unemployment

The slow growth rate of employment will obviously result in increased incidence of unemployment.
The incidence of unemployment in the urban areas continued to be higher than rural unemployment
for both men and women and it increased continuously for the male but for the female there was an
upward movement between 1983 and 1993-94 then there was a decline in 1999-2000. The incidence
of both rural and urban female unemployment however continued to be higher than the male unemployment
rate since 1993-94 although rural male and female unemployment rates were equal in 1983-84 but
both the rural and urban female unemployment rates in the State were much higher than the all India
average rates in each of these years and had an increasing trend.

The incidence of unemployment in the State for the urban male was lower than the all India
average in 1983 but later on it increased and continued at a higher level than the all India rate of
unemployment. While rural male unemployment rate in the State continued to be higher than that of
the all India average rate all throughout.

The position of the State in terms of unemployment rates was somewhat different as per the
NSSO 58th Round data. Both rural and urban male unemployment rates were higher than the corresponding
female unemployment rates in the principal status as well as principal and subsidiary (all) status
activities and were also higher than the all India rates. Rural Female Unemployment Rates in the State
were lower than the all India rates in both categories of activity but Urban Female Unemployment
Rates were much higher.

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KOOB-MASSA

CHAPTER 6

WOMEN IN DECISION MAKING AND POLITICAL PARTICIPATION

6.1 Women’s Right to Property and Decision Making in the Traditional Societies of Assam

The family system in medieval Assam was patriarchal in nature. Women had no rights to their
paternal property. They had the right to enjoy their dower.

As per the NFHS-2 the women in Assam have greater autonomy in some aspects of household
decision making, like what to cook, whether to take her own health care and purchasing of jewellery.
But very few of them have the autonomy to decide to visit relatives and friends, stay with parents/
siblings, going to market and very few of them have access to money. Thus her autonomy is confined
only to very few aspects of household decision-making and that too in a very limited scale compared
to her counterparts in the other North Eastern States. As to public decision-making, however, one must
admit the very limited scope available for the women in the North East, Assam being no exception.

Women may be visible at public places and institutions, as there is freedom of movement, but
her visibility does not give her power, she is very unlikely to be a member in the decision making bodies
of these institutions. Data on managerial bodies of schools and colleges, public institutions, religious
institutions reveal the invisibility of women in power.

Some of the major tribes in the State are the Bodo Kachari, Dimasa Kachari, Mishing, Karbis,
Deories , Rabhas, Tiwas, etc. These tribes have some common characteristics- patriarchal, patrilineal,
patrilocal, inheritance of immovable property by the male folk, absence of womenfolk in the decision
making bodies of village politics, the presence of bride price, the rule of monogamy, but polygamy not
being uncommon, allowance of divorce and remarriage of widows. But amidst these commonalities,
there are individual variations. They also have different rules and norms for their womenfolk. In some
areas, the Bodo Kachari women get 1/8th of the father’s property. Among the Deories the womenfolk
are prohibited from taking part in feasts held in the village. Karbi women continue to use the surname
of her father after her marriage. But Karbi women cannot inherit even movable properties and they
are not allowed to attend a village court for any trial The Karbis also do not allow the women to take
part in the community performance of the Rongker festival.. Among the Dimasa Kacharis there is the
presence of female clans along with male clans. While the son belongs to the father’s clan, the
daughters belong to the mother’s clan. Dimasa Kachari women inherit the movable properties from

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their mother. Elderly women of the tribe take part in village trials only when women are involved in
these trials. Among the matrilineal hill Tiwas, daughters inherit property from their mothers. Among
the Mishings, there is the provision that in the absence of sons the daughters can inherit property.

6.1.1 Legislations

The Hindu Succession Act, 1956 provides for equal share of both male and female heirs in the
property inherited by succession. The Act provides that any property possessed by a female Hindu shall
be held by her as full owner and not as a limited owner. On the other hand, the coparcenary right
to property is limited to male members of the family only. In many States like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil
Nadu, Kerala, etc., there have been various State Amendments passed by the respective legislatures
of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 to include the property right of women. Accordingly, in all these
States, the coparcenaries right has been extended even to female members by including them as
coparceners as with men. In Assam, no such attempt has been made to amend the Hindu Succession
Act 1956.

However, in Assam, an Act was passed namely the Assam Hindu Women’s Right to Property
(Extension to Agricultural land) Act, 1943 to extend the operation of the Hindu Women’s Right to
Property Act, 1937 and the Hindu Women’s Right to Property (Amendment) Act. 1938 to the Agricultural
Land in the province of Assam. That the present Act provides the right to property to the agricultural
land in respect of women but this Act has not provided for extending the coparcenary right to women.

The Assam Hindu Women’s Right to Property (Extension to Agricultural Land), Act, 1943,though
passed to extend the right of women to property even to agricultural land, till today, nothing has been
done in reality till date.

The Assam State Commission for Women Act, 1994 has been passed with an objective of the
protection of the constitutional rights of women and also to give effect to the provisions made in the
Directive Principles of State Policy.

6.2 Women in Administration

While analysing the work participation rates it has been observed that in Assam, women’s
participation in administrative and managerial roles is minimum. Inspite of having a high female
literacy rate, the State has produced very few female administrators, never a woman Vice Chancellor
in any of the three Universities in the State and only one woman Chief Minister.

In the year 2000, Assam had only 10 lady IAS officers against 216 male IAS officers, the
percentage to total being 4.42 against the all India average percentage of 10.4.The number of IPS
officers was even lower, only 2 out of a total of 136, i.e., 1.47 per cent against an all India average
percentage of 3.33.

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6.3 Political Participation

Women of the State had participated actively in India’s freedom movement between 1921 and
1947. They joined the social and political movements on various demands even after independence.
They also played a pivotal role in the Assam Movement of the late seventies. But like any other
women’s work, even that contribution has never been counted while sharing the benefits of such
struggles. As such she remains under represented in every decision making body.

6.3.1 Representation in the Lok Sabha

Observing the number of candidates contested and won in the State Assembly elections,it can
be seen that from 1952 to 1985, the number of women candidates ranged between 1 and 3, while
the number of male candidates ranged between 29 and 105. (1980 elections has been ignored as that
election was held amidst disturbances and protests). The number of women winning candidates remained
between 1 and 2. This was out of the total number of 10 seats in 1952 and 1957, 12 in 1962 and
14 thereafter.

In 1999, 2 women were elected to the Lok Sabha , which comprised 14.29 per cent of the Lok
Sabha seats for the State, while in that year, in the Lok Sabha, there were 49 women members,
comprising 9 per cent of the total number of members in the Lok Sabha. This gives a better show than
the rest of India, but not at all in conformity with the type of culture prevalent in this part of the
country.

6.3.2 Representation in the State Assembly

The number of women candidates contesting in the State Assembly polls during 1952 and 1985
ranged between 4 and 20, the percentage to the number of male contestants being 0.99 and 2.18
respectively. The highest number of women contestants during the period was in the year 1978, when
20 women candidates contested, but only 1 won. In the assembly, during this period women legislators
were between 7.02 per cent in 1972 and 0.79 per cent in 1978.

The position considerably improved in 1996, when 45 women contested and 6 women were
elected. In 1999, there were 6 women members in the Assembly comprising 4.92 per cent of the total
members as against all India average of 5.63 per cent of women legislators.

6.3.3 Representation in the Rajya Sabha

Women’s representation in the Rajya Sabha is also minimal. Out of the seven members from
Assam, there was only one-woman member in the Rajya Sabha in 1994 and 1996.

6.3.4 Representation in the Panchayati Raj Institutions:

The 73rd Amendment Act of the Constitution has ensured the entry of women in Panchayati Raj
Institutions. In the panchayat elections held in 2002, a host of women joined the Panchayats as elected

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members. In total, 821 women against the total of 2,487, joined as Gaon Panchayat Presidents, 8,210
women against the total of 24,870 joined as Gaon Panchayat members, 821 women against the total
of 2,487 members joined as Anchalik Panchayat members and 129 women joined as Zila Parishad
members against the total of 390. This comprised more than 33.0 per cent women in the Panchayats.
Prior to that in 1992 Panchayat elections 8,203 women against 19,143 male members, comprising 30
per cent of total members also had the opportunity of joining

The Panchayats. However, during that period, the all India percent age of women members in
Panchayats was 31.32.

6.4 Women as voters

From the electorate list, it can be seen that the number of men and women voters are nearly
equal. But in each election, the average rate of turn out is within 50-60 per cent, unless there is some
particular issue, which attracts voters. Women seem to have participated equally as men as voters.

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KOOB-MASSA

CHAPTER 7

CRIME AGAINST WOMEN

NFHS-2 while analysing the women’s response regarding domestic violence has recorded that
the women of Assam are less exposed to domestic violence compared to her average Indian counterpart,
but she is also not totally free from such incidents, it is a question of only a few percentage points.
It is a mater of concern that the women of Assam have to face physical assaults more from outsiders
than from someone from the family. In addition to the violence she might face at home, she also may
have to face different forms of crime and violence against her at public places. In recent years such
cases are on the increase. An analysis of the data for the State and for 23 districts of Assam reveal
that during the period 1997-2002, there has been not only an increase in the number of crimes and
violence against women in Assam but the incidence of crime is spread over all the districts and crime
rates are very high in some of the districts.

7.1 Incidence of Crime and Violence

Overall crime rate in the State increased by approximately 36% over the period 1997-2002. As
to the types of crime, kidnapping has the highest incidence, followed by cruelty by husband and rape.

In 1997, there were 1113 cases of kidnapping, 717 rape, 686 molestation, 775 cruelty by
husband, 22 dowry death and 10 immoral trafficking, which increased respectively to 1229, 884, 754,
1560, 62, and 20 in the year 2002.

The number of crimes reported from 23 districts of Assam had varied response in the different
areas of crimes against women during the period 1997-2002. Kamrup registered the highest percentage
share of crimes among all the districts of the State with 11.02 per cent, followed by Cachar (10.28)
and Nagaon (9.84) during the period whereas N.C. Hills reported the lowest percentage share of
crimes against women at 0.35.

Kamrup reported the highest number of crimes in the areas of Kidnapping, rape and immoral
trafficking at 1002, 431 and 44 respectively, highest number of molestation cases (611) are reported
from Nagaon District, cruelty by husband (1121) and dowry deaths (40) are highest in the district of
Cachar.

The districts with higher densities of population also appear in the group of districts with higher
incidence of crime against women.

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7.2 Jails in Assam

There are 24 numbers of District Jails in 22 Districts of Assam in addition to a Special Jail in
Nagaon District, an Open Air Jail in Jorhat District and a Jail Lock-Up at Haflong in the District of
N.C. Hills. The District of Tinsukia do not have any kind of jails while N.C. Hills do not possess a
District Jail. The districts of Sonitpur, Jorhat and Karbi Anglong possess 2 numbers of District Jails
each.

7.2.1 Prison Population in Assam

The District Jail at Tezpur has the highest registered capacity of males at 725, followed by the
District Jail of Jorhat (646) and the District Jail of Dibrugarh (614) and the lowest registered capacity
of males are in the Jail Lock-Up at Haflong (24) and the District Jail at Hamren (30). Whereas the
District Jails at Guwahati and Barpeta has the highest registered capacity of females at 45 in each
jail. However the Open Air Jail in Jorhat do not have any capacity for women.

All over the State, out of a total number of 2403 convict, only 47 (1.96 per cent)are women
while the number of women under trials is 127(3.12 per cent) against a total number of 4065 under
trials.

7.3 Number of Family Counselling Centres, Legal Aid Centres, Shelter Homes And Drug And HIV/AIDS
Rehabilitation Centres In Assam:

There are 47 Family Counselling Centres, 38Legal Aid Centres, 27Shelter Homes And 10 Drug
And HIV/AIDS Rehabilitation Centres In Assam spread over different districts.

7.4 Family Court

There is only one family court in Assam. It is in Kamrup district.

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CHAPTER 8

INDICATORS OF WELL-BEING

While discussing the human development indicators in Chapter 1, it was seen that the State is
far below the national level in terms of most of the human development indicators and also gets a
very low rank as per the Human Development Index This chapter gives some added information about
different aspects of well being, which have direct influence on a woman’s life.

8.1 Distribution of Households by type of Houses

The percentage of pucca houses both in rural and urban areas of Assam is lower than the all
India average. There has also been a reduction in the percentage of pucca houses in rural Assam
between 1991 and 1993-94.

House holds with semi pucca houses continued to be higher in urban Assam and lower in rural
Assam than the corresponding all India averages. The percentage of households with semipucca
houses in urban Assam decreased between 1991 and 1993-94.

8.2 Households with access to toilet facilities

In terms of households with access to toilet facilities, Assam is much better off than the all India
average, both for the general population and for the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled tribe population.

The Scheduled Caste and Scheduled tribe population are however worse off than the other
category of population in this regard both at the all India level and the State level.

8.3 Households with access to safe drinking water

The percentage of households with safe drinking water is lower in Assam than the all India
average in both rural and urban areas. This is true also of the Scheduled caste and the scheduled tribe
population. The difference between the figures for Assam and all India is more or less equal in all
categories.

But the accessibility to safe drinking water is slightly higher for the others category of population
compared to Scheduled caste and scheduled tribe population. This is true at the State level as well
as at all India level.

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8.3.1 Distribution of households by source of drinking water

55 per cent of the households in rural areas and 54 per cent in urban areas of Assam depend
on tube wells/tankers for drinking water, while at the all India level, 49 per cent rural and only 18.50
per cent urban households depend on tube well/tankers. 73.70 per cent households in urban areas at
the all India level depend on taps.

8.4 Households with Electricity Connection

Households with Electricity Connection in Assam with 12.54 per cent in rural areas and 63.21
per cent in urban areas are well below the national average of 30.54 and 75.78 per cent respectively.
The difference is more prominent in rural areas.

Scheduled Caste/Tribe Households with Electricity Connection (1991) in Assam has been lower
than the all India average, but the difference between the all India figures with those for Assam is not
as prominent as it is for the general households. Within the State as well as at the all India level,
Scheduled Tribe Households have the lowest access to elecrtricity, followed by Scheduled Caste households.

8.4.1 Per Capita Consumption of Electricity

Per Capita Consumption of Electricity (kWh) in Assam is only about one third of the all India
average level. There has been very marginal increase in this aspect of life in Assam over time

8.5 Households with and without Electricity, Safe Drinking Water and Toilet

Households without Electricity, Safe Drinking Water and Toilet (1991) are more Assam than the
national average in both the rural and the urban. But the percentage of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled
Tribe Households in Urban areas of Assam without Electricity, Safe Drinking Water and Toilet is less
than those at the all India level, showing better position of such households in Assam. The rural Urban
combined figures however show that Scheduled Tribe households without these facilities form the
largest group followed by the Scheduled Caste households both at the State and the all India level.
Data on the percentage of households with Electricity, Safe Drinking Water and Toilet reconfirms the
poor position of the State compared to the all India level both in rural and urban areas.

8.6 Inter District Disparities in access to Household Amenities

Quite visible inter district differences exist in the access to household amenities. Districts in the
Surma Valley are the most well off in terms of households having electricity followed by those in the
upper Brahmaputra Valley. Kamrup having the best position among the lower Brahmaputra Valley
districts have only 67.83 per cent urban households having electricity and 13.82 per cent rural households
having electricity against 80.82 households in urban Karimganj and 28.88 in rural Karimganj.

Kokrajhar, both rural and urban, has the lowest access to safe drinking water. The other three
districts having low access to safe drinking water are Bongaigaon, both rural and urban, rural Goalpara,

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KOOB-MASSA

rural Dhubri, Barpeta, Kamrup, rural Darrang, Sonitpur, Lakhimpur, rural Dhemaji, urban Marigaon,
Jorhat, Karbi Anglong, North Cachar Hills and the rural areas of the Surma Valley districts. Dibrugarh,
Tisukia , Golaghat and Sibsagar are at the three topmost places while even the urban areas of Kamrup
are below the State average in terms of accessibility to safe drinking water.

More than 70 per cent urban households have toilet facilities in all the districta except in North
Cachar where only 68.46 per cent of the households have the facility.In rural areas, Kokrajhar, Darrang
and Dhemaji have the lowest percentage of households having the facility.

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KOOB-MASSA

CHAPTER 9

GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE FOR WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT

AT THE STATE LEVEL

Assam does not have a State Policy for Women. Efforts are on to formulate a State Policy/ Plan
of Action for Women’s Empowerment. However, the Government had adopted the Women Component
Plan as a strategy for the ninth five-year Plan and also has introduced women component in some of
the sectoral programmes for the Tenth Plan. The Government also operates a large number of social
sector schemes. In this chapter, first the social sector schemes undertaken by the Government in
Assam so far and secondly, the proposed schemes for women’s development in the Tenth Plan are
being discussed, followed by a discussion on the budgetary support for women’s empowerment in the
next chapter.

9.1 SOCIAL SECTOR SCHEMES OPERATING IN ASSAM

9.1.1 HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE:

9.1.1 (1) REPRODUCTIVE AND CHILD HEALTH (RCH) PROGRAMME IN ASSAM

One of the foremost social sector schemes working in Assam is the RCH programme. The RCH
programme intends to integrate fertility regulation, Maternal and Child Health with reproductive health
services, such as screening, diagnosis and treatment of Reproductive Tract Infections (RTIs) and
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). The main aim of the programme is to reduce infant and
maternal mortality and morbidity and unwanted fertility, thereby, eventually contributing stabilization
of population growth and improve the health status of women and children. The project has been
launched in 1997-98.

9.1.1 (2) Population Control Programme

Another programme directed towards population control is the Family Welfare Programme. The
performance of this programme, however, for last few years has not been satisfactory, particularly in
respect of sterilisation operation.

9.1.1 (3) POST PARTUM PROGRAMME

The Post Partum Programme, a Maternity Centered Hospital based approach to Family Welfare
was initiated in 1996 with the aim of motivating women within the reproductive age group (15-44

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years) and their husbands for adoption of Small Family norm through education and motivation
particularly during pre-natal and post natal period.

9.1.1 (4) NATIONAL MATERNITY BENEFIT SCHEME

The maternity benefit scheme, under the NSAP, provides lump sum cash assistance to women
of households below poverty line. The following criteria is applicable in determining Central assistance:

Under the National Maternity Benefit Scheme, Rs 500 is paid to the mother up to two live births
prior to delivery. The fund for the scheme is released by Government of India to the District Officers
of Health and Family Welfare Deptt. of Assam under the intimation to the Deputy Commissioners of
the Districts. In Assam, this scheme was implemented by the Joint Director of Health services in 10
districts while in the remaining 13 districts the Additional Chief Medical and Health Officer (FW) to
look after the programme. Current instruction has been issued by the Government to hand over the
Scheme by the Joint Director of Health Services of the State to the Additional Chief Medical and
Health Officer (FW) in respect of the 10 districts.

9.1.1 (5) SECTOR INVESTMENT PROGRAMME SUPPORTED BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Under this Sector Investment Programme, Govt. of India selected Assam as one of the states
amongst 11 states and NAGAON district as demonstration district in the first phase out of 22 districts.
The programme implementation phase is up to September 2003. The uniqueness of this programme
is that it is totally a grant and funding is based on performance of the activities undertaken.

9.1.1 (6) PULSE POLIO IMMUNIZATION PROGRAME AND VITAMIN–A

Promotion of maternal and child health has been one of the most important objectives of the
Family and Welfare Programme in India. The vaccination of children against six serious but preventable
diseases- tuberculosis, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, poliomylitis and measles has been a cornerstone
of the child health care system in India. These are major preventable causes of child mortality,
disability, morbidity and related malnutrition. The National Programme on Prevention of Blindness
targets children less than five years and administers oral doses of vitamin A every six months starting
at age nine months.

9.1.1 (7) NATIONAL ANTI- MALARIA PROGRAMME (NAMP)

The national anti-malaria programme is a Community Development Oriented scheme. With

regards to Financial Assistance the Government of India provided 100% cash assistance from 1-2-1994
to meet the operational cost but expenditure on salary of the staff under plan and non-plan was born
from the state budget. NAMP is a beneficiary oriented and plan scheme.

9.1.1 (8) NATIONAL T.B. CONTROL PROGRAMME (NTCP), ASSAM

The National T B Control Programme (NTCP) in Assam is implemented since 1962 on a 50:50
sharing basis between the centre and state. At present the scheme is a 100% centrally sponsored
scheme.

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The main objective of the programme is to detect cases and treat effectively to prevent spread
of infection to the community.

1. At present in 17 districts of the state TB centers (DTC) are functioning since 1962.

9.1.1 (9) NATIONAL LEPROSY ERADICATION PROGRAMME(NLEP), ASSAM

The National Leprosy Control Programme (NLCP) was launched in 1954-55 with Dapsone
Monotherapy. And subsequently the National Leprosy Eradication Programme was implemented since
1983 as a 100% centrally sponsored scheme with the objective to reduce the disease prevalence rate
below 1/10,000 population by the end of 2000.

9.1.1 (10) MODIFIED LEPROSY ELIMINATION CAMPAIGN (MLEC) IN ASSAM

The Modified Leprosy Elimination Campaign (MLEC) Mlec-1 in Assam was conducted between
7 April to 12th April 1998.
th

9.1.1 (11) SPECIAL ACTION PROGRAMME FOR ELIMINATION OF LEPROSY (SAPEL)

Govt. of India has accorded approval and sanctioned funds for implementation of Special Action
Programme For Elimination Of Leprosy (SAPEL) projects for 2001-2002.

9.1.1 (12) NATIONAL PROGRAMME FOR CONTROL OF BLINDNESS (NPCB), ASSAM

The National Programme for Control Of Blindness (NPCB) was launched in1998 as a100%
centrally sponsored scheme.

9.1.1 (13) NATIONAL CANCER CONTROL PROGRAMME (NCCP) ASSAM

In Assam, cancer of the throat and mouth cavity is very high in comparison to the other parts
of the country. The community awareness through health education for early detection of cancer cases
can improve the course of the disease.

The Govt. of India has sanctioned three national cancer control projects in the state of Assam
for the three districts of Jorhat, Dhubri,and Cachar. Cancer detection services in the early stages can
be identified in district civil hospitals and community health centres with the available resources in the
institutions.

9.1.1 (14) NATIONAL IODINE DEFICIENCY DISEASE CONTROL PROGRAMME (NIDDCP) ASSAM

The National Goiter Control Programme (NGCP) was launched in 1962 with 100% central
assistance. The programme was re- designated as National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control (NIDDC)
in 1992 to emphasize the wider implications of Iodine deficiency. To ensure proper monitoring of
iodized salts a high level co-ordination committee was constituted in 1987 as per instructions of
Government of India.

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 The Director of Health Services of Assam is the Technical Head of implementation of the
programme.

9.1.1 (15) NATIONAL SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMME FOR COMMUNICABLE DISEASE (NSPCD), ASSAM

The ministry of Health and family welfare, Government of India has launched the National
Surveillance Programme for Communicable Diseases (NSPCD) in selected districts in India. At the
national level, the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) Delhi is the nodal agency for
this programme.

In Assam the three districts of Cachar, Jorhat and Dibrugarh have been selected as pilot districts
by Govt. of India to implement this programme from the year 2001 with the existing staff and
infrastructure.

9.1.1 (16) MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMME, ASSAM

LGB Regional Institute of Mental Health, Tezpur is the only psychiatric hospital in N.E (Northeast)
Region with 350 beds. The N.E.C has undertaken the funding of institute and proposed to convert it
to a teaching institute in future. There are 3 medical college hospitals in the state with a total of
nearly 100 beds for mentally ill patients.

9.1.1 (17) DISTRICT MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMME

Two Districts of Assam have been taken up under the District Mental Health programme, which
is a part of the National Mental Health programme. The districts are Dhubri and Goalpara. In the
district of Nagaon the programme was started in1997

9.1.1 (18) YAWS ERADICATION PROGRAMME (YEP), ASSAM

The Ministry of Health and F.W Govt. of India has approved the initiation of Yaws Eradication
Programme (YEP) in Assam as a Central Sector Health Scheme. It may be mentioned that in the past
cases of Yaws have been reported from North Cachar Hills District of Assam. The Govt. of India has
suggested launching this programme only in North Cachar District of Assam.

9.1.1 (19) AIDS CONTROL PROGRAMME IN ASSAM

The State AIDS Cell was established in the year 1992 in the office of the Directorate of Health
Services of Assam under the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) for implementation of the
programme. Subsequently District AIDS cells were also established.

The first Phase of the programme ended in 1997 but was extended upto March 1999. Meanwhile,
the Assam State AIDS Control Society (ASACS) was formed and registered in the month of October
1998.The second phase of the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) was started from April 1999
for a period of 5 years, i.e. till March, 2004.

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9.2 EDUCATION

The educational sector schemes are grouped under three categories: Elementary (Class I-IV),
Secondary (Class. V-X), Higher Secondary (Class.XI-XII) and Technical education. A small number of
primary schools have pre-primary sections tagged to them.

9.2.1 (1) Elementary Education

● Elementary education is accepted as a crucial input for nation building being basic to subsequent
learning for a child to grow up to a human resource. A separate Directorate of Elementary
education was established in 1977 in the state to look after Preprimary, lower Primary and upper
Primary levels of education. The Directorate looks after this sector in the state excepting in the
District Councils. There are 21 District Elementary education offices in 21 plain districts; Deputy
Inspector of School Offices in 43 sub-divisional offices and 121 block elementary education
offices, 4 autonomous councils under this Directorate.

The programmes under this category include

● Strengthening of block level machinery

● Strengthening of sub divisional level machinery
● Strengthening of district level machinery
● Implementation of Non-Formal Education
● Opening/taking over a Middle school
● Appointment of additional teacher in Middle school
● Appointment of science teacher in middle schools
● Appointment of Language teacher in Linguistic Minority Middle schools
● Appointment of chowkidar in Middle schools
● Maintenance of schools in grants-in-aid
● Supply of free text books to elementary schools students
● Award of attendance scholarship to SC/St students
● Award of special scholarships to SC/St Girls students
● Supply of uniforms
● Supply of exercise books and note books
● Opening of book bank
● Revision of curriculum and syllabus
● Examination reforms

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● Improvement of science and mathematics
● Purchase/repairing of office vehicles
● Holding of Annual sports
● Cash award to teachers
● Campaigning of U.E.E.
● Introduction of Cub-bul-bul in Elementary school
● Training of planning, statistical and Inspection staff
● Mid day meal
● Implementation of the scheme of D.P.E.P.
● Assistance to Autonomous Councils
● Implementation of the schemes of 10th Finance Commission award
● Introduction of English in Class III and IV

9.2.1 (2) Schemes funded by State

1. Salary liability to continuation of posts

2. Office Expenses, Rent Rate Taxes and Traveling Allowances
3. Supply of Free Textbooks:
4. Award of Scholarships:
5. Cash Award to teachers:

9.2.1 (3) CENTRAL SECTOR SCHEMES

1. Operation Blackboard.
2. Appointment of Hindi teacher
3. Educational facilities for Disabled children
4. Mid day meal Scheme

9.2.1 (4) SCHEMES WITH MATCHING SHARES BETWEEN GOVERNMENT OF INDIA AND GOVERNMENT
OF ASSAM

1. Non-Formal Education
2. District Primary Education Programme (DPEP)

9.2.2 SECONDARY EDUCATION

In Assam Secondary stage of education covers class VIII standard including +2 stage i.e. class
IX and class XII. The projected population of the state is 2.29 crore at the present and the population

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between the age group of 14 years-16 years is approximately 28.50 lakhs, which is to be covered by
secondary education. There are 3200 High Schools and 599 Higher Secondary schools in the State.

9.2.3 CENTRALLY SPONSORED SCHEMES (CSS)

At present the following centrally sponsored schemes are being implemented in the State under
secondary education-

1. Vocational education at + 2 stage

2. Improvement of Science Education
3. Appointment of Hindi teachers
4. Computer literacy and studies in schools (CLASS)
5. Modernization of Madrassa Education

9.2.4 UNIVERSITY AND HIGHER EDUCATION

In the field of higher education, emphasis was laid on consolidation and qualitative improvement
during the 8th 5-year plan, 1992-97. During the 9th five-year plan it will be necessary to consolidate
“gains” made in higher education over the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th plan period in terms of expansion.

The Higher Education Directorate is entrusted with the responsibility of managing the affairs
relating to higher education. They are mainly to deal with the matters relating to Gauhati University,
Dibrugarh University, 4 govt. colleges, 190 non-government Deficit colleges, 30 number of Adhoc
colleges, 80 number of Sanskrit and Pali Prakrit tols, 7 number of non-government law colleges and
also with some voluntary organizations like Assam Science Society, Asom Sahitya Sabha, Science and
Technology, ABILAC, Publication Board Assam, Sadou Assam Lekhika Samaroh, Rabha Sahitya Sabha,
Bodo Sahitya Sabha, Mising Abang Kebang etc.2.4.3.1: Organizational Structure of the Office of the
Directorate of Higher Education, Assam: The organizational structure of the Directorate of Higher
Education is quite elaborate with the Director at the apex.

9.2.5 ADULT EDUCATION

Adult education programme was started on National basis in the year 1978-79 along with the
other parts of the country. The government of Assam have been implementing different Adult education
programmes from the starting of its nationwide introduction.

9.3 SOCIAL WELFARE

The Social Welfare schemes are mainly centered round the welfare of women, children, the
physically handicapped and the mentally retarded, the destitute and vagrant, etc.A number of social
welfare schemes have been introduced from time to time in the State. Most of these programmes are
managed by the Department of Social Welfare, Government of Assam.

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9.3.1 National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP)

The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) was launched on 15 th August 1995 as a
100% Centrally Sponsored Scheme with the objective of providing social assistance benefit to poor
households affected by old age, death of primary breadwinner or need for maternity care. The programme
supplements the efforts of the State Government with the objective of ensuring minimum level of well-
being.

The NSAP includes three benefits as its components, viz.

