Census: Muslim numbers rising faster in poorer, backward states

‘‘The high growth and fertility rates are because of lower literacy rates, unemployment and backwardness of the community. The BIMARU states (Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh) have high growth rates not just among the Muslims but also among the Hindus. In case of Muslims, it is worse also because of conservatism in their society,’’ says demographer Ashish Bose.

According to him, the ‘‘basic howler’’ committed by politicians is to expect that Muslim and Hindu growth rate or of any other community should be the same. ‘‘Such a thing is not possible. The fertility rate among Muslims is higher all over the world compared to other communities in that region. Factors like tradition, purdah and lack of family planning are responsible for it,’’ Bose said.

He said that with education, awareness and development, even Muslims can control their growth rate. Countries like Bangladesh and Indonesia had already achieved considerable success in family planning by using methods like IUD and the oral pill. Even Indian Muslims could do it, he said, but with some help.

‘‘The high fertility rate should be a cause of worry for the Muslims themselves. Even their leaders should come forward and do something to remove backwardness, poverty and illiteracy in the community. The measures should be area specific and community specific,’’ Bose added.

Muslim leader Syed Shahabuddin said that they were worried about the educational and economic backwardness of the community. ‘‘I had once written to Advaniji telling him that I appreciated his concern about the Muslim growth rate. And I told him that the solution is to give them more schools and more jobs,’’ he said.

Criticising what he calls the ‘‘politicisation’’ of Census data, Shahabuddin said that the answer to the question is not to target the Muslims but to bring them at par with the rest of the country in education, jobs and opportunities.

‘‘It has been proved in so many instances that higher literacy and economic status results in lesser fertility,’’ he added.

Aslam Mehmood, Chairman of Centre for Study of Regional Development in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)— which studies population trends — said that there is a marked difference in Muslim growth rate between educated and uneducated classes.