Coming again to power with the mantra of ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikaas’, the Narendra Modi government over the past few years has been focusing on successful execution and implementation of government programmes and schemes. The recently published Economic Survey, along with the current economic trends in the nation also points towards the road map of the Modi government for the next five years. In the Economic Survey presented in Parliament, the most interesting element was surely that of the population growth trends in the nation.
The Economic Survey points out that the population of the states working well on population control has been expected to decline sharply. The survey also points out that in the states where education health services are getting better, the population is declining. According to the report Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Himachal, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Telangana, Maharashtra and West Bengal will be experiencing a population growth slowdown while states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan will keep up their population growth rates.
According to the report, Bihar’s population will increase by 24.7 percent during 2021-41 and it will cross 15 crores. In the same period, Jharkhand’s population will increase by 18.8 percent and will reach 4.46 crore, Uttar Pradesh’s population will increase by 17.3 percent, Madhya Pradesh’s population will increase at 15 percent and Rajasthan’s population will grow by 17.8 percent. During the same period from 2021-41, nine states will have higher Population growth than the national average which the survey puts at around 12.1%.
In other states slow population growth rate might be observed which mainly includes states in Sothern India. According to the report, in the period 2021-41, Tamil Nadu will be experiencing the lowest population growth with just a 2% increase, Andhra Pradesh’s population will grow by 3.4%, Karnataka’s population will grow by 4.7%, Punjab’s population will grow by 5.4%, Maharashtra’s population will grow by 5.8%,Kerala’s population will grow by 6.4% ,Telangana population will grow by 4.7% ,West Bengal’s population will grow by 4.7%. Tamil Nadu is the only sate where the population will start declining post 2031.
Looking at the performance of states with better educational and health facilities in managing population growth in an optimum manner, the Modi government has taken many steps in the direction of improving the existing educational and health facilities. So far many new schemes have been initiated and some old schemes have been reconstituted or expanded for their successful implementation. Several steps have also been taken to tackle malnutrition, especially among women and children by providing extra support to backward states. For improvement in the quality of education at the school level in India, the ‘Samagra Siksha Abhiyaan’ was started by the Human Resource Development Ministry (HRD) on May 24, 2018. Under this programme, digital technology will be proactively used to streamline educational processes at the same time the optimum focus will also be given on Skill Development. Another programme ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Pachao Yojana’ was started on January 15, 2015, to also combat the dismal child sex ratio in certain regions. Jointly supported by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Women and Child Development, this scheme was started with funding of 100 crores. Time and time again, PM Modi has emphasized on the importance of education in his speeches. In is ‘mann ki baat ‘ address when students had asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s about the improvement of the education system on January 29, 019, the Prime Minister said, “Education is not limited to just getting ready and for taking exams. Our education should be equipped to face various challenges of life.” The Modi government has emphasized on the change in the education system which is being seen at the state level.
In the area of health too, the Modi government has taken several steps which will have a direct bearing on population growth of the nation. On March 8, 2018, on the occasion of International Women’s Day, the National Nutrition Mission was launched in the Jhunjhunu District of Rajasthan as an extension of “Beti Bachao Beti Bhaao” scheme by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Another scheme, ‘Ayushman Bharat Yojana’ of the central government focuses specifically on the welfare of poor families and provides them medical benefits. The scheme includes central sponsored schemes- National Health Insurance Scheme (RSBY) and Senior Citizen Health Insurance Scheme (SCHIS).
With continually improving educational and health facilities in the nation, the impact on the population growth rate will become more and more evident with time. However, it remains to see if improvement of educational and health facilities will suffice towards optimally managing the population growth. Several calls for introducing legislation with regard to population growth have also been made.
