Answer:
THE APPROACH
Introduction: Introduce the complex relationship between population growth and poverty, acknowledging that both factors are interdependent.
Body: Discuss how rapid population growth strains resources, infrastructure, and public services. Analyze how poverty itself drives population growth, particularly in economically disadvantaged regions.
Conclusion: Conclude by emphasizing the need for integrated policies that address the root causes of both poverty and population growth in India, with a focus on long-term sustainable development.
INTRODUCTION:
India grapples with the dual burden of sustaining a burgeoning population while striving to eradicate entrenched poverty. The dynamic between population expansion and economic deprivation is a pivotal factor shaping the nation’s socio-economic landscape. Hence, understanding whether population growth leads to more poverty, or poverty fuels population increase, is crucial for shaping the right policies.
BODY:
Population as the Cause of Poverty
Resource Strain: India has only 2.4% of the world’s land area supporting about 17.7% of the global population (Census 2011), the per capita availability of resources like food, land, water, and minerals is significantly reduced. According to Thomas Malthus, population growth will always tend to outrun the food supply, and the betterment of humankind is impossible without strict limits on reproduction.
Overburdened Infrastructure: A rapidly growing population strains infrastructure and public services, leading to inadequate access to education, healthcare, and sanitation. The doctor-to-population ratio is approximately 1:1,445, lower than the WHO recommendation of 1:1,000.
Labor Market Saturation: The labor force grows with the population, but job creation has not kept pace, leading to unemployment and underemployment. As per the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2018-19, the unemployment rate was 5.8%
Low Wages: A surplus labor force leads to a large informal sector with low wages and job insecurity. Over 81% of employed people work in the informal sector (NSSO, 2011-12).
Urban Slums: Rapid urbanization without adequate planning results in slums with poor living conditions. About 65 million people lived in slums in 2011, representing 17.4% of urban households (Census 2011).
Poverty as the Cause of Population Increase
High Fertility Rates: In impoverished communities, children are often seen as contributors to the household income and security for parents in old age. The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) in the poorest wealth quintile is 3.2, compared to 1.5 in the richest quintile (NFHS-4, 2015-16).
Limited Access to Contraceptives: Poor access to family planning services leads to unintended pregnancies. Modern contraceptive prevalence rate is 47.8% among the lowest wealth quintile, compared to 58.7% in the highest (NFHS-4).
High Infant Mortality Rates: Higher infant mortality encourages higher birth rates as families have more children to ensure that some of them survive. IMR is 46 per 1,000 live births in the lowest wealth quintile, compared to 19 in the highest (NFHS-4).
CONCLUSION:
The relationship between population growth and poverty in India is mutually reinforcing. It creates a vicious cycle, especially in rural areas. As India continues to develop and grow, it becomes necessary to strike balance between population management and poverty reduction in order to build a prosperous society. By empowering individuals, especially women, and encouraging smaller family size, India can rapidly move towards a future where prosperity is shared, and the quality of life is enhanced for all its citizens.
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