Challenges of Population Explosion
Feature
|
On
World Population Day
|
Dr. P.J. Sudhakar*
India
is predicted to have overtaken China as the world's most populous nation by
2050. In an already overcrowded world, richer countries are being asked to
share responsibility for the problem of this population explosion, which to a
large extent is due to poverty. The growth rate of population is a
function of migration, birth rate and death rate in a country. The difference
between the birth rate and the death rate measures the growth rate of
population. According to estimates, Indian population has risen 1,270,272,105
(1.27 billion) out of which female
constitute 614,397,079 (614.4 million), male 655,875,026 (655.8 million)
and tribal 104,281,034. The high population growth rates are due to high birth
rate and fast declining death rates due to better sanitation and health
facilities. However, the capacities to absorb increasing manpower are much
weaker. Furthermore, the process of economic development tends to be more
capital intensive under modern technological conditions, and hence, has less
potential of employment generation in the short run. Since the total size of
the population is already large, there is urgency for speedy achievement of
demographic transition from high birth rate to low birth rate resulting in
lower population growth. The effects of the rapid population growth in
India like providing employment to growing population, problem of
utilisation of manpower, over-strained infrastructure, pressure on land and
other renewable natural resources, increased cost of production and
Inequitable distribution of income are hindering with development of the
country.World Population Day is being observed on 11th July
across the World every year.
POPULATION
AND SEX RATIO
Sex ratio is an important
parameter that reflects the status of women in society. Some of the worst
gender ratios, indicating gross violation of women’s rights are found in south
and East Asian countries such as India and China. In India sex-ratio is
declining reaching upto 928:1000. But more important and serious thing is that
with social, educational, economic development, it is declining. In 2011 Census
it is seen that in all states except Bihar, Gujarat and Jammu Kashmir the sex
ratio is increased, it is also increased in UTs except Dadra & Haveli and
Daman & Diu. Female Mortality Rate is observed to be very low in most of
parts of Northern India. But comparatively sex ratio is high in Southern States
of India. Reasons for neglect of girl child and low levels of sex
ratio are son preference, low status of women, social and financial security
associated with sons, socio-cultural practices including dowry and violence
against women. Small family norm may be a catalyst in the declining child sex
ratio.
POPULATION AND ENVIRONMENT
The United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held in
Stockholm in 1972 (United Nations, 1973) stated that the growth of population
in certain areas, through both net migration and national increase, had
accelerated the rates that could frustrate all the efforts to conquer poverty
and underdevelopment and to maintain a safe and stable environment. The
unprecedented consensus at the ICPD in 1994 squarely underscored the complex
interrelationships between population, sustained economic growth, poverty and
the environment. The programme of action stressed the need for integrating
population and environment issues in planning and decision-making and for
modifying unsustainable consumption and production patterns in order to foster
sustainable resource use and prevent environmental degradation. It is also
called for the implementation of policies to address the ecological
implications of population dynamics. Rapid population growth and poverty in
country is adversely affecting the environment. As the 21st century begins,
growing number of people and rising levels of consumption per capita are
depleting natural resources and degrading the environment. .In India, the rapid
increase of population combines with desperate poverty to deplete and pollute
local resource bases on which the livelihood of present and future generations
depends. Though the relationship is complex, population size and growth tend to
expand and accelerate these human impacts on the environment. What is more
concern, the number of population rise will increase to such an extent in
future that it will cause overall scarcity for resources. India is having 18
percent of the world's population on 2.4 percent of its land area has great
deal of pressure on its all natural resources
NATIONAL POPULATION POLICY, 2000
The
National Population Policy was announced on February 15, 2000 with objectives aimed
at meeting the needs for contraception, health care infrastructure, health
personnel and integrated service delivery. The mid-term objectives are outlined
as aimed at bringing the total fertility to replacement levels ⎯ two
children per couple ⎯ by a
vigorous implementation of intersectoral strategies. The long-term
objective is stabilisation of population for 2045. The policy has outlined
16 promotional and motivational measures to implement it vigorously. Among
these, the more important are reward Panchayats and Zila Parishads for
promoting small family norm, strict enforcement of Child Marriage Restraint Act
and Pre-natal Diagnostics Techniques Act, Health insurance covers of Rs. 5,000
for couples below poverty line, with two living children, who undergo
sterilisation and rewards for couples below poverty line, who marry after
legal age, have first child after the mother reaches 21, accept small family
norm and undergo sterilisation after birth of two children.
NATIONAL
COMMISSION ON POPULATION
National
Commission on Population was constituted in May 2000. It is Chaired
by the Prime Minister with the Deputy Chairman Planning Commission as Vice
Chairman. Chief Ministers of all states, Ministers of the related Central Ministries,
secretaries of the concerned Departments, eminent physicians, demographers and
the representatives of the civil society are Members of the
Commission. The Commission has the mandate to review, monitor and
give direction for implementation of the National Population Policy with the
view to achieve the goals set in the Population Policy, promote synergy
between health, educational environmental and developmental programmes so as to
hasten population stabilization, promote inter sectoral coordination in
planning and implementation of the programmes through different sectors and
agencies in center and the statesand develop a vigorous peoples programme
to support this national effort. The National Population Stabilisation
Fund was constituted under the National Commission on Population in
July 2000. Subsequently it was transferred to the Department of Health and
Family Welfare in April 2002.
