1. religion and spirituality
2. hinduism

Socio-Economic Characteristics of the Sample Households
5.1 Introduction
This chapter presents a detailed profile of the socio-economic and demographic
characteristics of the sample householdsipopulation. The cross sectional sample survey
revealed that 53 percent of the households belonged to joint families and the rest nuclear
families For analytical convenlence. we have constructed a composite socio-economic
~ndexcomprlslng four variables v ~ z monthly
,
per capita consumption expenditure, per
capita education score defined In terms of the number of years of schooling, per capita
land (In cents) and house type (kutcha. semi-pucca and pucca). We have taken
consumption expenditure as a proxy for income and expenditure data are more reliable
than income (NSSO. 1998). 'l'he four \.ariables have been assigned differential weights
and the values of the indexes have been arranged in ascending order and divided in to
four quartiles called socio-economic index fractile groups (hereafter SEIQGs or SEGs).
The analysis rekealed t h a ~the proportion of households reporting highest income (or
highest socio-economlc status) is the lowest in the joint families and highest in nuclear
families In the first three socio-economic groups (SEGI, SEG2, and SEG3), the intergroup differences have been lnarglnal in both joint and nuclear families. On the other
hand. the proportion of join1 family is the lowest(18.48 percent)in the highestirichest
\ocio-ccontrmlc group (SEG4) and highest (32.12 percent) in the nuclear family (table:
5 1 ) It implies that rhe socio-economic status of the nuclear family is better than the joint
families and it could be attributed to the lower dependency rate on the one hand and
better management of family resources in the former on the other.
5.2 Age and Sex wise Distribution
Age and sex-wise d~str~bution
reveal certain important findings. For instance, the female
children In thc 0-4 age group are much lower (1.75) than that of the males (2.56). The
decreasing proportion of female children in Kerala and elsewhere has attracted much
research attention in the context of improved medical technology. Amniocentesis has
become a convenient method of female foeticide which is the major reason for the
decline in the proportion of female children (see figure 5.1 and table 5a).
Fig. 5.1 Age and sex wise distribution
Joint
Nuclear
All Types
87
Source: sample survey. 2004
100
349
100
5.4 Caste and Religion
The Kerala soclety 1s well known for its caste. ethnic and cultural plurality and diversity.
l'hc prcsence and participat~onof these diverse ethnic (Hindu, Muslim and Christian)
and caste groups (forward castes. other backward communities and scheduled castes1
scheduled tribes) in different democratic, development and administrative bodies have
significantly contributed to the determinants of individual and social choice. It is argued
that. the cultural determinants are significant predictors of social orland medical choice
in a multi-religious and plural~sticcaste society(Basu.1992). These cultural determinants,
part~cularly In the rural context, are basically evolved through family and lineage. The
huusehold suney revealed that 55 percent belonged to the Hindu community and 43
percent Muslims and a neglig~ble2 percent Christians. On the other hand, caste wise
break up showed that 8 percent belonged to the forward castes(FC),83 percent other
backward communities(0BCs)and 9 percent scheduled castes and scheduled tribes (SCsl
Sl'a) with differcncea across male and female headed households (tables: 5.2 & 5.3).
1
Caste Grou
Relig~on
Chr~stianitl_ lslaln ..
All Relig~ons Source Sample survr). 2004
0.00
-_
-
42.69
100.00
l ablc >_ll)~~~rjb~!~!~l~i
o c !"rsz~is b Gender, Caste Grou , Gender of Head of Household %)
Caste Groups
$(!'
--
Sex of Head of Households
Female Headed
Female Persons Male Female Persons
Male Headed
Male
0
-p79,- 79 58 , 87.89 89.15
7 99
s s . . . g - 9.80
All groups !
