ISSN (Online): 2455-3662

EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IJMR) - Peer Reviewed Journal

Volume: 9| Issue: 8| August 2023|| Journal DOI: 10.36713/epra2013 || SJIF Impact Factor 2023: 8.224 || ISI Value: 1.188

OVER POPULATION: A MAIN SOCIAL PROBLEM IN CURRENT

SCENARIO

Dr.Anita A.Sarve

INTRODUCTION To address the issue of overpopulation, various strategies can be

Overpopulation refers to a situation where the number of implemented. These include promoting family planning and
individuals in a given population exceeds the carrying capacity of reproductive health services, improving education and
the environment to sustain them. It occurs when the rate of empowerment of women, ensuring access to contraceptives,
population growth surpasses the rate of available resources, such implementing effective policies and incentives to manage
as food, water, and living space. Overpopulation is a relative population growth, and adopting sustainable development
concept that varies depending on the region, as different areas practices to optimize resource use. It is essential to note that
have different ecological and socio-economic capacities to discussions on overpopulation. should be approached with
support human populations. sensitivity, as it involves complex social, cultural, and ethical
The term overpopulation is often used to describe the global dimensions. It is crucial to balance the concerns of population
phenomenon of a rapidly growing human population. The world's growth with respect for individual rights, social justice, and the
population has been increasing at an unprecedented rate, probation of the environment. Overall, overpopulation is a critical
particularly since the Industrial Revolution. issue for the world and India that demands attention and actions.
Factors contributing to this growth include By understanding its causes, consequences, and potential
advancements in healthcare, improved sanitation, and increased solutions, we can strive to achieve a sustainable balance between
agricultural productivity, which have led to longer life population growth and the capacity of our planet to support
expectancies and higher birth rates. Additionally, social and human well-being and environmental health.
cultural factors, such as cultural norms, religious beliefs, and Over population is also known as "Mother of all social problems”
economic incentives, can also influence population growth. because due to overpopulation and lack of resources there is a
Overpopulation is a critical global issue that arises when the surge in poverty, malnutrition, unemployment, people involved in
population increases rapidly. It poses numerous social, economic crimes to keep their lives going, growth of slums, illiteracy,
and environment sphere. The exponential growth of the global difficulty in governing and many other problems are caused by
population is an issue of concern. According to the United overpopulation. Coming to India's stance on this, overpopulation
Nations projections, the world population is expected to reach 9.7 has been the most pressing social problem.
billion by 2050, with further increases predicted in the coming
decades. One of the immediate consequences of overpopulation Causes of Overpopulation
is the pressure at places on the earth's finite resources. As the 1.Major Cause of overpopulation is increased life expectancy.
demand for food, energy and other essential Commodities rises, 2.Due to medical advancements, people are living them ever
the capacity of our ecosystems to meet these needs becomes before.
increasingly stretched. 3.This is a wonderful thing, but it also has its consequences, when
Deforestation, land degradation, and depletion of fresh water people live longer, they require more resources and services, such
sources are examples of the environmental impacts caused by as healthcare and security.
overpopulation. 4.This puts a strain on the Earth’s resources, as more food, water
Moreover, the excessive consumption and waste generated by and energy are needed to Sustain human life.
burgeoning populations exacerbate issues such as climate change, 5.With more older people living longer and people fewer young
pollution, and loss of biodiversity. people. Being born, this can result in an aging population that may
Overpopulation also has significant social and economic not be able to support itself in future.
ramifications. rapid population growth often leads to 6.This will increase life expectancy is a testament to scientific
overcrowded cities, inadequate housing, and strained advancements, it also presents a challenge for the future of human
infrastructures particularly in developing cities. Limited access to population growth.
healthcare, education, and employment opportunities further
exacerbates social inequalities.

