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The book titled ‘Whole Numbers and Half Truths’ analyses data from various sources like census, National Statistical Office, National Family Health Survey, National Crime Records Bureau to analyse lives of Indians.
India is the second-most populated country on the planet and also a young person’s country, average age of India is 28.4 years.
Therefore, it is essential to analyse how the youth of the country are living their lives, do they enjoy the constitutional values of equality, liberty and what are the factors that influence their life choices.
What does data reveal about lives of young India?
This book reveals that marriages in India are still done within one’s caste and religion. It is vastly different from the Constitution ideal where one’s caste, class and gender will not be a determinative factor in shaping choices.
It also shows how education helps in delaying marriage, the data reveals that the poorest 40% of women and those who have not gone to school or have only a primary education are the ones who marry below the age of 18 years.
Source: This post is based on the article “What data tells us about the lives of young Indians” published in Indian express on 19th Feb 2022.