O
m- 0 K - J O 0 00 I 100 00 100.00
m-
88.63
Persons in
All Types of
Households
83.25
7.19
100.00
100.00
source Sample purvey. 2004
5.5 Household Size, SEG,Caste a n d Religion
The average household size is 6.39 with significant differences across religion, caste and
socio-economic groups The average household size is the lowest in the forward caste
group (5.57) and highest for the other backward communities (6.54) and it is 5.88 for the
scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. The higher average household size for the OBC's
1s ~niii~ily
due to a relatively significant propotiion of the Muslim households(43 percent),
74
where the average household size is more than seven (table: 5.4). We have excluded the
persons working in the Middle East Countries or elsewhere from the term household and,
yet, the average household size is relatively higher. Studies have also revealed that
migration intensity is higher in Muslim households compared to non-Muslim
households
Table 5.4 Avera e Household Size b Reli ion and Caste Grou
Reli ion
Caste
Hindulsfn
Christianit
Islam
All Reli ion
.
-- Group
---. .
- .. ..7
4verage Household Size
---.
1
OBC
T - . 5.50
---'
SCIST
5 . 8 8 ..
0.00
All Groues._
Source. Sample survey, 2004
7 07
0.00
7.07
6.56
5.88
6.42
Similarly, the average household size by SEGs indicates that it is the highest (7.34)
in SEOI and lowest ( 5 14) In SEG4 wh~chshows an inverse relationship between the
socio-cconomic status and average household slze (table 5.5). Marked differences in the
average household slze have been Identified across religious communities. For instance,
the abcrage household size In SEG4 of the Muslim community is much higher than the
average household size (see table: 5.6)
Source Sample survey. 2004
Source SafnpleSurvey. 2004.
The average household size across religion consistently declines as we move up the
SEG.The same pattern is also observed across caste groups. Thus, SEG is an important
determinant of average household size. Religion wise analysis shows that the average
household size is the highest (7.13) and the average number of persons working is the
75
lowest (1.77) in Muslim households where as the average number of persons working is
the highest in Hindu households (2.32). That is, the average dependency ratio is the
highest in Muslim households and lowest in Christian households. The relationship
between the average household size, the average number of working persons and average
dependency ratio across religious communities and caste groups is presented in table 5.7.
, --
~
lablc 5 7 Disrribut~o~is
of Household Size. Number of Working Persons and
Depende~ic)Ratio by Religion and Caste Group
-----
--
Source Sample survey. 2004
*H; H~ndu~sm,
C=Chr~stianity.M=lslam
I)istr~butionof pcraons by SEGs and type of head of households indicates that the
proportion of persons In the richer SEGs
IS
lower in the male headed households
compared to the female headed households. From the table: 5.8 it can be inferred that in
male headed households the proportion of persons in the richer SEGs is 19 percent where
as it
I\
more than 21 percent In fernale headed households. Similarly, the proportion of
pcrsons in SEGl is 31 percent in male headed households where as it is only 27 percent
in i~inalcheaded households wh~ch indicates that the socio-economic status in the
female headed households are relatively better than the male headed households.
Moreover the distr~butionof persons by socio-economic group and gender of households
IS
detailed in table 5.8 l'he propanion of male headed and female headed households are
different across different soclo-econom~cgroups. The relatively higher proportion of
femalc-headed households
IS
mainly attributed to a relatively higher proport~on of
emigrant households
Table 5 8 Dlstributioll of Persons by SEG and Gender of Head of Households
1, SEGl 1, SEG2 / SEG3 I SEG4 All Groups
' 299
261
1360
ii, A',
ICL 14
(59,3])
1 Gender of Head
.-a
. - A
930
J
Y
1
Source saniple survey. 2004
' 567 ' 460
4
43.~0)
(40.69)
2290
5.6 Household Size and Percapita Consumption Expenditure
Table 5.9 provides the analytical content and the methodological summary of the present
study. I( provides information about the average household size, the average percapita
76
consumption expenditure, the average education score, the average percapita land owned
and the average value of the socio-economic index across quartile groups. The average
percapita consumption expenditure, average education score, average percapita land
owned and average value of the soc~o-economicindex consistently increases and average
household size cons~stentlydecreases as we move up the socio-economic group. Lower
the socro-economlc stntus higher the average household size and vice versa. It is also
significant to note that the average per capita consumption expenditure of Rs.356 in
SEGl is much lower than Rs.275 the latest estimate of per capita monthly consumption
expenditure used for defining poverty line by the Planning Commission, Government of
India in 2000-01 (table: 5.9)
5.7 Age and Gender Wise Distribution
'The percentage d~stribution or persons by sex and broad age groups across family
structure has been less dissimilar except for the 40+ age group. One important finding is
that [hi.
