POPULATION: India's population problems and Associated Issues

Population Growth can be defined as the change in population over time and can be quantified as the change in the number of individuals in a population as "per unit time". In demographics, the world population is the total number of humans currently living. The World is facing a major challenge of a rapid increase in the human population since the last many decades. The world population was estimated to have reached 7.8 billion in April 2020. In various parts of the globe, there is unparalleled rapid demographic change and the most noticeable example of this change is the vast expansion of humans.

Statistical reports indicated that China and India are nations with the largest population in the world. Due to massive land and lack of contraception, the population is mounting at a rapid rate within these countries. India has the second-largest population in the world and will soon exceed China. 

Population explosion in developing countries such as India is a matter of concern because it disrupts the development of the country and its society. The developing countries already face challenges of limited resources due to the fast growth of the population as the resources available per person are reduced further which results in increased poverty, malnutrition, and other large population-related problems. 

It is expected that in the near future, it will increase rapidly and give birth to numerous issues in the least developed regions. It is recommended that there is a desperate need to take urgent steps to control population otherwise serious problems can arise such as environmental damage and restricted availability of food resources. "More than 300 million Indians earn less than the US $1 every day and about 130 million people are jobless." Poor or illiterate people give birth to more children because they think that more children mean more earning hands. 

 Migration is the number of people moving in (immigration) or out (emigration) of a country, place, or locality. The population change is calculated by the formula:

           Population change = (Births + Immigration) – (Deaths + Emigration)

Increase in population in India:

The two main common causes leading to overpopulation in India are:

=> The birth rate is still higher than the death rate. We have been successful in declining the death rates but the same cannot be said for birth rates.

=> The fertility rate due to the population policies and other measures has been falling but even then it is much higher compared to other countries.

The above two causes are interrelated to the various social issues in our country which are leading to overpopulation.

=> Early Marriage:  Even though the marriageable age of a girl is legally 18 years, the concept of early marriage still prevails. Getting married at a young age prolongs the childbearing age. Also, in India, marriage is a sacred obligation and a universal practice, where almost every woman is married at the reproductive age.

=> Poverty and Illiteracy:  Another factor for the rapid growth of the population, is poverty. Poor families have this notion that more the number of members in the family, more will be the numbers to earn income. Some feel that more children are needed to look after them in their old age. Strange but true, Indians still lag behind the use of contraceptives(1) and birth control methods. Many of them are not willing to discuss or are totally unaware of them. Illiteracy is thus another cause of overpopulation.

=> Age-old cultural norm: Sons are the bread earners of the families in India. This age-old thought puts considerable pressure on the parents to produce children until a male child is born.

   

Effects of the rapid population growth in India:

Even after 73 years of independence, the scenario of our country is not good, due to overpopulation. Some major impacts of the high population are as follows:

=> Unemployment: Job creation is a major issue for countries in which the population is increasing at a faster rate. The main reason is that in developing economies, the majority of the population is uneducated.  Generating employment for a huge population in a country like India is very difficult. The number of illiterate persons increases every year. The unemployment rate is thus showing an increasing trend.

=> Manpower utilization: Another issue is how to use manpower. The number of jobless people is on the rise in India due to economic depression and slow business development and expansion activities.

=> Pressure on infrastructure:  Development of infrastructural facilities is unfortunately not keeping pace with the growth of population. Due to the population explosion, numerous facilities such as housing, transportation, health care, and education become insufficient. There has been an increase in the number of slums, overcrowded houses, traffic congestion, etc.

=> Resource utilization: Land areas, water resources, forests are overexploited. Population overcrowding puts more pressure on land and natural resources. There is also a scarcity of resources.

=> Increased cost of production: Food production and distribution have not been able to catch up with the increasing population and hence the costs of production have increased. Inflation is a major consequence of overpopulation.

=> inequitable income distribution: Population growth in an uneven manner can lead to the unbalanced distribution of salary. Both at the international and national levels, income inequality increased. The increase in the gross national product (GNP) is significantly reduced in per capita terms on account of the rapidly growing population.

Steps to Control Population in India:

Increasing the welfare and status of women and girls, spread of education, increasing awareness for the use of contraceptives and family planning methods, sex education, encouraging male sterilization and spacing births, free distribution of contraceptives and condoms among the poor, encouraging female empowerment, more health care centers for the poor, to name a few, can play a major role in controlling the population.

