Over Population

Clarify how over population perpetuates different social problems in India.

1. Population Problems

2. Introduction The total number of inhabitants living in a particular geographical area is called as, “Population”. Information about population and other social characteristics will be studied through Census, National Sample Survey, Sample Registration System, etc . The scientific study of human population is called as, “Demography”. It focuses its attention on three readily observable human phenomena Changes in population size The composition of the population The distribution of population in space

3. Demography – the study of population Demography is a fundamental approach to the understanding of human population in a given society. It deals with five demographic processes like fertility, mortality, marriage, migration and social mobility. The growth of population is having great social concern. Demographer studies both area and other characteristics of population (like age, sex, literacy, religion, occupation, marital pattern, etc.) which are socially important. Human population exists in the world through socio-cultural interaction.

4. Terminology Sex ratio The number of females per 1000 males. Density of population Number of persons living per square kilometre. Family size The total number of persons in a family. Dependency ratio The proportion of persons above 65 years of age and children below 15 years. Life expectancy The average number of years, which a person of that age may expect to live.

5. Increase in Population India is the second most populated country. According to the 2017 revision of the World Population Prospects, the population stood at 1,324,171,354. The Indian population reached the billion mark in 1998. India is projected to be the world’s most populous country by 2024, surpassing the population of China. It is expected to become the first political entity in history to be home to more than 1.5 billion people by 2030, and its population is set to reach 1.7 billion by 2050. http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/india-population/

6. Causes of population growth Peaceful conditions Progress in medical knowledge Improvement in transport facility Improvements to the field of agriculture and industry The climate conditions of India Widening gap between birth and death rates Low age at marriage High illiteracy Religious attitude towards family planning Other causes

7. Causes of population growth Peaceful conditions For nearly a century (1860-1960) India enjoyed comparative peace without involving herself in major inter-conflicts or wars especially after the establishment of British rule. Peaceful conditions provided an impetus for over-population. Progress in medical knowledge Its application has considerably reduced the death rate. It has helped us to control the spread of diseases like Malaria, T.B., Cholera, Plague, Smallpox, etc., and protected the lives of people from jaws of death. Positively, it has contributed to greater population.

8. Causes of population growth Improvement in transport facility It has helped people avail of medical and health facilities without much difficulty. These have served countless lives and added to the size of the population. Improvements to the field of agriculture and industry Uncertainties in the field of agriculture have largely been removed with the help of science and technology. Food production has considerably increase and industries have been providing employment opportunities to thousands of persons. These developments have given people the confidence that they can afford to feed more people if they beget.

9. Causes of population growth The climate conditions of India The tropical climate stimulates sex urges. Widening gap between birth and death rates The average annual birth rate in India which was 42 per thousand population in 1951-61 came down to 19.3 per thousand in 2016. The death rate also came down from over 27 per thousand population in 1951-61 to 7.3 in 2016. Thus, since birth rate has shown a small decline and the death rate has gone down rather sharply, the widening gap has increased our population rapidly.

10. Causes of population growth Low age at marriage Child marriages have been very common in our country. According to the 1931 census, 72% marriages in India were performed before 15 years of age and 34% before 10 years of age. Since then, there has been a continuous increase in the mean age of marriage among both male and females. Thus, though the mean age of marriage has been continuously increasing, yet a large number of girls even today marry at an age at which they are not ready for marriage either socially and emotionally, or physiologically and chronologically.

11. Causes of population growth High illiteracy Family planning has a direct link with female education, and female education is directly associated with age at marriage, general status of women, their fertility and infant mortality rate and so forth. Education makes a person liberal, broad-minded, open to new ideas, and rational. If both men and women are educated, they will easily understand the logic of planning their family, but if either of them or both of them are illiterate, they would be more orthodox, illogically and religious-minded.

12. Causes of population growth Religious attitude towards family planning The religiously orthodox and conservative people are against the use of family planning measures. There are women who disfavour family planning on the plea that they cannot go against the wishes of God. There are some women who argue that the purpose of a woman’s life is to bear children. Majority of both males and females were aware of morden family planning methods, they were either against using them on religious grounds or they lacked clear and adequate knowledge about them.

13. Causes of population growth Other causes Joint family system and lack of responsibility of young couples in these families to bring up their children Lack of recreational facilities and lack of information or wrong information about the adverse effects of vasectomy, tubectomy and the loop. Many poor parents produce children not because they are ignorant but because they need them.

