Mr. Chairman, Sir, I thank you for giving me an opportunity to speak on this Motion on Population Stabilization that is being discussed in this august House. India’s population is 120 crore today. Our country’s population is about 17 per cent of the global population. This is not an encouraging fact. The land mass of India is just two per cent of the world’s land mass. A country that occupies just two per cent of the world’s land surface accommodates 17 per cent of world’s population and this is a matter to ponder over. Our neighbouring country China is the most populous country in the world. When we compare ourselves with China, it has got a population of 134 crore. But the population growth rate of that country is now at a slower pace and in next few decades, we140 may surpass China to become the most populous country in the world. This is a matter of serious concern. Throughout160 the country, cultivable lands are being converted to residential areas. At this juncture, the alarming increase in our population gives us an apprehension that we may be forced into great scarcity for food as we exploit the natural resources in a big way with a big population. We have just now concluded a discussion in this august House on price rise which is a reflection on demand and supply that involves food production too. It is appropriate to hold a discussion on population growth and to evolve ways to contain the same. In India, we find that the population growth rate is coming down in the Southern States. We have succeeded in bringing down the population increase there. But in280 certain Northern States, we are quite unable to control population explosion and we are really struggling hard. This has resulted in a situation where the Northern States get more funds according to their population and the so-called developed States in320 the South are getting reduced funds from the Centre. I urge upon the Union Government to evolve a method to provide incentives to the Southern States which have succeeded in effectively controlling the population growth. On the contrary, they are being deprived of their share.
Normally, families resort to family planning method only after getting a male child. They avoid adopting family planning methods till they get a male child. Women getting education will directly benefit the society and that will also help us to bring down the growth rate of population. Hence, I urge upon the Union Health Minister420 to consider introducing a scheme to give incentive to girls getting education throughout the country. The Government must give every girl child a certain amount of money to continue their education till they complete schooling. That amount should be deposited in the name of each girl child which will be of great help to them to build a bright future480 after completing their school education. This will help our society in a big way and will make the compulsory education a meaningful one. Hence, I urge upon the Union Minister to look into this and consider implementing it to give a boost to women education. The Government must come forward to encourage families that adopt family planning after having one child. Such children should be sanctioned grant from the Government to complete their collegiate education. They must get priority in560 the job market. Apart from priority in employment opportunities, they must get Government assistance and funds when they go in for self-employment. They must get loan for investment at reduced rate of interest. These incentives to encourage one-child norm will go a long way in containing population explosion. Through our primary health infrastructure facilities and by way of utilizing the services of rural health workers in every village, we must take this message to every house in every nook and640 corner of our country. The Government may also think in terms of extending to every newly married couple a gift box consisting of books and materials on sex education and family planning methods. We must uphold and promote family planning to bring down the growth rate of population.
Madam,
we must empower our women if we intend to control the700 growth of population. In this regard,
the data and statistics that are reeled out by the Government are mostly fake.
They are mostly concocted and fabricated. The bureaucrats in the ministries
just want to achieve the targets. The ground reality is different. The data
that reaches the Government is generally fudged. The officials just want to
save their skin. Thus, the Government remains under the misconception that it
has achieved its targets. Constant monitoring should be done to verify the
genuineness of the tall claims that are made by officials. Figures of the
present year should be strictly compared with800
those of the previous years. If population growth continues unabated, the
Government should review its schemes and policies. The failure of our schemes
should serve as an eye-opener for the Government. The Government should also
focus on Government employees. All840
employees should be asked to furnish an affidavit that they will stick to
family planning norms. If they fail to do so, no increments should be given to
them. They should not be given any promotion either. Madam, the Government must
take stern measures if it wants to control population growth. We can overcome
all impediments. But the will and intention to do so should be there. If we do
not take concrete measures to check population explosion, it will further
aggravate other problems like poverty, inflation, illiteracy, unemployment and
taking of drugs and intoxicants by youths. The country will lag behind
in the race of progress and development and the future generations will suffer
irreparable damage. Hence, it is960
high time that we wake up from our deep slumber and take the bull of population
explosion by the horns. 980
Only then can we stabilize our population. The future generations will never
forgive us if we fail to rise to the occasion.
Madam Chairperson, the House is now
deliberating on the ways and means to stabilize our population and contain the
growth rate of population. I thank you for giving me an opportunity to
participate in this discussion and share some of my views. We must put our
heads and hearts together to find out the causes for the population increase.
It is not enough to talk about population and containing the same. Population
is our asset, wealth and resource. It is a natural resource and is taken as
human resource. In the Asian Continent, we are the second largest country to
have such a vast human resource. Both in the North and South Pole region and in
the West, 1120 there is not much
scope for population growth. But in the tropical region, the natural potential
for population growth is very high. The climatic conditions here are
responsible for more population than other regions. This is not only a human
factor but also a climatic factor. If we scientifically analyse the demographic
distribution, we find that increased population is found among the society that
is more relying on religions and religious practices. People who are
responsible for increase in population are mostly illiterate and impoverished
because they consider their progenies to be their assets who can help them to
overcome oddities in life. We must consider the ways and means to make the
Government of the day aware of the ground reality and to evolve suitable measures
to contain population that come in the way of our achieving the target1260 for growth. People go in for children
not only because they like them but also because they consider them to1280 be their assets and means to improve
their life. Most of the religions are impressing upon their followers that
reproduction is an assigned duty and they must not put a stop to it as it will
go against the tenets of their faith. In our country, only those who have their
lives centred on religions keep on increasing the population. In addition to
it, we find a situation in our country that contributes to increased
population. Adequate social security is not available to the citizens of this
country. In the absence of a viable social security mechanism, every individual
tends to think that only their children can take care of them in their old age.
Resolutions and Motions cannot contain population1400 explosion. We must enhance the standard
of life and human resources. Education alone is not human resource. Along with
education, health, economic growth, increased infrastructure facilities are all
factors that constitute human resource. In the absence of enhancement of1440 the standard of living, we cannot but witness
increase in population. Even countries like America and Britain are thinking in
terms of controlling population today. So, naturally it is right that India is
also considering on the same lines to stabilize its population. But there must
be a common view, a uniform view, a universal view to take effective steps to
contain population. We must go into the roots of the problem and must come out
with necessary steps to find a solution. Mere laws cannot control population
explosion. We must create awareness in the minds of the people. We must instil
confidence in the minds of our people that they can live on their own and rely
on self-sufficiency. There is a common thinking that girl children are mere
burdens and they cannot help their parents. This is the mindset of a
patriarchal society. 1585
