POPULATION PROBLEM IN INDIA

&
Its implications

by
Anoop Kumar

"We are responsible for what we are, and whatever we wish ourselves to be, we have
the power to make ourselves. If what we are now has been the result of our own past
actions, it certainly follows that whatever we wish to be in future can be produced by
our present actions; so we have to know how to act. "
- Swami Vivekananda

DR. RAM MANOHAR LOHIYA NATIONAL

LAW UNIVERSITY
LUCKNOW
PREFACE

The aim of the project is to make the reader aware of the population problem in India,
with its implications and the ways to curb the same. The population burdens the
environment.

Thanks are due to the faculty of Economics in Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National
Law University, Lucknow. The project could not have seen the light in the absence of
support of the library of the University. Thanks are due to them also.

Above all, I would be thankful to my parents, whose support always helped me in

my project.

24th Apr. 2008 ANOOP KUMAR

INDEX

INTRODUCTION 1
POPULATION GROWTH AND ENVIRONMENT 2
Population control - India will beat China by 2025. 3
FAMILY WELFARE PROGRAMME IN INDIA 4
FAILURE OF POPULATION CONTROL POLICIES 5
Who is responsible? 6
The Challenges Ahead 6
DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION IN INDIA 8
IMPLICATIONS OF GROWING POPULATION IN INDIA 9

HOW TO COMBAT POPULATION GROWTH IN INDIA 10

CONCLUSION 11

BIBLIOGRAPHY 12

INTRODUCTION
Throughout the twentieth century, India has been in the midst of a demographic
transition. At the beginning of the century, endemic disease, periodic epidemics, and
famines kept the death rate high enough to balance out the high birth rate. Between 1911
and 1920, the birth and death rates were virtually equal--about forty-eight births and
forty-eight deaths per 1,000 population. The increasing impact of curative and preventive
medicine (especially mass inoculations) brought a steady decline in the death rate. By the
mid-1990s, the estimated birth rate had fallen to twenty-eight per 1,000, and the
estimated death rate had fallen to ten per 1,000. Clearly, the future configuration of
India's population (indeed the future of India itself) depends on what happens to the birth
rate (see fig. 8). Even the most optimistic projections do not suggest that the birth rate
could drop below twenty per 1,000 before the year 2000. India's population is likely to
exceed the 1 billion mark before the 2001 census.
POPULATION GROWTH AND ENVIRONMENT
A research paper has outlined the effect of population on the environment. According to
this research, environmental pollution is one of the serious problems faced by the people
in the country. Rapid population growth, industrialization and urbanization in country are
adversely affecting the environment. Though the relationship is complex, population size
and growth tend to expand and accelerate these human impacts on the environment. All
these in turn lead to an increase in the pollution levels. However, environmental pollution
not only leads to deteriorating environmental conditions but also have adverse effects on
the health of people. India is one of the most degraded environment countries in the
world and it is paying heavy health and economic price for it.
According to the World Development Indicators report in 1997, 1.5 billion people
live exposed to dangerous levels of air pollution, 1 billion live without clean water and 2
billion live without sanitation. The increase of population has been tending towards
alarming situation. The world's population was estimated to be 6.14 billion in mid 2001
and projected 7.82 billion and 9.04 billion in the year 2025 and 2050 respectively.
Contribution of India alone to this population was estimated to be 1033 millions in mid
2001 which has been projected 1363 millions and 1628 millions in 2025 and 2050
respectively. (2001 World Population Data Sheet). According to the provisional results of
the Census of India 2001, the population of India on 1st March 2001 is 1027 millions. If
the world population continues to multiply, the impact on environment could be
devastating.
Population impacts on the environment primarily through the use of natural
resources and production of wastes and is associated with environmental stresses like
biodiversity, air and water pollution and increased pressure on arable land. India is the
world's sixth largest and second fastest growing producer of greenhouse gases. Delhi,
Mumbai and Chennai are three of the world's ten most populated cities. Two-thirds of city
dwellers lack sewerage, one-third lack potable water. India grows equivalent of another
New York City every year in its urban population. By the year 2000, more than 350
million Indians will live in cities. In 15 years, more than half of Indians will be urban
dwellers; 1/3 will be slum dwellers and squatters
Population control - India will beat China by 2025.

Information collected from research articles and newspapers.

"Census of India-2001 Report: The total population of India as at 0:00 hours on 1st
March 2001 stood at 1,027,015,247 persons. With this, India became only the second
country in the world after China to cross the one billion mark. The population of the
country rose by 21.34 % between 1991 - 2001. The sex ratio (i.e., number of females per
thousand males) of population was 933, rising from 927 as at the 1991 Census. Total
literacy rate was returned as 65.38%."