National Old Age Pension Scheme (NAOPS)
National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS)
National Maternity Benefit Scheme (NMBS)

The NSAP is a Centrally Sponsored Programme under which 100 percent Central assistance is
extended to the States/Union Territories to provide the benefits in accordance with the norms, guidelines
and conditions laid down by the Central Government. The intention in providing 100 percent Central
assistance is to ensure that social protection to the beneficiaries everywhere in the country is uniformly
available without interruption.

9.3.2 SOCIAL WELFARE: Departmental Schemes

9.3.2 (a) Family and Child Welfare (FCW) Projects

Under the Social Welfare Department, the Family and Child Welfare (FCW) projects runs in 7
districts. The blocks where FCW is implemented are Lawkhowa, Golokganj, Titabor, Rani, Hajo, Barkhetri,
Koliabor and Chapar In total there are 8 FCW projects at present, with 2400 beneficiary mothers and
3600 beneficiary children. The State government funds these:

9.3.2 (b) State Home/Destitute home

There are 12 State/Destitute homes in the State with 420 male and 560 female inmates.In
Jalukbari, Guwahati there is one State Home for Rescued Women, and one Destitute Home for Women.
In Boko (Kamrup District),there is one Home for Helpless and Destitute Women, and one Permanent
Liabilities Home (Bamunigaon) for the refugees and migrants.

9.3.2 (c) Vagrant Home in Fatasil Ambari

The vagrant homes are set up as a cell for reforming juveniles. There is only one such cell in
Fatasil, Ambariin Guwahati.

9.3.2 (d) Children Home

There are 2 children homes in the State, one in Lakhimpur District, for Destitute and vagrant
children and one in Nagaon for Orphan and Destitute Children.

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9.3.2 (e) Prison Welfare

It was set up for rehabilitation of the families of prisoners.

9.3.2 (f) Prosthetic Aid

Under the Prosthetic rules, physically handicapped persons were sanctioned 75% grant for
purchase of artificial limb appliances up to the age of 40 years, viz. tricycle, wheeled chair, hearing
aid etc. in the past years.

9.3.2 (g) Rehabilitation Grant to the Physically Handicapped

Under the rehabilitation grant scheme, the department has been providing financial assistance
to start poultry farm, dairy farm, bamboo and cane works, knitting and embroidery, weaving, carpentry,
book stall, tailoring etc.

9.3.2 (h) Grants-in-aid to the Voluntary Welfare Organisation

The grants to the voluntary organization pertain to mainly constructions of the buildings and
maintenance. 9.3.2(i). Scholarships to the Physically Handicapped:

The beneficiaries of this scheme include the orthopaedically handicapped, physically handicapped,
mentally retarded students, blind students and the deaf and dumb. Such students receive up to Rs.
1200/- annually for H.S.L.C. examination and vocational training.

9.3.2 (j) Blind School and Braille press

The Social Welfare Department established a Braille press during the year 1983-84 through the
P.W.D. and initiated action during 1984-85 for construction works. In August 2000,the press was
installed in the Guwahati Blind School Campus. Another Blind School is running in Jorhat.

9.3.2 (k) Special Nutrition Programme (ICDS)

This scheme was implemented since 1975 for 6 months to 3 years children, 3 to 6 years (pre-
school education, immunization), 18—44 year women (health and education programme). The foods
are given from PMGY and World Food Centre. There are 10 nos. of feeding centers including 4 nos.
of Balwadi School under Special Nutrition Programme.

9.3.2 (l) Balwadi Programme

In the Balwadi Centres, non-formal pre-primary education is imparted through play-way method
to the children in the age group of 3 years to 6 years by trained Balsevikas.

9.3.2 (m) Welfare of Long-term prisoners and ex-convicts

Both care and after care service for welfare and rehabilitation schemes for long-term prisoners
and ex-convicts for crime is recommended by the way of financial assistance to the families, mostly
for the purpose of education of children, marriage of daughter and repairing house etc.

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9.3.2 (n) Care and Protection schemes

Under the care and protection schemes for welfare of children in need, three major registered
organisations received grants for maintenance of children home with the objective of imparting education
and training to the destitute and orphaned children in a homely atmosphere, keeping in view the
ultimate goal of their rehabilitation.

9.3.2 (o) State Old-Age Pension Scheme

The old age pension scheme provides for award of financial relief in the form of monthly
pension. The old age pension scheme was introduced with effect from 15-8-83 @ Rs.60/- per month.
After that, it was enhanced up to Rs.75/- per month.

The National Social Assistance Programme now covers the beneficiaries under old age pension
scheme with effect from 1-4-2000.

9.3.2 (p) Physically Handicapped Persons’ Identity Card

For supplementary help of the physically handicapped persons, Identity Card is issued by the
District Social Welfare Officer with the co-operation of the Joint Director, Health Services. A selection
board of Medical Officers examines and identifies the genuine physically handicapped persons for
issuing the identity cards for their supplementary help or benefit.

The physically handicapped persons are entitled to petrol subsidies; concession on air, rail and
road travels, awarding scholarships, reservation of posts and seats etc. and other facilities as admissible
under existing rules of State and Central Government.

9.3.2 (q) Integrated Child Development Scheme

The programme for child welfare consists of the implementation of the Integrated Child Development
Scheme. This centrally sponsored scheme was introduced in Assam in the year 1975. At present, there
are 196 ICDS projects in Assam including 89 newly created projects. Number of Anganwadi centres
functioning at present is 15,647 and 9,769 new centres have been sanctioned in 2000-2001.The
objectives of the scheme are:

9.3.2 (r) The Balika Sambriddhi Yojana

The Govt. of India introduced the Balika Sambriddhi Yojana in 1997 with the view to provide
financial assistance to the families falling below poverty line. Subsequently, some changes were introduced
into the Scheme.

9.4 LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

9.4 (1) Vocational Training

The Crafts Training Scheme, one of the major schemes under the National Vocational Training
System (MVTS) was introduced in 1950 with the objective of providing semi skilled manpower to

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different economic sectors of industry in the country. The scheme is now being implemented through
a network of 4170 Industrial Training Institutes, Industrial Training Centres in the country having
seating capacity of 6.77 lakhs approximately. Under the scheme, training is presently being imparted
in 43 engineering and 24 non-engineering trades as designated by National Council for Vocational
Training (NCVT).

Vocational Training being a concurrent subject, both Central and State government are responsible
for its planning and implementation. Administration and financial control of ITI s / ITC s rests with
the respective state.

9.4 (2) Vocational Training Institutes

The Government of India, Deptt. of Tribal Affaires have been releasing funds under the Central
Sectoral Scheme to the State Government for running Vocational Training Institutes. In order to check
the alarming growth of unemployment, and also to discourage terrorism among the tribal youths, the
ATDA has been implementing the scheme to provide large-scale self-employment. Under the scheme
100%Central Assistance is given to the States for setting up and running Vocational Training Centres.At
present 10 such centres are functioning. Sanction for 16 more schools has been receives and steps
are reported to be taken to start the centres.

9.4 (3) NES PACKAGE

In January 2000, the Prime Minister of India in a conference held with the Chief Ministers/
Governors of North eastern States and Sikkim announced an Agenda for Socioeconomic development
of the States, which included a doubling of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) for imparting training
in new trades over the next three years. An outlay of Rs. 100 crores has been provided for this purpose.

9.4 (4) Community Polytechnics

The scheme of community polytechnics was started under the Direct Central Assistance Scheme
in 1978-79 in 35 polytechnics, on an experimental basis, with a view to ensuring for the rural society
a fair share of benefits from the investments in Technical Education system.

The community polytechnics are not a separate institution. It is a wing attached to the regular
polytechnic under the Direct Central Assistance Scheme of Ministry of Human Resource Development
(MHRD). There are no institutions christened as community polytechnics as such. The scheme for
providing assistance to some selected polytechnics for Science and Technology inputs for rural development
and monitoring their work was named scheme of community polytechnics of MHRD.

9.5 RURAL DEVELOPMENT

In recent years, there have been some changes in the composition of social sector expenditure.
The most significant of the changes is the paradigm change in the approach towards rural development.

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Within the rural development outlay at the Centre, there is a shift away from rural employment
schemes to rural housing, water, rural roads etc. The overall trend is to address the problem from the
human development and basic needs intervention rather than the traditional way of addressing the
problem of poverty.

9.5 (1) IRDP

IRDP was introduced in 2nd October 1980 , it continued to be a major instrument of poverty
alleviation for nearly two decades in the rural areas. This programme was based on the principle of
fixing targets on selectivity and incidence of poverty.

The IRDP aimed at providing self employment opportunity through poor through assistance in
the form of subsidy and bank credit to enable the individual as well as groups, to acquire productive
assets and appropriate skills to cross the poverty line on a sustained basis .

9.5 (2) Indira Awas Yojana (IAY)

Dwellings houses along with sanitation are provided to the people living below the poverty line
on the pattern of 60% to the SC/ST, 3% to physically handicapped and rest open to the general
categories of poor people.

9.5 (3) Training of Rural Youth for Self Employment (TRYSEM)

It is a programme identified as the link in the overall strategy for self employment and wage
employment programme of the rural poor by imparting training for various trades / skills at important
training institutes.

9.5 (4) Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas (DWCRA)

It aims at improving the living condition of women and there-by children through provision of
opportunities for self-employment and basic social services. It is done in the form of group activity and
cultivating habit of thrift and credit facilities among the rural poor women including childcare activities
like Pulse Polio Immunisation, Literacy programme.

9.5 (5) Ganga Kalyan Yojna (GKY)

It is a programme which has to provide irrigation through exploitation of ground water (STW)
to individual and groups belonging to target group i.e. SC , ST and people living below poverty line.
The group consists of 5 to 15 members.

9.5 (6) Scheme for Improved Tool-Kits for Rural Artisans (SITRA)

The programme of tool- kits aim at upgrading their skills and improving their production capability
by supplying the rural poor artisans with modern kits enhancing thereby their productivity and income
levels.

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9.5 (7) Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY)

With coming into force of SGSY from 1st April /1999 the earlier programmes viz. IRDP- TRYSEM,
DWCRA,GKY and MWS are no longer in operation. The unspent balance amount as on 1.4.99 under
these erstwhile programmes has been pooled under the head SGSY and utilized.

9.5 (8) Pradhan Mantri Gramoday Yojana

In order to achieve sustainable human development at the village level, a new initiative called
the ‘Pradhan Mantri Gramoday Yojana’ (PMGY) was introduced in the Annual Plan 2000-01 in all the
States and UTs including Assam. Rural Roads and Rural electrification are the priorities under this
scheme.

9.5 (9) Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana

The Pradhan Mantri Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) is to provide connectivity, by way of all weather
roads to the unconnected habitations in the rural areas by the end of the Tenth Plan Period (2007).
In respect of the Hill States (North East, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttaranchal)
and the Desert Areas, the objective is to connect habitations with a population of 250 persons and
above.

9.6 TRIBAL DEVELOPMENT

The Assam tribal Development Authority was set up in November 1983 in the form of a corporate
institution as per provisions of the Assam Tribal Development Authority Act 1983.

The Assam Tribal Development Authority implements the various schemes like Family oriented
income generating schemes (F O I G S) like grocery, piggery, Goatery, Fishery, etc and infrastructure
development schemes (I D S) like construction of link- road, bridges, school building, community centre
etc. However, the main thrust of development has been given on the successful implementation of the
family oriented income generating schemes with a view to generate self employment and financial
assets of the backward Tribal Families living below the poverty line.

The Assam Tribal Development Authority has been implementing another scheme under the
central sector scheme i.e. Vocational Training Institutes (V T I) The Institutes are located in different
districts. The Project Directors, ITDP/ Sub- Divisional Welfare Officers and the headmasters of the
schools are looking after the management of the vocational training institutes.

The ATDA is also implementing the infrastructure development scheme for repairing of roads,
schools, culverts, ring wells etc.

The main source of revenue of the Authority are the Special Central Assistance( S C A), Central
Sectoral Assistance and State Sector Assistance. The Authority may also raise loans on such terms and
conditions in consonance with the State Government standing financial norms and policies.

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9.6 (1) TRIBAL SUB-PLAN

Tribal sub-plan schemes include:

● Welfare of the physically handicapped.

● Rehabilitation grants to the physically handicapped persons.
● Prosthetic Aid.
● Scholarship to the physically handicapped students.
● Special central assistance to the Voluntary Welfare Organisations.
● Special Nutrition Programme (ICDS).

Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) is considered in areas with only scheduled tribe population.

9.7 SCHEDULE CASTE COMPONENT PLAN

The Schedule Caste Component Plan covers the following scheme-

● Prosthetic Aid.
● Grants-in-aid to Voluntary Welfare Organisations.
● Special Nutrition Programme.
● Supplementary Nutrition is provided to the children between 0-6 years and nursing expectant
mothers. The function of the Supplementary Nutrition Programme is closed at present.

9.8 WELFARE OF MINORITIES

Certain welfare schemes of the Government of Assam address the problems of the minorities
and the people living in the Char areas. The Schemes relating to Agriculture, veterinary and Diary,
provision of drinking water, Cottage Industry and Education are presently under implementation in the
Char areas.

The Assam Minorities Development Board is engaged for the welfare of the minorities. The
Assam Minority Development & Finance Corporation is engaged in providing loans to people belonging
to notify minorities.

9.9 WELFARE OF TEA AND EX-TEA GARDEN TRIBES

Government of Assam has recognised the Tea Tribes and Ex-tea Garden Tribes as Other Backward
Classes. Various welfare schemes have been implemented for these tribes since 1985 through the
Directorate of Welfare Of Tea And Ex-Tea Garden Tribes, Assam.

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9.10 Grants Provided by the Eleventh Finance Commission with Special Reference to the field of Social
Sector in Assam

The Eleventh Finance Commission has identified certain sectors for up gradation. The Commission
has allocated grants for certain specific programmes also. The grants allocated by the Commission for
different sector in Assam are shown below.In the Police Administration sector, among others, fund is
also allocated for the Facilities of Women Police personnel.

Grants provided by the Eleventh Finance Commission with Special Reference to the field of
Social Sector in Assam

Sl. Sectors Upgradation and special problem grants

No. for 2000 -2005(Rs. In Crores)
1 District Administration —
2 Police Administration 24.00
3 Prison Administration 3.00
4 Fire services 5.00
5 Judicial Administration 5.89
6 Fiscal Administration 3.00
7 Health Services 18.00
8 Elementary Education (Class i -viii) 10.00
9 Computer Training for School Children 9.89
10 Public Libraries 5.60
11 Heritage protection 5.00
12 Augmentation of Traditional Water Sources 13.16
13 Special Problems 30.00
TOTAL 132.54
Report of the Eleventh Finance Commission

9.11 URBAN SCHEMES

The Social sector Schemes are mostly common for both rural and urban areas. However, a few
schemes are operated to cater to the needs of the urban population in particular. One such scheme
is the -

9.11.1 Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY)

The Swarna Jayanti Saharia Rojgar Yojna (SJSRY) is aimed at providing gainful employment to
urban unemployed or underemployed poor through encouraging setting up of self- employment ventures

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or provision of wage employment. This programme relies on creation on suitable community structures
on the Urban Basic Services for the Poor (UBSP) pattern and delivery of inputs under this programme
shall be through the medium of urban local bodies and such community structures.

9.11.2 The Urban Self-Employment Programme (USEP):

This programme has three distinct parts: -

1. Assistance to individual urban poor beneficiaries for setting up gainful self-employment ventures.

2. Assistance to groups of urban poor women for setting up gainful self-employment ventures. This
sub- scheme may be called “The scheme for Development of Women and Children in the Urban
Areas (DWCUA)”

3. Training of beneficiaries, potential beneficiaries and other persons associated with the urban
employment programme for up gradation and acquisition of vocational and entrepreneurial
skills.

The programme targets the urban poor, defined as those living below the urban poverty line, as
defined from time to time.Special attention will be given to women, persons belonging to scheduled
castes/ tribes. Disabled persons and other such categories as may be indicated by government from
time to time. The percentage of women beneficiaries under this programme shall not be less than
30%SCs and STs must be benefited to the extent of their strength in the local population. A special
provision of 3% shall be reserved for the disabled under this programme.

9.11.3 The Urban Wage Employment Programme (UWEP)

This programme shall seek to provide wage employment to beneficiaries living below the poverty
line within the jurisdiction of urban local bodies by utilizing their labour for construction of socially and
economically useful public assets. This programme shall apply to urban local bodies, the population
of which was less than 5 lakhs as per 1991 census.

9.11.4 INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT SMALL AND MEDIUM TOWNS (IDSMT)

The centrally sponsored scheme of integrated development small and medium towns (IDSMT)
was initiated in the sixth plan (1979-80) and has continued in the seventh and eight plans. Its main
objective has been to slow down migration from rural areas and smaller towns to large cities by the
development of selected small and medium towns, which are capable of generating economic growth
and employment. The (IDSMT) scheme, by strengthening small and medium towns as regional growth
centers aim at reducing migration to large and metropolitan cities. Through the establishment of
complementary linkages between villages, towns and cities, it envisages a harmonious pattern of
settlements.

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IDSMT is applicable to towns/cities with population upto 5 lakhs subject to the stipulation that
about 1/3rd of the total amount available each year – for the Scheme as a whole – will be allocated
to towns with less than 50,000 populations. Towns are categorized for the purpose of assistance under
IDSMT but is not applicable to towns covered under the Prime Minister’s Integrated Urban Poverty
Eradication Programme (IUPEP)

9.11.5 City Infrastructure Development Schemes

These schemes are implemented by the of Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority.

Apart from the above schemes, a number of projects to improve the drainage facility of Guwahati
City also has been taken up.

9.12 National Slum Development Programme (NSDP)

The NSDP was first launched in Kanpur. Under this programme additional Central assistance is
released to states/ UTs for the development of urban slums.

The objectives of the programme is-

● to provide adequate and satisfactory water supply,

● sanitation, health care, primary education facilities,
● adult literacy and non- formal education facilities, etc.

The implementing agency of the National Slum Development Programme(NSDP) at the state
level is the Director, Town and Country planning.

The district level work is looked after by the district office of the Town and Country planning
while the urban Local bodies implement the grass root level programme.

This scheme is operating in 23 districts of the State. In the city of Guwahati, a total number
of 19 slum pockets have been identified by the Town and Country planning.

9.12 (a) Additional Central Assistance to States for Slum Development

The improvement of slums, their up gradation, and urban alleviation are considered as legitimate
functions of the municipal authorities. Apart from the SJSRY, which aims at poverty alleviation of the
urban poor, there is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Environmental Improvement Of Urban Slum
(EIUS) introduced during the 5th plan, by the Central Government and which was subsequently transferred
to the State sector.

9.12 (b) The Environmental Improvement Of Urban Slum (EIUS)

At the State level, the programme is implemented by the Town and Country planning Department,
at the district level by the District Office of the Town and Country Planning and at the grassroots level

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by the urban Local Bodies (ULBs). In the beginning, the scheme started as a centrally sponsored
scheme. During the Sixth plan, the scheme was transferred to the state sector and then monetary
sanctions were stopped. The scheme is under the 20th point programme of state sector.

9.13 Schemes and programmes proposed in the Tenth Plan1

9.13.1 Agricultural sector

The work participation rate of women is highest in the agricultural sector. In addition to the
economically recognised work, women in the agricultural sectoralso contribute significantly through
their numerous work.As such, the renewed programmes for Agricultural development ,announced in
the Draft Tenth Plan for the State, are expected to benefit a large number of women. The Draft Plan
has the vision of transforming the State into a granary of the Northeast, promotion of growth, and
prosperity of rural mases and for the improvement of rural life by ensuring sustainable agriculture for
achieving the desitred goal, it has announced

● the strategy of formulating the State Agricultural Policy towards certain specific goals like food
security, diversification of agriculture etc. The goals also include Participation of Women farmers
■ To encourage participation of women farmers in training and extension activities.
■ To ensure representation of women farmers in Field Management Committees (FMC)
■ The farmwomen will be encouraged for Bari development (homestead Garden).
● As per the recommendation of the National Commission for Women, it has been proposed to
organise more training programmes among women especially SC/ST women in various fields of
livestock farming. For this purpose an amount of Rs.267.10 lakh of which capital outlay of Rs.10
lakh is proposed during the 10th five-year plan and Rs. 84.0 lakh is proposed during the year
2002-03.
● In preparing the tenth five year plan for Co-operative Development, enlargement of farming,
poultry, duckery, fishery and allied activities with emphasis on rural employment and generation
of alternative source of income for the rural poor specially for the vast majority of land less
labourers and marginal farmers and women folk has been stressed. Democratic management
with minimum interference of the Government and active involvement of women in higher scale
in the Women Multipurpose Societies and other Societies.

9.13.2 Rural Development

(1) Ninth plan Schemes to be continued during tenth plan National level Poverty Alleviation Programmes
are being implemented in the State under the Rural Development Sector. All the schemes are
centrally sponsored and implemented through the DRDAs at District level. Expenditure is borne
by both Central and the State government. The funding patterns were 50:50/ 80:20 upto the
1
Source: P&D Department, Government of Assam: Draft Tenth Five Year Plan 2002-2007,VolII

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year 1998-99.From the year 1999-2000, the funding patterns were changed to 75:25. The
programmes, schemes, which will be continued in the 10th plan, are given below along with the
funding pattern of each of the programme.

Programme Share of Central Government Share of the State Government

(1) (2) (3)
1. SGSY 75% 25%
2. JGSY 75% 25%
3. EAS 75% 25%
4. IAY 75% 25%
5. PMGY
(i) PMGSY 100% Nil
(ii) Rural Shelter 100% Nil
6. DRDA Administration 75% 25%
7. Credit cum Subsidy Scheme 75% 25%
8. IREP 90% 10%
9. IWDP Salary Programme fund

(2) S&T for Women & Rural Development

Through this scheme, programmes are undertaken by Assam Science Technology & Environment
Council for upgradation of technologies aimed at raising the quality of life of women and rural
population, improvement of traditional village/cottage industries by appropriate S& T input etc. so that
the benefits of science & technology innovations reach the common people to enable them to improve
their socio-economic conditions.

During the Ninth Plan period a number of such programmes were organised in the areas of
improved methods of weaving, production and spinning of Assam Silk, Eri, and Muga, agricultural and
horticultural practice, herbal medicines, fruit and vegetable preservation and processing health and
nutrition, village and cottage industries, mushroom cultivation, use of bio-fertilizers, training on appropriate
rural technologies, etc.

The outlay proposed for this scheme in the Tenth Plan is Rs. 15.00 lakh and annual plan outlay
for the year 2002-03 is Rs. 2.00 lakh.

9.13.3 Khadi and Village Industries

The Assam Khadi and Village Industries Board have implemented programmes under Khadi and
Village Industries Sector from the starting of the planning process. During the Ninth Five Year plan also
schemes for women under Khadi and Village Industries

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 Were implemented. The Assam Khadi and Village Industries Board has provided employment
opportunities to women beneficiaries of the State even though no specific target has been set for the
purpose. As a result, out of the schemes of Khadi and Village Industries, a large number of women
in rural areas have been getting benefit. In the Tenth Plan, it is proposed to create employment for
75,000 women beneficiaries under Khadi and Village Industries. The target for 2002-03, the initial
year of the Tenth Plan is to create employment opportunities for 35,500 nos. of women beneficiaries.

9.13.4 Educational

(1) PMGY Programme: The Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana has been launched to focus on the
provision of basic minimum services in certain priority areas in order to achieve the objective of
sustainable human development at the village level. Primary education is one of the sectors in
basic minimum services now under a new name of PMGY. An amount of Rs. 1,865.00 lakh has
been earmarked under the sector of elementary education under PMGY during 2001-02, an
outlay of Rs. 1,865.00 lakh has been proposed for the annual plan 2002-03 and Rs.9, 325.00
lakh for the 10th five year plan.

(2) Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan: This is a positive response to the direction of the Hon’ble Supreme Court
of India regarding making education upto the age of 14 years a fundamental right of every child.
The programme involves a holistic and convergent approach with a clear focus on district as a
unit of planning and implementation. The framework for Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan has been designed
as a people’s movement for education for all, which will provide useful and relevant elementary
education of satisfactory quality for all by 2010 A. D. bridging all social and gender gaps, with
vigorous and active participation of the community in the affairs of the schools.

It has been decided that this programme will be implemented in all the districts of the
State.Government of India has already released Rs. 2,95,13,000/- for preparation of the pre-
project activities. For the annual Plan an amount of Rs. 5,750 lakh was proposed and for the
tenth plan, an amount of Rs. 28,750.00 lakh has been proposed.

(3) Scholarship Scheme: Incentives in the form of attendance and special scholarships to the students
belonging to SC/ST communities have been continuing of for a long time. The award of Rs.
100/- annually to each of the beneficiaries for attendance as scholarship and Rs.300/- annually
to each of the beneficiaries for special scholarship to girls only. An amount of Rs. 42.00lakh is
required for the purpose.

(4) Construction of Girls Common Room: Special emphasis has been given for girls’ education. There
is wide gap between male female literacy in the State. To reduce the gap, it has been proposed
to construct girls common room in secondary school. An amount of Rs. 250.00 lakhs has been
earmarked in the draft 10th five year plan and Rs 50.00 lakh has been proposed for the annual
plan 2002-03 for giving grant-in aid @ Rs. 1.00lakh to each school.

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(5) Vocational Education: Emphasis has been laid on vocationalisation at +2 stage of secondary
education. At present there are 150 higher secondary schools with vocational education. An
amount of Rs. 10.00 lakh has been earmarked for reimbursement of tuition fees charge from
girls students in class XI-XII during the 10th five year plan and Rs. 2.00 lakh for annual plan
2002-03 for the same.

9.13.5 Welfare for Women and Child Workers under Labour Laws

Government of India have been persistently pressing hard to set up a women cell as per
resolution of ILO. Further more, Government of India has also been pressing for setting up of a Child
Labour Cell in the Labour and Employment Department for

● strict monitoring of the implementation of Child Labour (P&R) Act 1986

● to eradicate the problems of employment of child labour in hazardous industries and
● to take effective initiative for rehabilitation of such child labour.

As Regional workshop for Women and Child workers and advisory Committees under Equal
Remuneration Act, 1976 are very much essential to carry out workers programmes, it is therefore
proposed to continue the scheme during the 10th five year plan period with the following:

i) Formation and Coordination of policies and programmes of family labour force.

ii) Collection, compilation, analysis and dissemination of information on various aspects of the
female labour force and child labour in various economic sectors of the State.
iii) Promotion of education , training and welfare and advancement of the social and economic
status of women and child labour and ILO/UNICEF assisted programmes .
iv) Liasion with other concerned govt. agencies and NGO’s to secure the implementation of programmes
in respect of women and child workers.
v) Supervision and enforcement of legislative provision effecting women workers and child labourers.

In order to approach the problems of child labour, Government has taken a policy wherein
emphasis has been given to concentrate the attention of Government in the areas where the child
labourers are concentrated. The child labour education is sought to be made compulsory in view of
the constitutional provisions. The policy deals mostly with the welfare and rehabilitation aspect of the
child labour. It has three main points:

● The first is the enforcement of the Child Labour Act,

● The second is where ever welfare programmes or development programmes are going on, the
Govt will try to see that family of child labourers get the benefits.
● The third is to take up projects in areas of child labour concentration, where the education and
health care of the child workers would be looked into.

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 It is therefore proposed to continue the scheme during the 10 th plan period for the purpose
stated above with an estimated cost of Rs. 3.00 lakhs for the existing posts.

9.13.6 Backward Classes (Welfare Of SC/ST/OBC)

The Tenth Plan proposes that considering the present economic, educational and social status
of SC, ST and OBC (including Tea and Ex-Tea Garden) population, any of the schemes of the 9 th Five
Year Plan is not subject to be discontinued during the Tenth Plan. Therefore all the schemes will
continue except the schemes of construction of Rest House cum Cultural Centre for Tea & Ex-Tea
Garden population, this will be funded out of sources other than the Plan fund.

During Tenth Five Year Plan, an amount of Rs.13, 807.00 lakhs have been proposed under the
Backward Classes sector with an enhancement of 5.6 times over the Plan allocation for 2001-02.
Emphasis is given mainly on educational development supplementing the schemes taken under the
educational sector. Such schemes are Awarding of Post -Matric and Pre-Matric Scholarship to SC/ST/
OBC students, construction of boys and girls hostels, Coaching and Allied Scheme, Book Bank facilities
for SC, ST and OBC students, up gradation of merit for SC & St, establishment of Ashram Schools for
ST, stipend for craftsman training etc. The post –matric scholarship for SC and ST, up gradation of
merit for SC & ST students are central sector schemes with 100% central assistance. For OBC students,
these schemes are funded out of State funds.

The pre-matric and the post-matric scholarships for OBC students have been brought under
centrally sponsored schemes since 200-01. The committed liability beyond ninth plan on post-matric
scholarship for OBC is however to be borne by the State Government.

For the OBC population, the following new centrally sponsored schemes have been proposed:

1. Construction of Girls Hostel for OBC students.

2. Construction of Boys Hostel for OBC students.
3. Coaching and Allied Scheme for OBC students.
4. Book-Bank for Medical/ Engineering / Agricultural/ Veterinary etc. students for OBC.

The State share for the proposed schemes for the 10th Five Year Plan is Rs. 1,308.00 lakhs.

The Assam Institute of Research for Tribals & SC proposed to introduce a few new schemes
during the Tenth Plan. The State share proposed by the Institute is Rs. 60.00 lakh for these new
schemes. The schemes are promotion of SC/ST art and culture, awareness programme amongst the
SC/St people for health, sanitation etc., specialist courses for SC/St youths, organisation of carrier
guidance and training course to educate the SC/St youth. For this purpose, the Institute proposes to
construct a multi-storied building within the office campus at Jawaharnagar with the following wings:

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KOOB-MASSA

A. Dormitory type trainee hostel for 50 trainees

B. Expansion of ethnographic museum
C. Expansion of reference library
D. Training Hall
E. Cultural Gallary for all tribes.