proportion
of female chrldren In the age group 0-14 has been the same in both
joint and nuclear familres On the other hand, the proportion of people belonging to 60+
age group is significantly lower in nuclear families (4.5%) and remarkably higher
( 1 1.7%) in joint families (table 5 10) Thus, the problem of ageing is more severe in joint
than In nuclear families
Table: 5.9 D~stribut~on
of .Average House holds Size, Percapita Expenditure.
Source sample surre). 2004
Noic ST.1 IS the composite Socio-T;conomic Index which forms the bas13o f S E G
Source: Sample survey. 2004
The proportion of children in the age group 0-14 is marginally lower (32 percent) in
77
joint families compared to the nuclear families (33 percent). On the other hand, the
proportion of people in the age group 40-59 is lower in the former (17 percent) than in
the latter ( I 9 percent). Similarly, as expected, ageing problem is less serious in nuclear
fi1rni1tc.s(4.5 percent) compared to joint families (1 1.7 percent).The proportion of people
in male headed and female headed households is dissimilar across different age groups.
For instance. In the 40-59 age group 17 percent and 11 percent are the respective shares
of male headed and female headed households (tables:5.10 & 5.1 1).
Source sample surbe). 2001
fhe distribution of per\irns across age groups and religion provides a different
p i c u ~ ~1,or
c InsLancc. the proportton of children in the age group 0-14 is the highest in
Muslim households(3R.58 percent) and the lowest In H ~ n d uhouseholds (26.78 percent).It
is argued that the Muslim households in the study area are more traditional and onhodox
and less tuned to famil) planning methods either due to cultural or religious barriers.
Moreover, in the productwe age group of 15-59 the proportion of persons in the Hindu
houscliolds is much higher than Muslim households, which is mainly due to the
I ~ U I ~ I ~ I L Chighcl
I~
<migration Inrenslry In the Muslim households The proportion of
persotis In the age group 601
IS
the highest ( I 0 41 percent) in Hindu households whereas
it is only 7 68 percent in Muslim households (table: 5.12). It leads to the hypothesis that
life cvpectanc? at birth
IS
Ivwer in Muslin1 compared to non-Muslim households.
Comprehensive and in~enstberesearch enquiries are essential to identify the determinants
of ageing, morbidity and life expectancy at binh across social and ethnic groups
1
I
I ablc, 5 ~Il~cnt~e p!w~bu$o_i! of Persons by Religion, Gender and Broad Age Group
Rellglon
g e
- - Fhrtst~ani?
Islam
All
'rOup
Male Female Person Male , o _ o l A
Person Male Female Person Person
...
/
I
1
/
1
I
I
/
O O O O ] 1 0 0 0 0 ~ 1 0 0 . 0 0 / l 0 0 0 0 _ j l 0 0 0 0 ~ l 0 0 0 0 j l 0 0 0 0 ~ 100.00/
I AllSourceI ~Sam~le
. ~ rurvcv.
_ 2004--- ---
/
10000/ 100.ooj
78
Kasaragod district is a multi-lingual society and the survey revealed that 86 percent
reported Malayalam as their home tongue and Kamada, Tulu, Marathi and others
accounted for 3 6 percent. 8 percent. 0.8 percent and 1.7 percent respectively.
