Assamese speakers declining in 2001-2011

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, June 28: According to the Language data in the Census 2011, Assam recorded a decline in the percentage of Assamese, Bodo, Rabha, and Santali speakers. As per the Language and Mother Tongue data in the Census, the number of people speaking Assamese and Bodo decreased during the decade from 2001 to 2011.

On the other hand, the number of people speaking Bengali and Hindi increased. The percentage of decrease of people speaking Assamese in 2001 was 48.80 while in 2011 it decreased to 48.38. Similarly, in 2001 the speakers of Bengali language in Assam was 27.54 and it increased to 29.91 in 2011.

In 2001, the percentage of the Bodo-speaking population was 4.86 and it decreased to 4.53 in 2011. On the other hand, the percentage of the Hindi-speaking populace was 5.89 in 2001 and it increased to 6.73 in 2011.

According to the 1991 Census, the percentage of Assamese speaking population in the State was 57.81 while the Bengali-speaking population was 21.67.

Assamese speaking population in the State was 57.81 while the Bengali-speaking population was 21.67.

With respect to the people speaking the Rabha language, their total population in the State in 2001 was 1,64,770 while it decreased to 1,39,085 in 2011. The percentage of decrease is 15.04. Similar is the case with the Santali speakers: In 2001 the percentage of Santali speakers in Assam was 2,42,886 and it decreased to 2,13,139.