POPULATION
AND FOOD SECURITY
The
National Food Security Act, 2013 (also Right to Food Act) is an Act of the
Parliament of India which aims to provide subsidized food grains to
approximately two thirds of India's 1.2 billion people. Under the provisions of
the bill, beneficiaries are to be able to purchase 5 kilograms per eligible
person per month of cereals rice at INR3 (5.0¢ US) per kg, wheat at INR2 (3.4¢
US) per kg and coarse grains (millet) at INR1 (1.7¢ US) per kg. Prices.
Pregnant women, lactating mothers, and certain categories of children are
eligible for daily free meals. Every State will have to chalk out its own
strategies for sustainable livelihood to move on the path of sustainable food
production and sustainable livelihood security. This calls for sound policies
and investments in natural resources such as land and water, flora and fauna,
forests and biodiversity -- the ecological foundations essential for
sustainable food security - plus sustainable intensification of crop and animal
production. Population pressures and the forces of atmosphere and
climate change must also be taken into account.Food security has three
components. The first is food availability, which depends on food production
and imports. The second is food access, which depends on purchasing power. The
third, food absorption, is a function of safe drinking water, environmental
hygiene, primary health care and education.
STRATEGIES
FOR DELAYED MONSOON
Several
measures are taken up to deal delayed monsoon. Some of them are a
sound seed production and storage plan, seeds of alternate crops and
varieties that can be sown in case of delayed monsoon, Ensure availability
of breeder seed of contingency crops/varieties which are not normally in the
seed chain, Village level seed banks (crop and fodder), Adoption of
drought and flood tolerant crop varieties in vulnerable, Availability of inputs related
to nutrient management, Large scale demonstrations of climate resilient
agronomic practices to create awareness and promote widespread adoption by
farmers at block level, planting of millets, cotton, pulses and oilseed crops
in ridge-furrow or raised bed systems to ensure adequate drainage in case of
excess rains, Promotion of farm implements on custom hiring basis or
purchase.
POPULATION AND HEALTH CARE
As per industry reports, healthcare is poised to grow at an
estimated annual rate of 19 per cent to reach USD 280 billion by 2020 with
India being recognized as a destination for world class healthcare. During the
last decade the private sector grew to become the major provider of healthcare
services. Its share of beds increased from 49 per cent in 2002 to 63 per cent
in 2010. The Indian government has also introduced several reforms. The 11th
and 12th Five Year Plans and international focus on the Millennium Development
Goals have led to successes, especially in the primary health area – maternal and
child health, and infectious diseases. The National Rural Health Mission has
achieved efficiency and health system reforms, while the Rashtriya Swasthya
Bima Yojana (RSBY) - a national social health insurance scheme - has aimed to
cover in-patient treatment, possibly making quality healthcare and private
sector facilities accessible to the poor. The All India Institutes of Medical
Sciences (AIIMS) are a group of autonomous public medical colleges of higher
education. Apart from AIIMS New Delhi, established in 1956, there are six AIIMS
institute at Bhopal, Bhubaneshar, Jodhpur, Patna, Rishikesh and Raipur.
National Health Policy was
formulated by Central Government in 2002. The social obligation for the
government to ensure the highest possible health status of its population and
as part of this, ensure that all people have access to quality health care has
been recognized by a number of key policy documents. The policy directions of
the Health for All declaration became stated policy of Government of India with
the adoption of the National Health Policy Statement of 1983. Driven by this
declaration there was some expansion of primary health care in the eighties.
Further, the National Health Policy of 2002 and the Report of the Macro-
Economic Commission on Health and Development (2005) were to emphasize a) the
need to increase the total public health expenditure from 2 to 3% of the GDP,
b) the need to strengthen the role of public sector in social protection
against the rising costs of health care and the need to provide a comprehensive
package of services without reducing the prioritization given to women and
children’s health. The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) was
launched on 12th April 2005 to provide accessible, affordable
and quality health care to the rural population, especially the vulnerable
groups. The National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) as a sub-mission of National
Health Mission (NHM) will meet health needs of the urban population with the
focus on urban poor, by making available to them essential primary health care
services and reducing out of pocket expenses for treatment.
POPULATION
AND EMPLOYMENT
As estimated by the World Bank, India is one of the few
countries of the world where the working age population will be far in excess
of those who will no longer be able to work. Unemployment records in India are
kept by the Ministry of Labour and Employment of India. From 1983 till 2011,
Unemployment rates in India averaged 7.6 percent reaching an all time high of
9.4 percent in December 2010 and a record low of 3.8 Percent in December 2011.
In India, the unemployment rate measures the number of people actively looking
for a job as a percentage of the labour force. The number of unemployed persons
in India decreased to 39963 thousand in 2009 from 39974 thousand in 2007.