14. Consequences of Population growth Heavy pressure on land Food shortage Housing problem Unemployment Illiteracy Ill-health Economic loss Changes in the environment

15. Consequences of Population growth Heavy pressure on land Over-population inevitably leads to heavy pressure on land. Since land is limited and fixed in supply an increase in population can only bring more pressure on it. Hence the new born people will have to share the land with the existing people. It narrows down the size of the land that each could share. With the exception of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh in all the other states heavy density of population is to be found.

16. Consequences of Population growth Food shortage The fast growing population has resulted in the serious shortage of food in the country. People have to be fed. A growing population requires increasing amount of food . Even though our food production has considerably increased it is not enough to feed the growing population. As a result one out of every four is suffering from malnutrition and two out of every four get only half of the daily required quantum of food . The World Bank, in 2011 based on 2005's PPPs International Comparison Program, estimated 23.6 % of Indian population, or about 276 million people, lived below $1.25 per day on purchasing power parity.

17. Consequences of Population growth Housing problem Enough houses are not there to give shelter to the people. Every year India require 5.9 million new houses to provide shelter to the newly added chunk of the population. In cities one can find large number of low income people living in slums in horrible conditions. In big cities like Mumbai people are forced to live in single-room house. It is not uncommon to find more than 10 to 12 people living in a single poorly lighted, ill-ventilated house, etc. Acute shortage of houses has led to overcrowding, congestion, ill-health, insanitation and often to immorality.

18. Consequences of Population growth Unemployment Not only newly born individuals are to be fed and sheltered but are also to be provided with job. New jobs are to be created for new hands . It is not easy. There is already unemployment coupled with under-employment. Every year number of people who attain the working age join the group of jobseekers. Job opportunities that are created during the course of the Five-Year Plans are not enough to meet the demand. Due to the rapid growth of population the problem of unemployment becomes more dangerous as the years pass .

19. Consequences of Population growth Illiteracy A nation’s economic development, its political stability and cultural attainments depend very much on the educational standards of the people. In India, literacy is around 74.04%. About 80.9% of men and 64.60% of women can be regarded as literate. The magnitude of illiteracy is mainly due to over-population . It is a matter of pity that India is not able to provide schooling facility to all the children of school-going age. The increasing in the number of schools and colleges is not enough to cater to the educational needs of the growing population . Appointment of teachers at various levels and provision of educational facilities in the educational institutions are also not up to the satisfaction.

20. Consequences of Population growth Ill-health Indians are not only economically poor but also physically not healthy. Medial facilities that are provided are not enough to meet the growing need. More than 75% of the doctors are settled in towns and cities, to serve 30% of the population. Hence a large number of people are devoid of any medical help. Due to lack of medical facilities and nutritious food good number of people are becoming physically and mentally handicapped. Every year not only populations is increasing but also number of people suffering from ill-health is also increasing.

21. Consequences of Population growth Economic loss Growing population has brought down national as well as per capita income . Standard of living of the masses has been adversely affected. Poverty is mainly due to over population . Because of low income and low saving capacity of our people, the rate of capital formation is very low. Thus, economic growth is affected adversely. The growing population is eating away the increased output making saving and investment almost impossible. It has shaken the stability, integrity and the security of the nation.

22. Consequences of Population growth Changes in the environment Soil Population pressure on means of subsistence. Due to deforestation there is less rain, soil erosion, lack of green pastures. Exploration of coal and other minerals Exploration is going to exhaust all the underground resources within 100 years. Air pollution due to industrialisation With the advanced technology and mechanisation rapid evolution of industrialisation the harmful gases like carbon monoxide and other gases, chemical like acid, fertilizer plants pollutes the environment and thereby leading to more respiratory diseases. Use of motorcars, machines as petroleum products resulting in liberation of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide due to which longevity of life is reduced. Water pollution Increase in consumption of water due to over population may lead to scarcity of water. Presence of oil facts in the water is leading to lack of oxygen and thereby no life in the riverbeds.

23. The new approach to control population problem Target-Free Programme Bottom-Up Approach or Decentralized Participatory Planning State Specific Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) Strategy Integrated RCH Package Comprehensive Integrated Training

24. Approach to control population problem Target-Free Programme A significant shift in the family planning programme is the introduction of t arget-free programme from April 1996 . Targets were a major obsession in our family planning programme in which village patwaris , school teachers and government functionaries had to achieve the minimum targets of sterilization and the measures. Postings, promotions and transfers of functionaries depended on the fulfilment of targets.

