Science > Biology > Human Population and Population Control > Social and Economic Measures for Population Control
Population explosion is a social problem and it is deeply rooted in society. So efforts must be done to remove the social evils in the country. Population control is a way in which the rate of population growth is changed, which has been made possible by limiting birth rates. Population control can be carried out by social, economic, physical and surgical methods. As human populations grow, human demands for resources like water, land, trees, and energy also grow. It affects the environment. Hence population control is important. Birth control measures should be used under the guidance of Family Planning Centres, qualified health professionals. Family Planning Centres provide these facilities free of cost.
Social Measures for Population Control:
Minimum age of Marriage:
As fertility depends on the age of marriage. Child marriage contributes to higher total fertility as women marrying earlier tend to both have children earlier and bear more children over their lifetime than if they had married later. Demographers explain that postponement of female marriage age from 18 years to 20 or 22 years would bring down the birth rate by 20 to 30 percent. So the minimum age of marriage should be raised. In India minimum age for marriage is 21 years for men and 18 years for women has been fixed by law. This law should be firmly implemented and people should also be made aware of this through publicity. As far as possible, marriage should be solemnized at the age of 30 years. This will reduce the period of reproduction among the females bringing down the birth rate.
Gender Equality, Equity, and Empowerment of Women:
By achieving equality and equity between men and women, and eliminating all practices that discriminate against women including the girl child, the TFR can be brought down. Here men should play responsible roles. As more and more women join career jobs, they tend to be occupied by work. This acts as an alternative to bringing up children. A woman having a career might find children a burden since they interfere with her work.
Raising the Status of Women:
There is still discrimination to the women. Progress toward gender equity is hampered by long-held traditions that define women’s roles narrowly as childbearers and unpaid workers in the home and fields. They are confined to four walls of house. Some societies limit girls’ access to formal education, thereby limiting future employment and economic freedomSo women should be given opportunities to develop socially and economically.
Spread of Education:
The spread of education changes the outlook of people. People, particularly those in the reproductive age group, should be educated about the advantages of a small family and ill-effects of large families and overpopulation. Girls’ education often ends with early marriage. Investments in women’s education have proven especially effective at lowering fertility rates since better-educated women tend to marry later and have fewer, healthier children. Education on family planning can be made compulsory for all through the school curriculum. Educated men prefer to delay marriage and adopt small family norms. Educated women are health conscious and avoid frequent pregnancies and thus help in lowering the birth rate.
Adoption:
Some parents do not have any child, despite costly medical treatment. It is advisable that they should adopt orphan children. It will be beneficial to orphan children and childless couples. The couple Receives the joy and blessing of adding a child to their family. They can fulfill dreams of raising a child.
Change in Social Outlook:
The social outlook of people should undergo a change. Marriage should no longer be considered a social binding. It is a social expectation to marry and have children to carry on the lineage. Similarly, the biggest problem with infertility in India is the tremendous social stigma it carries. Issueless women should not be looked down upon.
Social Security:
In communities where children are regarded as security in old age, the introduction of pension schemes, insurance schemes and incomes for old people can substitute as security for old age. More and more people should be covered under social security schemes. So that they do not depend upon others in the event of old age, sickness, unemployment, etc. with these facilities they will have no desire for more children.
Economic Measures:
More employment opportunities:
Generally, in rural areas, there is disguised unemployment. So efforts should be made to migrate unemployed persons from rural area to urban area. It is found that the people in urban areas have low birth rate than those living in rural areas. This step can check population growth.
Standard of Living:
Improved standard of living acts as a deterrent to the large family norm. In order to maintain their higher standard of living people prefer to have a small family. Increased standard of living results in an increased demand for durable goods such as electronic goods, houses and furniture (instead of children). There is also an increased demand for leisure activities such as holiday outings, films and theatre shows, sports, and music. Well-off people tend to stay away from homes for longer hours compared to poor people. Increased incomes mean better living standards that people will usually guard against loss. In the rural economy, it can be achieved by the development of agriculture and industry. A large number of people will get employment. When their income is increased, the standard of living would increase and adopt small family norms.
Financial Hardship:
Measures aimed at imposing a greater burden on those with more children can be introduced. Those with children could be taxed according to the number of children they have. Subsidies and tax reliefs could be done away with. Maternity or paternity leaves could be denied. In addition, higher school fees, medical care fees, etc. could be imposed on those with more than the stated number of children.
Balanced Economic Growth:
It can be done through decentralization of industries and other economic activities. This ensures better regional income distribution and removes pressure from a few urban centers. As is the case with increased incomes, there will be a tendency for family sizes to shrink.
Other Measures:
Publicity of Importance of Family Planning:
The communication media like T.V., radio, newspaper, and social media are the good means to propagate the benefits of the planned family to the uneducated and illiterate persons especially in the rural and backward areas of the country.
The campaign run by the Government of India “Hum Do Humare Do” meaning we two and our two siblings (family consisting of husband, wife and two children) was successful in urban areas. Another campaign was “Chhota Parivar, Sukhi Parivar” meaning small family, happy family. The campaign “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” meaning save the girl child and let her educate improved the sex ratio in favour of girls even in rural areas.
Self Control and Family Planning:
According to some experts, self-control regarding sex is one of the powerful methods to control the population. It is an ideal and healthy approach and people should be provided to follow. It helps in reducing the birth rate. By taking preventive measures, people can regulate the birth rate. The birth rate will likely to fall if there are different recreational facilities like cinema; theatre, sports, and dance, etc. are available to the people.
Enacting Child Labour Laws:
Generally, poor people regard children as suppliers of labour. Stringent laws can be enforced to restrict the minimum age for child employment. Hence the false belief that more children result in more family income will get abolished.
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