Jains in India and Abroad

Author(s): Prakash C Jain
Publisher: International Summer School for Jain Studies

Page 66

were allowed to look at the information collected from them by enumerators and sign the forms after verifying that they were to their satisfaction in 2001 census. This was the first time this procedure was followed. Earlier, many of the enumerators might have recorded Jains as Hindus. But with the respondents verifying and signing the form, they would have insisted on being registered as separate, as Jains and not Hindus. This could be one of the reasons for the jump in Jain growth figures" (Nagarajan 2004).
However the birth rate still continues to be low among the Jains. Thus the proportion of child population (0-6 age group) among the Jains was found to be only 10.6%, which the Commissioner's report of the 2001 census attributed to "low fertility” in the community. Comparative figures for Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and Buddhists were 15.9%, 15.6%, 13.5%, 12.8% and 14.4% respectively (Table 3.2). The total fertility rate (TFR) among the Jains was estimated to be 1.8 for the year 1998-99 as against the national average of 2.7.
A Comparison of Deca dal Population Growth of various Religious
Communities during 1981-1991 and 1991-2001
111.3
32.9 29.3
22.8
22.1
25.5
16.9
23.2
23.8 21.5
17
13.2
Hindus
Muslims
Christians
Sikhs
Buddhists
Jains
Others
Total/ Average
w Population growth (1981-1991)
Population growth (1991-2001)
Figure: 3
52 Jains in India and Abroad