India’s strengths in the global world in various fields cannot be ignored, whether in science & technology, medicine, and health care, business and industry, military, communication, entertainment, literature, and many more. Experts are hopeful that increasing public awareness and enlisting strict population control norms by the Government will definitely lead the way for the country’s economic prosperity and control of the population.

> SOCIAL Measure:

Population outburst is considered to be a social problem and it is intensely rooted in civilization. It is therefore necessary to make efforts to eliminate the social iniquities in the country. As fertility depends on the age of marriage, therefore, the minimum age of marriage should be raised. In India, the minimum age for marriage is 21 years for men and 18 years for women fixed by law. This law should be strongly implemented and people should also be made aware of this through promotion.

=> Raising the Status of Women: There is still favoritism to the women. They are restricted to houses. They are still confined to rearing and bearing children. So women should be given opportunities to develop socially and economically. Free education should be given to them.

=> Spread education: The spread of education changes the views of people. Educated men make mature decisions and prefer to delay marriage and adopt small family customs. Educated women are health mindful and avoid frequent pregnancies and thus help in lowering the birth rate.

=> Adoption is also an effective way to curb the population. Some parents do not have any child, despite expensive medical treatment. It is recommended that they should adopt orphan children. It will be helpful to orphan children and children to couples.

=> Social Security is necessary for people. It is the responsibility of the government to include more and more people under-social security schemes. So that they do not depend upon others in the event of old age, sickness, unemployment with these facilities they will have no desire for more children.

> ECONOMIC Measures:

 There have to be numerous economic measures taken as a preventive measure for population explosion. The government must devise policies for more employment opportunities. It is necessary to raise the employment opportunities in rural as well as urban areas. Generally, in rural areas, there is disguised joblessness. Another economic measure for population control is the development of Agriculture and Industry. If agriculture and industry are correctly developed, a huge number of people will get employment. When their income is increased they would enhance their standard of living and accept small family norms.

=> Urbanization process can reduce population increase. It is reported that people in urban areas have a lower birth rate than those living in rural areas. Urbanization should be encouraged.

=> There is a need to follow strict birth control measures such as China has adopted the strategy to decrease the birth rate. In order to reduce the birth rate, several government-funded agencies like the Family Planning Association of India spend excessive funds to promote family planning as a basic human right and the norm of a  two-child family on a voluntary basis.

=> The family planning methods provided by the family planning program are vasectomy(2), tubectomy(3), IUD, conventional contraceptives (that is condoms, diaphragms, jelly/cream tubes, foam tables) and oral pills.

=> Additionally, induced abortion is available, free of charge, in institutions recognized by the government to control population increase.

Population policy followed in India since Independence:

 After independence, a Population Policy Committee was created in 1952 which suggested the appointment of a Family Planning Research and Programmes Committee in 1953.

 The striking growth rate of the population compelled the government to adopt a relatively more clear and less flexible policy of population which can stabilize the growth rate. In 1961-71, the population growth rate was 2.25% which was highest in any decade after independence. At present (2001-2011), the population growth rate has declined to 1.50%.

 In April 1976, the First National Population Policy was framed by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Planning which suggested a wide spectrum of programs including raising the statutory age of marriage, introducing monetary incentives, paying special attention to improving female literacy, etc. Though this policy was endorsed by the parliament, it was planned at a time when the Emergency was clamped all over India. Sanjay Gandhi, the then President of Indian Youth Congress, took the program of sterilization overzealously which made the masses hostile(4) towards the government led by Indira Gandhi as well as the program. 

To summarize, population escalation is a major issue around the world which has an adverse impact on numerous environmental and human health problems. Population growth continues to increase in the world at a fast pace. As the population enlarges, many experts are concerned about its dangerous results. The overall development of the country and rise in per capita income can go a long way in reduc­ing the rate of increase in population. But the birth rate will have to be reduced at the same time. The Government is using many methods at present. However, India is a large country, and most peo­ple who live in backward areas are illiterate and ignorant. Naturally, it will take time to make the Government's effort to bear fruit.

                                                                                                                               Shailendra   

 

1. contraceptives - गर्भ निरोधकों, 2. vasectomy - पुरुष नसबंदी, 3. tubectomy - महिला नसबंदी 4. hostile - शत्रुतापूर्ण