The
size and composition of a country’s population can exert a powerful influence
on a country’s development. The population size, composition, and distribution
influence the range of industries a country can support and the pool of talent
that are available in the country. In size of population, India is the second
largest country in the world after China, constitutes 2.4 per cent of the
world’s land area and supports 16.25 per cent of the world’s population.
The
population growth in India has proved to be more an obstacle to its development
efforts rather than a contributory factor in economic growth. as it cause burden on the limited resources of the country.
Population
Growth and Saving Effects
The population growth reduces saving rate as the dependency burden increases.
The high birth rate and low death rate causes the increase of the proportion of
non-working population relative to the working population. This results into an
increase of consumption without corresponding increase of output and fall in
saving rates. Even if productivity rises the saving rate is likely to be lower
had the population growth is lower.
The increased population
growth requires an increased amount of investible resources to be devoted
towards creation of unproductive social or population sensitive facilities such
as education, housing health and other civic amenities.
Population Growth
and Capital Constraints
The rising
population accompanied by a rise in the labour force brings to fore the capital
constraint in raising the labuor productivity. The capital requirement of
equipping labour force is very large. The low saving rate puts capital
constraints for technological advancements and modernization resulting into
reduction in the labor productivity.
Population Growth
and Unemployment
The rising population may results into large scale of unemployment because of
failure of the secondary and tertiary sectors to expand the enough employment
opportunities. The labor expansion also puts pressure on the land which is
important natural resource in the agrarian economy and leads to underemployment
and disguised unemployment.
Population Growth
and Environmental Degradation
The rapid increase in population causes increased and unscientific exploitation
of resources. This type of exploitation of resources creates obstacles in
sustainable development. The problems of slums and in-sanitation develop due to
increase in urbanization. Pollution of environment also causes different types
of communicable diseases. This has placed a heavy financial commitment on the
primary healthcare scenario for the government and the economy. If population
is controlled properly, these funds can be utilized for other productive
developmental activities.
But high growth population growth is not always a curse for the society but sometimes
it can be a boon as well, increasing population provides opportunity for
expanding market base in the terms of demand and supply of goods and services,
and more work force for producing such output.
Demand for goods
Investment on human beings in the form of education, training
and health facilities that contribute to increased productivity is called
‘human capital formation’.
In developed nations the health and education levels are much higher,
and with better health and education, these countries produced larger output
and higher incomes.
The role of human capital formation in economic development can be
stated in the terms of increase in output, in productive capacity, improved
quality of life and increase in inventions and innovations.
Causes
of Population Growth:
High Birth Rate:
The
birth rate in India has not declined significantly due to the number of
socio-economic factors:
Economic
Factors:
The
economic factors prominent amongst the determinants of population growth are
discussed as follows:
1.
Poverty:
IN a poor family children are considered an asset. The economic cost of bearing and upbringing an additional child is less than
the expected benefits for a poor family. An additional child in the family
would mean more earning hands as the children start earning at a very early age
and prove to be an asset for the family. Further, the high infant mortality
rate among poors because of deficient diet, lack of medical facilities,
unhealthy living conditions, etc causes the low survival rate. In order to
ensure that some children survive, poor people tend to have large number of
children. The agrarian country like India primitive techniques of production are used which
is mainly family based. Thus, an additional child in the family can always be
absorbed on the family land.
3.Illiteracy and Social factors:
In India the process of urbanization has not been accompanied by the social
change that favours low birth rates. The social system and family structure of
rural life seem to survive in the city and towns. The illiteracy among people also contributes to high growth in population.
Social
Factors:
The social factors have contributed significantly to the high birth rate in
India. These factors are discussed as follows:
1.
Universality of Marriage:
Marriage is both a religious and a social necessity in India especially among
women. The universal marriage among women directly leads to high birth rate.
2.
Child Marriage:
The marriage of girls take place in early years of youth, and sometimes even in
childhood. This causes an increase in the fertility rate as women tend to have
greater reproductive time span in case of early marriage.
3.
Religious and Social Superstitions:
Most Indians on account for religious and social attitudes prefer sons because
of the belief that certain rites can be performed only by him and none else.
Son is also looked upon to provide continuity to family lineage. This desire
contributes to high birth rate.
4. Lack
of Social Security:
The social security schemes like old age pension, health insurance etc are not
available to the poor masses in India. The children are expected to look after
parents in the old age. The larger family is seen as a greater security for the
parents.
5. Illiteracy
and Ignorance:
The widespread illiteracy among people in general and women in particular has
caused ignorance about benefits of small family size and the use of devices of
birth-control among the masses. People will not shed irrational ideas and
religious superstitions like child is a god gift unless there is a spread of
education.
6.
Joint Family System:
Joint family system prevails in many parts of the country. In the joint
family system the resources are pooled up and expenses are shared. This system
is a sort of security to the old, the invalid and the unemployed as each member
shares the responsibility of others. The children are not burden on the parents
individually and so pressure to limit the family size is not felt.
7.
Limited use of family planning methods:
The use of family planning methods continues to be restricted to urban
areas. The facilities for family planning are very limited in rural areas. The
non-availability of birth control devices has been an important contributory
factor in keeping the birth rate high.
Thus high birth rate in India is the result of a whole lot of social, economic
religious and cultural factors. The social and cultural changes by spread of
education and economic growth can be expected to bring down the high birth rate
in India.
Decline in Death Rate / Mortality Rate
Another major cause of rapid growth in population is sharper decline in death rate due to improved medical facilities and government schemes. The decline in death rate since 1951 has been progressively sharper. The
factors that contribute to the decline in death rate are as follows:
1.
Control of Epidemics and Famines:
In the early years of the 20th century, epidemics took a heavy
toll of life in India. The increased availability of effective medicines and
improvement of healthcare facilities have controlled the occurrence of
epidemics like plague, small pox, malaria etc. This has contributed to
substantial reduction in the death rate. Famines were almost a regular occurrence in India
in the early years of planning which causes large number of starvation deaths.
The improvement in the means of transport and communication has effectively
managed the spread of famines.
2.
Improved Medical Facilities:
The increased investment in health and medical care facilities and development
of health centers in the far-flung rural areas has prevented deaths due to
timely availability of medical aid.
3.
Impact of Economic Growth:
Economic growth of the country has a significant impact on the fall
in the death rate. The improved incomes and living standards of people have
improved their health and nutritional levels. The improvement in personal
hygiene and sanitary conditions has prevented the spread of communicable
diseases. The improved literacy level has created a awareness on preventive
measures for better health. The life expectancy of an average Indian has
increased. The special poverty alleviation and social welfare programmmes that
aimed at providing basic needs such as pure drinking water, healthcare
facilities, and wage employments have contributed to better life and lower
death rate.
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