"At district level the North East district in Union territory Delhi has the highest
population density in the country with 29395 persons per square kilometer."

"The population clock in the Union Health Ministry, Nirman Bhavan, New Delhi, now
ticks at the rate of 31 persons per minute. The clock shows that about 44,640 babies are
born in India everyday. "

"In the last several decades, fertility control policies in India have failed to promote a
sustainable solution to the problem of overpopulation. What factors have caused these
efforts to fall short? "

"Currently the sex ratio is 960 women for every 1,000 men - a statistic that the UN says
reflects the lower status of women in India, who are more likely to be deprived of food,
education and health services. "

"The prominence of female sterilization indicates another flaw in the India population
control strategies. By targeting women instead of men, the government inadvertently opts
for the more hazardous means of birth control. "
"Population in itself is NOT the problem. Lack of basic education and poor economic
conditions are. You cannot solve the population problem by clinics. Your assumption that
people have no access to family planning methods is only partly true and in any case is
not the root of the problem. Population has remained a problem because EDUCATION
continues to be a problem. "

"The fast rate of growth of population has affected the quality of life of the people. The
time has come when future citizens while in educational institutions should understand
various issues related to the population problem."

"In some places there is no drinking water. People started migrating to cities where they
can get some water and work. People will start fighting for food, water and place to live."

"The birth rate in India (31 per thousand people) is greater than that of China (20 per
thousand people). If this trend continues, India will beat up China by 2025.A.D."
FAMILY WELFARE PROGRAMME IN INDIA
India, the second most populous country in the world, has no more than 2.5% of global
land but is the home of 1/6th of the world's population. The prevailing high maternal,
infant, childhood morbidity and mortality, low life expectancy and high fertility and
associated high morbidity had been a source of concern for public health professionals
right from the pre-independence period. The Bhore Committee Report (1946) which laid
the foundation for health service planning in India, gave high priority to provision of
maternal and child health services and improving their nutritional and health status. It is
noteworthy that this report which emphasized the importance of providing integrated
preventive, promotive and curative primary health care services preceded the Alma Ata
declaration by over three decades. Under the Constitution of India elimination of poverty,
ignorance and ill health are three important goals. In 1951, the infant republic took stock
of the existing situation in the country and initiated the first Five Year Development Plan.
Living in a resource poor country with high population density, the Planners recognised
in the census figures of 1951, the potential threat posed by population explosion and the
need to take steps to avert it. It was recognised that population stabilisation is an essential
prerequisite for sustainability of development process so that the benefits of economic
development result in enhancement of the well being of the people and improvement in
quality of life. India became the first country in the world to formulate a National Family
Planning Programme in 1952, with the objective of "reducing birth rate to the extent
necessary to stabilise the population at a level consistent with requirement of national
economy". Thus, the key elements of health care to women and children and provision of
contraceptive services have been the focus of India’s health services right from the time
of India’s independence. Successive Five Year Plans have been providing the policy
framework and funding for planned development of nationwide health care infrastructure
and manpower. The Centrally Sponsored and 100% centrally funded Family Welfare
Programme provides additional infrastructure, manpower and drugs, vaccines
contraceptives and other consumables needed for improving health status of women and
children and to meet all the felt needs for fertility regulation.

FAILURE OF POPULATION CONTROL POLICIES

India is first among the countries which adopted an official family planning programme,
as early as 1950. However, fifty years later this has not prevented the population touching
the one billion mark. It is obvious that despite good intentions and concerted efforts we
have failed in controlling our population. Considering the seriousness of the situation it is
appropriate to introspect and ascertain as to what went wrong. The problem, though very
complex, can be discussed under two headings:
(i) the available methods for contraception and
(ii) the users.
It is obvious now that there cannot be an ideal contraceptive, suitable for everybody. A
careful choice has to be made among the current available methods, depending on the
gender, country, socio-religious and cultural practices. According to available information
the most accepted methods are the two terminal methods, vasectomy in the case of the
male, and tubectomy in the case of the female. These are methods of choice for all those
who have completed their family size and to use them is a conscious decision made by
the couple. The next most commonly used methods are the barrier methods, still popular
in spite of a high failure rate. The other methods such as the use of contraceptive pills,
intrauterine devices and injectables are used by a relatively small percentage of the
population. It is also evident that except for the barrier method and vasectomy there are
no methods available for male contraception, in contrast to the variety of methods
available and in use for the female. Does this mean that the available methods are not
adequate for the requirements and this inadequacy is the reason for uncontrolled
population growth? The answer is firmly in the negative.
The available methods are more than adequate but what is lacking is the will to
use them. This brings in the philosophical question as to what is meant by will and why
the will is not there. It is for this reason that it was mentioned earlier that the issue of the
user is a complex one. The users are both male and female, and with limited options
available to the male, the entire burden of limiting the family is shouldered by the female.
However, except for a miniscule percentage of the female population, the majority are
passive participants in the process with no decision-making capacity. It is in this context
that population control was given a new dimension, namely reproductive health, which to
a large extent centres around the female. The concept of reproductive health recognizes
the diversity of the special health needs of women before, during, and beyond child
bearing age, as well as the needs of men and the quality of life of the people involved.