A few other programmes including computer training course has also been proposed by the
Institute, but due to restriction in the enhancement of allocation only Rs. 10 lakh could be proposed
in the 10th Plan.

9.13.7 Night Shelter and Sanitation Facilities for Footpath Dwellers In Urban Areas

This is centrally sponsored scheme for construction of Night Shelter with sanitation facilities for
footpath dwellers is proposed to be implemented during the 10 th five year plan period. It is to be
implemented through HUDCO/ULBs with the help of central subsidy.

The scheme has a component of independent pay & use toilet for the urban homeless in
conjunction with provision of Night Shelter to Urban foothpath dwellers. Construction of Pay & use
toilet can also be done under this scheme where building of Night Shelters are not feasible.

An amount of Rs. 200.00 lakhs is proposed to construct 20 units of Night Shelter and 100 units
of Pay & Use toilets during the 10th five year plan A sum of Rs. 40.00 lakhs is proposed with a target
to construct 4 units of Night Shelter and 20 units of Pay & Use Toilet for the Annual plan 2002-03.

9.13.8 Women Welfare

For welfare of women the following schemes are taken up

(1) Vocational Training Cum Rehabilitation Centre at Guwahati, Barama, Kachukata and MarigaonTo
create self employment avenues, for those who could not otherwise get higher education are
given vocational training in crafts according to their skill and aptitude. On completion of their
training,rehabilitation grants are given to suitable trainees so that they can earn something on
their own.At present, there are 4 such V.T.R.C.s in Assam and one more is proposed to be set
up for women.For this purpose, an amount of Rs.250.00 lakhs for the tenth plan and Rs. for
the annual plan 2002-03 was proposed.

(2) Home For Destitute Women and Helpless Widow: The home is meant for shelter of destitute
women & Helpless widows. To maintain the existing staff & 40 nos of inmates an amount of Rs.
55.00 lakhs for 10th five-year plan and Rs. 11.00 lakhs for annual plan 2002-03 has been
proposed.

(3) Grants –in- Aid to State Commission for Women: In conformity with the national plan for women
in the State a Commission for women was set up. It is a body having statutory powers The

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 Women Commission is funded from State plan fund under Social Welfare Department by way of
grants-in aid. A sum of Rs. 90.00 lakhs for the 10th five year plan and Rs. 15.00 lakhs for annual
plan 2002-03 has been earmarked for plan and programmes of the Commission in the field of
development, protection of women/women’s rights.

(4) Working Women Hostel: This is a new scheme taken up for10th plan to construct & maintain one
hostel for working women at Guwahati through NGOs. A sum of Rs.20.00 lakhs has been
proposed for the 10th plan without keeping any provision for annual plan 2002-03.

9.13.11 Welfare of old and infirm for the welfare of the old and the infirm the following scheme has
been taken up

1. Old -Age Home: To set up an Old -Age Home through the NGOs. For this purpose a sum of Rs.
25.00 lakhs for the tenth five-year plan and no provision for Annual Plan 2002-03 has been
proposed.

9.13.12 Nutrition Sector

The Social Welfare Department has been implementing the Nutrition programme in the projects
under ICDS Scheme. Supplementary Nutrition was given to children below 6 years, pregnant and
lactating mothers in ICDS projects During the 1st 3 years of 9th five year plan the programmes were
being implemented i.e.(1)Special Nutrition Programme (2) World Food Programmes. It is to be mentioned
here that though the ICDS scheme is a 100% Centrally Sponsored Scheme, the Nutrition component
is to be borne out of the State plan fund.

PMGY programme funded from Additional Central Assistance has been launched during 2000-
01 to give nutrition to children below 3 years only. On the other hand the World food programme has
been withdrawn during the year. Under such circumstances only PMGY programme remains for Nutrition
Programme.

The additional central Assistance received from Govt. of India under PMGY programme has been
indicated as plan allocation during the Annual plan 2000-01 and 2001-02 and no State plan allocation
under Nutrition Programme has been agreed to for the children of the age group 3-6 years and
pregnant and lactating mothers during the last two years, these group of beneficiaries are being
covered under PMGY.

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CHAPTER 10

BUDGETARY SUPPORT TO WOMEN’S DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES

10.1 Social Sector Spending in Assam

Budgetary support to social sector schemes can be taken as an expenditure on women’s development
because of the very positive role played by this sector on women’s lives.

In Assam, Social sector receives around 35-40% of total planned expenditure. As per the proposed
outlay for the ninth plan also 40.7% of total planned expenditure has been allocated for social
services. In addition to that, 9.0% has been allocated for rural development and 0.4% for special area
programmes. Out of the social services, education has been allocated the major share, 25.53% of total
expenditure. Medical & Public Health receives only 4.28% and Water Supply & Sanitation receives
4.84%.

The total allocation for social services was Rs.1, 68,231 lakh for the eighth plan. The ninth plan
allocation of Rs.3, 65,803 lakh is more than double the eighth plan allocation. The per capita allocation
also has increased by 83%from Rs.751.03 in the eighth plan to Rs.1, 375.20 in the ninth plan.

10.2 Social Sector Spending in Assam compared with the rest of India

Rural and Social Sector expenditure has increased over time at the State level and also at the
all India level between 1981-82 and 1997-98, whereas Plan expenditure on agriculture and irrigation
has decreased considerably at both the levels. In Assam expenditure on infrastructure also decreased
considerably although at the all India level, there was only a marginal decline in the infrastructure
expenditure. In 1997-98,Rural and Social Sector accounted for 57,3 per cent of total plan expenditure
in Assam while Social Sector alone had shared 45.89 per cent of the total expenditure .At the all India
average, these percentages were only 23.40 and 14.80 respectively. Although the share of the social
sector in the State plan allocation is higher than the all India share of the social sector, the per capita
expenditure on social sector in Assam is lower than that of the average expenditure of all States.

10.2 Expenditure on Health and Education

Public spending on education and health were respectively 3.46 per cent and 1.48 per cent of
SDP for Assam in 1980-81 and for education it increased continuously to reach 5.23 per cent in 1998-
99. But the expenditure on health decreased to 1.05 per cent. In all these years, the proportion of GDP

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spent on education and health by the Central Government continued to be much lower, for health
between0.20 to 0.25 percent and for education between 0.40 and 0.60. At the al India level, the
proportion of expenditure on health increased between 1980-81 and 1990-91 and stagnated between
1990-91 and 1998-99, while in the case of education, it increased between 1980-81 and 1990-91, and
then decreased between 1990-91 and 1998, although the proportion of expenditure on education in
1998-99 was higher than that of 1980-81.

A comparison of the per capita expenditure on health and education for the North Eastern
States shows that there has been a continuous increase in the per capita expenditure on both health
and education in all the North Eastern States, the per capita expenditure on education being much
higher. But all throughout the period, Assam had the 5th or the 6th rank among the six states
compared in terms of per capita expenditure on health and the 7th rank among the seven states
compared in per capita expenditure on education.

10.4 Women Component Plan

Women Component Plan was adopted as a strategy of Ninth Five Year Plan. As per the women
component Plan a minimum of 30 per cent plan funds from each sectoral programme need be
earmarked for women/women related programmes. Assam Government also allocated for funds for
Women Component Plan in the Ninth Plan. However, expenditure pattern of the ninth plan funds does
not show that the promise had been fulfilled in all cases. Whereas in the SGSY and PMGY (RS)
programmes, more than 40 % of the funds went to Women Component Plan, in the total allocation
for Rural Employment Programmes, only 14% of the funds went to the Women Component Plan.In a
number of cases, the actual expenditure was much lower than the allocated expenditure, that was due
to the financial crisis in the State. It demands the attention of all concerned for no financial crisis
should hamper the social sector schemes for this sector provides the required social opportunity for
development of women and children and also of the economically weaker section of the society.In the
list of social sector/rural development, in addition to the women targeted schemes, a host of schemes
are under operation, which is expected to benefit women. This list includes programmes like Tribal
Area sub plan, Scheduled Caste Component Plan, Education of Tea Garden and Ex-Tea garden Tribes
etc. No information on the actual expenditure incurred on the women component of these schemes
is available. Moreover, all these programmes will have beneficial effect on both men and women and
not necessarily having more influence on women’s lives. Therefore, the actual investment on women
can be judged only if a gender analysis of the present schemes is done meticulously.

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CHAPTER 11

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS AND CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS

Assam, the land of the Red River and the Blue Hills also was famous for its women who were
known to be able to weave dreams in the loom. But now, both the loom and the dreams are under
threat. If the loom is facing a threat from competition from large scale industries, mechanization, the
opening up of the economy and the decay of the self sufficient village economy, her dreams are being
shattered for more reasons than one, the disasters, man made and natural, the conflict situations,
poverty and what not.

The economy of Assam is lagging behind the rest of the country. There is wide disparity between
the per capita income figures of the State and all India average figures. The disparity has widened over
time and particularly in the post liberalisation era.

The growth rate of population continued to be very high over the decades, more since 1961.
Although there is a decelerating trend during the last decade, the density of population is still higher
than the all India average.

The sex ratio in the State is lower than the all India average sex ratio.

The child sex ratio is higher than the all India average but has gone down during the last
decade.

The female literacy rate is higher than the all India average but is lower than the male literacy
rate in the State.

With high dropout rates, the number of women at higher stages of education is very low.

The mean age at marriage in the State is higher than the all India average but there are also
places where women are married below the age of 18.The health indicators reveal poor health conditions
of the women in the State. The Maternal Mortality Rate and the Infant and Child Mortality Rates in
the State are higher than the all India average rates. Expectation of life at birth is lower than the all
India average. Expectation of life beyond the age of 40 is lower than that of the male in the State
also.

The female work participation rate is lower than the all India average and is much lower than
the male work participation rate in the State. Female work participation rate is higher in the agricultural
sector and traditional occupations.

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 Although the incidence of domestic violence is not as high as in many other parts of the country,
it is not absent. Overall crime against women is increasing over time.

Women in Assam have very low representation in decision-making bodies and do not even have
complete freedom in household decision making. In fact, women’s participation in decision-making,
their rights to property and access and control over resources are some of the areas where women
in the State still lag far behind. The State also has been too slow in implementing any legislation
favouring women’s rights. The State does not have a Policy for Women’s Empowerment and very little
has been done to formulate such a Policy. One positive step that the Government adopted during the
Ninth Plan was the Women Component Plan. But due to paucity of funds, the State could not implement
the Plan in the proposed manner. Many Social Sector schemes have become dysfunctional due to the
inadequate fund flow from the State. In many insurgency-affected areas, the women are becoming
victims of different forms of crime both directly and indirectly and the social sector schemes are also
not functioning, which may have serious impacts in the future. In the flood-affected areas, the social
sector schemes get jeopardized at certain times of the year. There are also some other areas with
some specific problems, like the growing urban slums, the reverine (char) areas etc. where women have
to face very difficult situations. Very little effort has been made to address the problems of these
women in difficult situations.

To address all these problems in its true perspective, a State Policy/ Action Plan for Empowerment
of Women of Assam is urgently required.

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TABLE 1.1 National Income, State Income, Per capita National Income and Per Capita State
Income at current prices: 1955-1980

1955-56 1960-61 1965-66 1970-71 1975-76 1980-81

1 National Income 11396.5 13263 20636 434462 60293 105800
(Rs.in crores)
2 State Income 254.6 336.0 493.7 785.5 1421.0 2397.8
(Rs. in Crores) (2.23) (2.53) (2.39) (2.28) (2.36) (2.27)
3 Per Capita National 285.4 305.6 425.5 637.3 1004.9 1558
Income (in Rs.) (+60.70) (+3.08) (+6.72) (+20.67) (+18.15) (+27.62)
4 Per capita State 177.6 315.3 398.7 528.1 850.5 1220.8
Income (in Rs.)
Note: i) Figures in brackets in Row no. 2 indicate percentage of National Income.
ii) Figures in brackets in Row no. 3 indicate percentage difference between Per Capita National
Income and Per Capita State Income
Source:
a. Govt. of India: Economic Survey 1977-78
Directorate of Economics and Statistics ,Assam. Economic Survey, Assam, 1974-75,1981-82 and 1982-83
The figures for the National Income and Per capita National Income for 1955-56 have been taken as the
mean between the figures for 1950-51 and 1960-61.
Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Assam, Statistical Handbook, Assam.1984.

)96(
 TABLE 1.2 National Income, State Income, Per capita National Income and Per Capita State
Income at constant (1948-49) prices: 1955-1980

1955-56 1960-61 1965-66 1970-71 1975-76 1980-81

1 National Income 10,480 12,523 14,177 17,950 20,635 24,735
(Rs.in crores)
2 State Income 240.4 267.8 328.0 391.3 497.7 555.50
(Rs. in Crores) (2.29) (2.14) (2.31) (2.18) (2.41) (2.35)
3 Per Capita National 273.6 288.0 292.3 331.8 372.2 363.97
Income (in Rs.) (+4.39) (+14.60) (+10.34) (+21.76) (+24.94) (+28.08)
4 Per capita State 262.1 251.3 264.9 272.5 297.9 284.17
Income (in Rs.)
Note: i) Figures in brackets in Row no. 2 indicate percentage of National Income.
ii) Figures in brackets in Row no. 3 indicate percentage difference between Per Capita National
Income and Per Capita State Income
Source:
a. Govt. of India: Economic Survey 1977-78
Directorate of Economics and Statistics ,Assam. Economic Survey, Assam, 1974-75,1981-82 and 1982-83
The figures for the National Income and Per capita National Income for 1955-56 have been taken as the
mean between the figures for 1950-51 and 1960-61.
Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Assam, Statistical Handbook, Assam.1984.

)07(
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TABLE 1.3 Per Capita Income of Assam and India (in Rupees): 1980-81 to 1992-93

Year At Current Prices At Constant (1980-81) Prices

Assam India Assam India
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
1980-81 1200 1630(+35.83) 1200 1630(+35.83)
1981-82 1474 1681(+14.04) 1307 1693(+29.53)
1982-83 1641 2004(+22.12) 1367 1691(+23.70)
1983-84 1777 2304(+29.66) 1375 1760(+28.0)
1984-85 2182 2504(+14.76) 1457 1811(+24.30)
1985-86 2313 2730(+18.03) 1483 1841(+24.14)
1986-87 2520 2962(+17.54) 1474 1871(+26.93)
1987-88 2589 3285(+26.88) 1521 1901(+24.98)
1988-89 2772 3842(+38.60) 1516 2059(+35.82)
1989-90 3179 4354(+36.96) 1650 2160(+30.91)
1990-91 3932 4964(+26.25) 1719 2213(+28.74)
1991-92 4230 5582(+31.96) 1915 2167(+13.16)
1992-93 5310 6249(+17.68) 2018 2216(+9.81)
Note: figures in brackets indicate percentage difference between Per Capita National Income and Per Capita
State Income
Source: (i) GOI: Economic Survey, 1993-94 (ii) C.S.O. and (iii) Chief Minister’s Budget Speech, 1993-94

)17(
 TABLE 1.4 Per Capita Income of Assam and India (in Rupees): 1993-94 to 2000-01

Year At Current Prices At Constant (1993-94) Prices

Assam India Assam India
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
1993-94 5,715.0 7,698.0(34.70) 5,715.0 7,698.0(34.70)
1994-95 6,493.0 8,876.4(36.70) 5,737.0 8,087.6(40.97)
1995-96 7,001.0 10,160.3(45.13) 5,760.0 8,498.5(47.54)
1996-97 7,394.0 11,600.9(56.88) 5,793.0 9,035.9(55.99)
1997-98 7,966.0 12,771.5(60.33) 5,796.0 9,287.9(60.25)
1998-99 8,826.0 14,712.4(66.69) 5,664.0 9,733.1(71.84)
1999-2000 9,720.0 15,562.0(60.10) 5,978.0 10,067.0(68.40)
2000-01 10,198.0 16,487.0(61.67) 6,157.0 10,254.0(66.54)
Note: figures in brackets indicate percentage difference between Per Capita National Income and Per Capita
State Income
Source: Government of Assam: Economic Survey, 2001-2002

TABLE 1.5 PRODUCTION (in thousand tones) AND PRODUCTIVITY (Average Yield in Qts/hectare) OF
DIFFERENT CROPS IN ASSAM: 1997-98 to 1999-2000

Sl. Name of Crop 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000

No. Production Average Production Average Production Average
Yield Yield Yield
1. Rice
a. Autumn 597.48 10.00 520.60 8.89 514.16 9.38
b. Winter 2,470.95 14.39 2,288.14 14.21 2,692.71 15.24
c. Summer 174.97 17.97 446.11 19.92 653.78 22.19
Total Rice 3,382.87 13.59 3,254.83 13.45 3,860.65 14.79
2. Wheat 110.05 12.99 90.51 10.10 97.58 12.79
3. Maize 14.72 7.66 13.96 7.05 14.06 7.13
4. Pulse 64.46 5.47 74.82 5.42 70.59 5.54
5. Oilseed 173.77 5.49 174.74 5.09 174.79 5.02
6. Jute 904.09 17.20 687.17 15.72 657.54 16.09
7. Sugarcane 1,287.45 411.09 1,223.56 400.24 1.154.62 396.68
Source : (Planning and Development Department, Govt. of Assam: Draft Tenth Five Year Plan & Annual Plan:
2002-2003.

)27(
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TABLE 1.6 Share (%) of Secondary Sector in Net State Domestic Product

Year 1993-94 1995-96 1996-97 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-01

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)
At Current Prices 13.36 13.32 13.93 14.72 14.46 18.09 18.32
At Constant
(1993-94) Prices 13.36 13.47 13.84 14.03 1341 15.65 15.17
Source: Government of Assam: Economic Survey, 2001-2002

TABLE 1.7 Annual Surveys of Industries (Summary Results): Assam

Item Unit 1993-94 1994-95 %Age Share in %Age change

the all India in 1994-95
Total (1994-95) over 1993-94
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
1. Factories Number 1435 1514 1.23 5.51
2. Fixed Capital Rs.Crores 1519.05 1936.87 0.70 27.51
3. Working Capital -do- 806.44 918.69 0.78 13.92
4. Invested Capital -do- 2184.49 2791.69 0.72 27.80
5. Outstanding Loan -do- 1,410.12 2,526.45 NA 79.17
6. Total Works Number 94,832 1,01,371 NA 6.90
7. Total Employees -do- 1,13,562 1,24,095 0.36 9.28
8. Wages to Workers Rs. Crore 130.40 172.90 NA 32.59
9. Total Emoluments -do- 188.12 254.78 0.72 35.43
10. Total Input -do- 2,695.07 3,170.49 0.81 17.64
11. Value of Products -do- 3,506.80 4,122.85 NA 17.57
12. Value of Output -do- 3,682.89 4,315.85 0.83 17.19
13. Depreciation -do- 128.07 158.85 0.85 24.03
14. Value Added -do- 859.75 986.51 0.90 14.74
15. Net Income -do- 785.28 730.10 NA -7.03
Source: Government of Assam: Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Statistical Handbook of Assam,
1999

)37(
 ASSAM - HUMAN DEVELOPMENT FACT SHEET

INDICES
S.No. Indices State India
1 Human Development Index Value 2001
(calculated only for fifteen major states) 0.386 0.472
2 Human Development Index Rank 2001 (out of 15) 14
3 Human Development Index Value 1991 0.348 0.381
4 Human Development Index Rank (out of 32) 26
5 Human Poverty Index 1991 48.95 39.36
6 Human Poverty Index Rank (out of 32) 27
7 Gender Disparity Index Value 1991 0.575 0.676
8 Gender Disparity Index Rank (out of 32) 29
INDICATORS
DEMOGRAPHY
S.No. Indicators State India
1 Total Population - 2001 26,638,407 1,027,015,247
2 Sex Ratio - 2001 932 933
3 Dependency Ratio -1991 10 12
4 Dependency Ratio Rural - 1991 10 13
5 Dependency Ratio Urban – 1991 8 10
6 Sex Ratio Children 0-6 years – 2001 964 927
INCOME
7 Per Capita Net State Domestic Product (at 1993-94 prices, Rs.),
1998-99 5,664 9,647
8 Percentage of Persons in Labour Force,1999-2000 55 62
9 Percentage of Female in Labour Force, 1999-2000 24 39
10 Percentage of Population Below Poverty Line - 1999-2000 36 26
EDUCATION
11 Literacy Rate - 2001 (%) 64 65
12 Male Literacy Rate - 2001 (%) 72 76
13 Female Literacy Rate - 2001 (%) 56 54
14 Rural Literacy Rate - 2001 (%) 61 59

)47(
KOOB-MASSA

15 Rural Male Literacy Rate - 2001 (%) 69 71

16 Rural Female Literacy Rate - 2001 (%) 52 47
17 Urban Literacy Rate - 2001 (%) 86 80
18 Urban Male Literacy Rate - 2001 (%) 90 86
19 Urban Female Literacy Rate - 2001 (%) 81 73
20 Gross Enrolment Ratio Class I-V ( 6-11 years),1999-2000 115 95
21 Boys-Gross Enrolment Ratio Class I-V ( 6-11 years), 1999-2000 124 104
22 Girls -Gross Enrolment Ratio Class I-V ( 6-11 years), 1999-2000 105 85
23 Teacher-Pupil ratio (Primary School), 1999-2000 38 43
HEALTH
24 Life Expectancy at Birth, 1992-96 (yrs.) 56 61
25 Life Expectancy at Birth (Rural), 1992-96 (yrs.) 56 59
26 Life Expectancy at Birth (Urban), 1992-96 (yrs.) 65 66
27 Infant Mortality Rate - 2000 75 68
28 Under 5 Mortality Rate - 1991 116 94
29 Under 5 Mortality Rate - Male -1991 118 91
30 Under 5 Mortality Rate - Female -1991 115 101
31 Maternal Mortality Rate - 1998 (per 100,000 live births) 409 407
32 Total Fertility Rate - 1998 3 3
33 Percentage of children underweight (-2SD), 1998-99 36 47
34 Percentage of houses with access to safe drinking water - 1991 46 62
35 Percentage of houses with access to toilet facilities - 1997 6 49
ENVIRONMENT
36 Percentage of Recorded Forest Area to Total Geographical
Area-1996-98 39 23
Source - Government of India (2001), ‘ National Human Development Report’, Planning Commission, New
Delhi

)57(
 TABLE 2.1 Population Size in Assam and India: 1901-2001

Total Population (Thousand persons)

Year Assam India Population of Assam as
percentage to Population
of India
1901 3,290 2,38,396 1.38
1911 3,849 2,52,093 1.53
1921 4,637 2,51,321 1.85
1931 5,560 2,78,977 1.99
1941 6,695 3,18,661 2.10
1951 8,029 3,61,088 2.22
1961 10,837 4,39,235 2.46
1971 14,625 5,48,160 2.67
1981 19,897 6,85,185 2.90
1991 22,414 846,302 2.65
2001 26,638 1,027,015 2.59
Source: NEC: Basic Statistics Relating to the North East: 1987
Census of India 2001, Assam, ‘Provisional Population Totals’ Paper-1. Census of India 1991, Series-1 India,
Paper-2 of 1992, And Final Population Totals: Brief Analysis of Primary Census Abstract, RGI.

)67(
KOOB-MASSA

TABLE 2.2 Growth Rate and Density of Population Assam and India: 1901-2001

Decadal Growth Rate (percentage) Density of Population (Persons per Sq. Km.)
Year Assam India Assam India
1901 42 77
1911 +17.0 +5.75 49 82
1921 +20.5 -0.31 59 81
1931 +19.9 +11.00 71 90
1941 +20.4 +14.22 85 103
1951 +19.9 +13.31 102 117
1961 +35.0 +21.64 138 142
1971 +36.1 +24.80 186 177
1981 +24.66 230* 230
1991 +52.44*¹ +23.86 286 267
2001 +18.9 +21.34 340 324
Note: *Growth rate from 1971-91
*¹Interpolated as 1981 census was not conducted in Assam
Source: RGI, GOI:Census Reports,
Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Govt. of Assam: Economic Survey, 2002-2003

TABLE 2.3 Population by sex and Decennial Growth Rate (1981-2001)

India/Assam Census Females Males Totals

Years Population DGR Population DGR Population DGR
India 1981 329,954,637 24.93 353,374,460 24.41 683,329,097 24.66
1991 407,072,230 23.37 439,230,458 24.30 846,302,688 23.85
2001 495,738,169 21.79 531,277,078 20.93 1,027,015,247 21.34
Assam 1991 10,756,333 11,657,989 22,414,322
2001 12,850,608 19.47 13,787,799 18.27 26,638,407 18.85
Note *1981 Census not conducted in Assam
Source : Census of India 2001 Assam: Provisional Population Totals: Paper-1. Census of India 1991: Assam

)77(
 TABLE 2.4 Population (1991-2001): by Districts: Assam
(Persons)

Districts 1991 2001 Density per Sq. Km., 2001

1. Kokrajhar* 808730 930404 294
2. Dhubri* 1324404 1634589 584
3. Goalpara 668138 822306 451
4. Bongaigaon 807532 906315 361
5. Barpeta 1385659 1642420 506
6. Kamrup 1385659 1642420 579
7. Nalbari 1016390 1138184 504
8. Darrang 1298860 1503943 432
9. Morigaon 639682 775874 455
10. Nagaon 1893171 2315387 604
11. Sonitpur 1424287 1677874 315
12. Lakhimpur 751517 889325 391
13. Dhemaji 478830 569468 176
14. Tinsukia 9,62,298 11,50,146 303
15. Dibrugarh 1042457 1172056 347
16. Sibsagar 907983 1052802 395
17. Jorhat 871206 1009197 354
18. Golaghat 828096 945781 270
19. Karbi Anglong 662723 812320 78
20. North Cachar Hills 150801 186189 38
21. Cachar 1215385 1442141 381
22. Karimganj 827063 1003678 555
23. Hailakandi 449048 542978 409
Note: * Population figures for these two districts are recast due to transfer of 20 Villages from Dhubri District
to Kokrajhar District after 1991 census.
1981 Census was not conducted in Assam
Source : Census of India 2001; Assam: Provisional Population Totals. Census of India 1991: Assam State
District Profile 1991.

)87(
KOOB-MASSA

TABLE 2.5 Decadal Growth Rate of Population (1901-2001): by Districts: Assam

Sl. Districts Decadal Growth Rate

No. 1901-11 1911-21 1921-31 1931-41 1941-51 1951-61 1961-71 1971-91 1991-01
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11)
1 Kokrajhar* +29.97 +26.92 +15.76 +14.83 +9.25 +46.44 +54.28 +76.75 +15.05
2 Dhubri * +29.97 +26.92 +15.76 +14.83 +9.25 +27.44 +40.45 +56.47 +23.42
3 Goalpara +29.97 +26.92 +15.76 +14.83 +9.25 +37.10 +45.88 +54.12 +23.07
4 Bongaigaon +29.97 +26.92 +15.76 +14.83 +9.31 +60.81 +40.29 +64.64 +12.23
5 Barpeta +20.02 +34.04 +69.02 +44.06 +18.77 +32.62 +35.81 +43.02 +18.53
6 Kamrup +11.10 +7.06 +9.38 +19.21 +17.17 +37.73 +38.80 +65.72 +25.75
7 Nalbari +13.33 +14.20 +27.92 +29.43 +17.89 +49.62 +42.02 +49.27 +11.98
8 Darrang (-) 0.25 +11.78 +26.00 +35.30 +24.13 +44.75 +43.24 +55.63 +15.79
9 Morigaon +15.84 +31.9 +41.35 +15.37 +36.65 +37.89 +37.51 +50.90 +21.29
10 Nagaon +15.84 +31.94 +41.35 +15.37 +36.65 +35.91 +38.99 +51.26 +22.30
11 Sonitpur +24.33 +40.69 +20.50 +19.73 +24.26 +35.82 +27.62 +57.14 +17.80
12 Lakhimpur +26.29 +34.07 +23.91 +22.70 +17.95 +50.46 +43.39 +56.29 +18.34
13 Dhemaji +26.29 +34.07 +23.92 +22.69 +17.94 +75.21 +103.42 +107.50 +18.93
14 Tinsukia +26.29 +34.07 +23.92 +22.70 +17.94 +35.92 +31.02 +47.03 +19.52
15 Dibrugarh +26.29 +34.07 +23.91 +22.70 +17.94 +30.64 +22.93 +37.78 +12.43
16 Sibsagar +13.41 +20.46 +14.44 +15.64 +15.98 +23.36 +19.47 +38.76 +15.95
17 Jorhat +16.55 +19.83 +18.29 +1.27 +19.76 +26.04 +30.85 +58.12 +14.21
18 Karbi Anglong +30.96 +79.21 +68.28 +74.72 +22.57
19 N.C Hills (-) 33.12 +5.92 +13.60 +13.75 +6.16 +36.95 +40.00 +98.30 +23.47
20 Cachar +12.33 +5.98 +7.60 +13.08 +23.92 +22.60 +23.96 +47.59 +18.66
21 Karimganj +12.94 +3.19 +5.91 +9.52 +29.87 +2296 +25.13 +42.08 +21.35
22 Hailakandi +16.09 +7.59 +7.08 +10.29 +17.48 +27.23 +23.61 +45.94 +20.92
23 Assam +16.99 +20.48 +19.91 +20.40 +19.93 +34.98 +34.95 +53.26 +18.85
Note: * Population figures for these two districts are recast due to transfer of 20 villages from Dhubri District
to Kokrajhar District after 1991 census.
Source : Census of India 2001; Assam: Provisional Population Totals. Census of India 1991: Assam State
District Profile 1991.

