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| Controlling the growth |
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| Wednesday, 16 November 2005 05:30 | |||
According to India's Population Census, an additional 181 million people were added to the country’s population between 1991-2001 more than the population of Brazil, the fifth most populous country in the world.
According to India's Population Census, an additional 181 million people were added to the country’s population between 1991-2001 more than the population of Brazil, the fifth most populous country in the world. According to National Family and Health Survey (NFHS), the total fertility rate of a woman was 2.85 in 1998-99. that is, if the current age-specific fertility rates continue, then, on an average, a woman in her reproductive years (15-49 years) would bear around three children. Reduction of fertility rate will be one of the major means for stabilising population growth. While India’s population will grow, that growth rate can be reduced dramatically. Many across the country are responding by calling for all kinds of reservations only for those who have fewer children. But these measures are not too efficient. For those who have more than two or three children, have already made a decision that cannot be undone. And those who are thinking of not stopping at two will be trading off the benefit and joy of more children now, as against the possibility of winning an election if they were to stand for one in the future. The decision is a no-brainer. Have as many children now and worry about standing for elections in the future. All studies reveal that fertility falls if the woman can avail and access certain services. Since educated women are better at finding out about these services and interacting with health care staff, families where females are better educated have fewer children. If women have basic reproductive health care facilities available, and if a health care provider interacts with them privately and with care, they are able to make choices that automatically lead not only to fewer children, but happier and healthier mothers. However, higher state government expenditures on reproductive health care have a desired impact only as long as they are translated into better and greater reproductive health services. For instance, young women who have availed of family planning services and have access to facilities such as hospital and a doctor at the time of delivery, are significantly less likely to have a high fertility rate. So how should one stabilise population? Not by hum do hamara ek campaigns, neither by preventing parents from accessing jobs, services, or elected posts, nor by telling people that a small family is a happy family. Some even call for IEC/BCC campaigns. People will have fewer children only when it makes sense to have fewer children. It will make sense to have fewer children when the likelihood of each child surviving is high; otherwise risk-averse parents will have more than their desired living offspring. What is required is access to good quality reproductive and child health and education services. Educated girls will become educated mothers; will be more able to benefit from all types of available services better health care services both during pregnancy, at childbirth, in the postnatal months, and through early child-hood. If each child is likely to survive, is healthier and better educated, it will not make sense to have more children. And the population will stabilise faster. The writer is Principal Consultant, Indicus Analytics Source: http://www.business-standard.com/search/storypage_new.php?leftnm=4&leftindx=4&subLeft=1&autono=226382
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