Another World Population Day passed on July 11, with the usual ‘programmes’ led by governments and entities like the United Nations. This world body periodically announces its continued existence through the observation of such ‘days,’ but without meaningfully contributing to global peace or mankind’s welfare. UN is incapable of doing more because it is packed with an elite breed enjoying pecuniary and other benefits without measurable outcomes. Meanwhile, the world has begun rethinking the population theories that held sway since the late 18th century, after English economist and cleric Thomas Robert Malthus propounded his theory on population explosion. He presented a pessimistic view of population growth, arguing that resources for human consumption were not growing at the same rate of population growth. However, much about life has changed in past centuries and some theories have been overturned.
Today, several social changes have significantly reduced worries about population growth. China, which once insisted on the one-child norm, has changed tack and now encourages families to produce more children to power its production lines, while an aging population is becoming a burden on nations including India. Increased life expectancy due to better healthcare and nurturing, alongside a steady reduction in fertility rates from factors like changing food habits, is creating a scenario different from the old days. India’s total fertility rate has dropped to 1.9 children per family/woman, below the 2 per family rate needed to sustain the population. This rate could fall further as more young women and men show no interest in marriage and child-rearing. The modern system here has adopted the Western culture of cohabitation without marriage. This occurs in a scenario where both males and females are equipped with the ability to find jobs and earn a regular income. With more women entering the workforce, their dependence on male partners/husbands for livelihood has decreased, while a sense of independence encourages many to avoid marriage. According to a national survey, one in 10 youths in metros are now ‘living together’—a trend likely to percolate down to tier-II cities and eventually to non-urban areas. Some states have begun encouraging families to produce more children with a view towards the future.
Notably, the developed world is experiencing a severe shortage of young workers to manage daily chores. A large-scale movement of the workforce from India to Europe, Israel, Japan, etc., to meet the needs of the ageing and sick people there is happening with increasing frenzy. Governments must note these evolving situations and liberalise their migration policies. India abandoned its Family Planning campaign after the Emergency of the mid-1970s, which resulted in some excesses. Fact is, life is constantly changing, and humans must adapt to those changes.