)97(
 TABLE 2.6 SEX RATIO: Assam and India (1901-2001)

Sex Ratio Difference in Sex Ratio

Year Assam India India -Assam
1901 919 972 -53
1911 915 964 -49
1921 895 955 -60
1931 874 950 -76
1941 875 945 -70
1951 868 946 -77
1961 869 941 -72
1971 896 930 -34
1981 910@ 934 -24
1991 923 927 -4
2001 932 933 -1
@ Worked out on the basis of interpolated figures of Assam
Source: Deptt of Education, Ministry of Human Resource Development.
1981 figures of India have been worked out after including the projected population of Assam where census
could not be held.

TABLE 2.7 Sex ratio of total population and child population in the age Group 0-6: 1991 and 2001

India/ Assam Sex ratio (females per 1,000 males)

Total population Child population in the Population aged 7 and
age group 0-6 above
1991 2001 1991 2001 1991 2001
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)
INDIA 927 933 945 927 923 935
Assam 923 932 975 964 910 926
Source: Census of India 2001, Series-1 (Provision Population Totals- Paper-1 of 2001, pg 92-94

)08(
KOOB-MASSA

TABLE 2.8 SEX RATIO: ASSAM: By DISTRICTS 1971-2001.

(Per 1000 males)

State/Districts Area 1971 1991 2001

ASSAM TOTAL 896 923 932
RURAL 912 934 940
URBAN 744 838 878
1. Dhubri Total 930 950 944
Rural 944 953 945
Urban 824 927 942
2. Kokrajhar Total 913 941 945
Rural 921 944 949
Urban 747 889 903
3. Bongaigaon Total 926 940 945
Rural 941 949 950
Urban 772 860 908
4. Goalpara Total 939 947 955
Rural 947 949 957
Urban 802 925 926
5. Barpeta Total 912 939 941
Rural 920 940 941
Urban 810 920 939
6. Nalbari Total 923 936 937
Rural 931 938 937
Urban 639 844 908
7. Kamrup Total 855 879 894
Rural 898 925 929
Urban 706 791 835
8. Darrang Total 907 938 943
Rural 915 942 946
Urban 718 854 884
9. Sonitpur Total 871 912 942
Rural 887 919 946
Urban 705 827 901

)18(
State/Districts Area 1971 1991 2001
10. Lakhimpur Total 895 931 952
Rural 910 941 958
Urban 656 801 879
11. Dhemaji Total 874 927 936
Rural 874 932 941
Urban - 717 877
12. Marigaon Total 917 941 945
Rural 917 946 948
Urban 847 879
13. Nagaon Total 894 929 939
Rural 909 935 943
Urban 759 880 909
14. Golaghat Total 883 920 929
Rural 893 930 935
Urban 720 767 866
15. Jorhat Total 886 913 903
Rural 910 928 909
Urban 739 829 876
16. Sibsagar Total 887 907 926
Rural 901 916 938
Urban 697 802 817
17. Dibrugarh Total 863 905 923
Rural 894 923 938
Urban 705 826 862
18. Tinsukia Total 855 891 909
Rural 889 912 924
Urban 709 788 849
19. Karbi Anglong Total 875 907 992
Rural 885 920 931
Urban 563 804 855

)28(
KOOB-MASSA

State/Districts Area 1971 1991 2001

20. North Cachar Hills Total 841 857 883
Rural 853 880 911
Urban 683 784 824
21. Karimganj Total 930 946 944
Rural 935 948 944
Urban 883 915 944
22. Hailakandi Total 923 929 933
Rural 924 928 931
Urban 906 944 954
23. Cachar Total 918 932 945
Rural 923 933 943
Urban 852 920 955
1981 census was not conducted in Assam
@ Worked out on the basis of interpolated figures of Assam
Source : Census of India 2001: Assam: Provisional Population Totals. Rural-Urban Distribution. Paper-2 of
2001. Census of India 1991: Assam State District Profile 1991.

)38(
 TABLE 2.9 Child Sex ratio in Assam: By districts

State/Districts Area Sex ratio of child population (0-6) age group.

(Per 1000 Male Child)
1991 2001
1. Dhubri Rural 979 986
Urban 968 956
2. Sonitpur Rural 980 984
Urban 955 957
3. Nagaon Rural 976 982
Urban 958 967
4. Bongaigaon Rural 985 981
Urban 955 945
5. Karimganj Rural 982 980
Urban 965 940
6. Karbi Anglong Rural 978 975
Urban 954 953
7. Darrang Rural 973 975
Urban 926 954
8. Goalpara Rural 977 973
Urban 971 1004
9. Tinsukia Rural 972 971
Urban 954 922
10. Sibsagar Rural 975 970
Urban 991 914
11. Morigaon Rural 986 966
Urban 922 934
12. Golaghat Rural 987 966
Urban 953 953
13. Lakhimpur Rural 974 965
Urban 947 921
14. Barpeta Rural 959 964
Urban 972 949

)48(
KOOB-MASSA

State/Districts Area Sex ratio of child population (0-6) age group.

(Per 1000 Male Child)
1991 2001
15. Nalbari Rural 967 963
Urban 954 917
16. Kamrup Rural 978 959
Urban 947 888
17. Dibrugarh Rural 972 959
Urban 963 916
18. Dhemaji Rural 984 958
Urban 972 954
19. Cachar Rural 983 957
Urban 941 951
20. Kokrajhar Rural 975 955
Urban 971 941
21. North Cachar Hills Rural 995 942
Urban 970 981
22. Hailakandi Rural 989 900
Urban 948 959
23. Jorhat Rural 976 895
Urban 948 932
Source: Census of India 2001; Assam; Provisional Population Totals; Rural Urban Distribution; PAPER-2 of
2001.

)58(
 TABLE 2.10 Death Rate by Sex, India & Assam (Rural, Urban, Total) – 1992-93

Total/Rural/ India* Assam

Urban 1992 1993 1992 1993
Death Rate Total Persons 10.1 9.3 10.6 10.2
Males 10.0 9.5 10.8 10.2
Females 10.2 9.1 10.3 10.1
Rural Persons 10.9 10.6 10.8 11.0
Males 10.7 10.6 11.0 10.9
Females 11.1 10.5 10.6 11.0
Urban Persons 7.0 5.8 7.4 6.7
Males 7.2 6.3 8.2 7.6
Females 6.8 5.2 6.6 5.7
* Excludes Jammu & Kashmir Source: Sample Registration System, Fertility and Mortality Indicators, 1992 &
1993, Office of the Registrar General, India.

TABLE 2.11 Age specific death rates and crude death rates Age specific death rates and crude death
rates (CDR) by sex from NFHS-1, NFHS-2, and the SRS, Assam

Age NFHS-1 (1991-92) NFHS-2 (1997-98) SRS (1997)

Total Male Female Total Male Female Total
<5 32.1 23.9 14.9 19.7 25.3 28.7 26.9
5-14 3.1 2.9 2.2 2.6 2.8 2.9 2.8
15-49 3.3 3.3 4.5 3.9 4.1 4.4 4.3
50-59 20.0 21.0 15.5 18.7 18.0 19.2 18.5
60+ 59.6 72.1 78.1 74.6 61.1 57.8 58.2
CDR 11.3 10.3 8.6 9.5 9.8 9.9 9.9
Note: Age specific death rates and crude death rates by sex from NFHS-1 and NFHS-2 are based on the
annual number of deaths reported for the de jure population during the two years preceding the survey. The
SRS rates are also de jure, based on deaths during 1997. Rates are specified on a per thousand basis.
Source: For SRS : Office of the Registrar General, 1999b. For NFHS: NFHS-2;Assam; National Family Health
Survey India 1998-99.

)68(
KOOB-MASSA

TABLE 2.12 Age specific death rates by sex, India and Assam – 1993

AGE INDIA ASSAM

Male Female Male Female
0-4 22.7 24.8 36.9 35.3
5-9 2.0 2.5 2.9 4.4
10-14 1.2 1.6 1.6 2.2
15-19 1.6 2.2 1.9 1.8
20-24 2.1 3.0 1.9 3.1
25-29 2.3 3.0 3.3 3.9
30-34 2.9 2.7 4.1 3.4
35-39 4.0 2.8 6.7 4.3
40-44 5.1 3.9 4.3 5.4
45-49 8.0 5.3 11.4 5.6
50-54 13.2 9.0 16.3 19.4
55-59 20.6 14.4 23.6 22.8
60-64 30.7 24.2 35.4 36.3
65-69 46.2 34.6 48.8 45.7
70+ 94.5 81.1 96.5 110.5
All Ages 9.5 9.1 10.5 10.3
Source: Sample Registration System, Fertility & Mortality Indicators, 1993, office of the Registrar General,
India, New Delhi, as quoted in Women In India-A statistical profile (1997)

)78(
 TABLE 2.13 Total Fertility Rate and Crude Birth Rate (CBR) : Rural–Urban : Assam and India : 1997-98

Surveys Total/ Rural/Urban India Assam

NFHS-2 Total 2.85 2.31
TFR Rural 3.07 2.39
(15-49 yrs) Urban 2.27 1.50
NFHS-1 Total 3.39 3.53
TFR Rural 3.67 3.68
(15-49 yrs) Urban 2.70 2.53
NFHS-2 Total 24.8 21.8
CBR Rural 26.2 22.3
Urban 20.9 15.8
N.B.: NFHS-2 total fertility rate (TFR) and crude birth rate (CBR) for the three-year period preceding the
survey, and NFHS-1 TFR, according to residence and state India
Source: National Family Health Survey (NFHS-2): India: 1998-99

)88(
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TABLE 2.14-ESTIMATED Birth Rate, Death Rate, Natural Growth Rate and Unnatural Growth Rate

Year Birth rate Death Rate Natural Growth Unnatural Growth

rate (actual rate* (annual)
growth rate)
Assam India Assam India Assam India Assam India
1951 49.0 39.9 31.8 27.4 17.2 12.5 +2.7 +0.81
(19.9) (13.31)
1961 49.0 41.7 26.9 22.8 22.1 18.9 +13.0 +2.74
(35.1) (21.64)
1971 38.5 36.9 17.8 14.9 20.7 22.0 +14.3 +2.80
(35.0) (24.80)
1981 33.0 33.9 11.9 12.5 21.1 21.4 +3.26
(24.66)
1991 30.9 29.5 11.5 09.8 19.4 19.7 +11.94*² +4.16
(52.44)*¹ (23.86)
2001 26.8 25.4 09.5 08.4 17.3 17.0 +1.55 +4.34
(18.85) (21.34)
*Actual Growth Rate-Natural Growth Rate where Natural Growth Rate=Birth Rate-Death Rate]
Source: RGI: Census Reports and Sample Registration System Bulletin, 1987,2002.
*¹The figure in the bracket is the growth rate from 1971-91
*² The unnatural growth rate for the period 1991-71 estimated as actual growth rate from 1971-91-Natural
growth rate from (1971-81+1981-91)

)98(
 TABLE 2.15 Birth Rate, Death Rate, and Natural Growth Rate India/Assam
(Rural, Urban, Total) - 1994, 1995, (Oct.) and 2001

Area→ India Assam

Year↓ Total Rural Urban Total Rural Urban
Birth Rate 1994 28.7 30.5 23.1 30.8 31.9 22.2
1995 28.3 30.0 22.6 29.3 30.0 21.8
1998 26.5 28.0 21.1 27.9 28.7 20.2
1999 26.0 27.6 20.8 27.0 28.0 18.9
2000 25.8 27.6 20.7 26.9 27.9 18.6
2001 25.4 27.1 20.2 26.8 27.8 18.5
1994 09.3 10.1 06.7 09.2 09.4 07.2
1995 09.0 09.7 06.5 09.6 10.0 06.7
1998 09.0 09.7 06.6 10.0 10.5 06.0
1999 08.7 09.4 06.3 09.7 10.1 06.2
2000 08.5 09.3 06.3 09.6 10.0 06.1
2001 08.4 09.0 06.3 09.5 09.8 06.6
Natural 1994 19.4 20.4 16.6 21.6 22.4 15.0
Growth 1995 19.3 20.3 16.1 19.7 20.2 15.1
Rate 1998 17.5 18.3 14.5 17.9 18.2 14.2
1999 17.3 18.2 14.5 17.3 17.9 12.7
2000 17.3 18.3 14.4 17.3 17.9 12.5
2001 17.0 18.0 13.9 17.3 18.0 13.9
Source: Sample Registration Bulletin, January 1997,October 2002 Registrar General, India as quoted in
Women in India: A Statistical Profile – 1997.

)09(
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TABLE 2.16 Crude Birth Rate and Total Fertility Rate: Assam: by District (1991)

Assam/Districts Crude Birth Rate Total Fertility Rate

ASSAM 31.47 4.16
1. Dhubri 38.16 5.12
2. Kokrajhar 39.67 5.31
3. Bongaigaon 29.26 3.97
4. Goalpara 35.21 4.52
5. Barpeta 43.20 6.41
6. Nalbari 47.02 6.32
7. Kamrup 28.32 3.41
8. Darrang 42.03 5.46
9. Sonitpur 33.96 4.39
10. Lakhimpur 34.13 4.65
11. Dhemaji 25.90 3.25
12. Morigaon 30.53 4.04
13. Nagaon 33.91 4.84
14. Golaghat 32.11 4.39
15. Jorhat 31.51 4.35
16. Sibsagar 31.14 4.30
17. Dibrugarh 24.39 3.41
18. Tinsukia 37.53 5.05
19. Karbi Anglong 33.07 4.36
20. North Cachar Hills 29.74 3.83
21. Karimganj 48.52 7.08
22. Hailakandi 32.09 4.22
23. Cachar 32.61 4.12
Source: Census of India 1991: Assam State District Profile 1991

)19(
 TABLE 2.17 Mean age at Marriage: Assam: by districts (1991)

Assam/Districts Area Mean age at marriage of currently married women

Total Who married during
1981-86 1986-91
ASSAM Total 18.23 18.49 18.92
Rural 18.15 18.36 18.73
Urban 18.84 19.54 20.37
1. Dhubri Total 16.86 17.20 17.48
Rural 16.74 17.03 17.28
Urban 17.71 18.58 19.09
2. Kokrajhar Total 18.20 18.36 18.66
Rural 18.20 18.30 18.59
Urban 18.22 19.36 19.98
3. Bongaigaon Total 17.64 17.91 18.19
Rural 17.58 17.83 18.03
Urban 18.18 18.93 19.89
4. Goalpara Total 17.50 17.68 18.15
Rural 17.48 17.66 18.05
Urban 17.82 17.97 19.17
5. Barpeta Total 17.75 18.19 18.42
Rural 17.68 18.09 18.29
Urban 18.76 19.46 20.29
6. Nalbari Total 18.07 18.64 19.23
Rural 18.07 18.62 19.20
Urban 18.22 19.51 20.01
7. Kamrup Total 18.37 18.87 19.50
Rural 17.98 18.37 18.80
Urban 19.11 19.77 20.66
8. Darrang Total 17.96 18.28 18.73
Rural 17.93 18.23 18.64
Urban 18.39 19.32 20.11

)29(
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Assam/Districts Area Mean age at marriage of currently married women

Total Who married during
1981-86 1986-91
9. Sonitpur Total 18.55 18.78 19.38
Rural 18.51 18.71 19.27
Urban 18.97 19.57 20.54
10. Lakhimpur Total 18.24 18.25 18.78
Rural 18.23 18.24 18.75
Urban 18.31 18.40 19.27
11. Dhemaji Total 18.46 18.43 18.80
Rural 18.45 18.41 18.79
Urban 18.90 19.20 19.29
12. Morigaon Total 18.04 18.30 18.46
Rural 18.01 18.25 18.36
Urban 18.53 19.23 19.92
13. Nagaon Total 17.91 18.16 18.59
Rural 17.85 18.06 18.42
Urban 18.33 19.05 20.00
14. Golaghat Total 18.83 18.93 19.33
Rural 18.82 18.88 19.28
Urban 19.02 19.71 20.22
15. Jorhat Total 19.00 19.04 19.48
Rural 18.94 18.88 19.29
Urban 19.32 19.85 20.38
16. Sibsagar Total 19.02 19.07 19.51
Rural 18.98 19.00 19.42
Urban 19.44 19.90 20.52
17. Dibrugarh Total 19.08 19.29 19.66
Rural 19.04 19.11 19.40
Urban 19.24 20.06 20.94
18. Tinsukia Total 18.62 18.90 19.24
Rural 18.60 18.78 18.98
Urban 18.70 19.60 20.56

)39(
 Assam/Districts Area Mean age at marriage of currently married women
Total Who married during
1981-86 1986-91
19. Karbi Anglong Total 18.75 18.82 19.04
Rural 18.72 18.72 18.85
Urban 19.02 19.58 20.30
20. North Cachar Hills Total 19.17 19.37 19.98
Rural 19.11 19.27 19.64
Urban 19.39 19.70 21.00
21. Karimganj Total 18.22 18.57 19.03
Rural 18.11 18.44 18.84
Urban 19.60 20.57 21.60
22. Hailakandi Total 18.18 18.50 19.03
Rural 18.11 18.41 18.87
Urban 19.01 19.53 20.63
23. Cachar Total 18.48 18.80 19.36
Rural 18.39 18.63 19.17
Urban 19.28 20.24 20.85
SOURCE: Census of India 1991. ASSAM STATE District Profile 1991.

TABLE 2.18 Effective ages at marriage of FEMALES (Total, Rural & Urban) – 1991,1992 & 1993

Area Year India Assam

Rural 1991 19.2 20.3
1992 19.3 20.8
1993 19.4 20.5
Urban 1991 20.6 20.0
1992 20.2 23.5
1993 20.5 23.2
Total 1991 19.5 20.5
1992 19.5 21.3
1993 19.6 20.9
Source: Sample Registration System, Fertility and Mortality Indicators 1991, 1992,1993, Office of the Registrar
General, India New Delhi as quoted in WOMEN IN India: A Statistical Profile – 1997

)49(
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TABLE 2.19 Maternal Mortality Ratio: 1997-98 (Per hundred thousand)

States/UTs 1997 1998

(1) (2) (3)
Assam 401 409
All India 408 407
Note: Maternal Mortality Ratio is number of Maternal Deaths in the age group 15-49 years per 1,00,000 live
births.
Source: Compendium of India’s Fertility and Mortality indicators 1971-1997, RGI, 1999.

TABLE 2.20 Infant Mortality Rate: 1981-91 (Per thousand)

States/UTs 1981 1991

Male Female Persons Male Female Persons
(1) (2) (3) (4) (6) (7) (8)
Assam — — — 96 87 92
All India 122 108 115 74 79 77
Note: 1 Census not held in Assam in 1981 and Jammu & Kashmir in 1991.
2 Infant Mortality Rate (Q1) is defined as number of death by age 1 per 1000 live births.
Source: Occasional Paper No.1 of 1997, Table 3, page 112-113, Census of India.

TABLE 2.21 Infant Mortality Rate — Rural & Urban (Per thousand)

States/UTs 1981 1991

Male Female Persons Male Female Persons
(1) (2) (3) (4) (6) (7) (8)
Assam — — — 94 48 92
All India 123 67 115 84 51 77
Note: 1 Census not held in Assam in 1981 and in Jammu and Kashmir in 1991.
2 Infant Mortality Rate (Q1) is defined as number of death by age 1 per 1000 live births.
2 Data for 1991 for rural and urban areas has been derived.
Source: Occasional Paper No.1 of 1997, Table 3, page 112-113, Census of India.

)59(
 TABLE 2.22 Child mortality rate (o-4) India & Assam1997

States % of mortality rate

Assam 26.9
INDIA 23.1
Source: Sample Registration System (SRS), Vital Statistics Division, and New Delhi

TABLE 2.23 Under 5 Mortality (1970-75 &1992-1996)

STATE 1970-1975 STATE 1992-96

ASSAM 212.0 ASSAM 122.6
INDIA 209.6 INDIA 110.5
Source: Sample Registration System (SRS), Vital Statistics Division, New Delhi

TABLE 2.24 Under 5 female mortality (1970-75 &1992-1996) (Per thousand)

STATE ASSAM INDIA

1970-1975 206.9 224.2
1992-96 124.5 116.5
Source: Sample Registration System (SRS), Vital Statistics Division, New Delhi

TABLE 2.25 Under Five Mortality Rate (Per thousand)

States/UTs 1981 1991

Male Female Persons Male Female Persons
(1) (2) (3) (4) (6) (7) (8)
Assam — — — 118 115 116
All India 147 157 152 91 101 94
Note: 1 Census not held in Assam in 1981 and Jammu & Kashmir in 1991.
2 Under Five Mortality Rate (Q5) is defined as number of death by age 5 per 1000 live births.
Source: 1 For 1981, Child Mortality Estimates of India, Occasional Paper No.5 of 1988, Statement 2, page
5, Census of India.
2 For 1991, Occasional Paper No.1 of 1997, Table 3, pages 112-113, Census of India.

)69(
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TABLE 2.26 Age Specific Mortality Rate for Age Group 0-4 Years - Combined (Per thousand)

States/UTs 1981 1991

Male Female Persons Male Female Persons
(1) (2) (3) (4) (6) (7) (8)
Assam 36.7 42.3 39.5 34.4 30.4 32.4
All India 39.2 43.3 41.2 25.6 27.5 26.5
Note 1 # : Three-year moving average has been taken for these states/UTs.
2 Age specific Mortality Rate is number of deaths in the specified age group as a ratio of population
in that age group.
Source: Compendium of India’s Fertility and Mortality Indicators 1971-97, Registrar General of Census,
India, 1999.

TABLE 2.27 Age Specific Mortality Rate for Age Group 0-4 Years — Rural (Per thousand)

States/UTs 1981 1991

Male Female Persons Male Female Persons
(1) (2) (3) (4) (6) (7) (8)
Assam 37.5 43.6 40.5 35.6 31.4 33.5
All India 43.1 48.0 45.5 28.1 30.2 40.8
Note: 1. Age specific Mortality Rate is number of deaths in the specified age group as a ratio of population
in that age group.
Source: Compendium of India’s Fertility and Mortality Indicators 1971-97, Registrar General of Census,
India, 1999.

TABLE 2.28Age Specific Mortality Rate for Age Group 0-4 Years — Urban (Per thousand)

States/UTs 1981 1991

Male Female Persons Male Female Persons
(1) (2) (3) (4) (6) (7) (8)
Assam 25.8 22.9 24.4 13.8 10.8 12.4
All India 20.0 20.9 20.4 15.4 16.6 16.0
Note: 1 Age specific Mortality Rate is number of deaths in the specified age group as a ratio of population in
that age group.
Source: Compendium of India’s Fertility and Mortality Indicators 1971-97, Registrar General of Census,
India, 1999.

)79(
 TABLE 2.29 Age Specific Mortality Rate for Age Group 5-9 Years — Combined (Per thousand)

States/UTs 1981 1991

Male Female Persons Male Female Persons
(1) (2) (3) (4) (6) (7) (8)
Assam 3.4 5.0 4.2 4.2 5.9 5.0
All India 3.7 4.4 4.0 2.6 2.9 2.7
Note: 1 Age specific Mortality Rate is number of deaths in the specified age group as a ratio of population in
that age group.
Source: Compendium of India’s Fertility and Mortality Indicators 1971-97, Registrar General of Census,
India, 1999.

TABLE 2.30 Age Specific Mortality Rate for Age Group 5-9 Years — Rural (Per thousand)

States/UTs 1981 1991

Male Female Persons Male Female Persons
(1) (2) (3) (4) (6) (7) (8)
Assam 3.5 5.2 4.3 4.3 6.2 5.2
All India 4.1 5.0 4.6 2.8 3.2 3.0
Note: 1 Age specific Mortality Rate is number of deaths in the specified age group as a ratio of population in
that age group.
Source: Compendium of India’s Fertility and Mortality Indicators 1971-97, Registrar General of Census,
India, 1999.

TABLE 2.31 Age Specific Mortality Rate for Age Group 5-9 Years — Urban (Per thousand)

States/UTs 1981 1991

Male Female Persons Male Female Persons
(1) (2) (3) (4) (6) (7) (8)
Assam 1.4 2.8 2.1 2.0 1.0 1.5
All India 1.7 1.7 1.7 1.6 1.5 1.5
Note: 1 Age specific Mortality Rate is number of deaths in the specified age group as a ratio of population in
that age group.
Source: Compendium of India’s Fertility and Mortality Indicators 1971-97, Registrar General of Census,
India, 1999.

)89(
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TABLE 2.32 Infant Mortality Rate: Assam and India: 1991-2003

Year Rural Urban Combined

Assam India Assam India Assam India
1991 83 87 42 53 81 80
1992 77 85 50 53 76 79
1993 84 82 60 45 81 74
1994 78 80 76 52 78 74
1995 77 80 50 48 77 74
1996 79 87 37 46 75 72
1997 79 77 37 45 76 71
1998 80 77 36 45 76 72
1999 79 75 36 44 76 70
2003 (Oct.) 73 69 38 40 70 64
Source: 1. RGI: Sample Registration Bulletin as published in GOA; Statistical Handbook of Assam
2. Sample Registration Bulletin, R.G.I. (quoted in Statistical Handbook, Assam, 2002).
3. SRS Bulletin October 2003, RGI (quoted from Census Office, Guwahati).

TABLE 2.33 Infant and Child Mortality Rate: Assam and India: 1998

Neo Natal Post neo Natal Infant Mortality Child mortality Under five
Mortality Rate Mortality Rate Rate (1q0) (4q1) mortality
Assam India Assam India Assam India Assam India India Assam
44.6 43.4 24.9 24.2 69.5 67.6 21.4 67.6 94.9 89.5
Source: NFHS-2

TABLE 2.34 Infant Mortality Rate: Assam: 1998

State Rural Urban Combined

Assam 82 36 66
Source: Government of India: 2000:Annual Report, 1999-2000,Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

)99(
 TABLE 2.35 Age group wise Child Mortality: Assam: by districts :1991

Year Age 0-1Yrs Age 0-2 Yrs Age 0-5 Yrs

Persons Males Females Persons Males Females Persons Males Females
Assam 92 96 87 101 104 98 116 118 115
1. Dhubri 128 123 132 143 151 137 166 169 162
2. Kokrajhar 78 56 75 85 78 93 110 96 114
3. Bongaigaon 122 93 124 128 113 129 142 135 150
4. Goalpara 106 109 103 111 113 110 133 138 127
5. Barpeta 101 97 104 119 126 112 142 145 139
6. Nalbari 96 102 70 98 104 90 117 113 121
7. Kamrup 77 80 78 82 81 83 90 92 87
8. Darrang 111 118 86 120 119 120 131 131 131
9. Sonitpur 77 75 77 83 81 84 108 115 101
10. Lakhimpur 112 138 104 114 114 116 125 120 130
11. Dhemaji 114 113 117 123 129 122 139 140 138
12. Morigaon 88 106 97 127 131 124 136 141 127
13. Nagaon 97 104 89 101 102 97 117 120 114
14. Golaghat 61 66 56 76 78 74 94 97 91
15. Jorhat 47 47 48 49 48 58 77 78 76
16. Sibsagar 75 81 68 76 83 75 89 85 92
17. Dibrugarh 51 56 45 59 60 58 77 76 78
18. Tinsukia 73 82 63 72 70 76 85 90 80
19. Karbi Anglong 76 76 75 87 79 92 124 125 124
20. N.C.Hills 108 109 100 112 114 113 118 119 116
21. Karimganj 111 105 97 120 128 111 131 132 131
22. Hailakandi 99 101 97 117 121 101 125 136 116
23. Cachar 97 99 85 103 100 105 116 122 111
N.B.: Figures for the 1981 census is not available, as the census could not be conducted due to disturbed
conditions
N.A.: Data not available.
Source: Census of India 1991: Assam State District Profile 1991.

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TABLE 2.36 Expectation of life at birth by sex: Assam and India: Rural-Urban(1989-93)

India/Assam Total Rural Urban

Male Female Person Male Female Person Male Female Person
India 59.0 59.7 59.4 57.9 58.1 58.0 63.5 66.3 64.9
Assam 54.6 55.3 54.9 53.9 54.6 54.1 63.0 64.1 63.3
Source: Sample Registration System Based Life Tables, 1989-93, Office of the Registrar General, India, New
Delhi, as quoted in Women In India-A statistical profile (1997).

TABLE 2.37 EXPECTATIONS of life at birth by sex in Assam and India

SEX ASSAM/INDIA YEAR

1987-91 1988-92 1989-93 1990-94 1991-95
Male Assam 53.7 53.9 54.6 54.6 55.6
India 58.1 58.6 59.0 59.4 59.7
Female Assam 54.5 54.4 55.3 55.8 56.1
India 58.6 59.0 59.7 60.4 60.9
Persons Assam 53.9 54.1 54.9 55.1 55.7
India 58.2 58.7 59.4 60.0 60.3
N.B.: All India figures excludes Jammu and Kashmir.
Source: Selected Socio-Economic Statistics, India-2000 (as quoted in Economic Survey, Assam 2002-2003)

)101(
 TABLE 2.38 Persons not expected to Survive beyond Age 40 — 1981
(Percentage)

States/UTs Rural Urban Combined

Male Female Persons Male Female Persons Male Female Persons
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)
Assam 24.3 27.2 25.8 15.7 16.3 16.0 23.7 26.1 24.9
All India 23.4 27.1 25.2 13.6 14.7 14.1 21.5 24.5 23.0
Source: From Sample Registration System based Abridged Life Tables for the period 1981-85.

TABLE 2.39 Persons not expected to Survive beyond Age 40 — 1991

(Percentage)

States/UTs Rural Urban Combined

Male Female Persons Male Female Persons Male Female Persons
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)
Assam 21.7 23.3 22.5 15.0 13.6 14.4 21.1 22.5 21.8
All India 18.3 21.0 19.6 11.5 11.3 11.4 16.9 19.1 18.0
Source: SRS Based Abridged Life Tables, 1989-93, SRS Analytical Studies; Report No.1 of 1996, RGI, New
Delhi.

