© Kamla-Raj 2004                                                                                    J. Hum. Ecol., 16(1): 7-24 (2004)

Demographic Study of Gujjars of Delhi:
I. Population Structure and Socio-cultural Profile

KEYWORDS Demographic Variables. Population Structure. Socio-Economic Profile. Age-Sex Pyramid. Semi-Urban

ABSTRACT The importance and application of demographic studies is ever increasing. Keeping this in mind, a demographic study was conducted on Hindu Gujjars. No detailed demographic study has been conducted on Gujjars of Delhi so far. Population composition of Gujjars residing in Delhi was evaluated. The survey was conducted in five Gujjar predominated villages. Data was collected by interviewing ever-married women in the age group 15-49 years from a sample of 558 households. Sample Gujjars represents a young population which has recently experienced fertility decline. Sex ratio is high. All the females and nearly all males have ever been married by age of 29 years. There is no case of divorce or separation. Overall, among Gujjars though the literacy is high, the level of education attained is low. Younger Gujjars particularly the females show improvement in the level of education. Negligible proportions of females are employed. Many of them have combined their traditional occupation of pastoralism and marginal cultivation by working in private sectors, government offices and small businesses. Residence characteristics indicate semi-urbanized nature of settlement.

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