Write an essay on 'Population Policy' in India.
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Essay on Population Policy in India!
A growing concern regarding the adverse effects of population growth on development and prosperity has witnessed in the less developed parts of the world since the middle of the 20th century.
After independence, Indian decision-makers also realized the importance and need of population control as early as in 1951-52, though before independence a sub-committee on population was also appointed by Indian National Congress in 1940 under the chairmanship of renowned social scientist Radha Kamal Mukherjee to suggest ways and means to arrest the galloping population. After 1921, the population of India began to increase by rapid strides.
A growing concern regarding the adverse effects of population growth on development and prosperity has witnessed in the less developed parts of the world since the middle of the 20th century.
After independence, Indian decision-makers also realized the importance and need of population control as early as in 1951-52, though before independence a sub-committee on population was also appointed by Indian National Congress in 1940 under the chairmanship of renowned social scientist Radha Kamal Mukherjee to suggest ways and means to arrest the galloping population. After 1921, the population of India began to increase by rapid strides.
This committee laid emphasis on self-control, spreading knowledge of cheap and safe methods of birth control and establishing birth control clinics. It also recommended raising the marriageable age, discouraging polygamy and an eugenic programme of sterilization of persons suffering from transmissible disease. But, the Bhore Committee (1943) discarded the self-control approach and advocated ‘deliberate limitation of family’ approach as an effective way of birth control.
After independence, a population policy committee was created in 1952 which suggested for the appointment of a Family Planning Research and Programmes Committee in 1953. A Central Family Planning Board was created in 1956 which emphasized sterilization. Up till 1960s a rigid policy was not adopted to arrest the fast growth of population. The policy framed in 1951-52 was ad hoc in nature, flexible, and based on a trial and error approach.
In April 1976, the First National Population Policy was framed by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Planning which suggested a wide spectrum of programmes including raising the statutory age of marriage, introducing monetary incentives, paying special attention to improving female literacy, etc.