Unemployed persons in India and kenya averaged 36933 thousand from 1985 until
2009, reaching an all time high of 41750 thousand in 2001 and a record low of
24861 thousand in 1985. In India, unemployed persons are individuals who are
without a job and actively seeking to work. India has a Gini coefficient of
36.8. According to NSS(66th round) Report from Ministry of
Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India published on 2013
Kerala has the highest unemployment rates and ranks worst, while Rajasthan and
Gujarat has the least unemployment rate among major States of India. National
average for unemployment rate stands at 50.
POPULATION
AND SKILLED LABOUR
Beyond
doubt, our youth power is one of the most important assets for economic
development! India’s demographic dividend is a one-time window of
opportunity that cannot afford to be missed; failing is not an option, for that
would be a national disaster. Almost 40% of India’s workforce had received no
formal training. Thus, a large section of India’s population is
virtually unemployable, or can function as unskilled workers. The other side of
this situation is that the Indian industry is facing a shortage of skilled
labour despite the bulge in workforce. This shortage is affecting the economy
across both manufacturing and services sectors. For example it has been
estimated that the Construction sector, on which almost 6% of the country’s
workforce depends for livelihood, is facing a 30% percent labour shortage.
Rough back of the hand calculations indicate that addressing the skill gap
shortage in Construction alone could add USD 20 billion to the Indian economy.
In order to tackle the situation steps like skilling of the new entrants to the
workforce, upskilling of workers for higher or new skills and
recognizing informal ‘on the job’ training of existing workers are need of the
hour. The last is especially important given over 92% of India’s labour market
is unorganized.
POPULATION
AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION
The Government recognises
that high growth of incomes is by itself not enough to improve the quality of
life of the poor. Unless all the citizens of the country, and most particularly
the poor, have certain basic minimum services, their living conditions cannot
improve. These minimum services include among other things literacy education,
primary health care, safe drinking water and nutritional security. The
Government had convened a meeting of Chief Ministers to identify such basic
minimum services and a list of seven services had unanimously been agreed upon.
These seven services are safe drinking water, primary health facilities,
universal primary education, nutrition to school and pre- school children,
shelter for the poor, road connectivity for all villages and habitations, and
the Public Distribution System (PDS) with a focus on the poor. The Ninth Plan
lays special emphasis on these seven basic minimum services and will make all
efforts to achieve a minimum level of satisfaction in providing these in
partnership with the State Governments and the Panchayati Raj Institutions
(PRIs). The Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) aims
at providing self-employment to the rural poor through acquisition of
productive assets or appropriate skills which would generate additional income
on a sustained basis to enable them to cross the poverty line. Other programmes
like National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS), National family Benefit
Scheme (NFBS), National Maternity Benefit Scheme, Annapurna, Integrated Rural
Development programme, Rural Housing-Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY)(initiated in
1985), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act
(MGNREGA) were also initiated to control poverty in India.
The
introduction of high-yielding varieties of seeds and the increased use of
chemical fertilizers and irrigation are known collectively as the Green
Revolution, which provided the increase in production needed to make India
self-sufficient in food grains, thus improving agriculture in India.
POVERTY
LINE DETERMINATION
One
in three Indians lives below the poverty line according to the Tendulkar
Committee report which used a measurement of goods and services, rather than
calorie intake, to calculate poverty. A new method to draw the
‘poverty line’ has resulted in an increase in the number of
people living below the poverty line in India, from 27.5% of
the population to 37.2%, that is, an increase of 10% for
2004-05. A committee headed by economist Suresh
Tendulkar has drawn up a new formula for assessing poverty, which it
has submitted to the Planning Commission. The Dandekar-Rath
poverty line formula that has been used since 1971 measures only the
calorie content of an Indian’s diet. If it is lower than 2250
calories per person per day, the person is declared to be
under the poverty line. This norm was not revised in 35
years. The Tendulkar Committee replaces the calorie
measurement by a cost-of-living index, that is, how much money
a person spends. It looks at a basket of household goods and
services such as health and education. The new poverty
line is different for different states and also different for
rural and urban areas within a state. The all-India
average rural poverty line is set at a monthly expenditure of Rs
446.68 a month; the national urban poverty line at Rs 578.8 a
month. Goa’s rural poverty line is the highest, pegged at Rs
608.76 a month; Delhi’s is Rs 541. The Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund(UNFPA), have
developed ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ about the PNDT Act which will be useful
to the people. This helps for stabilization of population. National
Helpline service on reproductive health, mother health, child health,
sexual health, adolescents health, infertility, contraception, and family
planning etc. aims to reach out to adolescent, about to be married and newly
married couples and who do not have easy access to reliable information on the
above issues.
*World
Population Day is being observed on 11th July across the World
every year.
[*Dr. P.J. Sudhakar
is
Addl. Director General, PIB Bhopal]
(PIB
Features)
SS-203/SF-203/11.07.2014
YSK/
Uma
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