Trend In Child Sex Ratio Among Misings

A Comparative Analysis in the Context of Assam

Abstract

Among the different demographic indicators, sex ratio is considered as one of the most important variables for understanding demographic features of a community. Sex ratio is also an important variable for determining the quality of life and the status of women in a society. Child sex ratio on the other hand, is an important indicator of a society’s progress as a whole.  In this article, an attempt has been made to examine the nature of trend of child sex ratio among Misings and compare it with overall scheduled tribes of Assam and overall child sex ratio of Assam in the last three decades. There is a consistent and worrying decline in the child sex ratio among Misings, scheduled tribes of Assam and overall Assam between 1991 and 2011. The disproportionately steeper decline among the scheduled tribes and even more so, the Mising tribe, suggests that these groups are more susceptible to the social factors that negatively impact the birth and survival rates of female children. Addressing these root causes issues through comprehensive policy interventions and community-level awareness programs is crucial for reversing this detrimental trend and achieving gender equality in Assam.