Population Explosion
An enormous growth in number of human beings is called Population Explosion. Human history is about 50,000 year old, and during this period, the social evolution reveals the occurrence of three such population explosions which have heavily affected the global environment. Scientist considers 3 important events of such explosions: a) The first population explosion occurred some 20,000 years back when human beings discovered developed and improved weapons for hunting and procuring food. b) The second population explosion occurred some 6,000 years back when they learned and improved methods of farming. c) The third occurred about 300 years back when they learned improved methods of food production, industrial establishment and medicine production.
Problems of Population Explosion
1. Food even today half of the people of the people are half fed. Though agricultural experts have developed high yield varieties of cereals but population growth is too rapid to meet the global demand. 2. Overcrowding scientists believe population should not grow beyond the capacity of earth to house people with basic and necessary comforts. Competition for space will develop problems that are seen and unseen. 3. Poverty poverty in itself is a curse and problems are more aggravated with population growth. Rapid growth of population tends to create difficulties for the govt. in providing proper education, health, housing, etc.
Impacts of Population Explosion on Environment
1. Global Warming and green house effects- Population growth appears to have a vital factor in increase of carbon dioxide emissions (a major green house gas). The threat to global warming and climate change is heavenly influenced by population growth. Global warming causes profound environmental effects such as melting of polar icecaps, rising of sea levels, change of climate, etc. China is expected to be the leading source of global warming by 2050. 2. Deforestation Population pressure contributes direct effect on loss of forest cover because of increased land use for various purposes. Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) has begun to predict extent of deforestation on the basis of local population density, because the link between the two is too strong. According to UN, about 59% of land had been cut till date for human usage.
3. Biodiversity Deforestation of biodiversity enriched regions like loss of tropical rain forests have caused destruction of wildlife and threat to the biodiversity of life on earth. Much of the reason behind this problem is population explosion. 4. Water scarcity Demand of water is closely related to the population growth. According to UNs estimate, some 2.7 billion to 3.5 billion people lived in water scarce countries in last 30 years time. 5. Land loss an increased population clearly indicates that more land will be needed to raise food crops, build roads, to construct houses, factories, etc. 6. Stress on natural resources - an increased population means a greater drain on the worlds limited resources. Whereas the mineral resources on the earths are limited, the population pressure will compel unmindful extraction of the same. A population/resource ratio is now often used to estimate the further threat and environment repercussions.
Reasons behind Population Explosions in India 1. Large size of population in the reproductive group. 2. Higher fertility rate due to failure of family planning. 3. The marriage of girls below the age of 18 years, resulting in too early, too frequent and
too many.
4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Joint family and importance of male child. Illiteracy and rural society. Social insecurity. Poverty and backwardness. Lack of sex education, etc.
Family Welfare Programme (India)
National Population Policy
Increasing problems due to population explosion have forced to think about family welfare programmes to keep control over population growth. Govt of India has taken up this programme at priority level and effects are now clear. The census of India indicates the population of India on 1st March 2011 as 1210 million. Control on population growth could have been more effective, if family welfare programmes were equally adopted by all states. In 1952, India was he first country in the world to launch a national programme, emphasizing fertility regulation to the extent necessary for reducing birth rate to stabilize the population at a level consistent with the requirement of national economy. Half a century after formulating the National Family Welfare Programme(NFWP) Indias demographic indicators are:
Demographic Indicator
1. 2. 3. 4. Reduced Crude Birth Rate(CBR) Reduced Infant Mortality Rate(IMR) Reduced Crude Death Rate(CDR) Reduced Total Fertility rate(TFR)(per women) 5. Increased Couple Protection Rate 6. Increased Life Expectancy(ILE) Male 7. Increased ILE Female
1951
40.8 146 25.1 6.0 10.4 37.2 36.2
2002(approx)
25.0 55 8.1 3.2 48.2 63.87 66.91
The National Population Policy, 2000(NPP 2000) affirms the commitment of the Govt. towards voluntary and informed choice and consent of citizens while availing of reproductive health care services and continuation of target free approach administering family planning service.
Family Welfare Programme
The National Family Welfare Programme(NFWP) was launched in India in 1951 with the objective of reducing and stabilizing population to match with National [Link] was launched through voluntary and free choice of planning methods. Mass media and interpersonal communication has been used to spread the message of, benefits of small family. The National Welfare Services are provided to the community through a network of sub centers, rural health centers and hospitals and dispensaries in urban areas. FWP has selected certain measures to control the population growth: a) b) c) d) e) f) g) h) To encourage for small family. To increase gap period between the child birth spacing. To educate for ideal motherhood. To provide proper treatment for sex disabilities and related problems. To take proper care during pregnancy. To mentally prepare for the 1st child. To educate mother for taking the balanced nutrition. To develop awareness for child mother care.
Family Planning Methods
Family planning methods include all those systems which prevent pregnancy. Following things should be remembered: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Methods must be effective to prevent pregnancy. Methods should not be harmful to the health. Methods should be acceptable to both male and female. Techniques should be simple to use. Methods should be easy to give up when a birth of a child is required. Methods must be quite economic and easy. 2 types of Methods: A) Temporary Methods-mechanical contraceptives, chemical contraceptives, hormonal methods, etc. B) Permanent Methods- permanent birth control measures.
