Effect of Occupation and Marriage Age on Small Family Norms among Scheduled Castes of Haryana

The sheer increase in human population is one of the most serious problems confronting mankind and the best developmental proposition for India is to stabilize its population which is more sociological in nature them technical. The present study was conducted in a multi caste village and a total of 200 respondents were selected to assess the knowledge and attitude of schedule castes families towards small family norms. The respondents from service class and those married at later age were having higher knowledge and favourable attitude towards small family norms. About 60% respondents from labour and farming category had 5-8 family members whereas as 50% of service class and other occupation group had less than 5 members. About 60% of the respondents of up to 17 year of age at marriage were having 5-8 members where as 47.7% respondents of more than 21 years age group were having small family size. It was concluded that occupation level and marriage age of a person had significant influence on his knowledge and attitude towards small family norms. So efforts are needed for higher education and marriage at later age to achieve the aim of small family.