WORLD POPULATION DAY :
Every year, World Population Day is celebrated by United Nations. Theme: “How to Safeguard the heath and rights of women and girls now” amid the pandemic. On 2020, World population day focused on “Health, Rights of Women and Girls”. Every year millions of girls are suffering from practices that harm them physically and emotionally. According to Sate of World Population, 2020 released by United Nations Population Fund.
NSO report: Women and Men in India, 2020
The projected population of India in 2021 is 136.13 crores.
Sex ratio has increased from 933 in 2001 to 943 in 2011. Health Statistics
The Age Specific Fertility Rate for the females belonging to the age group 25-29 years was the highest at 146.4.
The Infant Mortality Rate decreased from 39 in 2014 to 32 in 2018.
The Maternal Mortality Rate decreased from 212 in 2007-09 to 113 in 2016-18.
The Total Fertility Rate of rural India was 2.3 in 2018. It was 1.7 in urban areas in 2018.
The Adolescent Fertility Rate declined from 13 in 2017 to 12.2 in 2018.
According to National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5), almost 100% institutional delivery was observed in the states of Goa, Kerala, Lakshadweep.
The HIV incidence per 1000 people decreased from 0.07 in 2017 to 0.05 in 2019. The literacy rate of India increased from 73 in 2011 to 77.7 in 2017.
The Gender gap in literacy rates was the highest in Rajasthan, Bihar, UP.
Only 8.3% of females of age 15 years had completed graduation. On the other hand, 12.8% of males of the same age had completed graduation.
Participation in Economy
According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey, 2018-19, the worker population ratio in rural sector was 52.1 for males and 19 for females. In urban areas, it was 52.7 for males and 14.5 for females.
The average wage per hour earned by female population in the age group of 15 years was highest in Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Rs 147 per hour). It was followed by Lakshadweep, Nagaland. The lowest was in the states/UTs of Daman and Diu, Odisha.
The average wage per hour earned by male population in the age group of 15 years was the highest in Lakshadweep (Rs 121 per hour).
Participation in Decision Making
The representation of women in the Central Council of Ministers is 9.26% in 2020.
In 2019 Lok Sabha election, there were 437.8 million women electors. This is higher as compared to that of the 2014 election (397 million).
Highest women participation in the Panchayati Raj institutions was observed in the states of Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh.
UK to cut its aid to UN Family Planning Programme
The United Kingdom is to cut its fund to the United Nations Global Family Planning Programme. According to the UN Population Fund, the UK had pledged 154 million Euros. However, now UK is to provide only 23 million Euros.UK Aid
In 2020, UK spent 14.5 billion Euros in providing international aid. Today, UK is the third biggest donor in the world.
UN Population Fund
It was established in 1967. It is not associated with the UN regular budget. According to UN Population Fund, India will become the most populous country in 2028.
Population in India
India’s population is 1.36 billion. The life expectancy in India is 72 years. This is lower than the world life expectancy of 69 years. The Maternal Mortality Rate in India is 174 per one lakh live births as of 2015. The fertility rate of India is 2.3 births per woman. This is less as compared to the fertility rate of the world which is 2.5.
China population grew at 0.53% Outcomes of the Census
The annual population growth of China was at 0.53% in 2020 census. It was 0.57% in 2010 census.
The rate of population increase was the slowest since the first census. The first Census of the country was conducted in 1953.
The fastest growth rate of the country was reported in 1982. The growth rate was 2.09%.
The number of births that occurred in China in 2020 was 12 million. This has decreased by 20% as compared to the previous year.
It is to be noted that China scrapped its “One-Child Policy” in 2016. The policy was introduced in 1979. Now the limit has been increased to two children per couple.
The population in the age of 60 years and above grew at 18.27% in 2020 Census. It grew at 13.26% in 2010 census.
The average age of China is 38.8 years. Chinese are rich and strong as compared to that of the US citizens. The average age of US population is 38 years.
The life expectancy of China has been increasing. Recently, the Government of China increased the retired age of women to 55 years and that of men to 60 years.
The urban population in China has increased from 49.68% to 63.89%.
Working Age Population
The working age population in China has decreased from 70.14% to 63.35%. The concern of declining working population in the country has been raised by several experts. In April 2021, the Central Bank of China released a report on Demographics. It said that the demographic dividend in China is fading. And on the other hand, the demographic dividend of India is increasing. This wider force will help India grow at faster rate.
India
According to the United Nations, India will overtake China to become the most populous country in the world by 2025.
World Population Day 2021
It has observed on July 11 every year and highlights problems of overpopulation.
