Population Growth and Poverty in India

Posted on May 7, 2024 in Geography

Causes for High Birth Rate in India

Despite a declining trend, India’s birth rate remains high compared to other countries. Several factors contribute to this:

Social and Cultural Factors

Universality of Marriage and Low Marriage Age: Marriage is considered essential, and the young age at marriage extends the reproductive span.
Agricultural Economy: The agricultural sector provides ample job opportunities, encouraging larger families in rural areas.
Poverty, Illiteracy, and Ignorance: Poverty fuels the belief that more children mean more helping hands, while illiteracy hinders awareness of birth control measures.
Customs and Traditions: Strong religious beliefs and a preference for male children contribute to higher birth rates.

Causes for the Rapidly Declining Death Rate

Advancements in various sectors have led to a significant decline in India’s death rate:

Medical and Economic Progress

Medical Advancements: Improved healthcare, availability of life-saving drugs, and effective disease control have increased life expectancy.
Better Transport and Communication: Efficient infrastructure aids in disaster management and reduces mortality during calamities.
Higher Income and Better Literacy Rate: Improved living standards and increased awareness about healthcare contribute to lower death rates.
Positive Attitude and Economic Growth: Women’s education and participation in economic activities, along with improved sanitation and social security measures, have positively impacted life expectancy.

Demographic Profile of India

Key features of India’s population include:

Declining Growth Rate: The annual growth rate has steadily declined since independence, reaching 1.64% as per the 2011 census.
Large Working Population: The age group of 15-59 years constitutes a significant portion of the population, offering potential economic advantages.
High Population Density: With 382 persons per sq. km, India faces challenges related to resource allocation and infrastructure.
Adverse Sex Ratio: The number of females per 1000 males remains low, highlighting issues like female infanticide and neglect.
Increasing Urbanization: The percentage of the population residing in urban areas has been rising, indicating development and changing lifestyles.
Improving Literacy Rate: Literacy rates have shown improvement, but disparities between genders and regions persist.

National Population Policy of 2000

The policy outlines short-term, medium-term, and long-term objectives to stabilize population growth. Key targets include reducing maternal and infant mortality rates, promoting family planning, improving child health and education, empowering women, and achieving complete birth and death registration.

Critical Evaluation of the Population Policy

While efforts have been made to control population growth, several shortcomings exist:

Overemphasis on Birth Control: The policy focuses heavily on birth control measures while neglecting crucial aspects like poverty alleviation and improving living standards.
Lack of Comprehensive Approach: Measures are often implemented in a piecemeal manner, lacking a holistic and sustainable strategy.
Inadequate Funding and Inefficient Utilization: Insufficient funds and inefficient resource allocation hinder the effectiveness of population control programs.
Limited Success in Rural Areas: Population control measures have had limited impact in rural areas, where illiteracy and traditional beliefs remain prevalent.

Extent of Poverty in India

Estimates of poverty in India have varied over time, with recent data indicating a decline in poverty rates. However, a significant portion of the population still lives below the poverty line, particularly in rural areas.

Causes of Poverty

Multiple factors contribute to poverty in India:

Rural Population and Landlessness: A large rural population with limited land ownership and exploitative agrarian relations perpetuates poverty.
Population Growth and Inflation: Rapid population growth strains resources and exacerbates poverty, while inflation erodes the purchasing power of the poor.
Low Labour Productivity and Technological Developments: Inefficient production methods and technological advancements can widen the gap between the rich and the poor.
Lack of Jobs and Inadequate Infrastructure: Limited employment opportunities and inadequate infrastructure, particularly in urban areas, contribute to poverty.
Inequality and Discrimination: Social and economic inequalities based on caste, religion, and other factors perpetuate poverty.

Measures Taken by the Government to Eradicate Poverty

The government has implemented various schemes and programs to address poverty, including:

Direct Benefit Transfers (DBTs): Utilizing the JAM trinity (Jan Dhan accounts, mobile numbers, and Aadhaar) to ensure direct delivery of benefits to targetted groups.
Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY): Providing LPG connections to BPL families to promote clean cooking fuel and improve health and environment.
Ayushman Bharat Yojana (ABY): Offering health insurance coverage to BPL families, ensuring access to quality healthcare.
National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM): Promoting self-employment and micro-enterprises among rural communities.
Antyodaya Anna Yojana: Providing subsidized food grains to the poorest families.

