According to the 1991 census, other states with the higher Hindi-speaking populations are Punjab (15%) followed by Maharashtra (7%). The difference in languages alone cannot be a factor in impeding the lowering of the birth rate. More intrinsic causes ought to be behind it.
We have sampled various social, economic and political factors out of statistical data mainly based on the 1991 population census, and calculated their correlation coefficients against fertility levels. The results showed no significant correlation between fertility levels and any of the following; each state's average income, urban population ratio, industrialization level, ratio of specific caste, the govemment's per-capita budget for family planning, or density of doctors/hospitals, etc. On the other hand, some important factors have emerged as follows.
First, the higher negative correlation coefficient was observed between the ratios of employed workers to the total work force ("employees ratio" hereafter) and the fertility rates. Employees in India exist not only in the commercial and industrial sectors in cities, but also very numerously in the rural areas as landless agricultural laborers. The latter account for 40.3% of total agricultural workers, and 23.7% of total workers. By adding the 28 million marginal workers (casual laborers who work at various workplaces depending on seasonal demand) that make 9.0% of total workers, and also most of the non-agricultural and non-forestry workers (whose employment status is unknown), the ratio of the total employees to the total work force will be around 40%.
There are large differences in this ratio from state to state, but such employees-ratios have the higher correlation coefficient against the total fertility rates in each state. The second important factor is female literacy. Literacy rates were obtained separately for men and women. While both rates are correlated significantly with fertility rates, that for women has a higher correlation coefficient. The third higher coefficient against the fertility rates belongs to the infant mortality rates, and the fourth greatest to the rates of the "protected" couples.