Differences in mother tongue have been identified across male headed and female
headed households (table 5.1)
5.8 Marital Status, Gender and Age Group
Distribution of persons by marital status, sex and age group is summarized in Table:
5 14 l'he proportion of unmarried female in the 40 + age group is around 2 percent. The
study dlso identified that morc than 10 percent of the females in the age group 15 + is
reported to have been wldowed More than 4lpercent of the females in the 60+ age
group
IS
reponed to have been widowed. where as the corresponding proportion for
wldower is extremely negligible
1
I Source Sample surve), 2004
Note. F~guresIn parenthesisare percentage shares
5.9 Household Working Status and Dependency Ratio
The household working status shows that 17 percent of the sample households reported
not w e n a singlc work~ngperson in the household which indicates that the main source
incomi. is the
remittances
from the Middle East Countries. Moreover, there is not even a
slngle household reporting no ~ o r k e rin the lowest socio-economic group and as we
mobe up the SEG no worker households consistently increases It should be noted that
u e habe used the National Sample Survej (Ind~a)definition of the term household and
non-resident lndians and persons workmg in the fore~gncountries have been excluded
from conceptualizing the term the household. Only female workers have been identified
in less than five percent and only male members in about 51 percent of the households
with cunslderable differences across socio-economic groups. Both male and female
workers consistently decline as we goes up the socio-economic group (table:5.15).
Only Male Workers
Source. sample survey. 2004
Note Figures In parenthesis are percentage shares
80
Similarly as we move up the SEG, the dependency rate goes up and 3.9 is the average
dependency rate. Dependency rate is the highest in households reporting only male
workers and lowest in households reporting both male and female workers. In no worker
households we have pul the highest value of 9.99 as the dependency rate (table: 5.16).
The average number of males (3.13) IS lower than the females (3.35) through out the
socio-economic group. On the other hand, the average number of working persons
consistently declines as we move up the socio-economic index quartile groups. The same
pattern is observed in the case of female working persons across the SEGs and slight
variat~onsin the number of male working persons across SEGs (table 5.17).The survey
results have revealed that sociallcaste groups constitute important determinants of
individual and social choice. For instance, the average number of working persons is 2.6
In SI:(;l where as
11 1s
less than one in SEG4 The average number of persons, average
number of working persons and dependents have been detailed in Table:5.l7. Caste wise
analysis indicates that the average number of working persons is lower in OBCs because
of a rclatively s~gnificanrproportion of the Muslim households in the sample. It is argued
that. In the study area, cultural factors restrict most traditional middle class Muslim
womcn from seeklng employment or participating in the regional labour market (see
tiahlea. 5.18 and 5.19)
i
I
01$mdr workers
130th male and
1.; All sta!uses
f
.. .
- J2
--..
1
1
3.05 ( 4.14
1
5.92
Source, sample survey. 2004
'Nule: In no worker households we have put the highest value ofdependency rate as 9.99 No worker
households imply that t h e ~ rIncome source is forelgn remittances
Source: Sample survey. 2004
81
Table: 5.1 8 Average Number of Persons Workin b SEG,Caste Grou and Reli ion
2.53
2.68
2 59
1.86
1.92
2.50
1.62
0.88
4.00
0.98
1.65
2.53
1.77
Source, sample survey. 2004
Source sample survey, 2004
Thc study revealed a positive relationship between dependency ratio and socioeconomic status The average dependency ratio 1s the lowest in SEGl (2.35) and highest
in SE(i4 (5.92) Lower dependency ratio
H ~ I I CIS ~more
1s
a reflection of low socio-economic status
~ i ~ n ~ f i c in
a n the
l case of SClSTs (1.65) and FCs (2.09). The higher
dependency ratio in the case of OBC's indicates that the average number of earning
members, particularly in Muslim households is much lower than other social groups and
relig~ouscommunities which
IF
the main explanation for higher dependency ratio for
OBC's across all SEGs
Source sample survey. 2004
'l'he dependenc) ratlo group across religious communit~esindicates that more than
48 percent of the Muslim households belong to the dependency group of more than
scvcn whereas it is less than five percent in Hindu households. Caste group analysis
ind~catesthat the dependency ratio is the lowest in FCs and SCslSTs. The higher
dependency ratio in OBC's 1s ma~nlqattributed to the relatively significant proportion of
hluslinl households (table. 5.20). Dependency ratio group across caste groups and
religious com~nunit~es
is furnished in table: 21. Dependency ratio group of less than one
iu 19 percetlt in llindu families and a negligible less than 3 percent in Muslim
households.
