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). 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 processes of the formation of regional patterns and personalities (Zelinsky, 1966). Population distributions are constantly changing as births and Arshad A. Lone deaths occur and as people move (Austin et al 1987). Demography is the Research Scholar study of human populations in relation to the changes brought about by the Deptt.of Geography and Regional interplay of births, deaths and migration (Christopher, 1985). Demography Development, is the science of population. Demography is concerned with the University of Kashmir, quantitative study of the size structure, characteristics and territorial Srinagar, India 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 ( Srivastava, 2012). Demography performs all the functions, characteristics of a science such as enquiry into cause effect relationships, prediction Mushtaq A.Kumar about the future etc. it uses the scientific methods of observation and Research Scholar analysis. It is a positive science which studies facts both quantitatively as Deptt. of Geography and Regional well as qualitatively (Sharma, 2004). Societies around the world are Development, characterized or shaped by their population processes and characteristics University of Kashmir, (Newbold, 2012). The present study was an attempt to study various Srinagar, India 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 within a population of one or more individually carried traits and attributes (Howley, 1959). The characteristic groupings which make up the peculiar structure of population at any particular time or its changing structure over a period are known as its composition (Chaddock, 1965). D. J. Boque has 62 P: ISSN No. 2231-0045 RNI No. UPBIL/2012/55438 VOL.-7, ISSUE-2, November-2018 E: ISSN No. 2349-9435 Periodic Research sub divided the population composition into four parts, Age structure of population of a region may get demographic, social, household family and economic changed due to migration, even without any characteristics of population (Boque, 1969). substantial change in the numerical magnitude of the The composition of population refers to those population. It is not unlikely that within a specified aspects of population which may be measured period, a certain number of one age group may leave however, inadequately. Population structure often an area which about the same number of persons of a varies considerably among different nations and also different age group may move in. This would mean an among different sections within a nation. Such almost zero net migration and therefore, no change in variation is the result of a host of factors. The chief the number but the age structure of the local among the demographic differentials which play a population gets changed (Siddiqui, 1984). Ravenstien profound role in shaping the structure of a population (1989) and Lee (1970) have recognized the sex are fertility, mortality and migration. Social, cultural, selective character of migrations. The statistical economic and political factors also differentiate evidences confirms that migrations are generally, population structure sometimes directly and male selective. sometimes indirectly (Clarke, 1965). Change and Study Area variation in fertility patterns may bring about The study area is situated between 32 to 36 substantial changes in the age distribution of degree North latitude and 72 to 80 degree east population. High fertility may cause a population to longitude and at an altitude ranging from 2900 to 5900 become progressively younger, whereas, low fertility, Metres.It covers an area of 45110 Km2, and is the by contrast is relatively high and youthful relatively largest district in the Jammu and Kashmir State. The few (Trewartha, 1969). In terms of economic study area is having 112 inhabited and one un implications the former may lead to a situation in inhabited villages with a population of 1, 33, 487 souls which the burden of juvenile dependents would as per 2011 census with Buddhist as the largest become abnormally heavy and as a reflex religious group followed by Muslims. The majority of consequences, the proportion of the workforce would the population is tribal and major ethnic tribes are, contract to subnormal magnitude on the contrary, the Bhots, Brokpas, Champas, Mons and Arghuns. The later would produce a situation of low burden on Study area comprises of three sub districts, Leh, dependency and high proportion of a relatively Nubra and Khaltsi. There are sixteen blocks of study efficient workforce. Mortality also affect the sex area namely Leh, Nimmo, Saspool, Khaltsi, structure of population. High mortality amongst Skurbuchan, Lingshet, Diskit, Turtuk, Panamic, children may lead to low sex ratio, whereas low Nyoma, Rupshu, Chumathang, Durbuk, Kharu, mortality may induce a high sex ratio (Siddiqi, 1984). Chuchot .and Thiksey. Figure 1 : Location Map of Study Area Data Base and Methodology Structure and levels of education were obtained by The present study is based on both primary the field survey through a structured Questionnaire. and secondary data. Secondary data was collected Block was selected as unit of study. There were 16 from different sources like census of India district Blocks in district Leh. Around 15% of sample villages Handbook Leh, Statistical digest District Leh and were selected for the present study comprising one different departments of district Leh. Primary data sample village from each Block except two villages regarding some components of Demography like age from Block Disket and Block Kharu because of having 63 P: ISSN No. 2231-0045 RNI No. UPBIL/2012/55438 VOL.-7, ISSUE-2, November-2018 E: ISSN No. 2349-9435 Periodic Research large number of villages, thereby making total number are females. There is uneven distribution of of sample villages as around 18. Near about 10 population in Leh District. Some blocks are having percent of households (312) in proportion to the total high concentration of population where as some are households from each sample village of 16 blocks and sparsely populated. The highest concentration of 100 households from urban areas comprising of 1.50 population is in urban wards of Leh ( 30870 persons) per cent of total urban households, were selected for while as lowest concentration of population is in Block the field survey. The data collected was then analysed Rupsho having 1846 persons (table 1). From the statistically and represented graphically. figure 2 it is clear that density of population varies Results and Discussions from block to block. Highest density of population is Demographic structure of Cold desert Leh found in Urban wards (2077 persons/sq. km.) while as Ladakh can be discussed under the following lowest density is found in Block Panamic (41 headings: persons/sq. km.)) . From the table 1 it is clear that Distribution and Density of Population and over all