Some millions of years were engaged for the world population to grow to 1 billion – then in just next 200 years or so, it rocketed by seven times. In 2011, the global population reached the mark of 7 billion, and today, it stands at around 7.6 billion.
Every year, July 11 is celebrated as World Population Day. The day was established by the then-Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme in 1989. It seeks to emphasis attentiveness on the emergency of population issues. ‘Family Planning is a Human Right’ is the theme for this year. Family planning was worldwide declared to be a human right for the first time in 1968.
The world population is currently around 7 billion, and according to UN reports population growing at a rapid speed, adding 83 million people every year. Nearly on the edge of completing three decades now, the world population day that is celebrated internationally, intends to spread awareness on issues such as overpopulation, under population and birth control.
This unexpected growth has been moved largely by:
Rising numbers of people surviving to reproductive age,
Along with major changes in fertility rates,
Accelerating urbanization and increasing migration.
These shifts will have far-reaching implications for generations to come.
On the occasion of WORLD POPULATION DAY, THE CAPITAL POST brings you an exclusive report of population explosion in India and across the globe.
INDIA’S SCENARIO
By 2024, India will Move ahead of China’s population at 1.41 billion, to become the most populous country; not something to be proud of! It must speedily prepare for the fast-changing economy. Its population is 1,350,044,915 (1.35 billion) As of July 03, 2018, nearly a fourfold increase since independence 70 years ago.
Population, by age group, per cent
UNITED NATION POPULATION FUND 2017
Total population 2017:
1,339.2 mm
Average annual rate of population change, 2010- 2017:
1.2%
Population aged 10-24, 2017:
28%
Dependency ratio, 2016:
51.9
Total population aged 10, female:
12,033
The population of India in the past 5 years:
1. 2013 – 1.252 Billion
2. 2014 – 1.26 Billion
3. 2015 – 1.31 Billion
4. 2016 – 1.32 Billion
5. 2017 – 1.3366 Billion
India’s population growth speed, now at 15 million per year, is the world’s largest. The two nations India and China unassisted have more than a billion people, and their population gap is projected to widen to 500 million by 2100. By juxtaposition, Nigeria and the United States, the third and fourth most populous countries in 2100, are predicted to have populations of nearly 800 million and 450 million, respectively.
Demography of India:
Sex Ratio- The sex fraction of the country by the year 2011 is 940 females for 1000 males that have definitely changed by the year 2018 by 945 females per 1000 males.
Life Expectancy Rate- The life expectancy rate in the nation is 68 years with the life expectancy for females being 69.6 years and for males it is around 67.3.
Doctors Availability- There are roughly 50 doctors for each 100,000 Indians.
Rural/Urban- The ratio of Indians living in urban areas has increased rapidly by around 31.2% in the time frame of 1991 and 2001. Be that as it may, in 2001, over 70% lived in rural areas. The size of urbanization went up from 27.81% in the 2001 Census to 31.16% in the 2011 Census.
Current Population of India in 2018 1,350,044,915 (1.35 billion) As of July 03, 2018
Total Male Population in India 697,163,194 (69.7 crore)
Total Female Population in India 652,881,720 (65.2 crore)
Sex Ratio 945 females per 1,000 males
Age structure
0 to 25 years 50% of India’s current population
Currently, there are about 51 births in India in a minute.
What caused Population Explosion?
The birth rate remains higher than the death rate.
The fertility rate has improved due to the population policies and other measures but still it is much higher as compared to other countries.
Various social issues resulting in the increase in the population of India:
Early Marriage and Universal Marriage System
Poverty and Illiteracy: poverty stricken families have this concept that more the number of members in the family, more will be the numbers to earn income.
Less Use of contraceptives and birth control methods
Illiteracy
Age old cultural norm: In the patriarchal society, sons are the bread earners. This preconceived notion puts considerable pressure on the parents to give birth till a male child is born.
Illegal migration: We can’t ignore the fact that illegal migration is continuously taking its place from Bangladesh, Nepal causing to increased population density.
Effects of population explosion:
1. Problem of Investment Requirement:
Larger investment is needed, in order to attain a given rate of increase in per capita income. This impacts the growth rate of the economy, poorly.