82
Note. F~guresIn parenthem are percentage shares
-
. ~.
.- -
-.
(0.86)
---
-.. .
(4.60)
-
( I )
I
All
.. ... --- -- --. .- - .-
87
(100,
I
(1 15)
O.OO
0.00
87
2
(2.22)
O.OO
0'0°
I
(1.15)
0,oo
0,oo
88
87
-
7
(2.00)
2
(0.58
I
(o,29)
349
100)
(100) (100
100
source: sample s u r v ~ 2 % 4 Now Rgurei m parenthiis ar;percintage shires
,
S~inrlarly.dependency ralio group of more than seven is less than 5 percent in Hindu
households where as it is more than 48 percent in Muslim households. The proportion of
Hindu households in the dependency ratio group (4.0-5.0) is only 20 percent whereas it
is as high as 80 percent for the Muslim households, which reveals the influence of
cultural determinants in the socio-economic status, and social and individual choice
(tablc 5. 2 1 ) Average household size is relatively higher in Kasaragod district and the
199 1 census puts the figure at 6.4.The present sample survey also justifies the census
result. More than I I percent of the households have reported a household size of ten or
more. There is a negative correlation between household size and socio-economic status
(table 5.22).
5.10 House Characteristics
1 Ioi~sccharac~erislics Indicate that 93 percent of the sample households reports pucca
houses, 6.6 percent semi-pucca and nearly 1 percent reports kucha houses, with
considerable differences across SEGs (table 5.23). Electricity status of households
ind~catesthat 84 percent of the houses are electrified and the remaining 16 percent not
electrified (tablc 5 24). House classificat~on, namely kucha (thatched), semi-pucca
(t~lcd)and pucca (concrete) houses indicate that there exist wide variations in the
maturials used in rool' and floor. For instance, mud and cowdung floor constitutes
roughly 9 percent and 63 percent cement and 28% either mosaic or granites (table 5.25).
Plinth area in square feet indicates that 21 percent of the household reported an area of
less than or equal to 600 sq!feet and 21 percent reported 1501 sqifeet or more (table
5.26). The study also indicares that there is a positive relationship between plinth area
and number of rooms (table 5 2 7 ) .
84
Semi-Pucca
Pucca
323
349
Source. sample survey. 2004
Source sample survey. 2004
All
Types
0.29
Cement
Mosaic
1
-!
:
0 00
0 00
8641
1.63
1
1
67.65
26 47
29.60
54 40
8.88
62.75
22.92
5.16
Source sample survey. 2004
.. .
.- TdbIe.5
L!.
26 D~strlhut~on
o f Houses by RoofType and Plinth Area (%)
-r--- 'Oaf
L-
' >~lllt~lArea ( s q fi)
.- . .. ..-
Below 300
301-600
601-1000
pi.;
2.001-1500
1501-2000
1
;
. ....
.
-
.-.
:
Ihatclied T ~ l e d r ~ i l e &Concrete
d
16 67 1
0.00
0.00
0.00
3043
83.33
38.24
- 0.00 53.80
I_._
~IIIZF- _ t--
.
a,g4
t!!..-~Ow.h5 88
_ ~:IO+ 4 89
o oo :
0.00 i
100no
Source cample surve). ?004
i
100.00
L
_-
2.94
100.00
Concrete
0.00
8.00
16.00
28.00
36.80
I 1 .20
IOO.OO
A l l Types
0.29
20.34
37.82
20.92
16.33
4.30
IOO.OO
The sample survey has revealed that 15 percent of the household reported no
sanitary facility and 43 percent with flesh toilets inside the house and 35 percent with
flesh toilet outside the house Other types of toilet facilities reported in 7 percent of the
cases (table: 5.28).
