How to check the abnormal population growth in India?

Population explosion has posed a serious challenge to the pace of development of the country but others consider it a blessing in disguise as it is not an impediment to development but a source of capital formation.

Therefore, efforts must be accorded to control it so that it may not hamper the true sense of development. In a sense, measures adopted to solve the problem of population can be classified as:

(A) Social Measures

(B) Economic Measures

(C) Other Measures

A. Social Measures

Population explosion is a social problem which is deeply rooted in the social life of the country. Therefore efforts must be made to remove social evils in the country. They are:

(i) Spread of Education:

The spread of education among orthodox people is a significant factor in bringing down the birth rate. The educated men have a better outlook about their future.

They delay their marriage and prefer to have small family. They can understand the meaning of family planning and cooperate to adopt such schemes. Education to the women is more responsive to the idea of family planning.

Late marriage among them reduces reproductive sperms of a child. Therefore, it is urgently needed to take measures to spread the education among them. Adult education can go a long way to solve the problem to a greater extent.

(ii) Raising the Status of Women:

There is still discrimination to the women, both economically and socially, though Indian constitution has guaranteed equality to man. She is considered inferior to man. The situation is quite deplorable as even modern society values do not allow her economic independence.

Backward social milieu does not permit them to work according to their consciousness and this denial puts a check on their rights.

Therefore, stern efforts should be made to raise their status in society so the, they may perform their social responsibility. Free education should be given so that they must be aware of their duties and abandon old false values.

(iii) Minimum Age of Marriage:

As fertility depends on the age of marriage, thus, every effort should be made to rise the minimum age of marriage. In India, in 1978. Child Marriage Restraint Act has been amended to rise the minimum age of marriage to 21 years in the case of men and 18 years for women.

This practice should also be popularized through advertisement, films and discussions so that common masses must be aware of this fact.

B. Economic Measures

To overcome the problem of population vigorous efforts must be made on economic front. Some of the economic measures are suggested as:

(i) More Employment Opportunities:

The foremost measure is to raise the employment opportunities in rural areas as well as in urban areas of the country, generally in rural areas there is disguised unemployment.

Therefore efforts must be made to migrate unemployed persons from country side to cities. If this programme is carried out effectively, certainly it may prove to be a powerful tool to check the growth of population.

(ii) Expansion of Industrial Sector:

The burden on agriculture sector should be reduced by making expansion of industrial sector in the country. The cottage and small scale industries should be set up in the villages and towns so that it may provide employment opportunities to the maximum people.

Higher productivity in this sector makes workers more conscious for the standard of living. As a result, they will realize the responsibilities of life and further restrict the size of their family. In this regard, state governments should take radical measures to create conditions for rapid industrialization.

(iii) Equal Distribution of Wealth and Removal of Poverty:

Virtually poor people are unconcerned about the size of their families and they welcome any new-comer to the family. They often lose human qualities while living in poverty.

Therefore, drastic changes are required to make them free from their existing inhuman living conditions. They should be provided the basic amenities of life. Efforts should be made to bring equality among haves and have notes.

In a changed environment, they will not only be aware of the number of children but will make all possible efforts to make their life comfortable. In order to realize their objectives, equal distribution of wealth and removal of poverty is the foremost.

In India, government took many measures under different five year plans. Poverty alleviation programmes adopted from time to time can do a lot to guarantee the right to work and ensure a minimum standard of living.

C. Other Measures

There are other steps to curb the population explosion in the country. Some of these measures are listed below:

(i) Self Control:

According to some experts self control is one of the powerful methods to control the population. It is an ideal and healthy approach and people should be induced to follow. Ancient India practiced the institution of Bramhacharya Ashram strictly on the basis of morality.

(ii) Employment to Women:

Another method to check the population is to provide employment to women. In other words women should be given incentive to give services in different fields. In recent years, women are taking active part in competitive examinations. As a result, their number in teaching, medical and banking etc. is increasing rapidly.

(iii) More Means of Recreation:

In the opinion of Dr. Chandra Shekhar, “Sex play is the national sport in India”. Therefore, it is the urgent need of the hour to create other cheap means of recreation for the common man. This will result to divert their mind and keep them away from sexual indulgence. This can only be done by generating more and more means of recreation.

(iv) Sex Education:

In our country, sex education is totally neglected which creates terrible hurdles in solving the problem of population. Thus, sex education can help to a greater extent in achieving the desired objective.

(v)Propaganda:

The communication media like T.V., radio and newspaper are the good means to propagate the benefits of the planned family to the uneducated and illiterate persons especially in the rural and back-ward areas of the country.

(vi)Incentives:

Incentives in the form of cash awards can help to induce the illiterate people to adopt family planning. In addition, other facilities like leave, promotion and other benefits can be extended to the working class which in turn would prove helpful regarding the adoption of small families.

(vii)Late Marriage:

Late marriage should be vigorously encouraged. For this purpose, the help of the country’s law can be helpful.