ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 01

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 151

Śvetāmbaras and the rest Digambaras. Close to 75% of them live in urban areas. Other demographic features include very high level of literacy, the lowest infant mortality rate and medium level of sex ratio (946 females per 1,000 males in 1991) compared to 925 for Hindus and 994 for Christians. Since 1981 the Jaina population has been growing very slowly. The decadal growth rate during 1981-91 was only 4.42% compared to 23.17% for the previous decade. Although the decadal growth rate of the Jaina population during 1991-2001 periods was 26.0%, it was more due to ethnic revivalism among the Jainas than due to the fertility factor.
1.3 Minority Status Presently the Jainas as an affluent minority face two major problems. One of these relate to seeking and maintaining its separate ethnic/religious identity. The 2001 census figures pertaining to the Jainas suggest that ethnic revivalism has been taking place among the Jainas. Thus compared to the 1991 census figures where the Jainas registered only 4% decadal growth rate, in the 2001 census their growth rate was about 26%. This only suggests that more and more of them preferred to be returned as "Jainas” rather than "Hindus".
Efforts are also being made to seek legal recognition to their minority status. The Jainas have been demanding minority status at the national level for the past few years with representations in the Central Government, National Minority Commission and State Legislatures. The Supreme Court of India had directed the Central Government to take a final decision in this regard by 28th November 2004. In response to the affidavit filed by the Central Government the Supreme Court had also given the ruling that under section 30 of the Constitution of India, the decision about according minority status on the grounds of language or religion can be taken by the respective State Governments and not by the Central Government. Five states namely, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Tamil Nadu have already granted minority status to the Jaina community at state level.
The second problem with which the Jainas have to come to terms is their slow growth rate which had come down to as low as about 4% in the 1991 census and was expected to come down further. Unfortunately, the 2001 census data with over 26% decadal growth rate do not confirm this trend. It is widely believed that this high growth rate of Jains in the 2001 census
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STUDY NOTES version 5.0