The population in Punjab cities is growing almost four times faster than that in the villages.The population has touched 27,704,236 (2.77 crore) of which 17,316,800 (62.51 per cent) live in the rural areas and 10,387,436 (37.49 per cent) in urban areas, according to the census data released officially here today.

Alarmingly, the population in urban areas has grown by 25.72 per cent as compared to an increase of only 7.58 per cent in rural areas over the last decade.This indicates rapid migration from villages to urban areas. This is likely to have an impact on the voting pattern in urban areas.

Director, Census Operations, Seema Jain, said the share of urban population had increased to 37.49 per cent in 2011 as compared to 33.92 per cent in 2001. Ludhiana district recorded the highest growth at 59.14 percent, followed by SAS Nagar (Mohali) at 55.17 per cent, Amritsar 53.64 per cent and Jalandhar 53.18 per cent.

Mohali’s growth is linked to its proximity to the state capital of Chandigarh and availability of better civic amenities. Jalandhar and Amritsar have apparently grown on account of migration from small towns and villages. Tarn Taran, that has 12.63 per cent of the state’s population, is the least urbanised district.

Punjab literacy rate has touched 76.68 pe rcent as compared to 69.65 per cent in 2001. Rural literacy for males has gone up from 71.05 per cent in 2001 to 77.92 per cent in 2011, an increase of 6.87 per cent, and the literacy rate for females has increased from 57.72 per cent in 2001 to 66.47 in 2011.

In 2011, Punjab's sex ratio stood at 893 whereas in 2001, it was only 876. Hoshiarpur district has the highest sex ratio of 962 whereas Bathinda has the minimum sex ratio at 865 - down from 870 in 2001. "Many initiatives have been taken to improve the sex ratio in the state and results are visible in the provisional data. Our overall literacy rate has also increased from 69.7 to 76.7 per cent," Chief Secretary S.C. Agrawal told reporters after releasing the report.

India's effective literacy rate has recorded a 9.2 per cent rise to reach 74.04 per cent, according to provisional data of the 2011 census released Thursday.

Effective literacy rate in the 2001 census was 64.83, which improved to 74.04, said Registrar General of India and Census Commissioner C. Chandramauli.

Interestingly, literacy rate improved sharply among females as compared to males. While the effective literacy rate for males rose from 75.26 to 82.14 per cent marking a rise of 6.9 per cent, it increased by 11.8 per cent for females to go from 53.67 to 65.46 per cent.

According to provisional totals of the latest census, literates constitute 74 per cent of total population aged seven and above.

Chandramauli said it was encouraging to note that out of total 217,700,941 literates added during the decade, females at 110,069.001 outnumbered males at 107,631,940.

He said a significant milestone reached in 2011 census was the decline of illiterates by 31,196,847.

Ten states and union territories, including Kerala, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, Tripura, Goa, Daman and Diu, Puducherry, Chandigarh, National Capital Territory of Delhi and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, have attained literacy rate of above 85 per cent, the target set by the Planning Commission to be achieved by 2011-12.

The gap of 21.59 per centage points recorded between male and female literacy rates in 2001 census reduced to 16.68 per centage points in 2011. The Planning Commission had set up a target of reducing this gap to 10 per centage points by 2011-12.

Kerala has the highest literacy rate at 93.91 per cent followed by Lakshadweep at 92.28 per cent. Bihar is at the bottom of the ladder with literacy rate of 63.82 followed by Arunachal Pradesh at 66.95.

Stating this here today spokesman of the Census operation, Punjab, said that the second phase would continue till March 5. In this phase, work of population enumeration would be done besides the listing of collecting information of old age homes, welfare homes etc.

A Performa containing 29 questions would be filled for each person, he added. About 48000 enumerators and 7500 supervisors have been deployed for this task. Distribution of material and training to the staff had already been completed, he added.

The Census is a comprehensive source of data on socio - economic and demographic characteristics at all levels for use in five year plans, annual plans, various welfare schemes, the electoral process, other government as well as non - government organizations, etc. All these require information at the grass root level which is provided by the Census. Similarly, Census is the base for delineation of Parliamentary/Assembly Constituencies, Panchayats and Local bodies, etc. These are just a few examples. As has been the tradition in the past, this opportunity is also taken to create a database on the quantity and quality of its housing stock

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