2. Problem of Capital Formation:
35 % of India’s population is composed of persons less than 14 years of age. Most of these people depend on others for maintenance. The responsibility of dependents reduces the capacity of the people to save. So the rate of capital formation falls.
3. Effect on per Capita Income:
Large size of population in India and its rapid rate of growth results in low per capita availability of 3.6 percent per annum.
4. Effect on Food Problem:
Scarcity of food grains hinder economic development in two ways:
(a) People do not get sufficient amount of food which influence their health and productivity which causes low per capita income and thus poverty.
(b) Scarcity of food-grains compels the nation in importing the grains from foreign, which ends the foreign exchange
5. Problem of Unemployment:
Due to limited capital resources it becomes difficult to provide well paid employment to the entire working population.
6. Low Standard of Living:
According to Dr. Chander Shekhar population in India increases by about 1.60 crore. It needs 121 lakh tones of food grains, 1.9 lakh meters of cloth and 2.6 lakh houses and 52 lakh additional jobs.
7. Poverty:
People have to spend a maximum part of their earning for bringing up their families. It results into less saving if there are more members in the family.
8. Burden of Unproductive Consumers:
In India, maximum numbers of children are dependent. Old persons above the age of 60 and many people in the age group of 15-59 do not find employment, which badly influences effective saving.
9. Population and Social Problems:
Migration of people from rural areas to the urban areas causing the growth of slum areas.
People live in most unhygienic and insanitary conditions.
Unemployment and poverty results in frustration and anger among the educated youth.
10. More Pressure on Land:
On the one hand, availability of land goes on decreasing and on the other hand, the problem of sub-division and fragmentation of holdings goes on enlarging.
11. Impact on Maternity Welfare:
Health and welfare of women deteriorates due to high birth rates. Frequent pregnancy without a gap is dangerous to the health of the mother and the child.
12. Pressure on Environment:
More pollution, more toxic wastes and damage to biosphere is brought in by more population.
Steps to Control Population in India
A bold population policy should be initiated by the government, so that the economic growth of the country can move speedily with the demands of a growing population. Making the people at root level aware about the harms can play a major role in controlling population.
Experts are hopeful that by maximum public awareness and obtaining strict population control norms by the Government will definitely lead the way for the country’s economic development and control of population.
Learning from the competitor
In China, besides the forceful ban on more than one child per couple, the government has embraced methods to encourage people to willingly stick to one child. People who have single child are offered privileges from housing, healthcare and education to higher pensions at the time of retirement. This promotes certain the educated class to abide to the one child policy. On the other hand, in India people with more kids are given privileges for their education and ‘welfare’. This is definitely encouraging citizens to have more kids and enjoy the benefits of social securities. Again, one of the excellent example by the government that pushes in the opposite direction to the required one.
In India, the government must realize that the number of birth in a family is greatly dependent upon the religion, the region and the extent of education
In the rural regions of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, people are often spurring to produce more children in the name of religion. They are frightened with the notion that their future generations will end up being dominated by the other religions if they are not in majority. Similarly, some religions also consider that aborting a child is a sinful practice. A child is compared to be God’s gift- an event that cannot be controlled naturally.
What the government needs to aim is on changing the mind-set of the rigid religious extremists and making them realize that how having a big family is not the best idea.
Diversity in the strategy of the government is being lacked. Any attempt by the government to civilize the people about the benefits of a small family is outshined by regional, communal and societal pressure. It is high time that the government must take concrete steps to bridge the gap between the preaching and the practicing.
Conclusion
(a) The population of India is very large by current standards.
(b) The rate of increase of population is also high.
(c) Even the existing population of the country is not being fed, clothed and housed properly; livelihood of most people is in miserable condition.
(d) The meager increase in national income of the country under planned economic development is being utilized by the increase in population. As per the result, the per capita income growth has almost reached to an extinction point.
(e) The need of controlling population is urgent so that existing people may have better standard of living.
India’s rapidly growing population is the most serious hurdle to her economic development. It is impossible to reduce the existing size of population. But it is, definitely, possible to slowdown the rate at which population is increasing.