P: ISSN No. 2231-0045 RNI No. UPBIL/2012/55438 VOL.-7, ISSUE-2, November-2018 E: ISSN No. 2349-9435 Periodic Research Demographic Structure of Ethnic Tribes in Cold Desert Leh – Ladakh Abstract The present study was carried out on demographic structure of cold desert Leh- Ladakh. The analysis of the data reveals that the study area has a total population of 1, 33,487. Near about 77.49 percent of total population is a tribal population and is unevenly distributed. The major tribes are Bhots, Champas, Brokpas, Mons and Arghuns. The average physiological density of population is 260 persons / Km2. The overall literacy rate is 70.24 percent and varies among males and females. The average sex ratio is 690 females per thousand males that is less than the national average sex ratio of 943 females per thousand males. Majority of the population was engaged in secondary activities (45.72 %). Birth rate and death rate shows fluctuations with years and G. M. Rather there is declining trend in population growth from 1981 onwards. Sr. Assistant Professor Keywords: Demographic Structure, Tribal Population, Cold Desert Leh, Deptt.of Geography and Regional Physiological Density, Sex Ratio. Development, Introduction University of Kashmir, Population is defined as any finite or infinite collection of individual Srinagar, India objects. But in geography it refers to a congregation of human individual objects. The specialized study of population geography, began in early sixties with the presidential address delivered by Trewartha (Trewartha , 1953). Review of Literature According to Trewartha the scope of the field should include a treatment of all the variables present in the census schedule of advanced nation. The data used in various disciplines of knowledge. However, the geographical use of data is unique for its being carried on the identification of regional pattern and spatial arrangements and explanation of the Arshad A. Lone processes of the formation of regional patterns and personalities (Zelinsky, Research Scholar 1966). Population distributions are constantly changing as births and Deptt.of Geography and Regional deaths occur and as people move (Austin et al 1987). Demography is the Development, study of human populations in relation to the changes brought about by the University of Kashmir, interplay of births, deaths and migration (Christopher, 1985). Demography Srinagar, India is the science of population. Demography is concerned with the quantitative study of the size structure, characteristics and territorial distribution of human populations and the changes occurring in them. Demography is also concerned with the study of the underlying causes and determinants of the population phenomena (Jain, 2014). Demographic analysis focus particularly on studying changes in population in terms of its size, growth rates and composition (Preston et al, 2003). The relationship between education and demographic and social changes is one of interdependence .There is a close and complex relationship among education, marriage age, fertility, mortality, mobility and activity ( Mushtaq A.Kumar Srivastava, 2012). Demography performs all the functions, characteristics Research Scholar of a science such as enquiry into cause effect relationships, prediction Deptt. of Geography and Regional about the future etc. it uses the scientific methods of observation and Development, analysis. It is a positive science which studies facts both quantitatively as University of Kashmir, well as qualitatively (Sharma, 2004). Societies around the world are Srinagar, India characterized or shaped by their population processes and characteristics (Newbold, 2012). Aim of the Study The present study was an attempt to study various demographic aspects of cold desert – Leh Ladakh. The main objective of the study was to describe, analyze and interpret the spatial pattern of population in district Leh. Conceptual framework The term population structure usually makes a turning point from the gross and general to the refined and specific. It refers to the distribution 62 P: ISSN No. 2231-0045 RNI No. UPBIL/2012/55438 VOL.-7, ISSUE-2, November-2018 E: ISSN No. 2349-9435 Periodic Research within a population of one or more individually carried structure of population. High mortality amongst traits and attributes (Howley, 1959). The characteristic children may lead to low sex ratio, whereas low groupings which make up the peculiar structure of mortality may induce a high sex ratio (Siddiqi, 1984). population at any particular time or its changing Age structure of population of a region may get structure over a period are known as its composition changed due to migration, even without any (Chaddock, 1965). D. J. Boque has sub divided the substantial change in the numerical magnitude of the population composition into four parts, demographic, population. It is not unlikely that within a specified social, household family and economic characteristics period, a certain number of one age group may leave of population (Boque, 1969). an area which about the same number of persons of a The composition of population refers to those different age group may move in. This would mean an aspects of population which may be measured almost zero net migration and therefore, no change in however, inadequately. Population structure often the number but the age structure of the local varies considerably among different nations and also population gets changed (Siddiqui, 1984). Ravenstien among different sections within a nation. Such (1989) and Lee (1970) have recognized the sex variation is the result of a host of factors. The chief selective character of migrations. The statistical among the demographic differentials which play a evidences confirms that migrations are generally, profound role in shaping the structure of a population male selective. are fertility, mortality and migration. Social, cultural, Study Area economic and political factors also differentiate The study area is situated between 32 to 36 population structure sometimes directly and degree North latitude and 72 to 80 degree east sometimes indirectly (Clarke, 1965). Change and longitude and at an altitude ranging from 2900 to 5900 variation in fertility patterns may bring about Metres.It covers an area of 45110 Km2, and is the substantial changes in the age distribution of largest district in the Jammu and Kashmir State. The population. High fertility may cause a population to study area is having 112 inhabited and one un become progressively younger, whereas, low fertility, inhabited villages with a population of 1, 33, 487 souls by contrast is relatively high and youthful relatively as per 2011 census with Buddhist as the largest few (Trewartha, 1969). In terms of economic religious group followed by Muslims. The majority of implications the former may lead to a situation in the population is tribal and major ethnic tribes are, which the burden of juvenile dependents would Bhots, Brokpas, Champas, Mons and Arghuns. The become abnormally heavy and as a reflex Study area comprises of three sub districts, Leh, consequences, the proportion of the workforce would Nubra and Khaltsi. There are sixteen blocks of study contract to subnormal magnitude on the contrary, the area namely Leh, Nimmo, Saspool, Khaltsi, later would produce a situation of low burden on Skurbuchan, Lingshet, Diskit, Turtuk, Panamic, dependency and high proportion of a relatively Nyoma, Rupshu, Chumathang, Durbuk, Kharu, efficient workforce. Mortality also affect the sex Chuchot .and Thiksey. Figure 1 : Location Map of Study Area Data Base and Methodology different departments of district Leh. Primary data The present study is based on both primary regarding some components of Demography like age and secondary data. Secondary data was collected Structure and levels of education were obtained by from different sources like census of India district the field survey through a structured Questionnaire. Handbook Leh, Statistical digest District Leh and Block was selected as unit of study. There were 16 63 P: ISSN No. 2231-0045 RNI No. UPBIL/2012/55438 VOL.-7, ISSUE-2, November-2018 E: ISSN No. 2349-9435 Periodic Research Blocks in district Leh. Around 15% of sample villages of the total population, 78970 are males and 54516 were selected for the present study comprising one are females. There is uneven distribution of sample village from each Block except two villages population in Leh District. Some blocks are having from Block Disket and Block Kharu because of having high concentration of population where as some are large number of villages, thereby making total number sparsely populated. The highest concentration of of sample villages as around 18. Near about 10 population is in urban wards of Leh ( 30870 persons) percent of households (312) in proportion to the total while as lowest concentration of population is in Block households from each sample village of 16 blocks and Rupsho having 1846 persons (table 1). From the 100 households from urban areas comprising of 1.50 figure 2 it is clear that density of population varies per cent of total urban households, were selected for from block to block. Highest density of population is the field survey. The data collected was then analysed found in Urban wards (2077 persons/sq. km.) while as statistically and represented graphically. lowest density is found in Block Panamic (41 Results and Discussions persons/sq. km.)) . From the table 1 it is clear that Demographic structure of Cold desert Leh over all household