The editorial proposes a comprehensive strategy for population control, emphasizing the urgent need for proactive measures to address the escalating global population growth. The analysis outlines a multi-faceted approach that combines education, access to contraception, economic incentives, and governmental policies aimed at promoting smaller family sizes. It underscores the importance of empowering women through education and reproductive rights, highlighting the correlation between female empowerment and lower fertility rates. Additionally, the editorial advocates for the implementation of sustainable development initiatives to mitigate the strain on resources caused by overpopulation. By advocating for a holistic approach that addresses both the socio-economic factors and environmental impacts of population growth, the editorial presents a compelling argument for proactive population control measures to ensure a sustainable future for all.
Tag: GS – 1 GS – 2 Population and Associated Issues, Human Resource, Issues Arising Out of Design & Implementation of Policies, Salient Features of Indian Society
In News:
The Interim Budget 2024-25’s introduction of a “high-powered committee” or “Population Committee” to address challenges from rapid population growth and demographic changes is groundbreaking and requires an interdisciplinary approach.
Present Population Growth Trends in India
- Decline in Population Growth
- Decadal growth rates have been consistently decreasing since 1971-81.
- EAG States witnessed a significant fall during the 2011 census.
- Decline in India’s TFR
- Total Fertility Rate (TFR) dropped from 2.2 to 2.0 between NFHS-4 and NFHS-5.
- Only five states are above the replacement level of fertility.
- Improvement in Mortality Indicators
- Life expectancy at birth increased from 32 years in 1947 to 70 years in 2019.
- NFHS-5 reports an Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) of 32 per 1,000 live births.
- Increase in Family Planning
- Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) rose from 54% to 67% at the all-India level.
- Improvement in Life Expectancy
- UNFPA projects an average life expectancy of 71 for Indian males and 74 for females.
- Robust Demographic Dividend
- India’s 68% population falls in the 15 to 64 years age group, contributing significantly to the working-age population.
Need for the Formation of the Population Committee in India
- Large Projected Population
- UN estimates predict India’s population exceeding 1.5 billion by the end of this decade.
- Harnessing Demographic Dividend
- Demographic dividend offers economic growth potential requiring investments in health, education, and skill development.
- Addressing Health, Education, and Employment Challenges
- Public spending on health needs improvement.
- Nearly 47% of Indian youth may lack necessary education and skills by 2030.
- Importance of Evidence-Based Decision Making
- Accurate and timely data essential for evidence-based policymaking.
- High-powered committee can provide an alternative to lagging data.
- Need for Modernizing Data Infrastructure
- Modernizing data infrastructure crucial for accurate demographic data collection.
- Investments in data collection methods and data security imperative.
- Realizing Inclusive and Sustainable Development
- Holistic approach needed, prioritizing investments in health, education, and employment.
- Strategic planning, effective implementation, and international collaboration key to success.
Formation of the Population Committee
- Adopting a Multi-Sectoral Strategy
- Committee should align with ‘Viksit Bharat.’
- Adopt a multi-sectoral strategy encompassing family planning, health, education, and socio-economic development.
- Interdisciplinary Approach to Population Management
- Success depends on interdisciplinary approach.
- Leverage diverse perspectives to identify emerging issues and assess existing interventions.
- Synergistic Efforts for Effective Implementation
- Collaboration with diverse stakeholders essential for policy implementation.
- Foster collective action for the success of population-related programs.
- Emphasis on Public Awareness and Education
- Committee must prioritize public awareness and education campaigns.
- Empower individuals and communities with accurate information for responsible family planning.
- International Collaboration in Population Management
- Facilitate international collaboration and exchange of best practices.
- Learn from global experiences to enrich India’s strategies in addressing demographic challenges.
- Integrating India’s Evolving Demographic Landscape
- Understand and address shifts in India’s demographic landscape.
- Critical for shaping future economic and demographic trajectories.
- Adopting Quality Assurance Mechanisms for Data Reliability
- Implement rigorous validation and quality assurance mechanisms.
- Independent audits and data validation exercises crucial for data accuracy.
- Facilitating Data Accessibility to Researchers
- promotes open data initiatives and transparency in data sharing.
- Standardized formats and data sharing protocols enhance data accessibility.
Conclusion
- Establishment of a high-powered committee is a significant step towards formulating effective population policies.
- The committee should adopt an interdisciplinary approach, collaborate with stakeholders, and focus on public awareness to manage population growth effectively.
- India’s demographic landscape offers opportunities for economic growth, requiring investments in health, education, and employment.
- Strategic planning, effective implementation, and international collaboration are crucial for navigating India’s demographic transition successfully.
| UPSC Previous Year Questions Prelims (2019) Q. In the context of any country, which one of the following would be considered as part of its social capital? (a) The proportion of literates in the population (b) The stock of its buildings, other infrastructure and machines (c) The size of population in the working age group (d) The level of mutual trust and harmony in the society Ans: (d) Prelims (2011) Q. India is regarded as a country with “Demographic Dividend”. This is due to (a) Its high population in the age group below 15 years (b) Its high population in the age group of 15-64 year (c) Its high population in the age group above 65 years (d) Its high total population Ans: (b) Mains (2021) Q. Discuss the main objectives of Population Education and point out the measures to achieve them in India in detail. Mains (2019)Q. “Empowering women is the key to control the population growth.’’ Discuss. Mains (2015)Q. Critically examine whether growing population is the cause of poverty or poverty is the main cause of population increase in India. |
Source: TH
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is meant by a comprehensive strategy for population control?
A: A comprehensive strategy for population control refers to a multi-faceted approach that combines various measures aimed at managing population growth sustainably. This includes education, access to contraception, economic incentives, governmental policies, and sustainable development initiatives.
Q: Why is education emphasized in a comprehensive population control strategy?
A: Education plays a crucial role in empowering individuals, especially women, to make informed decisions about family planning. Access to education correlates with lower fertility rates, as educated individuals tend to have smaller families and better understand the importance of family planning.
Q: How does access to contraception contribute to population control?
A: Access to contraception allows individuals to make voluntary choices regarding family planning and the spacing of births. By providing access to a range of contraceptive methods, populations can better control their fertility rates, leading to slower population growth.
Q: What role do economic incentives play in population control efforts?
A: Economic incentives, such as tax breaks or subsidies for small families, can encourage individuals to have fewer children. These incentives can help alleviate financial pressures associated with raising a large family and incentivize smaller family sizes, contributing to population stabilization.
Q: How can sustainable development initiatives help address population growth?
A: Sustainable development initiatives focus on ensuring that resources are used efficiently and equitably to meet the needs of current and future generations. By promoting sustainable practices in areas such as agriculture, energy, and urban planning, these initiatives help mitigate the strain on resources caused by population growth and support a more balanced population size.
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