25. Approach to control population problem Bottom-Up Approach or Decentralized Participatory Planning Hitherto, planning was done at the top level and percolated down to the grassroots for implementation. Now the programme is to be chalked out at the village level in consultation with health workers of Sub-Centre and PHC, panchayat members, and active individuals. State Specific Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) Strategy Since states display a wide variation in health parameters, such as infant mortalities, maternal mortalities, birth rates, etc., are specific RCH approach has been worked out separately for three groups of states plus the special category states where considerable infrastructure input flows from state health systems projects.

26. Approach to control population problem Integrated RCH Package It provides a minimum model framework for Reproductive Health Services at different levels in the district, namely, sub-centre, PHC and district hospitals . These services are related to prevention and management of unwanted pregnancy, maternal care, services for the new-born and infants, and management of STDs. Comprehensive Integrated Training Emphasis will be laid on the training of personnel to improve efficiency of interventions, interpersonal communication, and management. The central and the state governments will support that district in training of trainers, providing training material and periodic evaluation.

27. Measures to control population problem Family planning Rise in the age of marriage Improvement in the status of women Introduction of compulsory education Internal migration Increased Involvement of NGOs Independent Evaluation of Programme

28. Measures to control population problem Family planning Now-a-days it is considered an indispensable method of controlling population. This voluntary limitation of the size of the family through the control of birth can be done in two ways: Moral or self-restraint This is, controlling oneself. This can take various forms such as post ponding marriage, raising the age of marriage, celibacy, and so on. Use of birth control methods This requires the adoption of suitable methods of birth control. These include the use of contraceptives, tablets, drugs, sterilisation, that is vasectomy, and tubectomy operations, abortion of unwanted child. These safeguard the health and strength of the mothers. Family planning or planned parenthood means conscious family limitation . All these forms are advocated in this country as suitable methods of controlling the birth rate.

29. Measures to control population problem Rise in the age of marriage By raising the minimum age of girls for marriage from 15 to 18, and if possible, to 20, and that of boys from 18 to 21, and if possible , to 24 – one would expect a considerable reduction in the birth-rate. Child marriage should not be allowed. Rise in the age of marriage will reduce the reproductive span of women. Improvement in the status of women Experience in the west has shown that high status of women is closely associated with a lower birth-rate. The desire to rise in the social scale develops a strong feeling for a smaller family. The educated, employed urban women exhibit a desire for small family.

30. Measures to control population problem Introduction of compulsory education It may increase the earning capacity of males. It improves the status of women. It develops in the couple a rational attitude towards life. It creates an awareness regarding family planning. Internal migration We find an unequal distribution of population in different parts of India. There are densely populated (U.P., Bihar, etc.,) as well as scarcely populated (Assam, Manipur, etc.,) regions in the country. By diverting the population from the densely populated areas to the scarcely populated regions, the problem can be faced more effectively.

31. Measures to control population problem Increased Involvement of NGOs More NGOs will be involved in clinic-based interventions, in strengthening community participation in implementing project activities, and in the training of trainers for technical skills. Private rural medical practitioners, including those of indigenous system of medicines will also be involved in plans. Independent Evaluation of Programme T he programme will be monitored and evaluated for qualitative performance. 18 Population Resource Centres (PRCs) have been established which are at present engaged in working out formats for annual surveys . 8 regional teams have also been constituted by the government for cross-checking of activities.

32. Measures to control population problem Raise the age at marriage has to be enforced Legislative enactment in parliament Strong disincentives for family of more than three kids in public and private sector Less stringent over abortion law Mass-media has to be used extensively to propagate small family norm Government has to inspire the professionals by giving awards, incentives for the excellent performance in the family welfare activities Religious leaders has to come forward to advice small family norms in the large interest of the nation

33. Difficulties involved in family planning Birth control is associated with a high standard of living. In India it is very low. The available contraceptives are not safe , cheap and easily available. Due to administrative and organisational defects, the message of family planning programme has not reached the remotest corners of the country where it is all the more needed. Illiterate and ignorant people have failed to understand the significance of the programme.

34. Difficulties involved in family planning Tradition-minded Indians look at the programme with disfavour and suspicion. This, they feel, strikes at the very root of their belief or faith in God. The use of contraceptives requires privacy in the houses, which is not available in some large joint-families. Finally, the success of the programme depends upon the integrity, sincerity and honesty of the officials engaged in the programme . It is unfortunate, that they themselves are not much serious about it.

35. Thank you