The population growth
The most pressing social problem undermining the social security and development in the world today,mainly in developing countries of Asia,South America and Africa,but specially in our country,is that of growing population.The population has been growing since the birth of civilisation about 6000 years ago,but the rate of growth now is more than ever before.Before the beginning of christian Era,the world population has been
estimated at less than 125 million and the population in India less than 7 million.The natural forces balanced the births by deaths and kept the population growth low.The populations have been growing in the world every where but has been growing faster in the eastern countries,especially so in the developing countries like India.Our average rate of increase in population is over 2.5 per cent per year which is more than that of any developing country.It took several thousand years,say 5000 years or more,for our population to reach
its present level of more than 500 million.But the present rate of growth it will take only 27 years to reach 1000 million.This is the population explosion.
Causes of population growth: The rapid increase in population in India is due to the decreased death rates from over 50 per cent of the population at the starting of this century to about 15 per 1000,while the birth rate has remained almost at about 40.This leaves a surplus of 25 persons per 1000 of population per year.
The decreased mortality due to the control of major endemic diseases and epidemics,better health care of the communities and improved living environments,premature births,still births and infant mortality,all depend upon the care of the pregnant mother,have halved during the last 30 to 40 years.population grows in three stages.The first of this stage is slow population growth.During this stage the high birth rate is accompanied with equally high death rate.This stage is found in the underdeveloped communities with low living standards.
The next stage is that of rapid population growth,this occurs in the communities.which are rapidly developing their living standards.we are at present in this stage.The third stage is that of steady population.This obtained by reducing the birth rate faster than the falling death rate;both balancing each other.This is the ideal stage to be achieved by us.
The growth of human population occurs in progress while the food grows,more over the land on the surface of the earth for growing food,building houses,raising industries,and that required for supporting civilized human existence is limited,while population can grow and has grown unlimitedly. A widening gap is so created mainly affecting the earlier years of life,increases the proportion of the younger generation.It accompanied by a falling birth rate,and the adult proportion of population increase.In developed western countries like U.K these proportions are 70 per cent productive and 30 per cent non-productive,half which are young persons and half old.In India the younger age group is about 49 per cent of the whole population while in the developed countries it is 15 to 20 per cent.
The practicable remedial measures; The population control measures include firstly the migration.Large scale of migrations which occurred in the in ancient and historic periods are no more possible now to any out side countries.Inter-state migrations are possible in India,provided enough industrial enterprises are undertaken in otherwise barren lands to attract and occupy surplus people to other over populated areas.The next measure is to increase the food and commodity production to support the growing population,which is being pursued in our country
National considerations:
The limited available land and arithmetical progression of food grain production can not maintain a population growing in geometrical progression.In spite of about 75 per cent increase in food grain production since 1950,the per capita allowance has not increased of pre-existing allowance of 12 to 14 ozs. The present yield per acre will not materially increase unless a radical change in agricultural methods on a vast scale is brought about.
Mechanisation of farming is essential for increased food production,will entail the rapid release of vast labour force from agricultural employment and will have to be absorbed in industry which is not possible with out a planned successful economy.
Initially the community and industrial development plans are based on a certain estimate of population..Full employment,community and administrative services commercial and commodity production will fall short of requirements.
provision of a adequate social services,living and working accommodations,employment have all to be planned according to the size and type of population.Increase in population upsets the plans.
The expectation and experience of a better livings has increased demands of people on food,consumer goods,housing,community services,administrative services,social security and welfare services.
So the improvements in general living standards far achieved is being under minded and general fall will not be at a distance.We have to remain depend on other countries for all our requirements.The close relationship of housing,nutrition,social security,with mental health,necessitates a limitation of the family.
Family consideration: Large families are desirable for agrarian civilizations of feudalistic pattern.Industrial
civilization has resulted in disintegration of joint families due to shifting from rural to urban environments.
Economic bonds between "nuclear"families have loosened and between their collective reliance on the parent joint family for social and economic security,which was the most important single asset of the joint family system,has been severed.The income of the nuclear families drifting to urban areas is not always sufficient
and can not be supplemented from the limited joint rural land resources.so family size limitation has become
necessary.A small family is convenient for housing,feeding.clothing,planning education,training and employment.