Table5 ?! I)istr~but~u~i
of Iiouses b Caste Grou and Nature of Toiler Facili (%
a t er
---s
S ~lu!h outslde 0th..
j
7
30
17
I
FC
( 1 6.67)
(8.60)
(56.67)
(3.33)
(23.33)
29
285
91
20
145
OBC
(81.66)
- (31.93)
..
.- ..
(lO.l8)---. (50.88)
(702)
14
4
34
AII!;,
f-
,
All
(1461)
'5214345'
121
(34.67)
25
(7.16)
349
(100)
-
Nature of garbagc disposal indicates-that 83 percent of the household reported simply
dumping the garbage and 17 percent of the household either composting or burning the
garbage (table 5.29)
-
Table 5.29 D~str~butioii
of Households by SEG and Nature of Garbage Disposal (%)
Dlsposal
Source sample iurve). 2004
Regarding the utilizat~onof cooking fuel 46 percent reported wood as the fuel and
52 percent petroleum gas and a negligible l .S percent other sources of fuel. The study
also ~ndicates remarkable ~ariationsacross social groups (table 5.30) Safe drinking
water is reported to be an important problem in the study area. Own well as a source of
drink~ngwater is reported in 69 percent of the households, public well (17 percent)
neighbors well (I! percent) Differences ~nthe source of drinking water and inadequacy
are more striking across SEGs (table 5.31).
5.1 1 Incomc, Castc, Rcligion and Gender o f the Head o f Household
I he average monthly household income is higher in female-headed households
(Rs.4853) compared to male-headed households (Rs.4492). Joint families in maleheadod households report a higher average household income (5589.69) than the same in
86
female-headed households (4898.31). On the other hand, in male-headed households
with [nuclear families, the average household income is much lower (Rs.3506) than the
same in female-headed households than the same in female.headed households
(Rs 4780). Caste wise break up shows that the average household income o f FC is higher
in male-headed households compared to female-headed households. O n the other hand,
in the OBC's, it is lower in male-headed households compared to female-headed
households (table 5 32). Distribution of average monthly household income by religious
communities indicates thar Muslim households reported the highest (Rs.5858) [even
across caste groups] and Christian households the lowest (Rs.3150) and it is Rs.3787 for
rhe I llndu households (table 5.33). Thus, caste and religion act as important determinants
of household income.
Table. 5 30 D~stributionof Houses by Caste Group and Type of Fuel Used (%)
T pe of fuel used
Caste Croups . .
... Good
-~
Gas :sve
0
All Types
15
30
1
FC.
1
l5
0'0°
(8.60)
1. . .(9 2 6 )
(8.24)
285
116
!
164
5
OBC
7
(
9
(81.66) ,
(100)
I
34
,
3
31
O.OO
(9.74)
(19.14) / (1.65)
162
5
182
349
(100)
,
(100)
( 1 00)
(1 00)
L-.
Source sample survey. 2001. Note rlgures In parenthes~sare percentages
'
I
'
1
Table 5 3 .I. .D-.~-s t r-~.b u. of
t ~ Housrllolds
o~~
b SEG and Source of Drinkin Water
1 SkG2 SEG3 I BEG4 / :IlGroupr
~[~nk~n~~at~~~u~rc[~~~ii
1 -
-:
'
Public well
U'
C0
4
4
3
(4.55) (5.75)
2
3
Ne~ghbour'swell
(3.41) (2.30)
3
6
II
7
Public tap
(6.82) (3 45)
( 1 2.64) (5.05)
2
I
Other sources
(I 15) (2.27) (1 .IS)
, (2 30)
87
87
88
A! ~ ~ l r i ~ r - ... . _- 87
Source. sample survey. 2004. Note Figures in parenthesis are percentage shares
--
~
(22.99) (4 60)
19
17
(21.84) (19.54)
3j
(9.46)
41
(1 1.75)
27
(7.74)
6
(1.72)
349
I
of Household, Family Structure and Caste Group
Monthly Household lncome (Rs 0.00)
1
Source. sample survey. 2004
'I able: 5.31- D~str~hui~o~i
-. of tiouschold Income by Religion and Caste Group
--
Table: 5.33 7Distribution of
Household lncome by
1 Religion and Caste
I1 Grow.
