Population dynamics can pose both challenges and opportunities to development efforts depending on the resource availability ratio
Human population control is the practice of artificially altering the growth rate of a human population that has been implemented by limiting the population’s birth rate, usually by government mandate.
Factors such as a high poverty rate, environmental concerns, religious reasons, and overcrowding determine whether population control measures are necessary. Population control is done primarily through a policy of contraception or sterilization, especially in poor or densely populated areas of the world.
Why it matters: Population dynamics play a vital role in achieving social, economic and environmental development. Changes in population growth, age structures and distribution determine whether the goals agreed by the international community in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development are achievable or not.
Population dynamics can pose both challenges and opportunities to development efforts, because even where one country may struggle to achieve universal access to services due to rapid population growth, another may see achievement. the demographic dividend derived from the decline in fertility and mortality.
If demographic changes can be harnessed for the success and sustainability of development strategies at the international, regional and national levels, it depends on the implementation of effective population policies.
Rapid population growth remains a concern for many countries, mainly in the least developed countries, while more developed countries face issues such as slower population growth, such as aging and declining populations. .
Accordingly, there was a marked distinction in policies aimed at influencing the rate of population growth by the level of development. In 2015, about 45% of governments in more developed regions had policies aimed at increasing their rate of population growth, while only 2% had policies to reduce it. In contrast, 50% of governments in less developed regions had policies to reduce the rate of population growth and 10% had policies to increase it.
At the beginning of monitoring population policies: Systematic monitoring of population policies at the international level began after the adoption of the World Population Plan of Action – the world’s first intergovernmental instrument on population policy – at the World Population Conference held in 1974. There are many internationally agreed development plans, including the Plan of Action 2030 Program to follow up on population-related policies and programs. Another concern for many countries around the world is the issue of aging populations.
According to the US State Department, the world will face increasingly complex demographic and migration dynamics over the coming decades. The world population exceeded seven billion in 2011 and is expected to reach 8 billion in 2023, and could reach 9.8 billion in 2050.
the low birth combined with increased longevity, China, Brazil, Russia, Japan and parts of Europe are beginning to question the health and financial security of their elderly populations. However, developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia add more than 80 million people every year thus exacerbating poverty and even impacting environmental sustainability especially with regard to food and water.
The 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Program of Action, which was negotiated and agreed to by 179 governments, guarantees the promotion of human rights, gender equality, strong families , the care and protection of children, the right of all couples and individuals to decide freely and responsibly the number, spacing and timing of the birth of their children and to have the information and means to do so without discrimination, coercion or violence, as well as family planning activities respecting the principle of voluntary choice.
What are the criticisms against population control?
- China’s one-child policy began in 1979 when the country’s birth rate was just under three children per woman. However, China’s economy had already been booming for a year, and its economic growth may not be primarily tied to this declining fertility rate.
- The decline was fully in line with trends in neighboring countries that have also experienced rapid economic growth and do not coercively limit family size, according to The cruel truth about population control by Chelsea Follett in The National Interest.
- Although India’s economic reforms began in the early 1990s, the decline in population growth has been much slower than in China.
- The United States does not endorse population “stabilization” or “control” and believes that the “ideal” family size should be determined by couples’ desires, not governments. The United States Strongly Opposes Coercive Population Programs.
Why Assam and Uttar Pradesh proposed strict population control measures: Assam and Uttar Pradesh have proposed laws to implement two-child policies in their respective states that recommend barring people with more than two children from taking government jobs and benefits.
The Uttar Pradesh Population (Control, Stabilization and Welfare) Bill 2021, which is open for public suggestions until July 19 to control and stabilize the state’s population, even excludes candidates with more than two children from the local polls. Even promotions in government jobs and grants are at stake. There is also a bonus for civil servants who meet the two-child standard. They will receive additional increases for the duration of service, maternity leave, paternity leave for 12 months, with full salary and allowances and a 3% increase in dues employers under the national pension scheme.
The government of Uttar Pradesh is also planning to set up maternity centers in primary health care centers which will distribute contraceptives, sensitize people on family planning. There will be records of pregnancies, deliveries, births and deaths statewide.
“Don’t look at it through a political lens”
In an exclusive interview with News18 India Amish Devgan editor Adityanath said “every day was an election day for the government, as well as a day to serve the people”.
Regarding the recently unveiled population policy, the Chief Minister said: “Each state must design policies for its future. The United Nations had designated 16 tasks for sustainable development on poverty reduction, environmental preservation, etc. UP had also held a record 36-hour debate on the issue.
“The state was found to lag behind the national average in many respects, and so the population policy was initiated. The government is also focusing on raising awareness,” he said.
When asked if a particular community was targeted by the population policy, Adityanath said that not every issue should be looked at through the prism of the policy and the aim was to raise the quality of life of the population. public and improve women’s health.
Other political parties want to keep the public poor and create vote banks, Uttar Pradesh’s chief minister has said, defending the policy amid opposition backlash.
In Assam, the proposed two-child policy recommends reducing benefits from state government-funded schemes to those who flout standards. Even loan waivers are linked to the program, although the benefits of central government programs are available without hindrance. Another key exemption in the proposed two-child policy in Assam is that members of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribal and Tea Garden communities will not be affected by it.
In the upcoming monsoon session to be held from July 19 to August 13, a private member’s bill will be discussed in the Rajya Sabha on August 6, while the BJP MP’s private member’s bill Rakesh Sinha regarding population control was presented. Another private member’s bill by Rajya Sabha member Anil Agarwal was also introduced in this regard. Last year Gorakhpur BJP MP Ravi Kisan introduced a similar bill to the Lok Sabha.