Who is responsible?
Population, if continues to increase at the same rate, it will destroy the country. Lack of
initiative by the government together with sleeping people of India, are responsible for
this destructive problem. People are not realizing the problem. One day the result will be
roits, fighting over food, water. India will be the largest slums creater. All cities will be
like fish markets with people everywhere. Traffic will move like the ants party.
Everybody will scream, shout, but nobody will listen.

The Challenges Ahead

India’s per capita income has doubled over the past 20 years. With population growth
slowing now to about 1.6 per cent per annum, a growth rate of the gross domestic product
(GDP) of around 9 per cent per annum would be sufficient to quadruple the per capita
income by 2020.
Opinions on achievable rates of economic growth have a tendency to swing along
with the short-term economic performances. Two years ago, the global boom, the IT
revolution and the all round optimism led many to believe that in the coming decade
India could mimic the 9-10 per cent growth rates that China achieved over a twenty year
period. Such optimism is out of fashion today. But there is ample evidence showing that
if we can adopt a longer term perspective that is not blinded by immediate circumstances
and fluctuating moods, higher rates of growth should be achievable for India in the
coming years. This is not a prediction—it is a potential. The reality will depend on how
effectively we seize the opportunity to do so. From a historical perspective, global rates
of development have been increasing for more than a century. The dramatic rise of Japan
and the East Asian tigers, and most recently China, are illustrative of this point. An
objective assessment reveals that all the major engines of economic growth that have
accelerated growth up till now, will be present in greater abundance in the coming years
than they had been in the past.

POPULATION OF INDIA — 2001

Total Male Female Rural Urban

INDIA 75727541 38286811 37440730 55223944
20503597

1. Andhra Pradesh 75727541 38286811 37440730 55223944

20503597
2. Arunachal Pradesh 1091117 573951 517166 868429 222688
3. Assam 26638407 13787799 12850608 23248994
3389413
4. Bihar 82878796 43153964 39724832 74199596
8679200
5. Chhatisgarh 20795956 10452426 10343530 16620627
4175329
6. Goa 1343998 685617 658381 675129 668869
7. Gujarat 50596992 26344053 24252939 31697615
18899377
8. Haryana 21082989 11327658 9755331 14968850
6114139
9. Himachal Pradesh 6077248 3085256 2991992 5482367 594881
10. Jammu & Kashmir 10069917 5300574 4769343 7564608
2505309
11. Jharkhand 26909428 13861277 13048151 20922731
5986697
12. Karnataka 52733958 26856343 25877615 34814100
17919858
13. Kerala 31838619 15468664 16369955 23571484 8267135
14. Madhya Pradesh 60385118 31456873 28928245 44282528
16102590
15. Maharashtra 96752247 50334270 46417977 55732513
41019734
16. Manipur 2388634 1207338 1181296 1818224 570410
17. Meghalaya 2306069 1167840 1138229 1853457 452612
18. Mizoram 891058 459783 431275 450018 441040
19. Nagaland 1988636 1041686 946950 1635815 352821
20. Orissa 36706920 18612340 18094580 31210602 5496318
21. Punjab 24289296 12963362 11325934 16043730 8245566
22. Rajasthan 56473122 29381657 27091465 43267678
13205444
23. Sikkim 540493 288217 252276 480488 60005
24. Tamil Nadu 62110839 31268654 30842185 34869286
27241553
25. Tripura 3191168 1636138 1555030 2648074 543094
26. Uttar Pradesh 166052859 87466301 78586558 131540230
34512629
27. Uttaranchal 8479562 4316401 4163161 6309317 2170245
28. West Bengal 80221171 41487694 38733477 57734690
22486481

Union Territories
1. Andaman & 356265 192985 163280 239858 116407
Nicobar Islands
2. Chandigarh 900914 508224 392690 92118 808796
3. Dadra & Nagar Haveli 220451 121731 98720 169995 50456
4. Daman & Diu 158059 92478 65581 100740 57319
5. Delhi 13782976 7570890 6212086 963215
12819761
6. Lakshadweep 60595 31118 29477 33647 26948
7. Pondicherry 973829 486705 487124 325596 648233

DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION IN INDIA

Over the last four decades there has been rapid fall in Crude Death Rate (CDR) from 25.1
in 1951 to 9.8 in 1991 and less steep decline in the Crude Birth Rate (CBR) from 40.8 in
1951 to 29.5
in 1991. The
annual
exponential
population
growth rate
has been over
2% in the
period 1961-
90. During the
nineties the
decline in
CBR has been
steeper than
that in the (CDR) and consequently, the annual population growth rate has fallen below
2% (Figures 3 & 4). The rate of decline in population growth is likely to be further
accelerated during the next decade. The changes in the population growth rates have been
relatively slow, steady and sustained. As a result the country was able to achieve a
relatively gradual change in the population numbers and age structure. The short and long
term adverse consequences of too rapid decline in birth rates and change in age structure
on the social and economic development were avoided and the country was able to adapt
to these changes without massive disruptions of developmental efforts.
 In spite of the uniform national norms set under the 100% Centrally Funded and
Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) of Family Welfare , there are substantial differences
in the performance between States as assessed by IMR and CBR. Though the decline in
CBR and IMR has occurred in all States, the rate of decline is slower in some States. At
one end of the spectrum is Kerala with mortality and fertility rates nearly similar to those
in some of the developed countries. At the other end, there are four large northern States
(Uttar Pradesh, Bihar,
Madhya Pradesh and
Rajasthan) with high
Infant Mortality Rate and
Fertility Rates.
Though the decline in
CBR, IMR and CDR has
occurred in all States, the
rate of decline was slower
in some States like U.P.
and Bihar. There are
substantial differences in
CBR and IMR not only
between States but also between the districts in the same state.

IMPLICATIONS OF GROWING POPULATION IN INDIA

Population growth and its relation to economic growth has been a matter of debate for
over a century. The early Malthusian view was that population growth is likely to impede
economic growth because it will put pressure on the available resources, result in
reduction in per capita income and resources; this, in turn, will result in deterioration in
quality of life. Contrary to the Malthusian predictions, several of the East Asian countries
have been able to achieve economic prosperity and improvement in quality of life in spite
of population growth. This has been attributed to the increase in productivity due to
development and utilization of innovative technologies by the young educated population
who formed the majority of the growing population. These countries have been able to
exploit the dynamics of demographic transition to achieve economic growth by using the
human resources as the engine driving the economic development; improved employment
with adequate emoluments has promoted saving and investment which in turn stimulated
economic growth.
Following are the adverse effects of population growth on the Indian Economy:
1. adverse effects on savings
2. unproductive investment
3. slow growth of Per Capita Income
4. underutilization of labour
5. growing pressure on land
6. adverse effect on quality of population and
7. adverse social impact

HOW TO COMBAT POPULATION GROWTH IN INDIA

Rapid reduction in the population growth rate can be achieved by meeting all the felt-
needs for contraception; and reducing the infant and maternal morbidity and mortality so
that there is a reduction in the desired level of fertility. Following methods can be adopted
fro the same:
1. Using various means of communication to persuade people to adopt small family
norms.
2. Making available family planning methods through different outlets in every
region.
3. Setting up the family planning centers to make available the services relating to
family planning methods.
4. Financial assistance to the acceptors and motivators of the family planning
methods.
5. Promoting female education and employment. And
6. Promotion of delayed marriages.
CONCLUSION
Rapid population growth continues to be a matter of concern for the country as it has
manifold effects, one of the most important being environment degradation. The
outcomes of excessive population are industrialization and urbanization. The study
reveals that rapid population growth has led to the overexploitation of natural resources.
The deforestation has led to the shrinking of forest cover, which eventually affects human
health. The considerable magnitude of air pollution in the country also pulls up the
number of people suffering from respiratory diseases and many a times leading to deaths
and serious health hazards. The situation is also similar for water pollution, as both
ground water and surface water contamination leads to various water borne diseases.
From the various effects of environmental degradation on human beings, discussed in this
paper, it appears that if human beings wants to exist on earth, there is now high time to
give top priority to control pollution of all types for a healthy living. It can be said that
even after fifty years of independence, India is unable to achieve the desirable standards
of health for its population as consequences of environment degradation.
What is desired is the will of the people as well as the cooperation of the
Government to promote family planning methods.
BIBLIOGRAPHY

TEXTS
• Dhingra, I.C., Garg, V.K., Economic Development and Planning in India, (15th
edn.), 2002, Sultan Chand & Sons, New Delhi
• Misra, S.K., Puri, V.K., Indian Economy, (25th edn.), 2007, Himalaya Publishing
House, Mumbai
URLs

http://www.popline.org/docs/1490/190029.html

http://www.usaid.gov/in/ programareas/environm.html

http://indiabudget.nic.in/es2001-02/chapt2002/tab91.pdf

http://www.india2020.org.in/category/india2020/report/

http://planningcommission.nic.in/reports/wrkpapers/wp_hwpaper.pdf