I ..-Casle~rws _
4
9
1
1 FC- +-I O K . _ . - - -.- , 4015 33 I0200 00
-4
1
I
SCIST
.
6
5858.22
.
C2°38.24
A I ~ G ~ O U ~ ~
; 3787.24
3150.00
5858.22
4346.77
0
4984.51
2038.24
4640.83
7
Source sample survey. 2004
Similarl). education level of the head of the household is an important determinant
of'thc ievcl ol'household income For instance. it is the lowest for the (Rs.3993) for the
Illiterate head of household and highest (Rs.9986) for the college educated head of
houschold (lahle 5 34) As the level of education of the head of the household increases
~ h nberage
r
household Income also increases consistently (table 5.34).
5.12 Land Distribution
Land distribution is hrghly skewed. For instance, distribution of land ownership indicates
thal kC has the h~ghestaverage land (75 cents) and lowest for the SCiSTs (39 cents) and
88
~t is 49 cents for the OBC's. Similarly, the land distribution across religious communities
shows that Muslim households reported the highest average of 56 cents, followed by
Hindu households (47 cents) and Christian households (13 cents) (table 5.35). The
average land owned in male-headed households in higher (53 cents) than female-headed
households (49 cents) and on an average a household reported to have owned 50 cents of
land. Joint Pdmily in male-headed households enjoys average land of 75 cents which is
much higher than the same in female-headed households (45 cents). It is striking to note
that in female headed nuclear families it is 4 9 cents where as it is only 34 cents in male
headed nuclear famrlies(table 5 36) Thus. type of head of household and family structure
are important determinants of asset distribution in rural Kerala.
-'fable:
-- ...-5 3 2 g d Dlstribut~onby Caste and Religion
I
~cliglon
L
I
.
i 90.76 41.09
H~ndu~sm
Chr~st~anir)
lam .
Caste Groups
SCIST
All Caste Groups
fc_'--OBC
39.44
0.00
0.00
39.44
:
8.00 45.00
i 0.00 55.83
.
.
7374
.
j 48 68
- A
All
1
.
.
. RTI!&I=.
Source remplc survr). 2004
47.14
13.29
55.83
50.09
rlburlon or ~ a n ow113
a
pp.asle uroup, uenaer or ne'aa or uouseno~aana ram!,\ 3lrucl
i
Di slribution of Akerage Lana Owned
I'voe of Head of
Fam~lv --Household
. Status
Joint
Male Headed
-
.-.
. . Tz':-.-
.
do1111
pNar
be~naleHeaded
All
,1 1
i ) .p-.~. \ .
1
A..-~
--
.
bource Sample rurve).
2004
--
--
I
103.57 / 43.72
74 74
1
48 68
1
1
37.17
39.44
/
1
46 08
50 09
5.13 Conclusion
The Kerala socirt!, is well-known for 11s caste, ethnic and cultural diversity which,
inreralia, determines the household size and economic behaviour. The average
household sizc is 6 4 and ~t is inversely related to SEG. Female children in the age group
0-14 havc becn consisten~lylower than the male counterparts. Lower sex ratio, In this
age group, has important implication for long tern population policy. The average
number of working persons consistently declines as we move up the socio-economic
group and the average number of dependents also comes down as we move up the socio89
economic grouV. The average percapita monthly consumption expen&itwe, average
education score, average percapita land owned and average value of the socio-economic
index consistently increases and average household size decreases as we move up the
soclo-economic group. The average per capita consumption expenditure is as low as
Rs.356 in SEGI which 1s much lower than Rs.375 the per capita monthly consumption
expenditure used for defining poverty llne by the Planning Commission in India (in
2000-01). The average per capita consumption expenditure is relatively higher at Rs 828
and it is Rs.1583 for the SEG4 indicating pronounced differences across SEG. About 14
percent of the sample households have been receiving remittances from the Middle East
(:ountries. Cask and ethn~cd~fferencesin the socio-economic status are more revealing
and. therefore, comprehensive and in-depth research enquiries are essential to identify
the major socio-econom~cdeterminants of ageing, life expectancy at birth etc. across
social groups and ethnic cornmunltles In this background, in chapter six we intend to
examine the patterns and determinants of morbidity.
