A Comparative Study on Population

Explosion in India with Respect to

Global Scenario
ABSTRACT

Population explosion is one of the major issues in a developing country like India. In this
paper I have discussed all the possible area regarding awareness on population explosion. Not
only India but also, I have focused on this problem in global scenario. Throughout this paper
I have tried to summarise the facts and the factors affecting population explosion. In this
paper I have also shown the government effort to curve this problem. The objective is
developing awareness among the people so that we can get rid of this problem.

Keywords: population, population explosion, employment, economy, growth

1. INTRODUCTION

Population Explosion refers the sudden and rapid rise in the size of Population. Population
explosion is not only a problem in India; it has reached a menacing proportion all over the
world, especially in the poorer countries. The developed countries in the West or in countries
like Japan which are rich enough to employ all their people according to their abilities the
growth of population may prove to be a boon, for the rapid growth of industries and national
wealth always need greater work-force to implement the programs of development in ever-
expanding spheres. But in developing countries like India, with a backward economy and
little scope for fruitful employment, millions of people find no work to do. The unemployed,
having nothing to do and without an ensured living, are left frustrated and demoralize, losing
their faith in life itself. As it happens in India and several underdeveloped countries in Asia
and Africa, the unemployed threaten the very process of development and plunge the country
in gloom. It is only natural. Those who are born with two hands consider it a curse when they
are denied the simple right to work and earn a living. While their numbers go on multiplying
and the growth rate becomes menacing, the fruits of development are found to be too
inadequate to bridge the yawning gulf.
 OBJECTIVE OF THE POPULATION STUDY

The significance of studying population lies mainly in estimating the total manpower
available for production and total amount of goods and service required for their
consumption. After this, the studying of population is very useful from various points of
view:

1. By studying population, even after ten years, tell us the exact number of people in our
country only by knowing the number of people living in our country. We can know where we
are going and what steps we should take to avoid the coming catastrophe as a result of the
unrestricted rise of population.

2. We can know the distribution of population in our country and where more emphasis is to
be laid for the development and uplift of the area.

3. We can know the sex ratio in our country and take proper steps for the welfare of the
weaker section of the society including both woman and girl-child.

4. We can know the age composition of the people and how much burden of the dependent
population (children and old people) the working population has to bear.

5. We can know as to how many people are engaged in the primary, secondary and tertiary
occupation and what steps we should take to bring about a change in occupational structure
of our country.

6. It is only by studying population that we can know the level of literacy in our country and
think what steps we should take to remove illiteracy from our country.

7. It is only by studying the data of our population, which we can know how many
adolescents (people in the age group of 10 to 19) are there in our country and what special
steps we can take to bring them up so that they may prove good citizens for the country.

8. It is by only studying population that we can chalk out our National Population Policy and
think of measures both for containing the rise of our population and take desired methods for
its welfare.
 3. FACTS REGARDING POPULATION EXPLOTION

Demographic transition explains a form of relationship between population and economic

development. In the western countries it has been found that they have moved from a
condition of high birth and death rates, to a condition of low birth and death rates which led
to a slow rate of growth of population. This demographic change is known as 'Demographic
Transition. In other words, demographic transition describes the passage through which
countries move from high birth and death rates to low ones. This has been the experience of
countries going through a process of modernizing economic and social development. The
growth rate of population is a function of migration, birth rate and death rate in a country.
The change in population caused by net migration as a proportion of total population of the
country is almost insignificant and, therefore, can be easily ignored. That leaves us with
birth rate and death rate. The difference between the birth rate and the death rate
measures the growth rate of population. The high population growth rates are due to high
birth rate and fast declining death rates due to better sanitation and health facilities.
However, the capacities to absorb increasing manpower are much weaker. Furthermore,
the process of economic development tends to be more capital intensive under modern
technological conditions, and hence, has less potential of employment generation in the
short run. Since the total size of the population is already large, there is urgency for speedy
achievement of demographic transition from high birth rate to low birth rate resulting in
lower population growth.

4. FACTORS CONTROLLING POPULATION DENSITY

Three kinds of factors control human population density - geographic, socio-economic and
demographic.