TABLE 3.1 Literacy Rates by Sex in India and Assam (1961-2001)

State/India Assam India Male Female Gap

Male Female Total Male Female Total Assam India
1961 44.28 18.61 32.58 40.40 15.35 28.30 25.67 25.05
1971 42.96 22.31 33.32 45.96 21.97 34.45 20.65 23.98
1981 N.A. N.A. NA 56.38 29.76 43.57 NA 26.62
1991 61.87 43.03 52.89 64.13 39.29 52.21 18.84 24.84
2001 71.93 56.03 64.28 75.85 54.16 65.38 15.9 21.70
Note: NA: Not available because 1981 census was not conducted in Assam
Source: Census Reports

)201(
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TABLE 3.2 Literacy Rates by sex: Assam: by districts (1981-2001)

Districts Area 1991 2001

P M F P M F
1. Jorhat T 65.51 73.29 56.88 77.91 82.76 72.54
R 62.78 71.31 53.49 76.29 81.55 70.52
U 79.95 83.18 75.98 85.66 88.40 82.50
2. Sibsagar T 64.46 71.91 56.14 75.33 82.08 68.00
R 62.94 70.75 54.31 73.88 81.10 66.15
U 83.27 85.25 80.71 89.07 90.77 86.95
3. Lakhimpur T 58.96 68.28 48.85 69.59 78.26 60.47
R 57.74 67.29 47.51 68.67 77.64 59.29
U 75.46 80.57 68.87 80.78 85.40 75.50
4. Nalbari T 55.99 66.95 44.19 68.08 77.12 58.40
R 55.38 66.44 43.52 67.55 76.71 57.75
U 80.62 86.66 73.29 88.61 92.84 83.95
5. Golaghat T 58.54 66.50 49.75 70.36 78.01 62.07
R 56.74 64.85 47.91 68.61 76.60 60.00
U 85.14 88.72 80.32 88.76 92.22 84.72
6. Dibrugarh T 58.32 66.72 48.89 71.21 79.58 62.10
R 53.11 62.47 42.84 66.62 76.42 56.13
U 81.17 84.36 77.22 89.88 91.92 87.49
7. Kamrup T 65.04 73.67 55.01 74.69 81.24 67.31
R 56.88 66.95 45.83 67.68 75.77 58.92
U 80.57 85.51 74.16 86.61 90.07 82.43
8. Dhemaji T 53.84 65.43 41.12 65.96 75.15 56.11
R 53.29 64.95 40.57 64.71 74.10 54.70
U 80.44 85.60 72.52 82.26 88.35 75.22
9. Cachar T 59.16 68.79 48.76 68.42 76.51 59.85
R 56.37 66.53 45.35 65.25 74.00 55.94
U 83.26 88.06 78.03 86.76 91.09 82.23

)301(
Districts Area 1991 2001
P M F P M F
10. Karimganj T 54.71 64.05 44.76 67.21 73.87 60.09
R 51.85 61.66 41.40 65.07 71.98 57.69
U 87.70 91.05 84.02 91.62 95.63 87.37
11. N.C.Hills T 57.76 66.39 47.34 68.59 76.59 59.40
R 50.03 59.41 39.04 58.73 68.04 48.42
U 82.42 87.48 75.72 88.97 93.32 83.57
12. Tinsukia T 50.28 59.27 39.99 63.28 72.16 53.40
R 44.16 53.82 33.41 57.52 67.40 46.71
U 78.95 83.00 73.65 85.51 89.82 80.37
13. Hailakandi T 53.07 64.08 41.04 59.84 68.47 50.65
R 50.19 61.80 37.47 57.10 66.22 47.38
U 85.30 89.96 80.35 87.34 91.31 83.17
14. Nagaon T 54.74 62.49 46.30 62.28 68.52 55.57
R 51.30 59.31 42.63 59.20 65.68 52.26
U 80.68 85.77 74.82 82.90 87.23 78.10
15. Bongaigaon T 49.06 58.67 38.72 60.27 68.81 51.16
R 45.48 55.33 34.98 56.30 65.25 46.81
U 81.16 87.11 74.13 86.41 91.78 80.47
16. Karbi Anglong T 45.57 55.55 34.35 58.83 68.11 48.65
R 42.12 52.30 30.85 55.48 65.09 45.05
U 73.55 80.04 65.15 83.39 89.30 76.37
17. Sonitpur T 48.14 56.70 38.60 60.29 67.64 52.43
R 45.33 54.17 35.56 57.34 65.00 49.19
U 81.06 84.78 76.46 88.50 92.35 84.19
18. Morigaon T 47.99 56.17 39.19 59.46 66.13 52.36
R 46.36 54.52 37.33 57.98 64.68 50.87
U 76.54 83.40 68.30 85.84 90.88 80.05
19. Barpeta T 43.24 52.61 33.20 57.35 65.95 48.16
R 40.64 50.10 30.53 54.94 63.73 45.54
U 74.83 82.81 66.07 83.94 90.40 77.04

)401(
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Districts Area 1991 2001

P M F P M F
20. Goalpara T 46.81 55.47 37.58 58.56 65.36 51.40
R 44.84 53.58 35.54 56.75 63.67 49.50
U 68.73 76.18 60.58 77.32 82.58 71.57
21. Darrang T 42.00 50.80 32.53 55.92 64.32 46.95
R 40.12 49.01 30.62 54.23 62.77 45.15
U 76.02 81.68 69.28 86.20 91.14 80.54
22. Kokrajhar T 40.47 49.46 30.83 52.55 61.90 42.65
R 37.90 46.97 28.20 49.93 59.47 39.86
U 77.14 83.96 69.36 85.16 91.34 78.27
23. Dhubri T 38.36 47.38 28.79 49.86 56.61 42.64
R 33.55 42.74 23.82 45.73 52.52 38.46
U 69.36 76.75 61.31 78.20 84.77 71.21
Source: Provisional Population Totals, Census of India-2001, Assam, Paper I& II of 2001, Census of India:
1991

TABLE 3.3 Literacy Rate of Scheduled Castes(Percentage)

States/UTs 1981 1991

Male Female Persons Male Female Persons
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)
Assam — — — 63.88 42.99 53.94
All India 31.12 10.93 21.38 49.91 23.76 37.41
Notes: 1 Census not held in Assam in 1981.
Source: 1 Literacy Digest, NLM, Directorate of Adult Education, MHRD, 1988
2 Selected Educational Statistics 1997-98, Department of Education, MHRD, page 21.
NATIONAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2001

)501(
 TABLE 3.4 Literacy Rate of Scheduled Tribes(Percentage)

States/UTs 1981 1991

Male Female Persons Male Female Persons
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)
Assam — — — 58.93 38.98 49.16
All India 24.52 8.04 16.35 40.65 18.10 29.60
Notes: 1 Census not held in Assam in1981 and Jammu & Kashmir in 1991.
Source: 1 Selected Educational Statistics 1997-98, Department of Education, MHRD, page 21
2 1981—Literacy Digest, NLM, Directorate of Adult Education, MHRD, GOI, ND, 1988.
NATIONAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2001

TABLE 3.5 Literates/Illiterates in the age group 7-14 years(Percentage)

States/ Boys Girls Children

UTs Literates Illiterates Literates Illiterates Literates Illiterates
1981 1991 1981 1991 1981 1991 1981 1991 1981 1991 1981 1991
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10 ) (11) (12) (13)
Assam — 66.77 — 33.23 — 58.17 — 41.83 — 62.55 — 37.45
All India 60.58 71.44 39.42 28.56 41.57 56.23 58.43 43.77 51.49 64.16 48.51 35.84
Note: 1 Census not held in Assam in 1981
Source: 1 For 1981, calculated from Census of India, as reproduced in Selected Educational Statistics 1997,
MHRD 1999.
2 For 1991, Working Children in India—An Analysis of the 1991 Census Data, RGI, Table 4, pages
84-91.
NATIONAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2001

)601(
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TABLE 3.6 Adult Literacy Rate — Combined (Percentage)

States/UTs 1981 1991

Male Female Persons Male Female Persons
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)
Assam — — — 60.25 37.63 49.58
All India 54.92 25.72 40.83 61.89 34.09 48.54
Note: 1 Census not held in Assam in 1981
2 Adult Literacy rate is percentage of literates in age-group 15 years and above to population in that
age group.
Source: Census of India, 1981 & 1991, Age, Sex and Educational Level, Table C-2, RGI, New Delhi.
NATIONAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2001

TABLE 3.7Adult Literacy Rate — Rural (Percentage)

States/UTs 1981 1991

Male Female Persons Male Female Persons
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)
Assam — — — 56.61 33.23 45.47
All India 47.39 17.60 32.79 54.89 24.92 40.34
Note: 1 Census not held in Assam in 1981.
2 Adult Literacy rate is percentage of literates in age-group 15 years and above to population in that
age group.
Source : Census of India, 1981 & 1991, Age, Sex and Educational Level, Table C-2, RGI, New Delhi.
NATIONAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2001

TABLE 3.8 Adult Literacy Rate — Urban (Percentage)

States/UTs 1981 1991

Male Female Persons Male Female Persons
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)
Assam — — — 83.77 70.66 78.00
All India 76.29 51.90 65.11 80.14 59.86 70.68
Note: 1 Census not held in Assam in 1981.
2 Adult Literacy rate is percentage of literates in age-group 15 years and above to population in that
age group.
Source : Census of India, 1981 & 1991, Age, Sex and Educational Level, Table C-2, RGI, New Delhi.

)701(
 TABLE 3.9 Adult Literacy Rate —1995-96(Percentage)

States/UTs Rural Urban Combined

Male Female Persons Male Female Persons Male Female Persons
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)
Assam 76.00 57.30 67.25 90.20 81.20 86.39 77.54 59.50 69.18
All India 60.59 31.65 46.38 85.68 67.35 76.98 67.25 40.67 54.32
Note: Adult Literacy rate is number of literates in age-group 15 years and above to population in that age
group.
Source: NSSO 52nd Round, 1995-96 as reported in Selected Educational Statistics, 1997-98, MHRD, New
Delhi.
NATIONAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2001
TABLE 3.10 Age-Specific Enrolment Ratios — Combined (Percentage)

States/ Age Group 6 to below 11 years Age Group 11 to below 14 years

UTs 1981 1991 1981 1991
Boys Girls Children Boys Girls Children Boys Girls Children Boys Girls Children
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10 ) (11) (12) (13)
Assam — — — 9.0 42.9 46.0 — — — 67.9 58.7 63.4
All India 55.3 38.5 47.2 56.6 45.4 51.2 62.0 36.7 50.0 71.1 52.2 62.1
Note: 2 Age-Specific Enrolment Ratio = (Estimated enrolment in an age group/Estimated child population in
that age group) x 100
Source: Based on Census of India, 1981 & 1991, Table C-4.
NATIONAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2001

TABLE 3.11 Age-Specific Enrolment Ratios — Rural (Percentage)

States/ Age Group 6 to below 11 years Age Group 11 to below 14 years

UTs 1981 1991 1981 1991
Boys Girls Children Boys Girls Children Boys Girls Children Boys Girls Children
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10 ) (11) (12) (13)
Assam — — — 47.0 40.8 43.9 — — — 66.0 56.1 61.2
All India 50.6 31.4 41.3 52.3 39.3 46.0 57.6 28.1 43.7 67.6 44.4 56.7
Note: 1 Age-Specific Enrolment Ratio = (Estimated enrolment in an age group/Estimated child population in
that age group) x 100
Source: Based on Census of India, 1981 & 1991, Table C-4.
NATIONAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2001

)801(
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TABLE 3.12 Age-Specific Enrolment Ratios — Urban (Percentage)

States/ Age Group 6 to below 11 years Age Group 11 to below 14 years

UTs 1981 1991 1981 1991
Boys Girls Children Boys Girls Children Boys Girls Children Boys Girls Children
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10 ) (11) (12) (13)
Assam — — — 69.6 66.0 67.8 — — — 83.8 78.8 81.3
All India 72.8 64.9 69.0 70.7 65.8 68.3 76.6 64.5 70.8 81.0 73.6 77.5
Note: 1 Age-Specific Enrolment Ratio = (Estimated enrolment in an age group/Estimated child population in
that age group) x 100
Source : Based on Census of India, 1981 & 1991, Table C-4.

TABLE 3.13 Girls Enrolled in Various School Stages, 1978 — Combined (Percentage)

States/UTs I-V VI - VIII IX onwards

All SC ST All SC ST All SC ST
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)
Assam 42.13 40.84 41.52 38.97 37.07 35.81 35.73 34.15 31.34
All India 38.27 34.36 33.29 32.70 25.82 26.97 28.69 21.53 26.70
Source: Fourth All India Educational Survey, NCERT, 1982, Table 167, pages 934-941.
NATIONAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2001

TABLE 3.14 Girls Enrolled in Various School Stages1978 — Rural (Percentage)

States/UTs I-V VI - VIII IX onwards

All SC ST All SC ST All SC ST
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)
Assam 41.70 40.46 41.46 37.62 35.83 35.58 34.69 33.45 31.46
All India 36.18 32.69 32.76 27.83 22.00 25.10 21.85 17.12 24.10
Source: Fourth All India Educational Survey, NCERT, 1982, Table 167, pages 934-941.

)901(
 TABLE 3.14Girls Enrolled in Various School Stages, 1978 —Urban (Percentage)

States/UTs I-V VI - VIII IX onwards

All SC ST All SC ST All SC ST
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)
Assam 45.96 44.01 43.77 44.07 42.12 37.89 38.62 36.69 30.72
All India 44.75 40.93 39.49 40.33 33.22 34.74 34.78 26.65 31.93
Source: Fourth All India Educational Survey, NCERT, 1982, Table 167, pages 934-941.
NATIONAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2001
TABLE 3.15 Girls Enrolled in Various School Stages, 1993 — Combined (Percentage)

States/ I-V VI - VIII IX - X XI - XII

Uts All SC ST All SC ST All SC ST All SC ST
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13)
Assam 45.46 44.97 47.03 44.81 44.65 44.55 44.99 45.13 44.26 36.97 35.80 37.33
All India 43.16 41.66 41.45 39.62 36.25 35.77 36.47 32.31 32.10 35.93 30.29 27.62
Source: Sixth All India Educational Survey, NCERT, 1999, Vol 4, Table IS132, pages 127-130.
NATIONAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2001
TABLE 3.16 Girls Enrolled in Various School Stages1993 — Rural (Percentage)

States/ I-V VI - VIII IX - X XI - XII

Uts All SC ST All SC ST All SC ST All SC ST
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13)
Assam 45.28 44.70 47.00 44.45 44.21 44.47 44.59 44.67 44.40 37.00 35.62 37.33
All India 41.96 40.47 40.96 36.43 33.02 34.04 32.23 28.89 29.88 29.76 25.53 26.29
Source: Sixth All India Educational Survey, NCERT, 1999, Vol 4, Table IS132, pages 127-130.
NATIONAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2001

TABLE 3.17 Girls Enrolled in Various School Stages1993 — Urban (Percentage)

States/ I-V VI - VIII IX - X XI - XII

Uts All SC ST All SC ST All SC ST All SC ST
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13)
Assam 47.14 46.44 47.65 46.61 46.68 45.44 46.65 46.95 43.11 36.90 36.42 37.35
All India 46.71 45.97 45.52 45.06 42.69 42.73 41.72 37.41 38.24 39.73 34.03 29.64
Source: Sixth All India Educational Survey, NCERT, 1999, Vol 4, Table IS132, pages 127-130.

)011(
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TABLE 3.18 Drop-out Rates in Classes I-V (Percentage)

States/UTs 1981-82 1992-93 1998-99 (Provisional)

Boys Girls Children Boys Girls Children Boys Girls Children
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)
Assam 59.4 66.6 62.5 51.66 59.93 55.37 40.87 42.43 41.56
All India 51.1 57.3 53.5 43.83 46.67 45.01 38.23 41.34 39.58
Source: 1 1981-81 — Trends of Drop-out Rates for Years 1980-81 to 1993-94, page 2.
2 Education in India 1992-93 — Vol.1 (S), Department of Education, MHRD, page 145.
3 Annual report 1998-99, Department of Education, Department of Education, MHRD, page 142.
NATIONAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2001

TABLE 3.19 Drop-out Rates in Classes I-VIII (Percentage)

States/UTs 1981-82 1992-93 1998-99 (Provisional)

Boys Girls Children Boys Girls Children Boys Girls Children
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)
Assam 81.80 84.20 82.50 68.35 70.36 69.22 68.26 72.31 70.08
All India 68.50 77.70 72.10 58.23 65.21 61.10 54.40 60.09 56.82
Source: 1 Trends of Drop-out Rates for Years 1980-81 to 1993-94, Department of Education, MHRD, page
16.
2 Education in India 1992-93, Vol.1 (S), Department of Education, MHRD, page 145.
3 Annual Report 1999-2000, Department of Education, MHRD, page 178.

TABLE 3.20 Drop-out Rates in Classes I-X (Percentage)

States/UTs 1981-82 1992-93 1998-99 (Provisional)

Boys Girls Children Boys Girls Children Boys Girls Children
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)
Assam 63.30 67.81 65.09 74.28 78.13 75.95 76.55 75.32 76.00
All India 79.44 86.81 82.33 70.00 77.32 72.93 65.44 70.22 67.44
Source: 1 Trends of Drop-out Rates for Years 1980-81 to 1993-94, Department of education, MHRD, page
30.
2 Education in India 1992-93, Vol.1 (S), Department of Education, MHRD, page 145.
3 Annual Report 1999-2000, Department of Education, MHRD, page 179.
NATIONAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2001

)111(
 TABLE 3.21 Class wise enrolment up to higher secondary classes in Assam

Sl.No. Class Sex Ratio

1. Pre-Primary 726.7
2. Class-1 870.68
3. Class-ii 842.98
4. Class-III 842.90
5. Class-IV 814.98
6. Class-V 721.02
7. Class-VI 781.71
8. Class-VII 785.05
9. Class-VIII 713.99
10. Class-IX 743.22
11. Class-X 806.41
12. Class-XI 546.81
13. Class-XII 592.90
14. Class-XII in College 622.100
15. Class-XII in College (Science) 609.76
Source: Statistical Handbook, Assam 2002

)211(
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TABLE 3.22 Course wise sex ratio

Sl.No. Course Sex Ratio

1 Ph.D. 990
2 M.A 852.14
3 M..Sc. 490.67
4 M.Com 117.58
5 Total P.G. 644
6 B.A. 668.12
7 B.Sc. 204.27
8 B.Com 166.77
9 Total Degree 517.26
10 P. D. 635.28
11 H.S.(Class-XII) 613.11
12 Total H. S. 616.31
13 Law 336.87
Source: Estimated from data obtained from Directorate of Higher Education, Assam as published in the
Economic Survey Assam, 2002-2003

)311(
 TABLE 3.23 District wise percentage of female teachers in Assam: 2001

Districts Pre-Primary Primary Middle High Higher Jr. Arts,

School Secondary College Science and
Commerce
College
1. Dhubri 100.0 20.09 6.42 21.14 15.82 30.23 21.14
2. Kokrajhar 100.0 20.80 16.50 26.97 30.52 30.77 18.50
3. Bongaigaon 100.0 25.67 15.77 27.11 19.62 35.71 20.65
4. Goalpara 100.0 22.67 11.83 21.56 14.81 Nil 19.00
5. Barpeta 100.0 18.83 12.84 13.96 14.57 31.48 22.06
6. Kamrup 100.0 19.53 13.45 21.29 16.10 30.67 28.19
7. Nalbari 100.0 28.78 21.60 28.65 41.08 31.65 20.68
8. Darrang 100.0 21.35 15.17 21.96 18.05 30.38 27.16
9. Sonitpur 100.0 31.03 20.89 25.23 25.10 30.65 32.13
10. Lakhimpur 100.0 27.30 18.55 24.21 24.94 30.88 23.42
11. Dhemaji 100.0 31.14 22.37 15.49 12.55 34.15 20.97
12. Morigaon 100.0 21.09 15.28 19.83 16.44 10.34 19.19
13. Nagaon 100.0 31.67 24.71 27.42 37.11 33.93 18.62
14. Golaghat 100.0 34.20 26.85 34.87 36.98 40 23.27
15. Jorhat 100.0 31.58 22.96 27.16 29.24 31.09 37.08
16. Sibsagar 100.0 42.43 42.54 41.27 38.35 32 39.08
17. Dibrugarh 100.0 35.40 30.86 37.88 43.43 29.63 29.64
18. Tinsukia 100.0 27.98 27.95 38.32 40.78 Nil 26.69
19. Karbi Anglong 100.0 33.22 14.94 23.27 24.21 Nil 20.43
20. North Cachar Hills 100.0 41.25 14.19 30.07 35.23 Nil 32.65
21. Karimganj 100.0 25.50 16.69 22.06 30.51 35.71 26.73
22. Hailakandi 100.0 33.43 17.15 32.76 30.43 Nil 30.77
23. Cachar 100.0 18.65 23.52 34.84 23.86 Nil 20.0
ASSAM 100.0 28.78 20.46 26.27 28.31 31.00 25.20
Note: Nil: In these districts neither male nor female teachers are shown against Junior Colleges
Source: Estimated from data on District wise number of female teachers in Assam:2001: Statistical handbook,
Assam, 2002

)411(
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TABLE 3.24 Teacher — Pupil Ratio (Pupils per teacher)

1982-83 1992-93 1997-98

Assam India Assam India Assam India
Primary 35 40 39 34 37 42
Upper primary 24 34 31 29 24 37
Secondary 25 29 28 45 21 29
Source: 1 Selected Educational Statistics, 1982-83, Department of Education, MHRD, Table VII, pages 36,
38, 40.
2 Selected Educational Statistics, 1992-93, Department of Education, MHRD, pages 29, 31, 33.
3 Selected Educational Statistics, 1997-98, Department of Education, MHRD, Table 18, pages 53,
55, 56.
NATIONAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2001

TABLE 3.25 Statistics relating to Schools : Assam : 1951-2001

Year Primary Schools Upper Primary Schools

No. of No. of No. of PTR Schools per No. of No. of No. of PTR Schools per
Schools Students Teachers thousand Schools Students Teachers thousand
population population
1951-52 11,172 6,26282 16,654 38 1.39 1,012 1,07,649 3,714 32 0.13
1961-62 1961 1,136,317 27,980 41 0.18 1,899 2,15,051 9,642 22 0.18
1971-72 18,040 13,99,000 32,784 35 1.23 3,083 4.06,000 19,145 11 0.21
1981-82 22,723 17,76,000 50,340 35 1.26 4,080 9,61,000 29,209 33 0.22
1991-92 28,783 28,19,232 70,134 40 1.28 5,474 14,22,231 39,243 36 0.24
2001-02 30,145 39,06,000 83,573 47 1.13 6,730 27,16,000 58,791 46 0.25
Source: Government of Assam, Planning and Development Department, Dispur: Draft Tenth Five Year Plan
2002-2003 & Annual Plan 2002-2003, Volume II, pT-2

)511(
 TABLE 4 Neonatal, Post-neonatal Mortality rates for the five-year period preceding
the survey by State, India, (NHFS-2 1998-99)

INDIA/ASSAM Neonatal Mortality (NN) Post-neonatal Mortality* (PNN)

India 43.4 24.2
Assam 44.6 24.9
* Computed as the difference between the infant and neonatal mortality rates
Source: Status of Women in India – 2001 by NCW.

TABLE 4.1 Percentage Distributions of Live Births By Type Of Medical Attention Received By
The Mother At Delivery By Residence, India and Assam, 1992 - 94

INDIA ASSAM
Years 1992 1993 1994 1992 1993 1994
Total 24.4 24.5 22.3 18.2 18.4 20.5
Institutional

Rural 18.0 20.2 16.9 13.2 15.6 17.5

Urban 54.8 56.5 54.7 50.1 52.9 55.6
Total 22.9 24.3 27.7 12.2 13.1 14.9
Professionals
By Trained
Attended

Rural 21.8 23.3 26.7 11.1 12.4 14.1

Urban 28.0 31.6 33.8 18.6 21.4 24.0
Total 52.7 51.3 50.0 69.6 68.6 64.5
professionals
Attended by

and others
untrained

Rural 60.2 56.5 56.4 75.7 72.0 68.4

Urban 17.2 11.8 11.5 31.3 25.7 20.4
SOURCE: SRS – 1994 as quoted in the Status of Women in India – 2001 by NCW;
Sample Registration System, Fertility and Mortality Indicators, 1992 & 1993, Office of the Registrar General,
India as quoted in Women in India, A Statistical Profile – 1997.
Table 4.2 Births Attended by Health Professionals (Percentage)

States/UTs NFHS 1992-93 NFHS 1998-99

Rural Urban Combined SC Other Rural Urban Combined
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9)
Assam 14.1 56.8 17.8 18.5 19.0 18.9 64.6 21.5
All India 25.0 65.3 34.2 — — 33.5 73.3 42.3
Note: 1 Doctors, Auxiliary Nurse Midwife, Lady Health Visitor and other Health Professionals not including
traditional birth attendants and others.
Source: National Family Health Survey II & I.

)611(
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TABLE 4.3 Births Delivered in Medical Institutions (Percentage)

States/UTs NFHS 1992-93 NFHS 1998-99

Rural Urban Combined SC Other Rural Urban Combined
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9)
Assam 7.4 50.1 11.1 12.9 12.0 15.0 59.9 17.6
All India 16.0 57.6 25.5 — — 24.6 65.1 33.6
Note: 1 Public or private health facility/institution including non-governmental organisation (NGO)/Trust.
2 Data tabulated only for the States/UTs for which preliminary reports of NFHS-II is available.
Source: National Family Health Survey II & I.

TABLE 4.4 Type of Medical Attention Received by Mothers at Child Birth (1995-1996) - Combined (Percentage)

States/UTs No Govt. Other Govt. Other Other

attendance appointed doctor appointed nurse/midwife
doctor nurse/midwife
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)
Assam 38.40 8.70 3.30 8.60 8.40 30.10
All India 32.20 10.30 11.60 8.50 18.90 15.20
Source: Maternal and Child Health Care in India, NSS 52nd Round, July 1995-June 1996, Report No.445.

TABLE 4.5 Type of Medical Attention Received by Mothers at Child Birth (1995-1996) - Rural (Percentage)

States/UTs No Govt. Other Govt. Other Other

attendance appointed doctor appointed nurse/midwife
doctor nurse/midwife
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)
Assam 40.00 7.30 2.30 8.60 8.40 30.80
All India 35.80 7.60 8.00 8.60 19.50 17.00
Source: Maternal and Child Health Care in India, NSS 52nd Round, July 1995-June 1996, Report No.445.

TABLE 4.6 Type of Medical Attention Received by Mothers at Child Birth (1995-1996) - Urban (Percentage)

States/UTs No Govt. Other Govt. Other Other

attendance appointed doctor appointed nurse/midwife
doctor nurse/midwife
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)
Assam 11.00 33.60 20.20 7.80 9.20 16.70
All India 15.90 22.60 27.90 8.30 16.00 7.00
Source: Maternal and Child Health Care in India, NSS 52nd Round, July 1995-June 1996, Report No.445.

)711(
 TABLE 4.7 Anaemia Among Women and Children, 1998-99 (Percentage)

States/UTs Women Children

Any Moderate Severe Any Moderate Severe
Anaemia Anaemia Anaemia Anaemia Anaemia Anaemia
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)
Assam 69.7 25.6 0.9 63.2 32.2 0.0
All India 51.8 14.8 1.9 74.3 45.9 5.4
Note 1 The haemoglobin levels are adjusted for altitude of the enumeration area and for smoking when
calculating the degree of anaemia.
2 Includes ever married women classified as having iron-deficiency by degree of anaemia.
3 Includes children in age group 6-35 months classified as having iron-deficiency anaemia.
Source: National Family Health Survey (NFHS 2), 1998-99, October.2000, Table 7.7, page 252 and Table
7.19, page 273.

TABLE 4.8 Women with Any Anaemia, 1998-1999 (Percentage)

States/UTs Rural Urban Combined SC ST Others Illiterate Literate

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9)
Assam 69.2 66.8 69.0 67.9 64.5 70.2 71.3 59.9
All India 53.9 45.7 51.8 56.0 64.9 47.6 55.8 46.4
Note Literate includes high school pass and above.
Source: National Family Health Survey, 1998-99 (NFHS-2), different volumes of the Preliminary Report.

TABLE 4.9 Two Doses or More of TT Vaccination during Pregnancy (Percentages)

States/UTs NFHS 1992-93 NFHS 1998-99

Rural Urban Combined Rural Urban Combined
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)
Assam 31.8 66.2 34.9 49.5 87.7 51.7
All India 47.7 74.9 53.8 62.5 81.9 66.8
Source: National Family Health Survey II & I.

)811(
KOOB-MASSA

TABLE 4.10 Fully Vaccinated Children aged 12-23 Months (Percentage)

States/ NFHS 1992-93 NFHS 1998-99

UTs Rural Urban Combined Male Female Rural Urban Combined Male Female
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11)
Assam 17.4 40.0 19.4 18.4 20.4 14.9 50.1 17.0 22.3 9.2
All India 30.9 50.7 35.4 36.7 34.1 36.6 60.5 42.0 — —
Note: 1 Children are fully vaccinated if they have received BCG, Measles and 3 doses DPT & Polio Vaccine.
2 Data tabulated only for the states/UTs for which preliminary reports of NFHS-II are available.
Source: National Family Health Survey I & II.

TABLE 4.11 Children aged 12-23 Months Not Vaccinated (Percentage)

States/ NFHS 1992-93 NFHS 1998-99

UTs Rural Urban Combined Male Female Rural Urban Combined Male Female
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11)
Assam 46.5 14.2 43.6 41.6 45.6 34.7 10.4 33.2 30.2 37.7
All India 34.0 16.4 30.0 27.8 32.3 16.7 6.4 14.4 — —
Source: National Family Health Survey I & II.