The day also raises awareness about effects of overpopulation on environment and development.
Every year events and activities like seminar discussions, educational information sessions etc are organized across schools and colleges to draw attention towards issues of growing population.
Significance of the day
World’s population has been increasing rapidly over the last few decades. Continuous population growth will give rise to many other problems. Thus, to raise people’s awareness on issues related with population like importance of family planning, poverty, gender equality, maternal health and human rights, the day becomes significant.
Background
First World Population Day was observed on July 11, 1989. This day was established by Governing Council of United Nations Development Programme in 1989. This day was suggested by Dr. K. C. Zachariah when population reaches Five Billion. Dr Zachariah was working as Senior Demographer at World Bank then. Approximate date on which population of the world reached five billion was July 11, 1987.
2021 Theme of the day
The day is observed every year with a specific theme. Theme for World Population Day 2021 is “Rights and choices are the answer: Whether baby boom or bust, the solution to shifting fertility rates lies in prioritizing the reproductive health and rights of all people.”
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
UNDP is the global development network of United Nations. It promotes technical and investment cooperation within nations. It also connects countries with knowledge, experience and resources in order to help people build a better life for themselves.
Population Control - Indian Government:
The Government is taking several steps to sensitize people and generate awareness of the need for population control. Some of the important initiatives are as follows:
(i) 360 degree media campaign- The first phase of the campaign was launched in 2016 and the present second phase comprising TV Commercials, posters and hoardings, yearlong Radio show, and a dedicated website on Family Planning was launched in 2017;
(ii) World Population Day & fortnight as well as Vasectomy Fortnight are observed every year to boost awareness.
(iii) Promotional activities like Saas bahu sammelans, Nayi Pehal Kits, Mobile publicity vans, and advocacy meetings are undertaken to increase awareness in high fertility Mission Parivar Vikas districts.
The Government is implementing various schemes for improving access to quality family planning services, details of which are given below:
STEPS BEING TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR POPULATION CONTROL:
Mission ParivarVikas- The Government has launched Mission Parivar Vikas for substantially increasing access to contraceptives and family planning services in146 high fertility districts with Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of 3 and above in seven high focus states. These districts are from the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Assam that itself constitutes 44% of the country’s population.
New Contraceptive Choices- New contraceptives viz. Injectable contraceptive and Centchroman have been added to the existing basket of choices.
A new method of IUCD insertion immediately after delivery i.e. post-partum IUCD (PPIUCD) has been introduced.
Redesigned Contraceptive Packaging - The packaging for Condoms, OCPs and ECPs has now been improved and redesigned so as to increase the demand for these commodities.
Compensation scheme for sterilization acceptors - Under the scheme MoHFW provides compensation for loss of wages to the beneficiary and also to the service provider (& team) for conducting sterilizations.
Clinical Outreach Teams (COT) Scheme - The scheme has been launched in 146 Mission Parivar Vikas districts for providing Family planning services through mobile teams from accredited organizationsin far-flung, underserved and geographically difficult areas.
Scheme for Home delivery of contraceptives by ASHAs at doorstep of beneficiaries.
Scheme for ASHAs to Ensure spacing in births.
Scheme for provision of Pregnancy Testing Kits in the drug kits of ASHAs for use in communities.
Family Planning Logistic Management and Information System (FP-LMIS): A dedicated software to ensure smooth forecasting, procurement and distribution of family planning commodities across all the levels of health facilities.
National Family Planning Indemnity Scheme (NFPIS) under which clients are insured in the eventualities of death, complication and failure following sterilization.
Ensuring quality of care in Family Planning services by establishing Quality Assurance Committees in all states and districts.
Appointment of dedicated RMNCH+A counselors at high case load facilities.
Improved Demand generation activities through a 360 degree media campaign.
As a result of these efforts, the country is knocking on the door of replacement level fertility and is on track to achieve TFR 2.1 by 2025.
Achievements:
The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has declined to 2.2 (SRS 2017).
The Crude Birth Rate has declined from 23.8 to 20.2 from 2005 to 2017 (SRS).
The Teenage birth rate has halved from 16% (NFHS III) to 8% (NFHS IV).
In order to improve programme implementation, the Government is focusing on:
High fertility districts,
Giving emphasis on spacing methods,
Improvement in quality of services and
Intensive monitoring.
The Government does not have such a proposal at present since India is signatory
to the ICPD declaration of 1994 held in Cairo (International Conference on Population and Development) which unequivocally advocates voluntary informed choice and honouring reproductive rights of couples to decide freely and responsibly the number and spacing of their children.