4.1 GEOGRAPHIC FACTORS

These factors include climate, availability of natural resources and means of transportation.
4.1.1 Climate The regions with favourable climate have a higher population density. Arctic
and Antarctic regions are uninhabited by humans because they are extremely cold and unfit
for agriculture. The desert areas are less populated due to hot, dry climate not conducive to
agriculture. The tropical lands are well populated because their warm, moist climate is
suitable for human beings as well as for agriculture.

4.1.2 Availability of Natural Resources The natural resources that effect population density
include water, soil, fuel and minerals.

4.1.2.1 Water Human settlements are located near sources of water. Many cities are on the
banks of river and lakes.

4.1.2.2 Soil The soils of river valleys are very fertile and most suitable for farming. This is the
reason for high population density in the Indo-Genetics plains and Indus valley.

4.1.2.3 Fuel and Minerals Industrial cities have come up in localities where fuel and minerals have
been found. Bokaro, Bhilai and Rourkela are some of such cities.
4.2 MEANS OF TRANSPORT

Means of transport affect human population in two ways i. They bring about redistribution
and dispersal of population. People from one state migrate temporarily or permanently to
other states or foreign countries for work. This practice may result in changes in population
density or lead to new settlements. ii. They enable people to live in localities far away from
the sites of natural resources. The latter can be made available to human population anywhere
by transport.

4.3 SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS

Urbanisation and acquisition of land for public well fare are important socio-economic factor
which change the pattern of population distribution, these factors create serious problems for
mankind.

4.3.1 Urbanisation

People migrate from rural areas to cities because of better employment prospectus,
educational facilities and have services. Increasing urbanisation has created a number of
problems like environment, pollution, sanitation and sewage disposal, traffic problems,
housing problems, disease, and mental health etc.

4.3.2 Use of Land for Public Well Fare

Use of agriculture land for roads, rail lines, canals, industries, educational institution,
hospitals, offices, and houses etc.
 4.4 DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS

The birth and death rates are the major factor that determines the population growth of a
country. The birth rate is regwated in human socio-economic factors such as status of women,
family composition, age of women of marriage etc. The death rate depends on public
hygiene, nutritional status, type of employment, medical facilities etc. the birth and death
rates vary from region to region and from time to time, depending upon environmental
factors.

5. GLOBAL SCENARIO OF POPULATION EXPLOTION

6. REPORT OF UNITED NATION ON THE GROWTH OF POPULATION

India is expected to surpass China to become the world's most populous nation by 2022, the
United Nations said on July 29, 2015. China and India remain the two largest countries in the
world, each with more than 1 billion people, representing 19 and 18 per cent of the world's
population, respectively. "But by 2022, the population of India is expected to surpass that of
China," said the report 'World Population Prospects: The 2015 Revision', released by the UN.
Currently, among the ten largest countries in the world, one is in Africa (Nigeria), five are in
Asia (Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, and Pakistan), two are in Latin America (Brazil
and Mexico), one is in Northern America (USA), and one is in Europe (Russian Federation).
Of these, Nigeria's population is growing the most rapidly. Consequently, the population of
Nigeria is projected to surpass that of the US by about 2050. By 2050, six countries are
expected to exceed 300 million: China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and the USA, the
report said. A significant ageing of the population in the next several decades is projected for
most regions of the world, starting with Europe where 34 per cent of the population is
projected to be over 60 years old by 2050. In Latin America and the Caribbean and in Asia,
the population will be transformed from having 11 per cent to 12 per cent of people aged over
60 years today to more than 25 per cent by 2050. Africa has the youngest age distribution of
any major area, but it is also projected to age rapidly, with the population aged 60 years or
over rising from five percent today to nine per cent by 2050. The current world population of
7.3 billion is expected to reach 8.5 billion by 2030, 9.7 billion in 2050 and 11.2 billion in
2100, the report said. "Understanding the demographic changes that are likely to unfold over
the coming years, as well as the challenges and opportunities that they present for achieving
sustainable development, is key to the design and implementation [6] of the new development
agenda," said Wu Hongbo, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs[5].
Most of the projected increase in the world's population can be attributed to a short list of
high-fertility countries, mainly in Africa, or countries with already large populations.