Appendix 5.1
l able 5 A I Household Level- Soc~o-EconomicCharacterlstlcs
Sl "Tl%Fd%r
INo
1%
I
Head of Household I
1
I
-
Fami). Structure
SEG 4
90
r---87---
Monthly Income
Monthly Expenditure
0-2500
2501-5000
5001-7500
750 1 +
Toilet
Yes
No
Fuel
Wood
Gas
Others
Land (cents)
-.
.
.
1
I
I
73
144
96
36
2092
41 26
27.51
10.32
296 53
84.81
15.19
162
185
2
46.42
53.01
00.57
--
- --
Thatched
Tiled
Tiled+Concrete
conti
.-
I
-- .- -.
i
25
Leaf
Mud
Brlck
Stone
Pllnth Area
<300
301-600
601-1000
1001-1500
1 50 1-2000
200 1 +
Garbage D~sposal
Burning
Compost~ng
Dumplng
Educat~onScore
(Years o f schooling)
SEG I : 0-22
SEG2.23-33
SEG3.3444
SEG4 4 5 1
Electrified
Yes
No
Gulf Rem~nances
Yes
No
Out-Patient
Yes
No
--
- ..-.--.. .
52.44
9 74
1261 3 6 1 0 1
1 1
029
3
0 86
22
6.30
323
92.55
1
71
131
73
58
I5
0 29
20.34
37.54
20.92
16.62
430
40
I8
291
1 1.46
5.16
83.38
84
95
83
87
24.07
27.22
23 78
24.93
293
56
83.95
1605
49
300
14.04
85.96
232
117
66.48
33.52
/
1
9I
-.
-
..&
!
b)
In-Patlent
Yes
No
Maternity Events
Yes
NO
~cute%orbidit~
Yes
No
Chronlc Morbidity
Yes
No
Consumer Durables
Clock
Yes
No
Fan
Yes
No
TV
Yes
NO
Radio
Yes
.
r-d)
~
-. --..-
.
Yes
NO
VCR
Yes
No
Fridge
Yes
NO
Phone
Yes
No
I
I
-
.-.
-.-
m
- .--- . PI
163
186
46 70
53 30
126
223
36.10
63.90
162
187
46.42
53.48
333
16
95.42
458
261
88
74.79
25.21
183
166
52.44
47.56
298
85.39
Yes
No
Washing machine
Yes
No
Heatlng coil
Yes
No
Water pump
Yes
No
B~ke
Ye s
No
--
25472.78
I
104
245
29.80
70 20
117
232
33 52
66 48
175
174
5014
49 86
7
342
2 00
98.00
45
304
12.89
87 l l
39
310
11.17
8883
187
162
53 58
46 42
27
322
7.74
92.26
20
329
5.73
94 17
17
4.87
95.13
Car
0)
~
40.40
59.60
.
.... .
1
141
208
- --
--
Y cs
No
Sewlng machlnc
Yes
No
AIC
-.332
'"
r
.
1
1
-
- --. - -
.. - ....
I...-
-
- .-
b)
.~ -
-
d)
No
Bovine
Sheep
Y er
- .-
No
Cow
Yes
No
C)
.
Yes
.
.
Bullock
Yes
No
Poultry
Yes
I
I
I
348
0.29
99.71
8
341
2.29
9771
85
264
24 36
8
341
2.29
97.71
90
25 79
L.
-Lp-No1
2591
Source Sample Surve)
1
75.64
74211