India must build awareness on population control

• Early in December, two MPs introduced in the Lok Sabha a private members’ Bill aimed at population control in India.
• Stating that population rise is the most significant reason for India’s slow rate of development, the Bill argues for an immediate need for population control.

Issue of India’s rising population

• A significant rise in India’s population: but there has also been a sharp decline in India’s total fertility rate (TFR) (from 5.9% in 1950 to 2% now).
• A steep decline after the 1970s: indicating an inversely proportional relationship between economic prosperity and the fertility rate.

Data on population

• Reduced gap in fertility rate in Muslims & Hindus: In 1992-93, gap between Hindu and Muslim fertility rate was 1.1, which now has reduced to 0.35.
• Muslims have adopted better family planning measures: than Hindus.
• India’s low TFR: it is 2% which is even lower than the replacement level, signifying a remarkable step in the population control parameters.

Forced population control

• Can have dangerous consequences: as it can create a gender imbalance”.
• Not shown promising results: in the countries that have implemented them, the most relevant example being India’s immediate neighbour, China.
• Will impact the rate of aging: UN data show that there is a projected rise in population of older people & a decline in young population in many countries.