7. STATE WISE POPULATION OF INDIA

With a population of over 1.27 billion, India has witnessed a huge growth in its population in
the last 50 years. According to estimates, India will become the most populated country in the
world by 2030 leaving behind China. Population of some Indian states like Uttar Pradesh,
Maharashtra and Bihar is more than many countries around the world. The states in India are
very densely populated as compared to other places in the world, thus leading to danger of
environment imbalances. Population growth rate of many highly populated states in India is
5% to 18% in a decade. This growth over the years brings an alarming sign for the whole
nation as natural resources are limited in future. Government of India has taken several steps
to check population growth in the states but with very little success. Nearly half of India's
total population lives in five states of Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal and
Andhra Pradesh [1]. The population in the states of India is further divided into districts,
divisions, cities, towns and villages. According to Census of India, there are 641,000
inhabited villages in India. 72.2 percent of India's population lives in these villages which are
spread throughout the country. Remaining 27.8% of population in India lives in 5,100 towns
and 380 urban agglomerations. In the last 20 years [2], the country has witnessed a sharp rise
in its urban population due to migration to major cities. List of top states of India by
Population is presented here:

Table 2: State wise Population of India (Top 10 States)

 8. EFFECT OF POPULATION EXPLOTION

During 2015-2050, half of the world's population growth is expected to be concentrated in

nine countries: India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, United
Republic of Tanzania, the United States of America, Indonesia and Uganda, listed according
to the size of their contribution to the total growth, the report said. Let us list effects of the
rapid population growth in India. They are:
8.1 Providing employment to growing population

This is so because in developing economies majority of the population is illiterate. The

burden of school age population has already shown signs of becoming unbearable. The
proportion of children in schools is increasing fast and, vast numbers are still not covered.
The absolute number or illiterate persons increases every year. This is only an indication of
the wastage of human resources for want of appropriate development opportunities.

8.2 Problem of utilisation of manpower

Better educated manpower aspires for occupations of greater prestige, which are opened up
by the new development efforts. Because of its capital-intensive nature, the ability, of the
new economy for employment generation becomes restricted. Simultaneously, it renders
many of the old occupations out of day and redundant. As a result, under-employment and
unemployment, including unemployment of educated persons, increases. There is thus
wastage of even developed human capital.

8.3 Over-strained infrastructure

Facilities such as housing, transportation, health care, and education become inadequate. The
worst symptoms of congestion in every aspect of living conditions are manifested in the
urban areas. In countries such as India, a situation of "over urbanisation", prevails which puts
unbearable strain on urban amenities. Overcrowded houses, slums and unsanitary localities,
traffic congestion and crowded hospitals have become common features in the developing
countries.

8.4 Pressure on land and other renewable natural resources

Common properties such as forest and water are over-exploited. This results in deforestation
and desertification with permanent damage to the renewable resources.

8.5 Increased cost of production

Human ingenuity and technological advancement make it possible to increase production of

goods and services. But, it must be kept in mind that, the cost of production of the basic
necessities of life, such as food, increases when the population is growing fast and worse
lands are brought into cultivation with costly irrigation etc. 8.6 Inequitable distribution of
income Both at the international and national levels income disparities increase. The increase
in gross national product (GNP) is greatly reduced in per capita terms on account of the
rapidly growing population. In the face of a rapidly growing population, the major concern of
a developing country tends to be focused more on economic growth as such. Considerations
of unequal distribution of income are pushed to background. So, inequalities within the
country tend to widen further.

9. GOVERNMENT PLANNING TO CURVE POPULATION EXPLOSION

It may sound funny, but the law is that the poorer a country the greater is the growth rate of
its population. India, caught in the morass of her age-old poverty, finds herself in the midst of
a population explosion. The population that was less than 400 million in the forties was found
to be about 120 billion in 2013. As a result of this even the six plans completed by now have
so far failed to cope with the enormous problem of unemployment.