Causes of Inequality

Several factors contribute to economic inequality in India:

Unequal Distribution of Industrial Assets: Concentration of industrial ownership and wealth among a few individuals and families.
Disparities in Professional Training: Unequal access to quality education and employment opportunities based on socioeconomic background.
Law of Inheritance and Private Property: The right to inherit property perpetuates wealth disparities across generations.
Inflation and Inadequate Credit Facilities: Inflation disproportionately affects the poor, while limited access to credit hinders their economic progress.
Urban Bias in Private Investment: Concentration of investments in urban areas exacerbates regional disparities.

Types of Unemployment

India faces various types of unemployment:

Involuntary or Open Unemployment: Individuals willing and able to work but unable to find jobs.
Seasonal Unemployment: Unemployment due to seasonal variations in economic activity, particularly in agriculture.
Frictional Unemployment: Temporary unemployment due to factors like raw material shortages or labor strikes.
Cyclical Unemployment: Unemployment resulting from economic downturns and fluctuations in demand.
Structural Unemployment: Unemployment caused by changes in the economy’s structure, such as technological advancements or shifts in demand.
Technological Unemployment: Displacement of labor due to automation and technological advancements.

Causes of Unemployment

Both rural and urban areas experience unemployment due to various factors:

Rural Unemployment

Rapid Population Growth and Pressure on Land: Limited job opportunities and dependence on agriculture lead to disguised and seasonal unemployment.
Outdated Agricultural Practices: Traditional farming methods result in low productivity and underemployment.
Decline of Village Industries: The decline of traditional industries like handicrafts contributes to rural unemployment.

Urban Unemployment

Population Growth and Migration: Increasing urban population and migration from rural areas strain job markets.
Educated Unemployment: A mismatch between the skills of educated individuals and available job opportunities.
Industrial Sickness and Labor Unrest: Closure of industries and labor disputes contribute to unemployment.

Effects of Unemployment

Unemployment has significant economic and social consequences:

Economic Effects

Wastage of Human Resources: Unemployment leads to underutilization of labor and potential economic output.
Low Output and Income: Reduced economic activity results in lower overall output and income levels.
Decline in Capital Formation: Unemployment hinders savings and investment, impacting future economic growth.
Low Standard of Living and Productivity: Unemployment perpetuates poverty and reduces labor productivity.

Social Effects

Poverty and Suffering: Unemployment leads to poverty, hardship, and social exclusion.
Inequality and Social Unrest: Unemployment exacerbates economic inequality and can lead to social unrest and conflict.
Anti-Social Activities: Prolonged unemployment can drive individuals towards criminal activities.

Land Reforms in India

Land reforms have been implemented to address historical inequalities and improve agricultural productivity:

Abolition of the Zamindari System

The zamindari system, characterized by absentee landlords and exploitative practices, was abolished through legislation. However, implementation challenges and loopholes limited the effectiveness of these reforms.

Tenancy Reforms

Measures were introduced to regulate rent, provide security of tenure for tenants, and confer ownership rights in certain cases. However, these reforms also faced implementation challenges and were not uniformly successful.

Cooperative Farming

Cooperative farming was encouraged to address issues of land fragmentation and promote economies of scale. However, it did not gain widespread acceptance due to various factors.

Limitations of Land Reforms

Several factors have limited the success of land reforms in India:

Loopholes and Inefficient Implementation: Legal loopholes, administrative inefficiencies, and corruption hindered the effective implementation of land reforms.
Lack of Records and Tenant Rights: Absence of proper land records and limited awareness of tenant rights weakened their bargaining power.
Litigation and Unequal Distribution: Legal challenges and unequal distribution of acquired land limited the impact of land ceiling policies.
Absence of Support Services: Lack of access to credit, marketing facilities, and other support services hampered the success of land reforms.
Population Pressure and Poverty: High population density and widespread poverty allowed exploitative practices to persist.

Addressing these challenges and implementing comprehensive reforms remain crucial for achieving equitable land distribution and improving the livelihoods of rural communities in India.