2023 EPRA IJMR | http://eprajournals.com/ | Journal DOI URL: https://doi.org/10.36713/epra2013-------------------------------------------------------------------------44

 ISSN (Online): 2455-3662
EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IJMR) - Peer Reviewed Journal
Volume: 9| Issue: 8| August 2023|| Journal DOI: 10.36713/epra2013 || SJIF Impact Factor 2023: 8.224 || ISI Value: 1.188

Immigration world, contraceptives are not readily available or

1. Apart from natural growth, immigration is another major affordable to the general population.
factor that contributes to overpopulation. 2. It means that individuals Who may want to limit their
2. Throughout history, people have sought refuge, better family size are unable to do so. Education, family
economic opportunities, and a better quality of life by planning and the importance of limiting family Size can
migrating from their homeland to other countries. help to break the cycle of overpopulation caused by
3. Some people believe that immigrants take away jobs poverty.
from locals, increase crime, and drain resources. 3. Overpopulation issues related to basic human needs such
4. Immigration policies need to be thoughtful crafts while as food, water and shelter. The population grows, the
managing to reap the benefits of immigration mitigating demand for food and water sources increases. This puts
negative impacts on society and environment. pressure on the environment and results in depletion of
natural resources. overpopulation leads to
High Fertility Rates overcrowding, leading to insufficient housing
This is also a factor contributing to overpopulation is high fertility and shelter.
rates. This may have traditionally been seen as desirable, as it
ensures the contribution of the family or community, it can lead EFFECTS OF OVERPOPULATION
to serious problems when combined with factors such as poverty Overpopulation can have various effects on societies, economics
and lack of resources. Large families put strain on resources such and the environment.
as food, water, and housing, which can in two creates social and As the population increases, the natural resources supply
political tensions. In such families we have problems: lack of decreases. In developing country like India, it is common for
education and access to family farming sources, is conical in families to live in a single room dwelling, leading to poor living
preventing further overpopulation. conditions and increased risk of air borne diseases Limited
resources and underdeveloped infrastructures- In many
Increased Lifespans developing countries, resources such as water, food, and energy
If we have improvements in healthcare and sanitation, are scarce. These countries also lack a proper sanitation, transport
another factor contributing to healthcare and sanitation, the and communication system.
problem of overpopulation is increased lifespan. This leads to a host of issues, including inadequate access
With advancement in medical technology and knowledge, to education and health care services.
individuals are living longer than ever before. Increased lifespan Without significant investment into the development of
means that means more people are able to reproduce, trading to these essential resources and infrastructure; the ability of these
an even greater population increase. countries to cope with overpopulation is severely limited
The absence of affordable housing can lead to the growth of Overuse of natural resources, overpopulation also leads to
informal Settlements, commonly Known as shanty towns, which the more usage of natural resources. As the population of the
lack basic Sanitation and waste disposal Systems. world whereases, more and more natural resources are being
The increasing demand for natural resources and the rising consumed at an alarming rate.
number of people living in poverty. The need for more food means more agriculture and for
It is critical for policy makers to develop measures to the land for agriculture there is deforestation, which causes:
migrate the negative impacts of overpopulation. environmental degradation such as soil erosion and soil loss.
Limited resources and undeveloped infrastructures are also Depletion of resources leads competition for resources
a major factor which challenges overpopulation in developing which in turn increases the insecurity among different
countries is the limited resource and undeveloped infrastructures. countries. Increased crime rate is linked to the overpopulation in
In many developing countries resources like water, food and many regions.
energy are scarce. The lack of infrastructure and lack of basic needs will
As the population in these areas goes on growing pressure increase the conflict between the people, and hence increase in
the limited resources and infrastructure increases. Therefore, the crime rate. The communities are not provided with
finding sustainable solutions to improve resource management infrastructure to cope with the ocean population, changing the
and infrastructure development is essential to mitigate the impacts mindset of humans to tend towards crime.
of overpopulation in developing countries. Increasing Lifespan of Health risks and pandemics: - like the recent pandemic
overpopulation is a complex one that requires the multifaceted which shook the entire Indian subcontinent, the COVID-19.
approach that takes into account a range of factors, including Dense populations living in close contact are affected more.
increased life span. Contagious diseases spread more quickly in crowded regions than
in not crowded region. Government must promote different ways
Poverty and Unavailability of birth control to birth control for the health of their entire family.
1. Furthermore, poverty and lack of access to birth control Unemployment, more population means requirement of more
also contribute to overpopulation. In many parts of the jobs but as India is still a developing country and the number of
jobs available are less.
2023 EPRA IJMR | http://eprajournals.com/ | Journal DOI URL: https://doi.org/10.36713/epra2013-------------------------------------------------------------------------45
 ISSN (Online): 2455-3662
EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IJMR) - Peer Reviewed Journal
Volume: 9| Issue: 8| August 2023|| Journal DOI: 10.36713/epra2013 || SJIF Impact Factor 2023: 8.224 || ISI Value: 1.188