Whatever our plans might have achieved in some sixty-five years is found to be too little to
eradicate poverty. More than seventy percent of Indians live in villages and most of them
languish in their dark, dreary nooks; the fruits of our plans have not quite reached them. And
having no other occupation their only pleasure lies in producing children. In the towns too,
the poorer sections always have bigger families, while the rich and well-off sections live
comfortably with small families. The poor in India are ignorant and superstitious, and so they
do not see the advantages of planned family. Many of them never think of going against the
law of nature and the will of their God; so, they never refrain from breeding children, though
they know that they cannot even feed them and keep them away from the curse of poverty
and ignorance. Perhaps the sickening monotony of living in their world of despair leads them
to torment their women with a vengeance and seek as much pleasure as they can. These poor
people do not have the education necessary for planning their present with a view to ensuring
a better future. This is why while their hope wears off they leap in the dark and break their
neck, making things grimmer for their world. The millions of famished, under-nourished and
naked children everywhere in India show the chaos this country is in.

But whatever the poor may be driven to do, the government cannot ignore or shelve the
problem of population explosion, for it is a rot and entire development of the country depends
on how effectively it is stemmed. This awareness made our governments, both at the centre
and in the states, to think about the adopt official programme to educate public opinion and
reduce the birth rate so that the population can fit in well with the evolving pattern of
developing economy.

The Family Planning as an official programme was launched with much fanfare in 1952. The
government is still trying to educate the people. All government agencies and institutions
mobilized all their resources to attain the goal of planned families. The propaganda
machinery was geared up with the help of public media. The people were reminded of the
advantages of small families, of healthy and happy children and of the need for eradicating
the age-old poverty. The parents were persuaded to go in for sterilization after the births of
two children, for the contraceptive were not always found to be safe and fool-proof. Many
parents, especially the educated, came forward to see things in the new light and were
amenable to persuasion. But many others resisted, at places quite violently, and refused to see
reason. The government was very serious about making the programme a success. The state
governments also came forward to help the centre in its bid to achieve success.

But even then, family planning has a lot more to achieve, for the population in India has
already become about 120 billion and at this rate of growth it may very soon become 150
billion and then 200 billion and so on. As one of the poorest countries in the world India
cannot survive this challenge and in face of such explosion all her plans would be an exercise
in futility.

10. CONCLUSION

The rapid population growth in many third world countries and persistence of poverty has
given rise to the view of over-population possibility. There is, therefore, a major move
throughout the world to bring down the growth rate of population. Development experience
of recent years shows that there is a long run trend towards slow growth of population in a
country. This is secured by balance between birth and death rates. Before the commencement
of modern economic development, countries were in the first stage of demographic transition.
At that time countries had slow population growth because of a balance between high birth
and death rates. But, as a result of economic development, developed countries have again
attained slow growth in their population. Birth and death rates in these have become quite
low. Such features have been noticed during the third stage of demographic transition.
However, the balance between birth and death rates is upset during the second phase of
demographic transition because of the death rates declining faster than the birth rates. The
present day developed countries faced the problem of explosive increase in population which
has been put under the second phase of demographic transition. It happened more easily
because of congenial circumstances such as vast sparsely inhabited areas existing in those
times. But today's developing countries are experiencing a much faster growth in their
population under conditions different than those faced by the developed countries. Thus, they
are faced with huge problems of imparting education, employment, urban development and
environmental degradation. The need to tackle these problems has led to the necessity a
clearer understanding of the relationship between population and development. The major
problem faced by the developing countries is to bring down their birth rates, i.e. fertility.
Therefore, understanding of the relationship between development and fertility becomes very
significant. There are experts who think that unless fertility is first restricted, sustained
economic development is not possible. At the other extreme there are others who assume that
fertility is dependent upon economic development. This means that we should concentrate
our efforts on development planning, which would, in turn, reduce fertility. Thus, it seems
that the nature of the relationship between fertility and development is reciprocal. As the
exact nature of this relationship is yet to be fully established, the proper course for a
developing country would be to follow integrated policies in regard to both population and
development.