Individual considerations: This concerns the health of the mother and efficiency and growth of the child.many pregnancies and confinements damage the health of mother and does not permit her to look after the child properly or help his normality of growth.India has adopted a family welfare programme officially.Prolonging the marriageable ages of young women by affording the facilities for education up to a later age and there fore employment in gainful professions is one of the methods of decreasing the birth rate. Avoidance of polygamy can also help birth control to certain extent and control the growth of population.
pmkutty
The most pressing social problem undermining the social security and development in the world today,mainly in developing countries of Asia,South America and Africa,but specially in our country,is that of growing population.The population has been growing since the birth of civilisation about 6000 years ago,but the rate of growth now is more than ever before.Before the beginning of christian Era,the world population has been
estimated at less than 125 million and the population in India less than 7 million.The natural forces balanced the births by deaths and kept the population growth low.The populations have been growing in the world every where but has been growing faster in the eastern countries,especially so in the developing countries like India.Our average rate of increase in population is over 2.5 per cent per year which is more than that of any developing country.It took several thousand years,say 5000 years or more,for our population to reach
its present level of more than 500 million.But the present rate of growth it will take only 27 years to reach 1000 million.This is the population explosion.
Causes of population growth: The rapid increase in population in India is due to the decreased death rates from over 50 per cent of the population at the starting of this century to about 15 per 1000,while the birth rate has remained almost at about 40.This leaves a surplus of 25 persons per 1000 of population per year.
The decreased mortality due to the control of major endemic diseases and epidemics,better health care of the communities and improved living environments,premature births,still births and infant mortality,all depend upon the care of the pregnant mother,have halved during the last 30 to 40 years.population grows in three stages.The first of this stage is slow population growth.During this stage the high birth rate is accompanied with equally high death rate.This stage is found in the underdeveloped communities with low living standards.
The next stage is that of rapid population growth,this occurs in the communities.which are rapidly developing their living standards.we are at present in this stage.The third stage is that of steady population.This obtained by reducing the birth rate faster than the falling death rate;both balancing each other.This is the ideal stage to be achieved by us.
The growth of human population occurs in progress while the food grows,more over the land on the surface of the earth for growing food,building houses,raising industries,and that required for supporting civilized human existence is limited,while population can grow and has grown unlimitedly. A widening gap is so created mainly affecting the earlier years of life,increases the proportion of the younger generation.It accompanied by a falling birth rate,and the adult proportion of population increase.In developed western countries like U.K these proportions are 70 per cent productive and 30 per cent non-productive,half which are young persons and half old.In India the younger age group is about 49 per cent of the whole population while in the developed countries it is 15 to 20 per cent.
The practicable remedial measures; The population control measures include firstly the migration.Large scale of migrations which occurred in the in ancient and historic periods are no more possible now to any out side countries.Inter-state migrations are possible in India,provided enough industrial enterprises are undertaken in otherwise barren lands to attract and occupy surplus people to other over populated areas.The next measure is to increase the food and commodity production to support the growing population,which is being pursued in our country
National considerations:
The limited available land and arithmetical progression of food grain production can not maintain a population growing in geometrical progression.In spite of about 75 per cent increase in food grain production since 1950,the per capita allowance has not increased of pre-existing allowance of 12 to 14 ozs. The present yield per acre will not materially increase unless a radical change in agricultural methods on a vast scale is brought about.
Mechanisation of farming is essential for increased food production,will entail the rapid release of vast labour force from agricultural employment and will have to be absorbed in industry which is not possible with out a planned successful economy.
Initially the community and industrial development plans are based on a certain estimate of population..Full employment,community and administrative services commercial and commodity production will fall short of requirements.
provision of a adequate social services,living and working accommodations,employment have all to be planned according to the size and type of population.Increase in population upsets the plans.
The expectation and experience of a better livings has increased demands of people on food,consumer goods,housing,community services,administrative services,social security and welfare services.
So the improvements in general living standards far achieved is being under minded and general fall will not be at a distance.We have to remain depend on other countries for all our requirements.The close relationship of housing,nutrition,social security,with mental health,necessitates a limitation of the family.
Family consideration: Large families are desirable for agrarian civilizations of feudalistic pattern.Industrial
civilization has resulted in disintegration of joint families due to shifting from rural to urban environments.
Economic bonds between "nuclear"families have loosened and between their collective reliance on the parent joint family for social and economic security,which was the most important single asset of the joint family system,has been severed.The income of the nuclear families drifting to urban areas is not always sufficient
and can not be supplemented from the limited joint rural land resources.so family size limitation has become
necessary.A small family is convenient for housing,feeding.clothing,planning education,training and employment.
Individual considerations: This concerns the health of the mother and efficiency and growth of the child.many pregnancies and confinements damage the health of mother and does not permit her to look after the child properly or help his normality of growth.India has adopted a family welfare programme officially.Prolonging the marriageable ages of young women by affording the facilities for education up to a later age and there fore employment in gainful professions is one of the methods of decreasing the birth rate. Avoidance of polygamy can also help birth control to certain extent and control the growth of population.
pmkutty
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