A GENETIC DEMOGRAPHIC STRUCTURE OF YERUKULA TRIBE IN WEST GODAVARI DISTRICT OF ANDHRA PRADESH, SOUTH INDIA

*Deva S. R. S. Prakash, Konathala Geethakumari and Godi. Sudhakar

ABSTRACT

The Yerukulas, a tribal population subsisting traditionally on agriculture, animal husbandry and handicrafts trade, inhabit largely in plains of Southern Indian states specifically, West Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The demographic information regarding occupation, economic status, fertility and mortality, age of children etc were collected. The present study on tribal population with moderately high fertility and mortality shows a picture of a growing population. Sex ratio was slightly deviated to the predominance of males. The inbreeding co-efficient for autosomes is 0.0381 and sex chromosomes is 0.0438 among the Yerukula tribe, and the overall inbreeding coefficient is 0.081 which is relatively high due to more number of uncle-niece marriages. Among postnatal deaths, neonatal deaths in non-consanguineous and infantile deaths in consanguineous couples are higher than their counterparts. The index of variability of fertility is higher in non-consanguineous couples and proportion of surviving offspring is higher in consanguineous couples. However, the percent offspring mortality is higher in non- consanguineous couples. Thus, improving socio-economic conditions and creating awareness on medical facilities so as to reduce the fertility and mortality is essential to keep the population growth under control.

Keywords: Demography, Yerukulas, West Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh, South India.