TABLE 4.12 Number of Persons Reporting Ailment During Last 15 days — Rural (1995-96) (Per thousand)

States/UTs Acute Ailment Chronic Ailment Any Ailment

Male Female Persons Male Female Persons Male Female Persons
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)
Assam 61 85 72 7 10 9 68 95 80
All India 41 44 42 13 14 13 54 57 55
Note: Short duration (less than 30 days) ailments have been termed as acute ailment and long duration
ailments (30 days or more) havebeen termed as chronic ailment.
Source: Morbidity and Treatment of Ailments, NSS 52nd Round, July 1995-June 1996, Report No. 441,
November 1998.

)911(
TABLE 4.13 Number of Persons Reporting Ailment During Last 15 days — Urban (1995-96) (Per thousand)

States/UTs Acute Ailment Chronic Ailment Any Ailment

Male Female Persons Male Female Persons Male Female Persons
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)
Assam 63 86 74 8 20 13 71 104 86
All India 39 43 41 13 15 14 51 58 54
Note: Short duration (less than 30 days) ailments have been termed as acute ailment and long duration
ailments (30 days or more) have been termed as chronic ailment.
Source: Morbidity and Treatment of Ailments, NSS 52nd Round, July 1995-June 1996, Report No 441,
November 1998.

TABLE 4.14 Persons Hospitalized During Last 365 Days (1995-1996) (Per thousand)

States/UTs Rural Urban

Male Female Persons Male Female Persons
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)
Assam 9 8 9 15 19 16
All India 14 13 13 20 20 20
Source: Morbidity and Treatment of Ailments, NSS 52nd Round, July 1995-June 1996, Report 441, November
1998.

TABLE 4.15 Couple Protection Rate (Percentage)

States/UTs NFHS 1992-93 NFHS 1997-98

Rural Urban Combined Rural Urban Combined
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)
Assam 40.1 62.3 42.8 42.3 53.4 43.3
All India 36.9 51.0 40.6 44.7 58.2 48.2
Source: National Family Health Survey II & I.

)021(
KOOB-MASSA

TABLE 4.16 Use of Family Planning Methods by background characteristics: Assam (1999)

Background Any Any Any RHYTHM/ Withdrawl Other Not using Total No. of
Characteristics Method Moderrn Traditional Safe Method any percent women
Method Method period Method
Residence
1. Urban 53.4 30.6 22.2 13.0 9.3 0.6 46.6 100 266
2. Rural 42.3 26.3 15.2 10.9 4.3 0.9 57.7 100 2912
Education
1. Illiterate 39.5 25.9 12.5 8.3 4.2 1.1 60.5 100 1669
2. Literate, middle
school complete 42.0 26.6 14.9 10.8 4.1 0.5 58.0 100 721
3. Middle school
complete 50.2 28.2 21.4 15.7 5.7 0.5 49.8 100 468
4. High school
complete and
above 55.6 28.5 26.6 19.4 7.2 0.5 44.4 100 321
Religion
1. Hindu 48.6 33.0 14.8 10.0 4.8 0.7 51.4 100 2033
2. Muslim 33.5 14.9 17.5 13.3 4.2 1.1 66.5 100 1026
3. Christian 37.2 15.2 20.1 9.2 10.9 1.9 62.8 100 74
Caste/Tribe
1. SC 47.4 34.2 12.4 6.9 5.4 0.9 52.6 100 311
2. ST 47.5 32.0 14.6 10.5 4.1 0.9 52.5 100 660
3. OBC 51.3 34.2 16.7 11.3 5.4 0.4 48.7 100 372
4. Others 40.3 22.3 17.0 12.2 4.7 0.9 59.7 100 1759
Standard of living
index
1. Low 34.8 21.9 11.8 8.0 3.8 1.1 65.2 100 1344
2. Medium 48.1 29.6 17.9 13.1 4.8 0.7 51.9 100 1366
3. High 56.2 34.2 22.0 14.6 7.4 0.0 43.8 100 370
N.B.: Percent distribution of currently married women by Contraceptive methods currently used, according to
selected background characteristics, Assam 1999.
Source: National Family Health Survey (NFHS-2), India, 1998-99: Assam

)121(
 TABLE 4.17 Health Infrastructure: Assam: by Districts, 2000-2001

Assam/ Districts Hospitals Primary Dispensaries Beds Rural Family Sub Centres
Health Centres Welfare Planning
Centres
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)
1. Dhubri 11 23 12 551 7 303
2. Kokrajhar 5 37 21 355 7 244
3. Bongaigaon 5 23 20 120 3 109
4. Goalpara 5 17 11 196 5 134
5. Barpeta 5 41 20 308 9 351
6. Nalbari 11 42 14 514 7 118
7. Kamrup 19 51 42 2487 13 500
8. Darrang 8 35 14 423 7 322
9. Sonitpur 10 28 17 1677 7 325
10. Lakhimpur 7 23 6 316 4 176
11. Dhemaji 3 9 5 210 1 95
12. Marigaon 3 13 15 160 30 215
13. Nagaon 15 38 33 706 113 368
14. Golaghat 6 32 24 352 6 33
15. Jorhat 8 24 19 516 6 328
16. Sibsagar 4 30 19 368 8 227
17. Dibrugarh 7 37 11 1395 3 275
18. Tinsukia 8 14 5 291 4 143
19. Karbi Anglong 6 35 13 466 8 159
20. North Cachar
Hills 3 12 2 266 3 73
21. Karimganj 2 16 5 165 5 232
22. Hailakandi 2 8 2 80 4 112
23. Cachar 8 22 2 986 8 275
ASSAM 161 610 323 12868 268 5109
Assam Total Per
lakh of population 0.60 2.29 1.21 48.38 1.01 19.21
Note: Last row estimated from the totals for Assam
Source: Statistical Handbook Assam, 2002

)221(
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TABLE 5.1 Persons in the Labour Force: Assam and India (by area) (Percentage)

States/UTs 1983 1993-94 1999-2000

Male Female Persons Male Female Persons Male Female Persons
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)
Assam
Rural 83.9 20.6 53.8 84.7 26.0 56.8 84.1 24.9 55.8
Urban 78.4 11.8 50.9 76.8 16.2 49.7 78.8 17.6 50.6
Combined 83.2 19.7 53.4 83.7 24.9 55.9 83.4 24.0 55.2
All India
Rural 88.7 51.0 70.3 87.6 48.8 68.8 85.4 45.6 66.2
Urban 82.5 23.5 55.4 79.9 23.4 53.3 78.6 20.9 51.1
Combined 87.1 44.4 66.5 85.4 42.0 64.5 83.5 38.5 61.8
Source: The 38th, 50th and the 55th Rounds of the NSSO on Employment and Unemployment Situation in
India.
As presented in NATIONAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2001

TABLE 5.2 (LFPR) according to usual status of persons of age 15 years and above for India and Assam.
RURAL

Male Female Persons

ps workers all workers ps workers all workers ps workers all workers
(ps + ss) (ps + ss) (ps + ss)
Assam 820 841 153 249 505 561
All India 846 855 355 457 602 657
Source: NSS Report 55th round

TABLE 5.3 (LFPR) according to usual status of persons of age 15 years and above for India and Assam.
URBAN

Male Female Persons

ps workers all workers ps workers all workers ps workers all workers
(ps + ss) (ps + ss) (ps + ss)
Assam 778 788 157 176 489 503
All India 782 787 179 209 493 510
Source: NSS Report 55th round

)321(
 TABLE 5.4 Number of Persons usually employed in the principal status (ps) and in the principal as well as
subsidiary status (all) per thousand persons : India and Assam. July 1999-June 2000)

Male Female Persons

ps workers all workers ps workers all workers ps workers all workers
Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban
Assam 506 507 529 522 87 97 151 112 307 317 349 332
All India 522 513 531 518 231 117 299 139 380 324 417 337
Source: NSSO Report No 458: Employment and Unemployment Situation in India, 1999-2000.

TABLE 5.5 Per thousand distribution of Persons by broad usual activity [principal status ] and all(principal
and subsidiary status) : India and Assam, July-December 2002

Male Female Persons

ps All (ps+ss) ps All (ps+ss) ps All (ps+ss)
Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban
Assam 552 516 569 518 116 101 218 110 354 319 410 324
All India 537 530 546 534 214 118 281 140 380 333 418 346
Source: NSS Report No 484: Household Consumer Expenditure and Employment and Unemployment Situation
in India, July-December 2002

TABLE 5.6 Employment in the Organised Sector — 1991(In thousands)

States/ Public Sector Private Sector

UTs Government Quasi Government Local Total Larger Smaller Total Grand
Central State Central State Bodies Estts. Estts Total
Assam 81.6 270.6 75.5 61.0 12.7 501.4 539.5 10.0 549.5 1,050.9
All India 3,409.8 7,112.9 3,563.5 2,658.3 2,312.7 19,057.2 6,783.4 892.4 7,675.8 26,733.9
Note: 1 Large establishment refers to those employing 25 or more workers and Small establishment
employing 10 to 24 workers.
2 The data on employment pertains to 31st of March 1991.
Source : Employment Review, DGE&T, Ministry of Labour, Government of India, New Delhi.
NATIONAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2001

)421(
KOOB-MASSA

TABLE 5.7 Employment in the Organised Sector — 2000 (in thousands)

States/ Public Sector Private Sector

UTs Government Quasi Government Local Total Larger Smaller Total Grand
Central State Central State Bodies Estts. Estts Total
Assam 81.8 307.7 76.9 56.1 13.1 535.6 539.8 9.1 548.9 1,084.5
All India 3,273.5 7,459.3 3,413.0 2,912.9 2,255.1 19,313.8 7,719.3 926.8 8,646.1 27,959.9
Note: 1 Large establishment refers to those employing 25 or more workers and Small establishment
employing 10 to 24 workers.
2 The data on employment pertains to 31st of March 1991.
Source : Employment Review, DGE&T, Ministry of Labour, Government of India, New Delhi.
NATIONAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2001

TABLE 5.8 Age specific principal worker population ratio for Assam and All India for rural male

0-4 5-9 10-14 15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60 & All
above
Assam - 1 50 382 690 897 937 950 993 974 968 907 498 506
All India - 5 82 475 823 942 974 981 981 977 949 919 622 522
Source: NSS Report No 458: Employment and Unemployment Situation in India .1999-2000

TABLE 5.9 Age specific principal worker population ratio for Assam and All India for rural female

0-4 5-9 10-14 15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60 & All
above
Assam 5 11 63 109 162 165 197 178 187 154 118 41 87
All India 6 74 234 310 373 422 453 462 450 399 351 174 231
Source: NSS Report No 458: Employment and Unemployment Situation in India .1999-2000

TABLE 5.10 Age specific principal worker population ratios for Assam and All India for Urban male

0-4 5-9 10-14 15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60 & All
above
Assam 5 41 156 436 763 901 956 956 979 882 847 317 507
All India 3 46 303 644 878 958 973 973 968 933 803 386 513
Source: NSS Report No 458: Employment and Unemployment Situation in India .1999-2000

)521(
 TABLE 5.11 Age specific principal worker population ratio for Assam and All India for Urban female

0-4 5-9 10-14 15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60 & All
above
Assam - 0 110 123 31 97 191 182 173 93 187 100 30 97
All India - 1 28 87 130 161 198 235 242 234 225 181 82 117
Source: NSS Report No 458: Employment and Unemployment Situation in India, 1999-2000

TABLE 5.12 Distribution (in per cent) of Main workers by Industrial Category

Percentage of main workers engaged in

State Total/ Cultivation Agricultural labour Livestock, Forestry, fishing,
Rural/ Hunting and plantations,
Urban orchards and Allied activities
Persons Male Female Persons Male Female Persons Male Female
T 50.9 50.9 50.9 12.1 12.1 12.0 10.5 7.4 23.5
Assam R 56.6 57.4 53.7 13.4 13.5 12.6 11.4 8.0 24.6
U 3.7 3.6 4.7 1.7 1.6 2.3 3.3 3.1 4.8
Source: Census of India 1991. Assam State District Profile 1991

TABLE 5.13 Distribution (in per cent) of Main workers by Industrial Category

Percentage of main workers engaged in

State Total/ Mining and Quarrying Manufacturing, processing, Manufacturing, processing,
Rural/ servicing and repairs in the servicing and repairs in the
Urban household industry non household industry
Persons Male Female Persons Male Female Persons Male Female
T 0.5 0.6 0.1 0.9 0.6 2.2 3.1 3.6 1.0
Assam R 0.4 0.5 0.1 0.8 0.5 2.0 2.0 2.3 0.8
U 1.1 1.1 0.5 1.5 1.0 5.2 12.3 13.1 4.8
Source: 1. Census of India 1991.
2. Assam State District Profile 1991

)621(
KOOB-MASSA

TABLE 5.14 Per 1000 distribution of usually working Persons by broad group of Industry

Percentage of main workers engaged in

State/ Total/ Primary Secondary Tertiary
all India Rural/
Urban
Persons Male Female Persons Male Female Persons Male Female
Rps 746 740 782 33 34 28 221 226 191
Assam all 748 747 877 29 33 15 193 220 108
Ups 44 38 78 98 100 86 859 863 836
all 49 38 110 96 99 79 855 863 811
Rps 726 685 834 126 140 91 148 175 75
India all 740 688 849 121 138 87 138 174 65
Ups 83 69 156 331 338 298 586 594 546
all 90 70 171 333 337 315 578 593 513
Source : Ibid

)721(
 TABLE 5.15 Ranking of Districts by female work participation rate: 1991 and 2001

Rank in 2001 District Work Participation rate Rank in 1991

2001 1991
1 2 3 4 5
1 Lakhimpur 62.1 47.5 1
2 Dhemaji 38.2 41.6 2
3 Karbi-Anglong 31.4 33.6 3
4 Golaghat 30.9 31.6 5
5 Tinsukia 29.9 29.9 7
6 Sibsagar 29.6 33.4 4
7 Dibrugarh 29.4 29.1 8
8 Jorhat 29.4 27.8 11
9 Kokrajkar 25.3 19.4 13
10 North Cachar Hills 24.4 30.0 6
11 Sonitpur 24.3 27.9 10
12 Darrang 20.8 29.1 9
13 Nalbari 18.1 19.4 14
14 Goalpara 17.5 17.6 16
15 Hailakandi 16.5 12.0 20
16 Morigaon 16.3 17.5 17
17 Bongaigaon 15.2 19.8 12
18 Kamrup 14.8 13.9 18
19 Barpeta 14.0 11.0 21
20 Cachar 13.6 13.1 19
21 Nagaon 12.2 19.1 15
22 Karimganj 11.9 8.6 22
23 Dhubri 8.0 8.2 23
Source: Census of India 2001. Assam Provisional Population Totals. Paper-3 of 2001

)821(
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TABLE 5.16 Percentage of total Workers, main workers and marginal workers to total workers by residence
and sex: Assam: by districts: 1991 and 2001

State/ District Total/ Persons/ Percentage to total population

Rural/ Male/ Workers
Urban Female Total Workers Main Workers Marginal Workers
1991 2001 1991 2001 1991 2001
Assam Total Persons 36.1 35.9 31.2 26.6 4.9 9.3
Male 49.4 49.9 48.4 42.3 1.1 7.6
Female 21.6 20.8 12.6 9.7 9.0 11.1
Rural Persons 36.7 36.4 31.3 26.1 5.4 10.3
Male 49.3 49.8 48.1 41.5 1.2 8.3
Female 23.3 22.3 13.3 9.9 10.0 12.4
Urban Persons 30.9 32.0 30.4 29.6 0.5 2.4
Male 50.5 51.0 50.2 48.2 0.3 2.8
Female 7.5 10.3 6.7 8.4 0.8 1.9
1. Kokrajhar Total Persons 35.5 37.1 33.3 26.0 1.7 11.1
Male 50.7 48.4 50.5 39.8 0.2 8.6
Female 19.4 25.3 16.2 11.5 3.2 13.8
Rural Persons 35.9 37.5 34.1 25.8 1.7 11.7
Male 50.8 48.0 50.5 39.0 0.2 9.0
Female 20.1 26.4 16.8 11.8 3.3 14.6
Urban Persons 30.4 32.5 29.8 29.7 0.6 2.8
Male 50.5 52.8 50.4 49.8 0.2 3.0
Female 7.8 10.0 6.7 7.3 1.1 2.7
2. Dhubri Total Persons 29.4 28.9 27.2 24.5 2.3 4.4
Male 49.6 48.6 49.3 43.7 0.3 4.7
Female 8.2 8.0 3.8 4.1 4.4 3.9
Rural Persons 29.8 28.8 27.3 24.2 2.5 4.6
Male 50.0 48.5 49.7 43.3 0.3 5.2
Female 8.6 8.1 3.8 3.9 4.8 4.2
Urban Persons 27.1 29.1 26.2 26.7 1.0 2.4
Male 46.9 49.2 46.5 46.3 0.4 2.9
Female 5.8 7.8 4.2 5.9 1.6 1.9

)921(
;State/ District Total/ Persons/ Percentage to total population
Rural/ Male/ Workers
Urban Female Total Workers Main Workers Marginal Workers
1991 2001 1991 2001 1991 2001
3. Goalpara Total Persons 33.7 33.3 29.1 25.4 4.5 7.9
Male 48.9 48.4 48.3 42.4 0.6 6.0
Female 17.6 17.5 8.9 7.5 8.7 10.0
Rural Persons 34.2 33.6 29.3 25.5 4.9 8.4
Male 49.1 48.3 48.5 42.1 0.6 6.2
Female 18.5 18.3 9.2 7.6 9.4 10.7
Urban Persons 27.4 30.0 26.9 27.4 0.6 2.6
Male 46.9 49.8 46.4 46.6 0.6 3.2
Female 6.4 8.7 5.8 6.7 0.6 2.0
4. Bongaigaon Total Persons 35.1 32.5 30.3 25.7 4.8 6.8
Male 49.5 48.7 48.9 43.3 0.6 5.4
Female 19.8 15.2 10.4 7.1 9.4 8.1
Rural Persons 35.6 32.7 30.4 25.3 5.2 7.4
Male 49.5 48.3 48.8 42.5 0.6 5.8
Female 21.0 16.2 10.9 7.1 9.4 7.1
Urban Persons 30.1 30.7 29.0 29.0 1.1 1.7
Male 50.1 51.6 49.7 49.3 0.3 2.3
Female 6.9 7.7 4.8 6.6 2.1 1.1
5. Barpeta Total Persons 30.0 31.4 26.4 24.9 3.6 6.5
Male 47.9 47.8 47.5 42.9 0.5 4.9
Female 11.0 14.0 4.0 5.7 6.9 8.3
Rural Persons 30.3 31.5 26.5 24.6 3.8 6.9
Male 48.0 47.6 47.6 42.5 0.4 5.1
Female 11.5 14.4 4.1 5.7 7.4 8.7
Urban Persons 26.2 30.5 25.5 27.6 0.6 2.9
Male 46.4 50.6 45.8 47.7 0.6 2.9
Female 4.2 9.1 3.5 6.2 0.7 2.9

)031(
KOOB-MASSA

State/ District Total/ Persons/ Percentage to total population

Rural/ Male/ Workers
Urban Female Total Workers Main Workers Marginal Workers
1991 2001 1991 2001 1991 2001
6. Kamrup Total Persons 32.6 32.6 28.7 26.7 3.9 5.9
Male 49.0 48.6 48.3 43.4 0.7 5.2
Female 13.9 14.8 6.4 8.1 7.5 6.7
Rural Persons 32.3 32.8 26.7 24.8 5.6 8.0
Male 47.2 48.6 46.4 41.8 0.9 6.8
Female 16.1 15.8 5.4 6.4 10.7 9.4
Urban Persons 33.3 32.4 32.9 30.3 0.4 2.1
Male 52.3 48.6 52.0 46.1 0.3 2.5
Female 9.2 12.9 8.7 11.3 0.6 1.6
7. Nalbari Total Persons 33.1 33.7 26.5 25.3 6.6 8.4
Male 46.0 48.3 45.2 41.4 0.8 6.9
Female 19.4 18.1 6.5 8.0 12.8 10.1
Rural Persons 33.2 33.8 26.4 25.2 6.8 8.6
Male 46.0 48.3 45.1 41.3 0.8 7.0
Female 19.7 18.3 6.6 8.0 13.1 10.3
Urban Persons 29.0 30.2 28.7 29.4 0.3 0.8
Male 48.9 50.1 48.6 49.1 0.3 1.0
Female 5.4 8.3 5.2 7.7 0.2 0.6
8. Darrang Total Persons 40.2 36.0 31.2 27.0 9.0 9.0
Male 50.6 50.4 49.6 44.8 1.0 5.6
Female 29.1 20.8 11.6 8.2 17.5 12.6
Rural Persons 40.7 36.2 31.4 26.8 9.4 9.4
Male 50.7 50.2 49.7 44.4 1.0 5.8
Female 30.2 21.4 11.9 8.2 18.2 13.2
Urban Persons 29.9 32.6 28.9 30.7 1.0 1.9
Male 49.8 53.6 49.3 51.6 0.4 2.0
Female 6.5 8.9 4.9 7.1 1.6 1.8

)131(
State/ District Total/ Persons/ Percentage to total population
Rural/ Male/ Workers
Urban Female Total Workers Main Workers Marginal Workers
1991 2001 1991 2001 1991 2001
9. Morigaon Total Persons 34.9 33.9 28.9 25.7 6.0 8.2
Male 51.2 50.6 50.8 44.6 0.4 6.0
Female 17.5 16.3 5.5 5.8 12.0 10.5
Rural Persons 35.0 34.0 28.7 25.5 6.3 8.5
Male 51.1 50.4 50.7 44.2 0.4 6.2
Female 17.9 16.7 5.4 5.8 12.5 10.9
Urban Persons 32.7 32.4 32.0 30.1 0.8 2.3
Male 53.0 52.8 52.7 50.3 0.2 2.5
Female 8.8 9.1 7.4 7.1 1.4 2.0
10. Nagaon Total Persons 35.5 31.4 29.3 24.3 6.2 7.1
Male 50.7 49.4 49.8 42.2 0.9 7.2
Female 19.1 12.2 7.2 5.3 11.9 6.9
Rural Persons 36.4 31.6 29.5 23.8 6.9 7.8
Male 50.9 49.1 50.0 41.3 1.0 7.8
Female 20.8 12.9 7.5 5.2 13.3 7.7
Urban Persons 27.8 30.2 27.6 28.1 0.2 2.1
Male 48.5 51.1 48.3 48.3 0.2 2.8
Female 4.3 7.2 4.1 5.8 0.2 1.4
11. Sonitpur Total Persons 40.2 37.6 35.3 27.6 5.0 10.0
Male 51.5 50.2 50.5 42.5 1.0 7.7
Female 27.9 24.3 18.6 11.7 9.3 12.6
Rural Persons 40.9 38.1 35.6 27.3 5.3 10.8
Male 51.5 49.9 50.4 41.8 1.1 8.1
Female 29.4 25.7 19.5 12.1 10.0 13.6
Urban Persons 31.6 32.6 31.3 30.2 0.3 2.4
Male 52.3 52.9 52.1 49.9 0.2 3.0
Female 6.6 10.0 6.2 8.3 0.5 1.7

)231(
KOOB-MASSA

State/ District Total/ Persons/ Percentage to total population

Rural/ Male/ Workers
Urban Female Total Workers Main Workers Marginal Workers
1991 2001 1991 2001 1991 2001
12. Lakhimpur Total Persons 42.9 56.1 32.1 32.3 10.7 23.8
Male 47.5 62.1 45.3 45.1 2.3 17.0
Female 37.8 49.9 18.0 19.0 19.8 30.9
Rural Persons 43.3 57.7 32.2 32.3 11.4 25.4
Male 47.4 62.6 45.0 44.5 2.4 18.1
Female 39.7 52.5 18.7 19.6 21.0 32.9
Urban Persons 31.3 36.6 30.8 33.1 0.5 3.5
Male 49.7 55.3 49.4 52.3 0.3 3.0
Female 8.4 15.3 7.7 11.3 0.7 4.0
13. Dhemaji Total Persons 45.0 44.3 33.6 27.4 11.4 16.9
Male 48.1 50.1 45.7 38.3 2.4 11.8
Female 41.6 38.2 20.5 15.9 21.1 22.3
Rural Persons 45.0 45.3 33.5 27.4 11.5 17.9
Male 48.0 50.1 45.6 37.6 24 12.5
Female 41.9 40.2 20.5 16.5 21.3 23.7
Urban Persons 41.6 31.3 39.0 28.1 2.6 3.2
Male 53.7 49.7 52.4 46.4 1.3 3.3
Female 24.7 10.3 20.3 7.3 4.4 3.0
14. Tinsukia Total Persons 40.7 40.8 36.5 30.5 4.2 10.3
Male 50.3 50.7 48.6 42.1 1.8 8.6
Female 29.9 29.9 23.0 17.8 6.9 12.1
Rural Persons 42.1 42.7 37.4 30.6 4.7 12.1
Male 49.5 49.8 47.5 39.8 2.0 10.0
Female 33.9 35.1 26.2 20.6 7.7 14.5
Urban Persons 33.5 32.7 32.1 30.3 1.4 2.4
Male 53.9 54.2 53.5 51.0 0.4 3.2
Female 7.7 7.3 5.0 5.9 2.7 1.4

)331(
State/ District Total/ Persons/ Percentage to total population
Rural/ Male/ Workers
Urban Female Total Workers Main Workers Marginal Workers
1991 2001 1991 2001 1991 2001
15. Dibrugarh Total Persons 39.5 40.4 34.7 29.0 4.9 11.4
Male 48.9 50.5 46.3 41.2 2.6 9.3
Female 29.1 29.4 21.8 15.6 7.4 13.8
Rural Persons 41.3 42.3 35.5 28.7 5.9 13.6
Male 48.5 50.2 45.3 39.2 3.2 11.0
Female 33.6 33.9 24.8 17.4 8.8 16.5
Urban Persons 31.0 32.0 30.8 30.3 0.2 1.7
Male 50.8 51.9 50.6 49.7 0.2 2.2
Female 7.1 8.9 6.8 7.7 0.2 1.2
16. Sibsagar Total Persons 41.9 40.9 36.5 27.3 5.4 13.6
Male 49.6 51.3 46.9 40.0 2.7 11.3
Female 33.4 29.6 25.0 13.5 8.4 16.1
Rural Persons 42.7 41.4 36.9 26.6 5.8 14.8
Male 49.4 50.7 46.5 38.4 2.9 12.3
Female 35.4 31.5 26.4 13.9 9.0 17.6
Urban Persons 31.7 35.6 31.3 34.1 0.4 1.5
Male 52.1 56.4 51.6 54.5 0.5 2.0
Female 6.4 10.0 6.0 9.2 0.4 0.8
17. Jorhat Total Persons 38.4 41.6 34.4 28.5 4.0 13.1
Male 48.0 52.6 46.2 42.1 1.8 10.5
Female 27.8 29.4 21.5 13.4 6.3 16.0
Rural Persons 39.6 43.1 34.9 27.9 4.7 15.2
Male 47.6 52.4 45.5 40.4 2.1 12.0
Female 31.0 32.9 23.6 14.2 7.4 18.7
Urban Persons 31.4 34.1 31.2 31.2 0.1 2.9
Male 49.9 53.7 49.7 50.4 0.2 3.3
Female 9.0 11.8 9.0 9.4 0.1 2.4

)431(
KOOB-MASSA

State/ District Total/ Persons/ Percentage to total population

Rural/ Male/ Workers
Urban Female Total Workers Main Workers Marginal Workers
1991 2001 1991 2001 1991 2001
18. Golaghat Total Persons 41.0 41.6 35.4 28.6 5.6 13.0
Male 49.6 51.5 47.9 42.1 1.8 9.4
Female 31.6 30.9 21.9 14.0 9.7 16.9
Rural Persons 41.4 42.3 35.5 28.4 5.9 13.9
Male 49.2 51.3 47.4 41.3 1.8 10.0
Female 32.9 32.7 22.7 14.5 10.2 18.2
Urban Persons 34.4 33.6 33.9 31.0 0.6 2.6
Male 55.0 54.0 54.5 51.0 0.4 3.0
Female 7.6 10.1 6.9 7.9 0.7 2.2
19. Karbi Anglong Total Persons 42.8 40.6 38.0 28.3 4.7 12.3
Male 51.1 49.0 50.4 40.9 0.7 8.1
Female 33.6 31.4 24.4 14.1 9.2 16.9
Rural Persons 44.1 41.7 38.9 28.3 5.3 13.4
Male 51.3 49.2 50.5 40.5 0.8 807
Female 36.4 33.6 26.2 15.3 10.2 18.3
Urban Persons 31.4 32.1 31.0 27.7 0.4 4.4
Male 49.4 47.9 49.3 44.1 0.2 3.8
Female 9.0 13.7 8.3 8.6 0.7 5.1
20. North Cachar Hills Total Persons 42.0 37.5 38.3 29.3 3.8 8.2
Male 52.4 49.1 51.5 43.5 0.8 5.6
Female 30.0 24.4 22.8 13.2 7.2 11.2
Rural Persons 45.1 40.0 40.4 29.2 4.7 10.8
Male 53.7 49.5 52.8 42.7 0.9 6.8
Female 35.5 29.4 26.4 14.4 9.1 15.0
Urban Persons 31.6 32.2 31.1 29.5 0.5 2.7
Male 48.1 48.3 47.5 45.3 0.6 3.0
Female 10.5 12.7 10.2 10.5 0.3 2.2

