Causes of Population Explosion in India

Population Explosion In India

The fastest rise in the population of India was during the period of 1951 to 1981, in
which the population was from 36 crores in 1951 was reached around to 70 crores in
1981. During this period of 30 years, population increased around 34 crores, which is
the fastest rise in the history of population statistics. Death rate has become controlled
due to modern health and medical facilities and it has reduced to become 15 persons per
thousand whereas; birth rate has not got any significant reduction. That is why; this
period from 1951 to 1981 is known in India as the period of Population Explosion.

CAUSES OF POPULATION EXPLOSION IN INDIA

1. Hot Climate
One of the reasons of fast rising population in India is its hot climate. Due to hot
climate, maturity comes at early age in boys and girls, due to which they give birth
to their children at their early age. This is one of the main reasons for population
explosion.

2. Child Marriage and Multi Marriage System

In India the tradition of child marriage and multi-marriage system is prevalent.
Marriage of around 80% girls of the country is took place at their young age of
between 15 to 20 years. Thus, the result of long married life comes in the farm of
excessive childbirth. Tradition of multi-marriage system increases the rotation of
childbirth. Apart from it, the increasing tendency of widow marriage, due to the
social reforms is also increasing childbirth up to some extent.

3. Religious Superstitions
Our religious Gurus say that if a Hindu person does not has son, then who will
perform the religious ritual in its absence. Due to this, person remains engage in
the continuous process of giving birth, one by one, in search of male baby. In the
same manner, in Muslims both male and female child is a boon (gift) sent by
Allah, prevention of their birth by using any means of family planning is a sin.
Due to these reasons, population is continuously increasing.

4. Illiteracy and Unawareness

In India around 36% males and 61% females are illiterate. Neither they have full
knowledge of family planning nor they know about the consequences of excessive
childbirth. This is one of the reasons of rising population and the situation of
Population Explosion’ is emerged.

5. Poverty
Due to poverty, population is increased of the poor families of our country. People
lives in slum, uses their children as a tool, to earn money, hence they always try to
increase the number of children in their families.

6. Birth Rate
 In India the average age for marriage is very low, comparatively other nations of
the world. This is also a reason for population explosion.

7. Death Rate
In India the death rate from the year 1900 to 1910 was around 35 to 50 persons per
thousand, which is now reduced to only 7 to 8 persons per thousand. This become
‘possible in the country by good and hygienic food, pure drinking water, facilities
of hospitals, good cleanness, medical facilities at affordable rates and control over
Malnutrition, Pneumonia, Cholera, Epidemic etc. Along with, child death rate has
reduced to 69 per thousand, comparatively around 218 per thousand in between
the years 1916 to 1920. Due to this also, the position of Population Explosion
occurred.

8. Indifferent towards Family Planning

Illiterate persons and people living in rural areas are indifferent towards family
planning. They feel fear even by the name of ‘Operation’. They are not interested
even in the use of simplest and cheapest means of family planning.

9. Lack of Social Security

Due to lack of social security system in India, every parent seeks. shelter at the
time of crises and for their old age, in childbirth. Whether this would be son or
daughter. In the fear of death of their child at childhood, they give birth too many
children, so that any of them would be support of their old age.

10. Arrival of Refugees

Population is very much increased due to continuous arrivals of refugees in India.
At the time of division of India and. Pakistan in 1947, more than 1 crore refugees
came to India. In 1962 at the time of attack of China, a huge number of Tibetan
refugees came to India. Similarly, in 1971, more than 1 crore Bangladeshi
refugees, came to India and even today this problem is still continued. Apart from
this, continuous arrival of Nepalis, is also still continued. More than 5 lakhs Tamil
refugees had come to India due to Sri Lankan Tamil problem. All these are
responsible for population explosion.

11. Other Causes

Apart from the above, following are other causes of population explosion
1- Social compulsion of Marriage
2- Lack of means of entertainment
3- Bhagyawati (fateful) view
4- Ambition of big family
5- Betterment in economic position
6- Joint family system, etc.

Measures to Check Population Growth

Steps taken by the Government to check the increasing population of India are given
below:-
Interventions under family planning program:
1. Scheme for home delivery of contraceptives by ASHAs at doorstep of
beneficiaries: The govt. has launched a scheme to utilize the services of ASHA to
deliver contraceptives at the doorstep of beneficiaries. 8.85 lakh ASHAs are now
distributing contraceptives at the door step.
2. Scheme for ASHAs to ensure spacing in births: The scheme is operational from
16th May, 2012. Under this scheme, services of ASHAs are being utilised for
counselling of newly married couples to ensure delay of 2 years in birth after
marriage and couples with 1 child to have spacing of 3 years after the birth of
1st child.
3. Pregnancy testing kits have been made an integral part of ASHA kit and are
being used to diagnose pregnancy early, so as to ensure early registration of
pregnancy/safe abortion services.
4. A new family planning method, i.e. post-partum IUCD (PPIUCD) has been
introduced in the program. PPIUCD services are being provided by trained health
providers in government hospitals, within 48 hours after the delivery.
5. Basket of choice has been expanded with introduction of a new IUCD-375 of 5
years effectivity, in addition to the already existing IUCD–380A of 10 years
effectivity.
6. Dedicated counselors (RMNCH counsellors) are placed at high case load
facilities for providing family planning counseling to clients.
7. Celebration of World Population Day 11th July & Fortnight: The event is
observed over a month long period, split into fortnight of mobilization/sensitization
followed by a fortnight of assured family planning service delivery and has been
made a mandatory activity from 2012-13 and starts from 27th June each year.
8. Other On-going interventions:
• Assured delivery of family planning services for both IUCD and sterilisation.
• National Family Planning Indemnity Scheme’ (NFPIS) under which clients are
insured in the eventualities of deaths, complications and failures following
sterilization and the providers/ accredited institutions are indemnified against
litigations in those eventualities.
• Compensation scheme for sterilization acceptors - under the scheme MoHFW
provides compensation for loss of wages to the beneficiary and also to the
service provider (& team) for conducting sterilisations.
• More emphasis on Spacing methods like IUCD.
• Availability of Fixed Day Static Services at all facilities.
• Quality care in Family Planning services by establishing Quality Assurance
Committees at state and district levels.
• Contraceptives supply management up to peripheral facilities.
• Demand generation activities in the form of display of posters, billboards and
other audio and video materials in the various facilities.