A Workable Solution to control Population

A workable solution to control Population – India’s Great Menace
– Dr. Srinivasan G

What is the greatest problem faced by our country (India) now? You will think of Poverty, Unemployment, Pollution, Deforestation, Corruption, Crime, Bad Governance etc.

But the real and root cause of all thinkable problems is Population. India’s Population was 350 million in 1947. Today, it is 1300 million, i.e., nearly 4 times. Why has this population increased?

In those days, population was less even when there were 7-15 children to a couple. Also, child marriages were rampant in the past.

In modern times (last 70 years), each couple bears 1-2 children but the population has become 4 times. Why?

a. Decreased Death Rate, thanks to medical technology.

b. Decreased Infant Mortality & Maternal Mortality Rate

c.  Vaccination has controlled most killer diseases.

Our population has multiplied inspite of the Family Planning norm.

The Government is struggling to cure various ills of the society. But, none of these are going to work as long as Population keeps growing.

The Population Menace can be controlled only by changing the mindset of the people. Here are some brainstorming thoughts.

1. The age of marriage has to be increased. Not less than 21 for the Girl and not less than 24 for the boy. Later the better.

2. First Child at 24 years (of the girl) and Second One (if at all) at 29.

3. Rearing a Second or more Child is Taxable (Govt Initiative)

Two additional  Primary myths in Indian Ethos are to be shattered::

1. Marriage is seen as a mandatory option in India, esp for girls. Marriage is wrongly viewed as a remedy for every bodily or mental disease. This practice should go.

Marriage shall be only one of the options in life.

Every adult should not be pushed into marriage as a ritual. (Marriage is an Option, Not a Compulsion)

The Society should accept singles as their way of life.

2. The Indian psyche is trained to look little on couples who haven’t had children. Consequently,  girls are pushed to attend infertility clinics right from the 2nd month of marriage. This practice is abhorable.

People should view begetting children as a natural outcome. Similarly delays in conception or childlessness should be accepted. Infact, a childless couple have more time for each other and are each other’s child.

Adoption should be encouraged rather than test tube babies.

Bachelorism and Childlessness is not to be ridiculed but has to be taken as a way of life.

Today, we cannot discard our advanced medical technology, vaccinations or say No to Longevity. We cannot kill ourselves or any segment of people.

But, can we not adopt such simple measures as said above to control our population from growing? And then evolve a solution to all current problems in the country?