Ethnic minority and differential fertility behaviours in rural Tripura, India

Prasanta K. Majumdar, Indian Statistical Institute

The ratio of tribal and non-tribal population in Tripura is changed from 13 : 7 in 1874-75 to 3 : 7 in 1991 and this created political tension as non- tribes are Bengali immigrants. However, the future population size by ethnicity depends on fertility as other demographic factors are non- significant for growth. The differential fertility by ethnicity (tirbes - a momority group and non- tribes - a majority group) were studied through characteristic and particularised theology hypotheses. Analyses were carried out on data from a multistage random stratified sample survey of eligible women in 1996-97 from rural Tripura. Logit regressions and MCAs were employed along with other statistical techniques to establish fertility differentials. Characteristic hypothesis failed to explain any ethnic differentials in fertility but particularised theology hypothesis established higher age at first marriage and first birth among tribes than non-tribes due to differential social norms.