Page 34 - Contributed Paper Session (CPS) - Volume 8

CPS2171 Rajkumari Latasana Devi et al.
Literacy rate=Number of Literates/(Population of age 7+)*100. In the 1991
census, by definition all children below the age of 7 were considered as
illiterate. According to 2011 census literacy rate of India was found to be a
total of 74.04% with 65.46% literate females and 82.14% males. This was a
9.81% increase since the last census. India has 48.53% female population
compare to 51.47% male population as per census 2011. Literacy plays a very
important role development of the society at large. The level of literacy
indicates the level of economic development, living standards, status of
women in a society. The sex ratio, in India, is defined as the number of females
born per 1000 males (femininity ratio) in the population whereas,
internationally, the sex ratio is defined as number of males per 100 females
(masculinity ratio). Because of its significant demographic, economic and
social implication, it is essential to identify the factors that affect the sex
composition of a population. The most fundamental implication of the sex
ratio is to define the limits of the society’s’ reproductive potentials. The sex
ratio is also considered as a tool to determine gender equity of a population.
Historically, the sex ratio in India remained favourable to males than females.
Literacy plays a vital role in the improvement of the sex ratio of a population.
The sex ratio generally shows a balance between the number of male and
female of a population. In a patriarchal society, sex ratio is always unfavourable
for females and in matrilineal society the sex ratio is favourable to females.
Since India is a patriarchal society, the sex ratio is favourable to males as
compared with females.

Study area
The state Sikkim is spread below Mount Kanchanjunga (8,534 m), the third
nd
highest peak in the world and it became the 22 state of India on 26 April
1975.Sikkim is the second smallest state in term of areas with 7096 sq. km after
Goa. It is located in the northeastern part of India. Sikkim lies between 27.04
degree to 28.07-degree North latitude and 80.00 degree to 88.55-degree East
longitude. It is bound on the North by the Tibet plateau, on the East by Chumbi
valley of Tibet and Bhutan, on the West by Nepal and on the South by
Darjeeling district of West Bengal. It shares a 97.8-kilometre-long international
boundary with Nepal, 30.90 kilometre long border with Bhutan and a 220.35
kilometre long border with Tibet. The state constitutes 0.22% of India’s
geographical area and 2.7% of the Northeast states of India. It the least
populated state in India with a population of 607,688 in which 52.9% are males
and 47.1% are females according to 2011 provisional population census. The
density of Sikkim is 86 per sq km. There are four districts in the state. The four
districts are: East, West, North, and South district. East district is having the
highest population of 281,293 followed by South district (146,742). North

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