According to the Sample Registration Survey, fertility rates in the populous states of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan have been falling in the age group 15 to 19 and 20 to 24 for the last fifteen years. What is surprising is that the fall has been greater in the rural areas. Marriage age has been delayed and more women are getting educated. That accounts for the fall. Bihar’s record is the most impressive. Fertility rate in the state went down from 56.8 in 2001 to 19.6 in 2014.In Madhya Pradesh it has halved to 45.2.In Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh it has been down to 25.7 from 60.3 and 25.7 from 40.8 respectively. It also means a fall in maternal and infant mortality. One reason is that women with higher education choose greater medical help in childbirth.
However, more effort is needed to reduce dropouts from schools amongst girls.Panchayats should see that under-age marriages do not take place. Lack of sanitation has to be overcome. Access to schools should be easier. All this will push up the marriage rate. Education also ensures that family size is limited. Children survive in larger numbers as a result. What is necessary is a sustained family planning programme. The Centre has a progressive national population policy. But its implementation is far from satisfactory. The choice before women in contraception is not made clear to them. The focus of family planning is disproportionately too much on women.Men should be equally involved.These measures should lead to greater improvement in the population scene.