)531(
 State/ District Total/ Persons/ Percentage to total population
Rural/ Male/ Workers
Urban Female Total Workers Main Workers Marginal Workers
1991 2001 1991 2001 1991 2001
21. Cachar Total Persons 31.8 32.2 29.7 25.2 2.1 7.0
Male 49.3 49.8 48.7 41.9 0.6 7.9
Female 13.1 13.6 9.3 7.5 3.8 6.1
Rural Persons 32.1 32.3 29.8 24.6 2.3 7.7
Male 49.4 49.4 48.7 40.7 0.6 807
Female 13.6 14.2 9.5 7.5 4.1 6.7
Urban Persons 29.4 31.2 28.8 28.7 0.6 2.5
Male 49.0 51.8 48.7 48.6 0.3 3.2
Female 8.2 9.7 7.2 7.9 1.0 1.8
22. Karimganj Total Persons 28.9 30.4 26.9 23.4 2.0 7.0
Male 48.1 47.9 47.4 40.4 0.7 705
Female 8.6 11.9 5.2 5.3 3.4 6.6
Rural Persons 29.0 30.3 26.9 22.9 2.1 7.4
Male 48.2 47.7 47.5 39.8 0.7 7.9
Female 8.8 12.0 5.1 5.1 3.6 6.9
Urban Persons 27.9 31.5 27.8 28.7 0.1 2.8
Male 47.4 51.2 47.3 48.2 0.1 3.0
Female 6.5 10.6 6.5 7.9 0.1 2.7
23. Hailakandi Total Persons 31.5 33.3 29.1 25.4 2.4 7.9
Male 49.6 49.0 48.9 41.6 0.7 7.4
Female 12.0 16.5 7.8 8.1 4.2 8.4
Rural Persons 31.8 33.7 29.2 25.3 2.5 8.4
Male 49.8 49.0 49.1 41.2 0.7 7.8
Female 12.3 17.2 7.8 8.2 4.5 9.0
Urban Persons 28.3 29.8 27.5 26.8 0.8 3.0
Male 47.2 48.7 46.8 45.2 0.4 3.5
Female 8.2 10.0 7.0 7.4 1.2 2.6
Source: Census of India 2001. Assam Provisional Population Totals. Paper-3 of 2001

)631(
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TABLE 5.17 Employment in Public and Private Sector: Assam: 2000 (In thousands)

States/ Public Sector Private Sector

UTs Government Quasi Government Local Total Larger Smaller Total Grand
Central State Central State Bodies Estts. Estts Total
Male
(Percent) 93.02 83.78 85.30 83.69 81.18 85.25 51.77 89.30 52.37 68.21
Female
(Percent) 6.98 16.22 14.70 16.31 18.82 14.75 48.23 10.70 47.63 31.79
Total
no.) 76,871 311,744 77,483 55,934 13,065 53,5,097 56,66,494 9,316 5,75,810 11,10,907
Note: 2nd and the 3rd rows are estimated from the given data.
Source: Statistical Handbook: Assam: 2002

TABLE 5.18Growth in Employment Assam and India: by area (Percent per annum)

States/UTs 1983 to 1993-94 1993-94 to 1999-2000

Male Female Persons Male Female Persons
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)
Assam Rural 1.4 3.1 1.7 2.5 2.1 2.4
Assam Urban 0.8 3.5 1.0 2.2 6.2 2.7
Assam Combined 1.3 3.2 1.6 2.5 2.3 2.5
All India Rural 2.0 1.5 1.8 1.6 0.8 1.3
All India Urban 2.8 3.2 2.9 2.6 1.5 2.4
All India Combined 2.2 1.7 2.1 1.9 0.9 1.6
Note: 1 Growth in employment has been estimated as compound annual growth in the persons employed in
the age group 15 years and above on the usual principal and subsidiary status.
Source: 1 The 38th, 50th and the 55th Rounds of the NSSO on Employment and Unemployment Situation in
India.
2 Census of India, 1981 &1991 and Report of the Technical Group on Population Projections, RGI,
1996.
As presented in NATIONAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2001

)731(
 TABLE 5.19 Incidence of Unemployment Assam and India: By area (As a percentage of labour force)

States/UTs 1983 1993-94 1999-2000

Male Female Persons Male Female Persons Male Female Persons
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)
Assam Rural 1.9 1.9 1.9 4.5 8.1 5.3 3.2 6.6 3.9
Assam Urban 4.2 10.8 4.8 5.5 27.8 8.7 7.7 18.9 9.7
All India Rural 1.4 0.7 1.1 1.5 0.8 1.2 1.7 1.0 1.5
All India Urban 5.0 5.2 5.1 4.1 6.6 4.6 4.5 5.7 4.7
Source: The 38th and the 50th Rounds of the NSSO Report on Employment and Unemployment Situation in
India.
As presented in NATIONAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2001
NSSO Report on Employment and Unemployment Situation in India 55th Round , Report No.458(55/10/2)

TABLE 5.20 Per thousand distribution of Unemployed Persons by broad usual activity principal (ps) and
principal and subsidiary (all) status India and Assam

Male Female Persons

ps All (ps+ss) ps All (ps+ss) ps All (ps+ss)
Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban
Assam 17 25 11 25 2 20 1 18 10 23 6 22
All India 10 26 8 25 2 8 7 8 6 17 5 16
Source : Ibid

)831(
KOOB-MASSA

TABLE 6.1 Distribution of male/female Candidates Contesting Lok Sabha elections : 1952-85

Contesting Contesting Contesting Total Seats Total Seats Won

Candidates Candidates Candidates In Lok Sabha By Women
(Total) (Male) (Female)
1952 40 38 02 10 01
1957 31 29 02 10 02
1962 41 38 03 12 02
1967 47 45 02 14 01
1971 78 75 03 14 01
1977 40 37 03 14 02
1980 07 05 02 14 —
1985 106 105 01 14 —
Source: Status of Women in Assam. Edited by S.L.Baruah, 1992

TABLE 6.2 Year-wise distribution of contesting candidates’ male, female and total number of women
elected to the Assembly from 1952-1985

Contesting Contesting Contesting Total Seats Total Seats Won

Candidates Candidates Candidates In Lok Sabha By Women
(Total) (Male) (Female)
1952 458 452 06 108 02(1.85)
1957 312 302 10 108 05(4.62)
1962 409 405 04 105 04(3.81)
1967 487 478 09 126 05(3.97)
1972 476 464 12 114 08(7.02)
1978 938 918 20 126 01(0.79)
1983 523 — — 126 —
1985 1234 1226 08 126 04(3.17)
Note: figures in the brackets show the percentage to total seats
Source: Ibid

)931(
 TABLE 6.3 Year-wise distribution of Electorate showing male/female and total in various Assembly Election
in Assam from 1952-1985

Year Total Male Female P.C. of Total Turn Out

1952 41,41,720 48.61
(26,47,127)
1957 44,95,359 47.70
(29,92,612)
1962 49,42,816 27,20,916 22,12,900 52.77
(24,95,311) *9,23,310
1967 54,49,309 29,52,629 24,96,676 61.89
(31,08,428)
1972 62,96,198 33,93,829 29,02,363 61.14
(37,13,997) *17,36,105
1978 79,62,645 42,99,377 36,63,268 66.77
(51,65,252)
1983 86,82,138 32.66
(51,65,252)
1985 9,806,285 76.00
(7,361,272)
Sources: Status of women in Assam. Edited by S.L.Baruah, 1952 (Government Records)
Figures in bracket indicate number of valid votes polled.

)041(
KOOB-MASSA

TABLE 6.4 Women in Decision Making: ASSAM

States Political Administrative

Lok Sabha (1999) Legislative Assembly Panchayati Raj IAS IPS
(2000) Institutions (as on 1. 6. 2000) (as on 1.4.2000)
(1991 – 1997)
Women Men Women Men Women Men Women Men Women Men
Assam 2(14.29) 12 6(4.92) 116 8203(30.0) 19143 10(4.42) 216 2(1.5) 134
All India 49(9.0) 494 229(5.63) 3838 813676 1784134 535 (10.4) 4624 110(3.3) 3191
(31.32)
Source : Ibid

TABLE 6.5 Members of Rajya Sabha By Sex, From ASSAM In 1994 & 1996 *

State Total no Number of members in position as on

of Seats 1994 1996
Total Male Female Total Male Females
Assam 7 7 6 1 7 6 1
*As on 20.10.94, + As on 20.08.9
Source: Rajya Sabha Secretariat, New Delhi (as quoted in Women In India: A Statistical Profile- 1997)

TABLE 6.6 Elected members of Panchayats 2002

Total Number of Members Number of Women Members

Zila Parishad 390 129(33.08%)
Gaon Panchayat President 2,487 821(33.01%)
Gaon Panchayat (member) 24,870 8,210(33.01%)
Anchalika Panchayat(member) 2,487 821(33.01%)

)141(
 TABLE 7.1 Crime and violence against women in Assam 1997-2002**

Type of Kidnapping Rape Molestation Cruelty by Dowry Immoral Total

Crime husband death traffic
Year
1997 1113 717 686 775 22 10 3323
1998 1117(+4) 744(+27) 648(-38) 739(-36) 32(+10) 12(+02) 3292(-31)
1999 1149(+32) 703(-41) 720(+72) 843(+104) 40(+08) 9(-03) 3464(+172)
2000 1101(-48) 762(+59) 777(+57) 978(+135) 50(+10) 15(+06) 3683(+219)
2001 1070(-31) 817(+55) 850(+73) 1248(+270) 59(+09) 4(-11) 4048(+365)
2002 1229(+159) 884(+67) 754(-96) 1560(+312) 62(+03) 20(16) 4509(+461)
Total 116(10.42) 167(23.29) 68(09.91) 785(101.29) 40(181.81) 10(100.0) 1186(35.69)
increase/
decrease
from
1997-2002
Note: Figures in brackets in Rows 2 to 6-show increase/decrease over the previous year, figures in brackets in
row 7 shows percentage increase/decrease between 1997 and 2002
***Source: Office of the DIG, CID, Assam

TABLE 7.2 Percentage Distribution Of Different Types of Crime And Violence Against Women
in Assam1997-2002***

Type of Kidnapping Rape Molestation Cruelty by Dowry Immoral Total

Crime husband death traffic
Year
1997 33.50 21.58 20.64 23.32 0.66 0.30 100
1998 33.93 22.60 19.68 22.45 0.97 0.36 100
1999 33.17 20.29 20.79 24.34 1.15 0.26 100
2000 29.89 20.69 21.10 26.55 1.36 0.41 100
2001 26.43 20.18 20.99 30.83 1.46 0.10 100
2002 27.26 19.61 16.72 34.60 1.38 0.44 100
Total 30.37 20.73 19.87 27.52 1.19 0.31 100
*** Source: Estimated from Table 1

)241(
KOOB-MASSA

TABLE 7.3 Total no of different forms of Crime Against Women In Assam by districts from 1997-2002

Sl. Districts/Type of Kidnapping Rape Molestation Cruelty by Dowry Immoral Total Percentage
No. crime husband death traffic share of
each
district
1 Bongaigaon 165 115 122 150 8 0 560 2.51
2 Dhemaji 139 212 148 177 2 0 678 3.04
3 Sonitpur 472 329 221 365 21 5 1413 6.33
4 Goalpara 144 149 139 248 2 2 684 3.07
5 Jorhat 203 173 149 192 2 2 721 3.23
6 Nagaon 765 327 611 477 15 2 2197 9.84
7 Hailakandi 200 122 198 152 9 0 681 3.05
8 Kamrup 1002 431 491 459 32 44 2459 11.02
9 Darrang 261 242 292 150 21 0 966 4.33
10 Barpeta 325 292 179 438 33 1 1268 5.68
11 Dhubri 290 250 285 569 17 2 1413 6.33
12 Nalbari 180 133 122 80 5 1 521 2.33
13 Morigaon 181 134 124 129 6 1 575 2.58
14 Dibrugarh 261 199 171 140 7 1 779 3.49
15 Lakhimpur 356 306 219 304 1 5 1191 5.34
16 Cachar 538 249 345 1121 40 0 2293 10.28
17 Kokrajhar 99 92 132 126 6 1 456 2.05
18 N.C. Hills 27 14 21 12 3 0 77 0.35
19 Golaghat 245 193 97 132 1 1 669 2.99
20 Karbi Anglong 117 51 73 35 8 0 284 1.27
21 Karimgunj 126 184 38 342 16 0 706 3.16
22 Tinsukia 263 202 98 142 4 1 710 3.18
23 Sivsagar 417 228 160 203 6 1 1015 4.55
Source: Office of the DIG, CID, Assam

)341(
 TABLE 7.4 List of Jails In The State of Assam (As on 31st March 2002)

Sl. Name & Addresses of Jails Registered Capacity

No. Male Female
1. District Jail, Guwahati (Kamrup) 462 45
2. District Jail, Nalbari 142 13
3. District Jail, Barpeta 93 45
4. District Jail, Kokrajhar 200 25
5. District Jail, Dhubri 218 3
6. District Jail, Goalpara 335 15
7. District Jail, Tezpur (Sonitpur) 725 22
8. District Jail, Mangaldoi (Darrang) 160 12
9. District Jail, Silchar (Cachar) 322 27
10. District Jail, Hailakandi 54 4
11. District Jail, Karimganj 110 4
12. District Jail, North Lakhimpur (Lakhimpur) 108 11
13. District Jail, Dibrugarh 614 14
14. District Jail, Sibsagar 146 8
15. District Jail, Jorhat 646 24
16. District Jail, Golaghat 86 4
17. District Jail, Nagaon 346 7
18. District Jail, Marigaon 42 10
19. District Jail, Abhayapuri (Bongaigaon) 41 11
20. District Jail, Majuli (Jorhat) 45 10
21. District Jail, Diphu (Karbi Anglong) 250 10
22. District Jail, Hamren (Karbi Anglong) 30 10
23. District Jail, Biswanath Chariali (Sonitpur) 74 20
24. District Jail, Dhemaji 80 10
25. Special Jail, Nagaon 360 8
26. Open Air Jail, Jorhat 100 -
27. Jail Lock-Up, Halflong (N.C. Hills) 24 8
Total 5813 380
Source: Inspector General of Prisons, Assam (quoted from Gender Profile of Assam by Social Welfare
Department, Govt. of Assam).

)441(
KOOB-MASSA

TABLE 7.5 Prison Population of Assam (As on 31-12-2001)

Sl. Head Prison Population

No. Male Female Total
1. Registered Capacity 5771 370 6141
2. Convict 2356 47 2403
3. Under Trial 3938 127 4065
4. Detenu (NSA) 16 - 16
5. Detanu (Other than NSA) - - -
6. Civil 1 - 1
7. Criminal Lunatic - - -
8. Safe Custody - - -
9. Children of Prisoner 11 15 26
Source: Inspector General of Prison, Assam (quoted in Statistical Handbook, Assam, 2002)

)541(
 TABLE 8.1 Households with Pucca Houses (Percentage)

States/UTs 1981 1991 1993-94

Rural Urban Combined Rural Urban Combined Rural Urban
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9)
Assam — — — 10.53 43.43 14.62 5.40 45.90
All India 22.53 64.70 32.67 30.59 72.75 41.61 29.20 70.70
Note : All India excludes Assam in 1981 and Jammu & Kashmir in 1991
Source: 1 Housing and Amenities, Paper 2 of 1993; Table 2.1, page 37, Census of India, 1991.
2 Figures for 1993-94 pertain to July 1993 - June 1994 based on 50th Round of NSSO as reported
in Statistical Abstract of India,1998, CSO, (April 1999).
NATIONAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2001
TABLE 8.2 Households with Semipucca Houses (Percentage)

States/UTs 1981 1991 1993-94

Rural Urban Combined Rural Urban Combined Rural Urban
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9)
Assam — — — 13.37 27.77 15.16 27.20 26.40
All India 36.93 21.80 33.29 35.65 17.69 30.95 38.10 19.50
Note : All India excludes Assam in 1981 and Jammu & Kashmir in 1991.
Source: 1 Housing and Amenities, Paper 2 of 1993; Table 2.1, page 37, Census of India, 1991.
2 Figures for 1993-94 pertain to July 1993 - June 1994 based on 50th Round of NSSO as reported
in Statistical Abstract of India 1998, CSO, (April 1999).
NATIONAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2001

TABLE 8.3 Households with Kutcha Houses (Percentage)

States/UTs 1981 1991 1993-94

Rural Urban Combined Rural Urban Combined Rural Urban
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9)
Assam — — — 76.09 28.80 70.22 67.40 27.70
All India 40.55 13.50 34.04 33.76 9.56 27.44 32.70 9.90
Note : All India excludes Assam in 1981 and Jammu & Kashmir in 1991.
Source: 1 Housing and Amenities, Paper 2 of 1993; Table 2.1, page 37, Census of India, 1991.
2 Figures for 1993-94 pertain to July 1993 - June 1994 based on 50th Round of NSSO as reported
in Statistical Abstract of India 1998, CSO, (April 1999).
NATIONAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2001

)641(
KOOB-MASSA

TABLE 8.4 Households with Access to Toilet Facility (Percentage)

States/UTs 1981 1991 1993-94

Rural Urban Combined Rural Urban Combined Rural Urban
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9)
Assam — — — 30.53 86.06 37.43 6.44
All India — 58.15 — 9.48 63.85 23.70 49.32
Note : All India excludes Assam in 1981 and Jammu & Kashmir in 1991.
Source : Housing and Amenities, Paper 2 of 1993; Table 3.5, page 48, Census of India, 1991. from NSS.
NATIONAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2001

TABLE 8.5 Scheduled Caste/Tribe Households with Toilet Facility (1991) (Percentage)

States/UTs 1981 1991 1993-94

Rural Urban Combined Rural Urban Combined Rural Urban Combined
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)
Assam 27.16 78.09 33.95 9.83 73.26 12.54 34.66 87.93 41.88
All India 5.15 38.28 11.16 4.10 40.68 7.22 11.52 68.38 28.63
Note: All India figure excludes Jammu & Kashmir.
Source: Housing and Amenities, Paper 2 of 1993; Table 3.6, page 49, Census of India, 1991.
NATIONAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2001

TABLE 8.6 Households with Safe Drinking Water (Percentage)

States/UTs 1981 1991

Rural Urban Combined Rural Urban Combined
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)
Assam — — — 43.28 64.07 45.86
All India 26.50 75.06 38.19 55.54 81.38 62.30
Note: ll India figure excludes Assam in 1981 and Jammu & Kashmir in 1991.
Source: Housing and Amenities, Paper 2 of 1993; Table 3.1, page 44, Census of India, 1991.

)741(
 TABLE 8.7 Scheduled Caste/Tribe Households with Safe Drinking Water (1991) (Percentage)

States/UTs 1981 1991 1993-94

Rural Urban Combined Rural Urban Combined Rural Urban Combined
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)
Assam 43.01 60.56 45.35 34.32 46.50 34.84 44.88 65.49 47.67
All India 59.84 80.59 63.60 41.11 65.71 43.21 56.40 81.99 64.10
Note: All India figure excludes Jammu & Kashmir.
Source: Housing and Amenities, Paper 2 of 1993; Table 3.2, page 45, Census of India, 1991.
NATIONAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2001

TABLE 8.8 Households by Major Source of Drinking Water (1995-1996) — Combined (Percentage)

States/UTs Tap Tube Well/ Pucca Well Tank/Pond River/Canal Other Hand Reserved
Tanker Pump
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)
Assam 10.00 54.00 0.80 13.80 6.70 2.60 11.90
All India 36.30 41.00 0.50 17.60 1.20 1.10 2.10
Source:Maternal and Child Health Care in India, NSS 52nd Round, July 1995 - June 1996, Report No.445.
NATIONAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2001

TABLE 8.9 Households by Major Source of Drinking Water (1995-1996) — Rural (Percentage)

States/UTs Tap Tube Well/ Pucca Well Tank/Pond River/Canal Other Hand Reserved
Tanker Pump
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)
Assam 7.10 55.50 0.90 13.30 7.40 3.00 12.70
All India 23.20 49.00 0.40 21.80 1.50 1.40 2.50
Source: Maternal and Child Health Care in India, NSS 52nd Round, July 1995 - June 1996, Report No.445.
NATIONAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2001

)841(
KOOB-MASSA

TABLE 8.10 Households by Major Source of Drinking Water (1995-1996) — Urban (Percentage)

States/UTs Tap Tube Well/ Pucca Well Tank/Pond River/Canal Other Hand Reserved
Tanker Pump
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)
Assam 33.70 41.50 0.50 18.20 1.20 — 4.70
All India 73.70 18.50 0.80 5.50 0.30 0.10 0.90
Source: Maternal and Child Health Care in India, NSS 52nd Round, July 1995-June 1996, Report No.445.
NATIONAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2001

TABLE 8.11 Households with Electricity Connection (Percentage)

States/UTs 1981 1991

Rural Urban Combined Rural Urban Combined
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)
Assam — — — 12.44 63.21 18.74
All India 14.69 62.51 26.19 30.54 75.78 42.37
Note: All India figure excludes Assam in 1981 and Jammu & Kashmir in 1991.
Source: Housing and Amenities, Paper 2 of 1993; Table 3.3, page 46, Census of India, 1991.

TABLE 8.12 Scheduled Caste/Tribe Households with Electricity Connection (1991) (Percentage)

States/UTs Scheduled Castes Scheduled Tribes Others

Rural Urban Combined Rural Urban Combined Rural Urban Combined
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)
Assam 10.91 51.97 16.38 5.63 50.68 7.55 13.86 65.58 20.87
All India 21.84 56.32 28.10 19.70 55.93 22.80 34.62 79.30 48.06
Note: All India figure excludes Jammu & Kashmir.
Source: Housing and Amenities, Paper 2 of 1993; Table 3.4, page 47, Census of India, 1991.
NATIONAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2001

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 TABLE 8.13 Per Capita Consumption of Electricity

States/UTs 1986-87 1987-88 1988-89 1989-90 1990-91 1991-92 1992-93 1993-94 1994-95 1995-96 1996-97
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12)
Assam 51 64 63 78 94 90 97 95 98 98 104
All India 191 201 217 236 253 268 283 299 320 336 334
Source: Annual Reports on the Working of State Electricity Boards and Electricity Departments, Planning
Commission, Government of India.
NATIONAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2001

TABLE 8.14 Households without Electricity, Safe Drinking Water and Toilet (1991) (Percentage)

States/UTs Scheduled Castes Scheduled Tribes Others

Rural Urban Combined Rural Urban Combined Rural Urban Combined
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)
Assam 39.46 9.02 35.40 58.02 15.05 56.18 35.42 4.95 31.30
All India 32.14 9.62 28.06 48.06 15.70 45.30 28.65 4.46 21.37
Note: All India figure excludes Jammu & Kashmir.
Source: Housing and Amenities, Paper 2 of 1993; Table 3.11, page 54, Census of India, 1991.
NATIONAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2001

TABLE 8.15 Households with Access to Electricity, Safe Drinking Water and Toilet (1991) (Percent)

States/UTs Rural Urban Total

(1) (2) (3) (4)
Assam 4.5 42.7 9.3
All India 3.9 50.5 16.1
Note: All India figure excludes Jammu & Kashmir
Source: State Profile 1991, Table 43, Pages 234-236, and Census of India, RGI 1998.
NATIONAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2001

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TABLE 8.16 Availability of electricity, Safe Drinking Water and Toilet Facilities to Households, 1991: Assam:
By Districts

Assam/ Districts Total/ Total No. Percent Households Having

Rural/ of Electricity Safe Toilet All the None of
Urban Households Drinking Three the Three
Water Facilities Facilities
ASSAM TOTAL 3798360 18.74 45.86 37.43 9.25 34.75
RURAL 3326700 12.44 43.28 30.53 4.50 38.85
URBAN 471660 63.21 64.07 86.06 42.69 5.90
1. Dhubri Total NA 11.77 56.10 29.64 5.43 32.22
Rural NA 6.67 56.28 23.79 2.36 34.86
Urban NA 47.64 54.84 70.77 27.09 13.62
2. Kokrajhar Total NA 12.16 8.93 14.41 1.12 75.05
Rural NA 8.29 8.54 9.15 0.71 79.86
Urban NA 59.33 13.58 78.57 6.15 16.41
3. Bongaigaon Total 135615 14.10 20.46 28.21 4.95 58.99
Rural 120805 7.87 18.65 21.09 1.86 64.90
Urban 14810 64.99 35.25 86.26 30.15 10.77
4. Goalpara Total 112400 11.63 31.83 37.89 4.58 44.73
Rural 102370 7.99 28.70 33.44 1.80 48.61
Urban 10030 48.75 63.81 83.35 32.90 5.08
5. Barpeta Total 220940 11.32 40.45 39.42 4.61 35.08
Rural 204620 8.33 38.83 36.43 2.74 37.25
Urban 16320 48.96 60.88 77.11 28.19 7.75
6. Nalbari Total 164920 12.40 64.69 18.62 5.32 30.09
Rural 160680 10.99 63.86 17.03 3.85 30.87
Urban 4240 65.72 96.35 75.56 61.01 0.59
7. Kamrup Total 345685 33.82 57.71 49.76 18.58 20.30
Rural 217800 13.82 58.82 26.40 5.40 29.59
Urban 127885 67.83 55.82 89.47 40.98 4.48
8. Darrang Total 214675 9.00 46.66 17.05 3.89 46.00
Rural 202900 6.34 45.50 13.27 1.99 48.29
Urban 11775 54.99 66.75 82.34 36.60 6.67

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Assam/ Districts Total/ Total No. Percent Households Having
Rural/ of Electricity Safe Toilet All the None of
Urban Households Drinking Three the Three
Water Facilities Facilities
9. Sonitpur Total 242525 16.32 27.50 29.99 4.26 50.76
Rural 222725 11.58 26.43 24.86 2.18 54.67
Urban 19800 69.72 39.57 87.75 27.68 6.64
10. Lakhimpur Total 119950 13.83 29.03 24.88 2.66 49.84
Rural 110255 10.18 29.14 19.44 1.60 53.57
Urban 9695 55.31 27.84 86.80 14.74 7.42
11. Dhemaji Total 73845 3.52 48.58 16.37 1.99 46.26
Rural 71990 2.35 47.95 14.45 1.18 47.39
Urban 1855 48.79 73.05 90.57 33.42 2.43
12. Marigaon Total 103025 11.02 62.67 24.55 4.16 27.70
Rural 95520 7.75 64.02 20.56 2.33 28.88
Urban 7505 52.63 45.50 75.28 27.51 12.66
13. Nagaon Total 315735 17.07 65.32 41.77 10.67 20.50
Rural 278025 11.72 63.33 35.11 5.70 23.02
Urban 37710 56.54 79.94 90.82 47.28 1.93
14. Golaghat Total 143305 17.33 59.50 32.32 10.62 29.28
Rural 134575 13.79 57.58 28.61 7.14 31.05
Urban 8730 71.87 89.08 89.42 64.27 2.12
15. Jorhat Total 152185 25.16 47.28 29.82 10.48 35.04
Rural 129430 18.41 45.86 21.37 5.28 38.66
Urban 22755 63.46 55.37 77.79 40.00 14.51
16. Sibsagar Total 163715 26.72 54.36 32.18 13.67 33.36
Rural 150210 22.27 51.32 27.31 8.96 36.11
Urban 13505 76.31 88.19 86.41 66.09 2.74
17. Dibrugarh Total 189500 26.39 67.22 48.18 21.11 25.11
Rural 153445 16.64 61.26 37.45 11.06 30.73
Urban 36055 67.90 92.60 93.86 63.89 1.18

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Assam/ Districts Total/ Total No. Percent Households Having

Rural/ of Electricity Safe Toilet All the None of
Urban Households Drinking Three the Three
Water Facilities Facilities
18. Tinsukia Total 177285 23.88 73.96 53.95 18.84 18.64
Rural 146400 15.32 70.37 46.21 10.76 22.37
Urban 30885 64.46 91.00 88.92 57.14 0.97
19. Karbi Anglong Total 106410 12.94 33.88 24.94 5.31 50.66
Rural 91070 7.21 32.30 16.60 2.08 56.55
Urban 15340 46.85 43.21 74.25 24.45 15.81
20. North Cachar Total 30395 22.90 45.54 34.61 15.15 41.16
Hills Rural 22845 13.15 38.63 23.33 7.42 49.57
Urban 7550 52.17 66.29 68.46 38.37 15.90
21. Karimganj Total 143790 32.84 17.83 73.17 10.85 20.39
Rural 132845 28.88 12.92 71.36 6.52 21.99
Urban 10945 80.82 77.44 95.16 63.33 1.00
22. Hailakandi Total 77925 19.03 18.54 60.97 8.73 32.10
Rural 71915 14.50 13.48 58.17 4.19 34.57
Urban 6010 73.21 79.12 94.59 63.06 2.50
23. Cachar Total 218615 23.28 20.07 63.26 9.96 31.08
Rural 197490 17.80 13.74 60.29 4.72 34.23
Urban 21125 74.46 79.19 91.01 58.93 1.61
N.B.: NA – Data not available
Source: Census of India 1991: Assam State District Profile 1991

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 TABLE 10.1 OUTLAY AND EXPENDITURE DURING NINTH PLAN FOR ASSAM

Major/Minor Heads Ninth Plan Ninth Plan Actual Expenditure, for Annual Plan
Agreed Outlay Agreed Outlay (Rs. in Lakh)
(Rs. in Lakh) (%age
sectoral share)
97-02 97-02 1997-98 1998-99 1999-00
II. RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Special Programme for Rural Development :
(a) Integrated Rural Development 12201 1.36 1128 1965 1881
Programme(IRDP) & Allied Programmes
(b) Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP) 0 0 0 0 0
(c) Integrated Rural Energy Programme (IREP) 250 .028 0 0 0
RURAL EMPLOYMENT
(a) NREP/Jawahar Rozgar Yojna (JRY) 15100 1.68 1286 1969 4500
(b) Other Programmes(like Employment 10000 1.11 1320 2000 2000
Guarantee Scheme etc.) 4265 0.47 478 323 289
Land Reforms 38955 4.34 3449 2805 1875
Other Rural Development Programmes
(Incl.Community Development and Panchayats) 80771 9.0 7661 9062 10565
TOTAL - II 4012 0.45 783 850 1116
III. SPECIAL AREA PROGRAMMES
XI. SOCIAL SERVICES EDUCATION 212649 23.67 38558 38123 1218
General Education 6424 0.72 1450 2259 2259
Technical Education 3700 0.41 128 309 241
Sports & Youth Services 6571 0.73 588 526 598
Art & Culture
Sub-Total (Education) 229344 25.53 40724 41217 44316
Medical & Public Health
Water Supply & Sanitation 38410 4.28 6223 6887 7536
Housing (incl. police Housing) 43518 4.84 8156 7053 7251
Urban Development (incl.state capital projects) 4981 0.55 613 325 89
Information & Publicity 16231 1.81 720 334 866
Welfare of SCs,STs & OBCs 1500 0.17 148 183 225
Labour & Employment 17917 1.99 2031 3767 2649
i) Labour & Labour Welfare 3912 0.44 560 606 811
Social Welfare 0 0 0 0 0
Nutrition 1990 0.22 220 217 303
Other Social Services 8000 0.89 768 789 501
TOTAL - (XI) 0 0 0 0 0
GRAND TOTAL 365803 40.72 60163 61378 64547
898393.00 100.00 128318 129367 140459
Source: Plan Statistics, Planning Commission

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TABLE 10.2 Sectoral Composition of Actual Plan Expenditure (Percentage)

States/ Agri. & Irrigation Rural & Social Sector Social Sector Infrastructure
UTs 81-82 91-92 97-98 81-82 91-92 97-98 81-82 91-92 97-98 81-82 91-92 97-98
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13)
Assam 23.20 27.50 20.36 24.25 42.49 57.53 17.97 34.31 45.89 52.56 29.97 22.12
Central
Govt. 7.20 5.30 3.60 15.40 21.80 23.40 8.80 12.50 14.80 77.40 72.90 73.00
1
Source: Various Plan Documents, Planning Commission, and Government of India.

