In our country where religion and caste hold sway, the new census figures are revealing IE, Sept 7. When the growth rate of the Muslims registered a 1.5 per cent rise over the previous decade, the growth rate of Hindus in the same period declined by 4.5 per cent. Assuming that this pattern continues, the present major minority would overtake all others in time. By the same token, the Jains can also outnumber all others provided they maintain their scorching 24 per cent rate of growth every decade. For the Sikhs and Buddhists, who constitute just 1.84 per cent and 0.63 per cent of the population, a steep fall of 6.1 and 10.6 per cent in their respective growth rates is cause for concern. But then population data are like exit polls: full of imponderables. One thing, however, is clear. The government must put totally ban female foeticide and spread literacy among all women.