question_answer

  The National Population Policy (NPP 2000) had envisaged the total population of India to increase to a maximum of 1162 million by 2010, but the population has exceeded this figure by a significant amount. (a) What could have been the reasons for   exceed? (b) What values/lesson have you learnt from the Implementation of National Population Policy 2000?  

Answer:

                                    (a) The estimate was based on the population as it was when the policy was framed in the year 2000 and assumed that the present trends will continue. However, the reasons for the estimate going wrong are (i) the large size of the population in the reproductive age group. The increase in population will continue for some more years because high reproductive fertility in the past has resulted in a large proportion of the population being currently in the reproductive age group.                                                                                        (ii) higher fertility due to the unmet need for contraception. Measures for adoption of contraception are not widely available accessible and affordable, particularly in the rural areas.                                                                (iii) high desired fertility due to the high Infant Mortality Rate (IMR). Repeated child births are seen as an insurance against multiple infant (and child) deaths and accordingly, high infant mortality nullifies all efforts at reducing fertility           (iv) many girls are married below the age of 18, the minimum legal age of marriage, resulting in a typical reproductive pattern of "too early, too frequent, too many". (b) From this policy I have learnt that to control the population, there is a need of concerted efforts by both Government and the people.