More than
half a billion Indians are under 25 years of
age. 26 million babies are born each year.
According to a Report of the Technical Group
on Population Projections for India and
States 2001-2026, Census of India, 2001
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The
population of India is expected to
increase from 1029 million to 1400
million during the period 2001-2026 - an
increase of 36 percent in twenty-five
years at the rate of 1.2 percent
annually. While India's population
growth rate has been declining over the
years, the overall population will
continue to grow as 51% of the
population is in the reproductive age
group (15-49). Millions more will join
this cohort each year. At current
levels, it may take several decades more
to stabilize the population.
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Out
of the total population increase of 371
million between 2001 and 2026,
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187
million are likely to be added in the
seven States of Bihar, Chhattisgarh,
Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan,
Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal i.e.
nearly 50 percent of India's
demographic growth.
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Twenty
two percent of the total population
increase is anticipated to occur in
Uttar Pradesh alone.
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In
contrast, the contribution of the four
southern states, namely Andhra Pradesh,
Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, to
the total increase in population size
is expected to be 47 million -
thirteen percent of total demographic
growth of the country.
(Source:
National
Commission on Population,
MOHFW 2006)
The
total fertility rate which signifies the
number of children, an average woman
produces during her reproductive years
should have been 2.1 if goal for 2010 set
out in the National Population Policy had
been achieved. The states of Kerala,
Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Goa,
Maharashtra, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and some
UTs have achieved this. We are a very long
way from reaching that goal in the EAG
states (UP, Bihar, MP, Rajasthan, Orissa,
Uttranchal, Jharkhand and Chattisgarh) where
40% of the population lives. At the
current rate of decline, it will take many
states between 18 to 45 years to achieve the
TFR of 2.1. Special measures are vitally
necessary to reduce the TFR in these states.
Percent Share of Population by Age Groups in
India
(Source: NCP, MHFW 2006)
This has very
serious consequences on sustainable
development both economic and social. It
requires the involvement of the whole
society to drive a meaningful change. Simply
building awareness will not achieve tangible
outcomes. While general knowledge about
family planning is almost universal, access
to modern methods of contraception services
and products is a big problem in many
states. This has a direct impact on the
health of women who have to bear the
consequences of repeated unwanted
pregnancies and unsafe abortions; also in
giving birth to undernourished children with
poor chances of survival or normal growth.
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