Assam: Expert calls ‘fall’ in fertility rate of Muslim women ‘doubtful’

by

An expert has questioned the findings of a National Family Health Survey (NFHS) which showed a fall in totalfertility rateofMuslim womeninAssam.

Speaking at a webinar organised by Janasankhya Samadhan FoundationUttar PurbaKhetra on “Population Explosion and Future of Assam” on the eve of World Population Day on Tuesday in association with University Students’ Union, professor Kalita said, “Census data and sample survey data vary. While census data is collected from survey of every household, sample survey data is based on located or identified samples. So the data reflected for various parameters with regard to

Join Our Telegram Channel
47.8C117.2 448 288 448 288 448s170.8 0 213.4-11.5c23.5-6.3 42-24.2 48.3-47.8 11.4-42.9 11.4-132.3 11.4-132.3s0-89.4-11.4-132.3zm-317.5 213.5V175.2l142.7 81.2-142.7 81.2z"/> Subscribe on YouTube
Total Fertility Rate of Muslim Women shown National Family Health Survey (NFHS) as decreasing is doubtful.”

To substantiate, professor Kalita said if person has four wives, each giving birth to four to five children, are not taken into consideration during the sample survey. “Under the sample survey, only one or the last woman is considered,” he said.

He said teenage marriage amongst Muslims is 14.9, whereas, amongst Hindus, it is only 4.5 per cent. In Barpeta district, teenage marriage among Muslims is around 14 per cent, in Bongaigaon district it is 15 per cent while in Dhubri district it is 22 per cent, 16 per cent each in Darrang and Hojai districts, 23 per cent in South salmara district and 15 per cent in Nagaon district.