India’s current population is 1.43 billion and counting, way higher than the population of Africa. It contributes 17.76% of the world’s population with a density of 485 persons per square kilometer. It’s a continent within a country literally but with much lesser space and resources.
The primary causes that can be attributed to this insane population numbers are larger base of people in the fertile age, illiteracy, lack of awareness about reproductive healthcare, religious beliefs, traditions, customs etc.
While there’s an ongoing debate that such abundance of human resources can be an advantage to a country that has roughly 65% population within the 15-65 age group, the ground reality in fact doesn’t sync with the assumption.
The country’s overpopulation has rather been a curse than anything else, as it struggles in various indices in its quest to become a developed nation.
An analysis of the key factors that have significantly contributed to decelerating India’s development trajectory have their genesis in overpopulation. Let’s dwell on some of them.
Social inequality and marginalization
It’s not possible for societies to progress if some sections are excluded because they happen to be from the wrong class, caste, ethnic group, race or sex. If the venom of color and race-based discrimination has impaired the social set up of many western countries, the scourge of caste division has wrecked the social fabric of India.
Lower caste people have historically been kept out of the mainstream society governed by the so-called upper caste communities.
They have generally lived isolated from the mainstream and survived doing only those tasks considered unfit for the other castes.
Illiteracy
An important factor not only in perpetuating economic backwardness but also for high population growth in the country is the high level of illiteracy in the rural areas, especially among women. The persistence of high illiteracy has created a situation where poverty and population have been feeding each other for years.
In many ways, female literacy plays a pivotal role in the wellbeing of the family and the transformation of the society. Educated women seldom fall prey to early marriage and childbearing, resulting in healthier kids and smaller family size.
The economic contributions of an independent, educated woman plays a big role in the financial stability of a family and a society in general.
Inept education system
Our education system determines a student’s intelligence and performance by the grades. Extra curriculars are perceived as a detour from academics. Even after 76 years of independence, the very idea that only some professions like doctors, engineers, lawyers etc. are good, still resonates across the length and breadth of the country.
The curriculum was designed in a way that left little scope for people pursuing other fields. Our education system is built to impart theoretical knowledge of things that we might never use in life, for e.g. algebra.
It fails to realize that hands-on learning, practical experience, development of soft skills plays an equally important role in holistic learning and development.
The NEP of 2020 recognizes it though and is trying to eliminate them by giving the students more options to choose from a list of more practical, versatile subjects.
Inefficient health care
Despite the advancement of medical sciences and facilities in the country, the fact remains that quality health care is still confined to a few big cities at a premium price and elusive to the large rural populace. The conditions of the government-run hospitals and dispensaries in cities or rural areas are neither promising nor are the facilities adequate, not to mention the quality of the doctors.
Apparently, more than 60% of our population lives in rural areas who are deprived of good, quality, and affordable health care. Only a healthy nation can ever aspire to be developed.
All the above problems could have been either avoided or managed in a better way had the population of the country remained under control. As bad as it may sound, India’s population is multiplying like worms and this exponential rise is not commensurate with the resources available in the country.
No government with the most brilliant and farsighted economists and economic reforms can alter the fate of a nation with such a huge population burden, that shows no signs of relenting.
A major chunk of the population in the country, especially the lower middle class and the lower class irrespective of their location, status, social standing invariably breeds more than their ability to provide a decent, quality life for their offspring.
To make it worse, majority of these people usually lead a life that’s utterly self-centric, full of greed, animosity towards the others, jealousy for their fellow beings, disrespect towards women, disregard for law & order, aversion to discipline, morality and ethics.
In a situation where the number of end users is so high, resources little and competition so big, the sole purpose of life has become earning and surviving, setting a dangerous precedent. Ironically, this very population becomes selfless, righteous, thoughtful & patriot during national holidays, cricket matches, military escalations with neighbors, terrorist attacks etc. and back to square one gradually.
The above-stated ingredients unfortunately have given rise to a society that’s devoid of love, empathy and compassion for fellow and other beings.
What worth is a human life if it’s lived without purpose or values? A developed nation is a byproduct of a developed society. A developed society will always remain a pipe dream unless it’s driven by the right values.
And unless the right values are instilled in a child at an early age, the creation of a model society would be farfetched. It is understandable that not every human can become a Gandhi, Mandela or Teresa.
But it’s the responsibility of every living human to add some value to the society they live in, do one’s own bit in building a society that is caring, loving, considerate, generous and respectful to everyone.
A society that’s inclusive, where people support and stand for each other, are kind towards the other beings, protective of the planet that has given everyone, everything.
It’s about time we understood the fact that being human is more essential than being born as a human being.
Subhasish Das works for an IT company and is an occasional writer.
Views are personal