Due to the slow growth of industries in India and the high b. By investing in economic development, countries can
growth rate in population leads to unemployment of many create jobs, increase income levels and support
individuals which leads to the economic drop making India still a infrastructural development. This will discourage people
developing country and not a developed country. from migrating to Urban areas.
These are the main effects of overpopulation, which not c. This can become a boon for people to get quality of life
only lead to degrowth of the country but also cause many others’ in their villages or towns.
problems. d. Governments can also invest in education and health
care programs, to ensure citizens are healthy and to
SOLUTIONS TO OVERPOPULATION contribute to the economy. This also leads to
1. There are numerous potential solutions to development in a sustainable and responsible manner.
overpopulation that range from increasing access to
contraception and family planning services to D) Encouraging immigration policies
incentivizing small families and reducing immigration a. Encouraging immigration policies is crucial to tackle the
rates. issue of overpopulation.
2. One of the most effective strategies for reducing birth b. Immigration can bring economic and demographic benefits.
rates has been found to be increasing education levels, There the lifestyle of people also changes and can live in a
specifically for girls and women. diversified culture and relations among people get stronger.
3. This allows individuals to make informed decisions c. Moreover, offering employment opportunities and providing
regarding their family planning, and consequently, a path to citizenship for immigrants can promote sustainable
reduces the number of children born into families. growth and reduce the fertility rates of their home countries.
4. Additionally, providing economic incentives for smaller
families, such as tax credits or other financial benefits, CONCLUSION
has been shown to be effective in reducing birth rates. As the global population continues to grow, the demand for
5. Encouraging smaller families could also be natural resources, food, and water is increasing exponentially. The
accomplished by removing social and cultural norms rapid pace of urbanization coupled with changing dietary habits
that place pressure on individuals to have larger families. has led to significant loss of fertile land, deforestation and soil
depletion. The expanding cities are also causing severe air and
Increase in education and awareness on population control. water pollution, further threatening the environment. The
a. An increase in education and awareness on population problem of overpopulation is a complex issue that will require a
control is crucial for mitigating negative effects as multifaceted approach to solve. The world population would
individuals get More awareness on population control. reach 9.7 billion by 2050, which means that we must actively
b. Education on availability of contraceptives and family work to ensure that resources are distributed equitably and seem
planning to the individuals. Women can also make daunting. There is cause for optimism with concerted action, we
decisions to make their education and career. can create a better future for ourselves and future generations.
c. However, the cultural and social norms are the main
cause for less effective implementation of contraceptives REFERENCES
because they just think about the side effects of those 1. Dahrendorf, Rult: Class and class conflict in Industrial Society,
contraceptives. stand ford, Standford undersity press, 1959.
2. Dwivedi R.S: Research Methods in behaviour sciences, Sanket
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a. Promotion of family planning is the major step towards the 3. E.Chandran : Social and Economics Problem of India,Cosmos
Book L.T.D. New Delhi – 1997
controlling of overpopulation. 4. Krishnan O. R.: ‘Methodology of social research in social sciences
b. Educating people about Contraceptives and making them ‘ Himalaya Publication-2009
accessible would help to overcome the problem of 5. Kumar , ‘Social Problem & Welfare Laxmi Narayan Agrawal
overpopulation. Publication, Agra.
c. It would also empower women to make their decision. Many 6. Mahajan R. : ‘Agriculture, Rural Devlopment and Panchayat Raj’
countries including China, India, Bangladesh have S. Publication New Delhi 2008
implemented family planning programs that offer free or 7. Madan G. R : Indian Social Problem’ Allead Publisher New
Subsidized Contraceptives, education, and counselling Delhi-2006
services.
d. These Programs have resulted in a decline in fertility rates.

C] Investing in economic development:

a. To effectively address overpopulation, investing in
economic development is of paramount importance.

2023 EPRA IJMR | http://eprajournals.com/ | Journal DOI URL: https://doi.org/10.36713/epra2013-------------------------------------------------------------------------46