Increasing Population Problems: The world's population has crossed seven billion. If we talk about our country India, then this number is 17.78% of the total population of the world. India has become the most populous country in the world.
Increasing population is not an indicator of development, but of destruction. The entire world is today struggling with the problem of population explosion. India's share in the total population of the world is 17 percent and we have only 4 percent water and 2.5 percent land. India has become the most populous country in the world. Despite the fact that population policies, family planning and welfare programs have been initiated by the government and there has been a steady decline in the fertility rate, actual stabilization of the population will be possible only by 2050.
According to DW, on August 12, 2022, 27 crore people in India were below the poverty line. This could have devastating effects in the future. India is facing a big challenge in the form of population growth. It is adversely affecting the economic condition of India and is also responsible for poverty and low standard of living.
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The percentage of birth rate is more than the death rate. We have successfully reduced the death rate but we have not been able to do much about the birth rate. Although various population policies and other measures have reduced the fertility rate, it is still much higher than other countries.
Although the legal age for marriage of a girl is 18 years, but the concept of early marriage is very prevalent here and early marriage also increases the period of pregnancy.
Another reason for rapid population growth is poverty and illiteracy. There is a belief in poor families that the more members there are in the family, the more people will be the earners. Some people believe that it is necessary to have children to take care of them in old age. It is a strange thing but true that India still lags behind in the use of contraceptives and birth control methods. Many people are not ready to talk about it or are completely unaware of it.
In India, sons are considered the breadwinners of the family and support in old age, while daughters are considered a burden in many families. Due to this conservative thinking, the pressure on parents to have a son increases a lot. Ultimately the population also increases.
Increasing population is the main cause of unemployment in India. We can see that lakhs of applications are received for any exam or vacancy. This increases competition and sometimes people use bribery to get jobs. It also increases corruption which is a growing concern in India.
Unfortunately, the development of infrastructure is not happening as fast as the population is increasing. This results in lack of transportation, communication, housing, education, health care, etc. There has been an increase in slums, crowding, traffic jams etc.
Land area, water resources and forests have all been overexploited due to which natural resources have also decreased. Food production and distribution has not been able to keep up with the increasing population.
The Government of India, leaders and policy makers will have to take initiative to formulate a strong population policy so that the country's economic growth rate can keep pace with the demands of the growing population. The major steps that have been taken to control the population need to be implemented with more force. To improve the welfare and status of women and girls, spread of education, methods of contraception and family planning, sex education, promotion of vasectomy, free distribution of contraceptives and condoms among the poor, promotion of women empowerment, free health for the poor. Service centers etc. are some such steps which can play a big role in controlling the population.
Experts say that by increasing public awareness and making strict norms for population control by the government, the country's population can be controlled and this will also improve the economic condition of the country.
Apart from all these efforts and initiatives, Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi also raised the issue of increasing population on 15th August, on the occasion of Independence Day.
In his address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacked the population explosion. Expressing concern over population explosion, he said that this problem will become a challenge for the future generations. Family planning should be made a voluntary movement. A limited family can be beneficial not only for oneself but also for the country.
He said that those who are explaining the benefits of limited family to the society, they need to be honored today. Those who have a small family are like patriots. Before any child arrives in the house, think whether we are ready for him and to fulfill his needs?
If people want to do something for the country then they can express their patriotism by having a small family and making people aware about it.
