Context: ‘Population control’ in Assam and UP points to political bad faith, revives discredited ideas.
Evolution of population control policies in India
After Independence: India was the first country in the world to have a National Family Planning programme in 1952. We have had a National Population Policy for over half a century which has been updated from time to time.
Latest policy: The latest policy, introduced in 2000, is being vigorously followed.
It has paid great dividends, with 24 out of 29 states have achieved a total fertility rate (TFR) of 2.1, which is considered the replacement level (no further population growth).
The remaining states, popularly called BI- MARU states, though lagging, are also on the right course.
Flaws in the recent population control measures
Use of coercion:
Global experience shows that any coercion in population control is counterproductive.
The one-child policy adopted by China in the 1990s has proved disastrous, forcing the country to move to the two-child, and very recently, the three-child norm.
China is now burdened with nearly a 70% elderly population with less than 30% young people to support them, a consequence which was not foreseen.
A domestic example of this is the forced sterilisation programme of the Emergency era (1975-77).
Disastrous consequences for women:
The two-child norm has earlier shown in other states disastrous consequences for women, with many facing divorce to prevent disqualification of their husbands from contesting elections.
The Population Foundation of India
has rightly pointed out that a strict limit on the number of children, like the two-child norm, will unleash a rapid increase in divorce and sex-specific abortions.
Skewed gender ratio:
Couples went for large-scale female foeticide, which skewed the gender ratio even further. The child sex ratio of India has been in steady decline, dropping from 945 in 1991 to 918 in 2011.
Does not acknowledge already declining replacement levels:
India’s voluntary population policy is doing very well, having achieved the total fertility rate (TFR) of 2.1, which translates to a couple being “replaced” by two children.
Even the Muslims, who are thought of as being responsible for population explosion, are also reaching low replacement levels- According to NFHS-4, in 22 states, the fertility rate of Muslims was lower than that of Hindus in Bihar.
Conclusion:Follow an internationally recognised principle is that “development is the best contraceptive”. We must support the three-pronged development plans to address their illiteracy, income and service delivery.