From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bangalore, Oct 27: Karnataka’s fertility rate has come down to two children per woman during the last five years, which is lower than the national average of 2.6 children per woman.

According to a study by Prof K S James, Head of Population Research Centre, Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bangalore, the State has recorded a faster negative growth in child and young population.

The State has registered rapid changes in demographic features in the last 10 years, Prof James said pointing out that, ``The fertility rate has reached replacement level of two children per woman in Karnataka while for all India it is around 2.6 children per woman.”

Karnataka will have faster negative growth in the child and young population in the future, he said.
The State continues to have significant demographic divide. The southern part of the state has reached very low fertility while the northern part is nearing towards replacement level fertility.

Of the 30 districts, as many as 21 have already achieved the a fertility level of two children or less and a few others are very  close to this level based on the estimates done using 2011 census data.

Interestingly, the low fertility districts in the south are reaching unexpectedly low fertility, he said.
The State is currently attracting both unskilled and skilled migrants from other parts of the country.
Even within the state, there is migration from north to south to fill in labour scarcity of unskilled workers. Such dualism also has implications on the policies of the government, he said.

 “While the southern part with advanced demographic features will need advanced health care due to changes in the age structure from child to late adult age groups, the northern part needs emphasis on maternal and child related emphasis on health care,” Prof James said.

 The population growth rate has been rapid in Bangalore (95.88 lakh) during the last decade indicating that the city is attracting large migrants both from within and outside the state.