The demographic implications of socioeconomic transition are studied among the three subsistence categories of the Gangte, a little known tribe from northeast India. Reproductive histories of 444 ever-married women and other data on the 343 households from which these women were drawn were collected from 11 villages representing the 3 transitional groups. A trend of increasing household income and literacy of couples was observed from shifting cultivators to settled agriculturists to the town-dwelling Gangte. The effect of socioeconomic transition is also seen in the constriction at the base of the age-sex pyramid of the town dwellers compared with the other subsistence categories, suggesting a relatively lower proportion of children in the 0-5-year-old age group. Although exogamy is practiced among all the subsistence categories, a considerably higher percentage of admixture with non-Gangte is observed among the town dwellers compared with the others. Overall infant and child mortality among the Gangte is low. However, variation exists among the three subsistence groups in the sense that a considerable reduction is seen from the traditional shifting cultivators to the urbanized town dwellers, reflecting better socioeconomic conditions and greater awareness and accessibility of the town dwellers to public health amenities. No consistent or perceptible trend is evident in mean number of live births. The genetic implications of this demographic transition are reflected in Crow's indexes of selection.
PIP: This study examined socioeconomic change among three levels of subsistence among a single tribe living in Gangte villages in the South District of Manipur state in northeastern India. The sample included 3 towns, 3 foothill villages of settled agriculturalists, and 5 villages of shifting cultivators. Data were obtained from interviews, group discussions, case histories, and field observations. Information was obtained on age, sex, marital status, marriage age, migration history, births, deaths, abortions, stillbirths, family size, literacy, occupation, income, land ownership, material possessions, productivity of fields, and resource management practices. 29 different tribes belonging to the Kuki and Naga live in the mountains. Valleys are inhabited by Meitei, a Hindu caste group comprising about 65% of total population. Tribes began interacting with valley people in the early 19th century. Christian missionaries converted tribes by 1961. Interactions were facilitated by trade, communication, and the spread of education. Socioeconomic transition brought many changes. Income increased from shifting cultivators at subsistence level to settled agriculturalists to town dwellers. Marriages between Meitei and other tribes were greater than among the other two groups, but marriage age did not change between groups. The female sex ratio was higher for all groups despite the low sex ratio in the district and state. Women enjoy high social status, economic independence, and no sex preference for males. Infant and child mortality is low. Child mortality declines with increased income. Crow's index of natural selection is used to examine the genetic implications of demographic transition.