TABLE 10.3 Composition of Public Spending —Some Critical Ratios,1980-81 (Percentage)

States/UTs Public Development Social Sector Education Health Amenities Other Social
Expn. Expn. Expn. Expn. Expn. Expn. Expn.
Ratio Ratio Ratio Ratio Ratio Ratio Ratio
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)
Assam 30.13 51.43 22.45 12.76 5.23 1.03 3.43
All States — 70.42 29.12 13.89 7.10 1.14 7.00
Central Govt. 14.80 54.70 5.30 2.70 1.40 0.40 0.80
Source: 1 State Finance—A Study of Budgets, RBI Bulletin, July 1982.
2 Union Budget Documents for data for the Central Government.

TABLE 10.4 Composition of Public Spending —Some Critical Ratios — 1990-91 (Percentage)

States/UTs Public Development Social Sector Education Health Amenities Other Social
Expn. Expn. Expn. Expn. Expn. Expn. Expn.
Ratio Ratio Ratio Ratio Ratio Ratio Ratio
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)
Assam 25.32 64.75 30.80 16.94 5.04 4.74 4.08
All States — 69.57 32.89 17.36 5.88 3.86 5.79
Central Govt. 17.70 48.10 6.40 3.50 1.50 0.40 1.00
Source: 1 Finance of State Government, 1992-93, RBI Bulletin, and March 1993.
2 Union Budget Documents for data for the Central Government.

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 TABLE 10.5 Composition of Public Spending —Some Critical Ratios — 1998-99 (Percentage)

States/UTs Public Development Social Sector Education Health Amenities Other Social
Expn. Expn. Expn. Expn. Expn. Expn. Expn.
Ratio Ratio Ratio Ratio Ratio Ratio Ratio
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)
Assam 20.50 62.39 39.07 26.34 4.65 3.30 4.49
All States — 61.76 33.07 17.39 5.78 4.53 5.38
Central Govt. 13.70 34.90 8.20 3.90 1.80 1.00 1.40
Source: 1 State Finances—A Study of Budgets, 2000-2001, RBI, December 2000.
2 Union Budget Documents for data for the Central Government.

TABLE 10.6 Public Spending on Education and Health (As a percentage of Gross State Domestic Product)

States/UTs 1980-1981 1990-1991 1998-99

Education Health Education Health Education Health
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)
Assam 3.46 1.48 4.53 1.32 5.23 1.05
Central Govt. 0.40 0.20 0.60 0.25 0.50 0.25
Note: 1 Public spending on education includes both revenue and capital expenditure for both plan and non-
plan. It has been expressed as a ratio of Gross State Domestic Product.
2 Ratios are a moving average of two years, i.e. 1980-81 is average for the years 1980-81 and
1981-82
3 For the Central Government, the ratios have been expressed as proportion of GDP.
4 The Central Government figures for 1998-99 is a moving average of the period 1996-98.
Source: 1 State Finance—A Study of Budgets, RBI Bulletin July 1982; March 1993; and RBI December 2000.
2 Union Budget Documents for data for the Central Government.

1
Note For Tables 10.2 through 10.5 1 Actual Plan Expenditure by major heads of development has been clubbed as per the
following details.Agriculture & Irrigation: Agriculture & Allied Activities and Irrigation & Flood Control.
Rural & Social Sector: Rural Development, Special Areas Programmes., General & Economic Services & Social Sector.
Social Sector: Education, Health, Water Supply & Sanitation,Urban Development., Information, Welfare and Labour.
Infrastructure: Energy, Industry & Minerals, Transport, Communication, Science,Technology and Environment.
2 Data for 1981-82 is an average of 1980-82, 1991-92 an average of 1990-93 and 1997-98 an average of 1996-98.

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TABLE 10.7 Per Capita Expenditure on Education and Health: North Eastern States

State/India Per Capita Expenditure on Health Per Capita Expenditure on Education

1980-81 1985-86 1986-87 1987-88 1988-89 1990-91 1991-92 1995-96
Arunachal
Pradesh NA NA NA NA NA NA 512.50(3) 735.37(3)
Assam 22(5) 32(6) 44(6) 71(6) 75(6) 70(6) 217.41(7) 411.53(7)
Manipur 98(3) 75(4) 219(2) 176(4) 205(4) 219(4) 433.93(6) 723.06(4)
Meghalaya 120(2) 100(3) 169(3) 200(3) 236(3) 277(3) 436.81(5) 667.12(5)
Mizoram NA 150(2) 50(5) 483(2) 416(2) 434(2) 670.75(1) 919.85(1)
Nagaland 197(1) 355(1) 433(1) 490(1) 447(1) 574(1) 605.55(2) 830.58(2)
Tripura 31(4) 57(5) 96(4) 121(5) 140(5) 161(5) 453.83(4) 619.14(6)
Note:Figures in brackets indicate ranks
Source:NEC:Basic Statistics of North Eastern States

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 TABLE 10.8 Women component (WC) In The State Plan Programmes Draft Ninth Plan and Draft Annual Plans 1997-98 to 200-2001

Sl Major head/ Ninth Plan 1997-0 Annual Plans 1997-98 to 1999-2000 Actual Annual Plan 2000-2001(at current prices)
No. sub-head/ (Approved) (at current prices
Schemes (at 1996-97 prices)

Approved Of which, Approved Of which, Actual Of which, Approved Of which, Total Of which,
Outlay flow to Outlay flow to Expendi- flow to Outlay flow to Expendi- flow to
WC WC ture WC WC ture WC

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12)

1 SGSY 13,631 3,974 4,832 1,450 5,372 4,052 2,890 867 1,872 750
(29.15) (30.0) (75.43) (30.0) (40.06)

2 JGSY 8,870 1,535 4,354 740 4,265 1,416 110 19 994 199
(17.31) (17.0) (33.20) (17.27) (20.02)

3 EAS 10,000 1,700 6,470 1,100 5,320 1,117 1,042 177 1,042 229
(17.0) (17.0) (20.99) (16.99) (21.98)

4 IAY 4,800 1,440 4,022 1,609 3,092 1,810

(30.0) (40.0) (58.54)

5 PMGY 1,347 539 1,347 539

(RS) (40.14) (40.14)

6 PMGSY 6,955 6,955

7 TOTAL 37,301 8,649 19,678 4,89 18,049 8,397 12,344 1,602 12,210 1,717
(23.19) (24.9) (46.52) (12.98) (14.06)

Source: Department of Planning and Development, Government of Assam

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REFERENCES

1. Director of Census Operations, Assam, Census of India 1991 Series –4-Assam, Part-IV-A-C
Series, Socio-Cultural Tables

2. Director of Census Operations, Assam, Census of India 1991 Series –4-Assam, Part-III-B Series,
Economic Tables

3. Director of Census Operations, Assam, Census of India 2001 Provisional Population Totals,
Paper-3 of 2001, Distribution of Workers and Non-Workers

4. Director of Census Operations, Assam, and Census of India 2001: Provisional Population Totals
Series –19, Assam, Paper-2 of 2001, Rural-Urban Distribution

5. Director of Census Operations, Assam, and Census of India 2001: Provisional Population Totals
Series –19, Assam, Paper-1 of

6. GOI: Economic Survey, 1993-94

7. Government of Assam District Gazetteer: 1999 Assam State Gazetteer Vol I ,Guwahati

8. Government of Assam: Chief Minister’s Budget Speech, 1993-94

8. Government of Assam, Social Welfare Department: Gender Profile of Assam

9. Government of Assam: Directorate of Economics and Statistics Statistical Handbook, Assam

1995

10. Government of Assam: Directorate of Economics and Statistics Statistical Handbook, Assam
2002

11. Government of Assam: Directorate of Economics and Statistics: Economic Survey, 2001-2002

12. Government of India: Department of WCD, MHRD: 1997: Women in India: A Statistical Profile

13. Government of India: Ministry of Statistics and Programe Implementation: May 2001: Report
No.458(55/10/2):Employment and Unemployment Situation in India 1999-2000NSS 55th Round
Part-I and Part-II

14. ____________ December 2003: Household Consumer Expenditure and Employment -Unemployment
Situation in India, 1999-2000, NSS 58th Round.

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15. International Institute of Population Sciences: July 2002: NFHS-2 Assam

International Institute of Population Sciences: October 2000: NFHS-2 India

16. National Commission for Women:2002:Towards Equality: The Unfinished Agenda-2001

17. National Council of Applied Economic Research: 2004: East India Human Development Report.
Oxford

18. North Eastern Council Secretariat 1987: Basic Statistics of North Eastern Region, 1987

19. Panchayat and Rural Development website.

20. Planning and Development Department, Dispur, Government of Assam: Draft Tenth Five Year
Plan 2002-2007, Volume II.

21. Planning Commission, Government of India: National Human Development Report 2001.

22. Registrar General of India: 1991 Assam State District Profile1991

23. _____________________: October 2002: Sample Registration System Bulletin

24. Sharma, Archana: 1989:Levels of Living in Assam: 1955-80, unpublished Ph.D. Thesis, Dibrugarh
University

25. Women’s Studies Research Centre, Gauhati University 2002 Social Sector Schemes and Programmes
for Children and Women in Assam: Project Report, Sponsored by UNICEF

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A SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS OF WOMEN
AND GIRLS IN ASSAM

By
DR. ARCHANA SHARMA

NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR WOMEN

NEW DELHI
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 List of Tables

Table 1.1 National Income, State Income, Per capita National Income and Per Capita State Income
at current prices: 1955-1980
Table 1.2 National Income, State Income, Per capita National Income and Per Capita State Income
at constant (1948-49) prices: 1955-1980
Table 1.3 Per Capita Income of Assam and India (in Rupees): 1980-81to 1992-93
Table 1.4 Per Capita Income of Assam and India (in Rupees): 1993-94 to 2000-01
Table 1.5 Production (in thousand tones) and Productivity (Average Yield in Qts/hectare) of Different
Crops in Assam : 1997-98 to 1999-2000
Table 1.6 SHARE (%) of Secondary Sector in Net State Domestic Product
Table 1.7 Annual Survey of Industries (Summary Results): Assam
Table 1.8 Assam - Human Development Fact Sheet
Table 2.1 Population Size in Assam and India: 1901-2001
Table 2.2 Growth Rate and Density of Population Assam and India: 1901-2001
Table 2.3 Population by sex and Decennial Growth Rate (1981-2001)
Table 2.4 Population (1991-2001): by Districts: Assam (Persons)
Table 2.5 Decadal Growth Rate of Population (1901-2001): by Districts: Assam
Table 2.6 Sex Ratio : Assam and India (1901-2001)
Table 2.7 Sex ratio of total population and child population in the AGE GROUP 0-6: 1991 and 2001
Table 2.8 Sex Ratio : Assam by Districts 1971-2001(Per 1000 males)
Table 2.9 Child Sex ratio in Assam: By districts
Table 2.10 Death Rate by Sex, India & Assam (Rural, Urban, Total) – 1992-93
Table 2.11 Age specific death rates and crude death rates Age specific death rates and crude death
rates (CDR) by sex from NFHS-1, NFHS-2, and the SRS, Assam
Table 2.12 Age specific death rates by sex, India and Assam – 1993
Table 2.13 Total Fertility Rate and Crude Birth Rate (CBR): Rural–Urban: Assam and India
Table 2.14 Estimated Birth Rate, Death Rate, Natural Growth Rate and Unnatural Growth Rate
Table 2.15 Birth Rate, Death Rate, and Natural Growth Rate India/Assam (Rural, Urban, Total)-
1994,1995, (Oct.) and 2003
Table 2.16 Crude Birth Rate and Total Fertility Rate: Assam: by District (1991)
Table 2.17 Mean age at Marriage: Assam: by districts (1991)
Table 2.18 Effective ages at marriage of females.(Total, Rural & Urban) – 1991,1992 & 1993
Table 2.19 Maternal Mortality Ratio: 1997-98(Per hundred thousand)
Table 2.20 Infant Mortality Rate: 1981-91(Per thousand)
Table 2.21 Infant Mortality Rate — Rural & Urban(Per thousand)
Table 2.22 Child mortality rate (o-4) India & Assam1997
Table 2.23 Under 5 Mortality (1970-75 &1992-1996)
Table 2.24 Under 5 female mortality (1970-75 &1992-1996)(Per thousand)
Table 2.25 Under Five Mortality Rate (Per thousand)
Table 2.26 Age Specific Mortality Rate for Age Group 0-4 Years - Combined(Per thousand)
Table 2.27 Age Specific Mortality Rate for Age Group 0-4 Years — Rural(Per thousand)
Table 2.28 Age Specific Mortality Rate for Age Group 0-4 Years — Urban(Per thousand)
Table 2.29 Age Specific Mortality Rate for Age Group 5-9 Years — Combined(Per thousand)
Table 2.30 Age Specific Mortality Rate for Age Group 5-9 Years — Rural(Per thousand)
Table 2.31 Age Specific Mortality Rate for Age Group 5-9 Years — Urban(Per thousand)
Table 2.32 Infant Mortality Rate: Assam and India: 1991-2003
Table 2.33 Infant and Child Mortality Rate: Assam and India: 1998
Table 2.34 Infant Mortality Rate: Assam: 1998
Table 2.35 Age group wise Child Mortality: Assam: by districts: 1991
Table 2.36 Expectation of life at birth by sex: Assam and India: Rural-Urban (1989-93)
Table 2.37 Expectations of life at birth by sex in Assam and India
Table 2.38 Persons not expected to Survive beyond Age 40 — 1981(Percentage)
Table 2.39 Persons not expected to Survive beyond Age 40 — 1991(Percentage)
Table 3.1 Literacy Rates by Sex in India and Assam (1961-2001)
Table 3.2 Literacy Rates by sex: Assam: by districts (1981-2001)
Table 3.3 Literacy Rate of Scheduled Castes (Percentage)
Table 3.4 Literacy Rate of Scheduled Tribes (Percentage)
Table 3.5 Literates/Illiterates in the age group 7-14 years (Percentage)
Table 3.6 Adult Literacy Rate — Combined (Percentage)
Table 3.7 Adult Literacy Rate — Rural (Percentage)
Table 3.8 Adult Literacy Rate — Urban (Percentage)
Table 3.9 Adult Literacy Rate —1995-96(Percentage)
Table 3.10 Age-Specific Enrolment Ratios — Combined (Percentage)
Table 3.11 Age-Specific Enrolment Ratios — Rural (Percentage)
Table 3.12 Age-Specific Enrolment Ratios — Urban (Percentage)
Table 3.13 Girls Enrolled in Various School Stages, 1978 — Combined(Percentage)
Table 3.14 Girls Enrolled in Various School Stages1978 — Rural (Percentage)
Table 3.14 Girls Enrolled in Various School Stages, 1978 —Urban (Percentage)
Table 3.15 Girls Enrolled in Various School Stages, 1993 — Combined (Percentage)
Table 3.16 Girls Enrolled in Various School Stages1993 — Rural (Percentage)
Table 3.17 Girls Enrolled in Various School Stages1993 — Urban (Percentage)
Table 3.18 Drop-out Rates in Classes I-V (Percentage)
Table 3.19 Drop-out Rates in Classes I-VIII (Percentage)
Table 3.20 Drop-out Rates in Classes I-X (Percentage)
Table 3.21 Classwise Enrolment up to higher secondary classes in Assam
Table 3.22 Course wise sex ratio.
Table 3.23 District wise Percentage of Female Teachers in Assam: 2001
Table 3.24 Teacher — Pupil Ratio (Pupils per teacher)
Table 3.25 Statistics relating to Schools: Assam: 1951-2001
Table 4 Neonatal, Post-neonatal rates for the five-year period preceding the survey by State, India,
(NHFS-2 1998-99)
Table 4.1 Percentage Distributions Of Live Births By Type Of Medical Attention Received By The
Mother At Delivery By Residence, India and Assam, 1992 - 94
Table 4.2 Births Attended by Health Professionals (Percentage)
Table 4.3 Births Delivered in Medical Institutions (Percentage)
Table 4.4 Type of Medical Attention Received by Mothers at childBirth(1995-1996)-Combined (Percentage)
Table 4.5 Type of Medical Attention Received by Mothers at Child Birth (1995-1996)-Rural (Percentage)
Table 4.6 Type of Medical Attention Received by Mothers at Child Birth (1995-1996)—Urban (Percentage)
Table 4.7 Anaemia Among Women and Children, 1998-99(Percentage)
Table 4.8 Women with Any Anaemia, 1998-1999(Percentage)
Table 4.9 Two Doses or More of TT Vaccination during Pregnancy (Percentages)
Table 4.10 Fully Vaccinated Children aged 12-23 Months (Percentage)
Table 4.11 Children aged 12-23 Months Not Vaccinated (Percentage)
Table 4.12 Number of Persons Reporting Ailment During Last 15 days — Rural (1995-96)(Per thousand)
Table 4.13 Number of Persons Reporting Ailment During Last 15 days — Urban (1995-96)(Per thousand)
Table 4.14 Persons Hospitalized During Last 365 Days (1995-1996)(Per thousand)
Table 4.15 Couple Protection Rate (Percentage)
Table 4.16 Use of Family Planning Methods by background characteristics: Assam (1999)
Table 4.17 Health Infrastructure: Assam: by Districts, 2000-2001
Table 5.1 Persons in the Labour Force: Assam and India (by area)(Percentage)
Table 5.2 (LFPR) according to usual status of persons of age 15 years and above for India and
Assam.
Table 5.3 (LFPR) according to usual status of persons of age 15 years and above for India and
Assam
Table 5.4 Number of Persons usually employed in the principal status (ps) and in the principal as
well as subsidiary status (all) per thousand persons) India and Assam, July 1999-June
2000
Table 5.5 Per thousand distribution of Persons by broad usual activity [principal status ] and all(principal
and subsidiary status):India and Assam, July-December 2002
Table 5.6 Employment in the Organised Sector — 1991(In thousands)
Table 5.7 Employment in the Organised Sector — 2000(in thousands)
Table 5.8 Age specific principal worker population ratio for Assam and All India for rural male
Table 5.9 Age specific principal worker population ratio for Assam and All India for rural female
Table 5.10 Age specific principal worker population ratios for Assam and All India for Urban male
Table 5.11 Age specific principal worker population ratio for Assam and All India for Urban female
Table 5.12 Distribution (in per cent) of Main workers by Industrial Category
Table 5.13 Distribution (in per cent) of Main workers by Industrial Category
Table 5.14 Per 1000 distribution of usually working Persons by broad group of Industry
Table 5.15 Ranking of Districts by female work participation rate: 1991 and 2001
Table 5.16 Percentage of total Workers, main workers and marginal workers to total workers by
residence and sex: Assam: by districts: 1991 and 2001
Table 5.17 Employment in Public and Private Sector: Assam: 2000(In thousands)
Table 5.18 Growth in Employment Assam and India: by area (Percent per annum)
Table 5.19 Incidence of Unemployment Assam and India: By area (As a percentage of labour force)
Table 5.20 Per thousand distribution of Unemployed Persons by broad usual activity principal (ps) and
principal and subsidiary (all) status India and Assam
Table 6.1 Distribution of male/female Candidates Contesting Lok Sabha elections: 1952-85
Table 6.2 Year-wise distribution of contesting candidates’ male, female and total number of women
elected to the Assembly from 1952-1985
Table 6.3 Year-wise distribution of Electorate showing male/female and total in various Assembly
Election in Assam from 1952-1985
Table 6.4 Women in Decision Making: ASSAM
Table 6.5 Members of Rajya Sabha By Sex, From ASSAM In 1994&1996.
Table 6.6 Assam – Human Development Fact Sheet
Table 6.7 Elected members of Panchayats 2002
Table 7.1 Crime and violence against women in Assam 1997-2002**
Table 7.2 Percentage Distribution Of Different Types of Crime And Violence Against Women in
Assam1997-2002***
Table 7.3 Total no of different forms of Crime Against Women In Assam by districts from 1997-2002
Table 7.4 List of Jails In The State Of Assam (As on 31st March 2002)
Table 7.5 Prison Population of Assam (As on 31-12-2001)
Table 8.1 Households with Pucca Houses (Percentage)
Table 8.2 Households with Semipucca Houses (Percentage)
Table 8.3 Households with Kutcha Houses (Percentage)
Table 8.4 Households with Access to Toilet Facility (Percentage)
Table 8.5 Scheduled Caste/Tribe Households with Toilet Facility (1991)(Percentage)
Table 8.6 Households with Safe Drinking Water (Percentage)
Table 8.7 Scheduled Caste/Tribe Households with Safe Drinking Water (1991)(Percentage)
Table 8.8 Households by Major Source of Drinking Water (1995-1996) — Combined (Percentage)
Table 8.9 Households by Major Source of Drinking Water (1995-1996) — Rural (Percentage)
Table 8.10 Households by Major Source of Drinking Water (1995-1996) — Urban (Percentage)
Table 8.11 Households with Electricity Connection (Percentage)
Table 8.12 Scheduled Caste/Tribe Households with Electricity Connection (1991)(Percentage)
Table 8.13 Per Capita Consumption of Electricity
Table 8.14 Households without Electricity, Safe Drinking Water and Toilet (1991)(Percentage)
Table 8.15 Households with Access to Electricity, Safe Drinking Water and Toilet (1991) (Percent)
Table 8.16 Availability of electricity, Safe Drinking Water and Toilet Facilities to Households, 1991:
Assam: By Districts
Table 10.1 Outlay and Expenditure during Ninth Plan for Assam
Table 10.2 Sectoral Composition of Actual Plan Expenditure (Percentage)
Table 10.3 Composition of Public Spending —Some Critical Ratios,1980-81(Percentage)
Table 10.4 Composition of Public Spending —Some Critical Ratios — 1990-91(Percentage)
Table 10.5 Composition of Public Spending —Some Critical Ratios — 1998-99(Percentage)
Table 10.6 Public Spending on Education and Health (As a percentage of Gross State Domestic
Product)
Table 10.7 Per Capita Expenditure on Education and Health: North Eastern States
Table 10.8 Women component (WC) In The State Plan Programmes Draft Ninth Plan and Draft
Annual Plans 1997-98 to 200-2001
 FOREWORD

The existential pathos of a woman’s life has been inimitably captured by the great
Hindi poet, Shri Maithilisharan Gupta, in a memorable couplet which says, “Alas, woman!
Thy destiny is eternal sacrifice, eternal suffering!”

Despite the exalted position given to women in some of India’s religious texts and
the exceptional attainments of individual women in fields as diverse as philosophy, statecraft
and even warfare, the profile of the average woman through the ages has been that of
a perpetually poor, perpetually pregnant and perpetually powerless being.

Independent India has tried to redeem the situation by proclaiming equality of the
sexes as a Fundamental Right under the Constitution and directing state policy towards
removing the various disabilities that thwart women in realising their potential. Five decades
of Independence have also seen a plethora of laws passed by the State and Federal
Governments to protect women from violence and discrimination and to strengthen their
entitlements in the social and economic fields. Numerous committees and commissions
have x-rayed the position of women, the advances made by them and the obstacles faced
by them, and they have made umpteen recommendations to improve the situation. Scores
of schemes have been floated by various Ministries of the Government to address women’s
problems, particularly those relating to education, health, nutrition, livelihood and personal
laws. In the institutional area, independent administrative departments to give undivided
attention to women’s problems have sprung up at the Centre as well as in the States.
Development corporations were an innovation of the Eighties to energise economic benefit
schemes. The Nineties saw the setting up of the National Commission for Women (NCW)
and State Commissions in various States to inquire into the working of various legal and
constitutional provisions concerning women, to investigate cases of violation of women’s
rights and generally to advise on the socio-economic policy framework in order to mainstream
women’s concerns. In recent years, the Governments, Central and State, have also articulated
comprehensive policies for the empowerment of women through a variety of instruments
and approaches focusing on an explicit vision of equal partnership of women in all walks
of life.

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 Credit must also be given to a robust women’s movement which has often given
forceful expression to women’s aspirations and joined issue with all the organs of
state — legislative, executive and judicial — for reviewing the age-old prescriptions of a
patriarchal society. Often they have networked effectively with the international community
and fora in the quest for worldwide solidarity on issues affecting women. These interactions
have often times changed the idiom of discourse on women’s right to justice and development.

The half-century of struggle and reform has undoubtedly had considerable impact
on women’s world. Some of the key indicators of development have perked up significantly;
women’s life expectancy has risen; education levels have improved; economic participation
has grown. But there are areas of darkness too; crimes against women, both at home and
outside, continue unabated; traditional economic occupations have withered in the face of
global competition; there is increasing commodification of women’s persona and vulgarisation
of their image in the media’s marketplace. The new economic regime, where Sensex
swamps sensibility, has meant the precipitate withdrawal of the state from many fields
leaving the weak, including women, in the cold. Similarly laws change; minds don’t. Therefore
between progressive legislation and sensitive enforcement falls a long shadow. Critics also
point out that whatever advances have been made remain confined to urban India and the
vast hinterland resists change obstinately.

The overall picture is thus a mixed one leaving the profile of the average Indian
woman not substantially altered. But in this vast country there is no average Indian
woman. As in all other matters, diversity marks the Indian woman’s picture too. How
society and economy are coping with the forces of modernisation differs substantially from
region to region. The geography of a state provides its own constraints and opportunities;
history gives its own moorings to values and momentum to change. Thus the regional
profile is superimposed on the national profile. The NCW has therefore commissioned
these studies to gauge how women’s life has been changing or not changing in different
States of the country, and to situate these studies in the historical and geographical
context of each region or State so that progress can be measured across time and across
space. Such spatial comparisons can highlight what lessons there are to be learnt from
the ‘leading’ areas and equally they help in focusing the attention on the ‘lagging’ areas.
Regionally disaggregated data helps in benchmarking progress of different regions, areas
or districts, and can be used for improving performance by attempting to raise the performance
levels of the laggards to the average of the State and then matching the State’s average
to the national average. Interesting insights can also be gleaned from the experience of
implementing agencies, both governmental and non-governmental, in dealing with different
problems. Some of these may be rooted in the soil of the region and may not lend

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themselves to replication but many others can be useful examples to emulate. That is how
Best Practices become common practices.

These studies have been carried out by different research groups having special
knowledge and interest in the area — its people, its history, its administration, its cultural
ambience etc. They have interacted with official agencies as well as with leading NGOs
working with women in the respective areas. The NCW has given a helping hand by
providing information from its own database where available and also by interacting with
the government of the State to set the stage for these exercises. The result is in your
hands.

The research effort in respect of Assam was anchored by Dr. Arhana Sharma while
the NCW team comprising Ms. Nita Kapoor, Joint Secrtary; Ms. Nandini Topchum &
Mr. H. Kumar, Senior Research Officer, facilitated the dialogue with the Assam Administration.

Poornima Advani

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 PREFACE

The fundamental rights guaranteed by Articles 14, 15 and 16 of the Constitution of India
with respect to women, the Directive Principles of State Policy and in particular those enshrined
in Articles 38, 39, 39A and 42 of the Constitution to improve the status and dignity of women in
the society, and also the numerous gender sensitive legal provisions and a large number of
developmental programmes directed towards the development of women, apparently leave no
room for the existence of gender inequality in our country. But unfortunately, inspite of all this,
gender disparities continue to be a stubborn problem in India. The situation in Assam, one of
the North Eastern States of the Country, proves to be no exception.

For the successful implementation of policies for achieving gender equality, periodical
assessment of the status of women in the society is an important tool for policy planners. This
report is an attempt at finding out the extent of gender inequality in the State. The report starts
with a brief background of the economy and the demographic conditions of the State and
thereafter analyses the status of women in Assam relative to that of men and also in relation to
the average Indian women, in terms of various aspects of living.

I am grateful to the NCW and its Chaiperson Dr. Poornima Advani for giving me the
opportunity to prepare this report.

I take this opportunity also to thank all those who had directly or indirectly helped me in
the preparation of this report.

I have used different available sources of data in preparing the report. Attempts have
been made to bring out a true “Situational Analysis of Women in Assam”, although limitations
cannot be ruled out. My efforts will be amply rewarded if the report proves to be useful for the
policy makers and serves as a baseline for future researchers and all others who might be using
this for different purposes.

01.06.04 Archana Sharma

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