In points -measures taken by the indian government to control population?

Question

In points -measures taken by the indian government to control population?

Answer 1

China and India are the most populous countries accounting almost (not quite) for 40% of world's population.

India did try vogorously to control population drastically in late 1970s and having learnt some bitter political lessons the politicians don't go near that now. However the bureaucracy is minding and monitoring it on a low key. Awareness and the importance is discernible in middle and upper classes. The message is loud and clear. But there is no coercion.

China in contrast as a totalitarian regime has gone far ahead with hammer and tongs. China is 3 times India's land area for a population that is marginally more, resulting in per capita land availability far more than that in India. Now with the 'one child' norm China's results are stupendous.

China emerged as global manufacturing hub for all things across the board. On the flip side, are some drawbacks, crystallising in the backdrop of 'Globalisation'. There are Chinese boys in their youth taking care of a pair of retiring or retired parents and two pairs of grandparents and it is burdensome for the boy. Population pyramid in China is so drastically skewed that the proportion of youth (18 to 45) has dwindled, in favour of old people needing to be taken care of. Ironically, it is partly due to better medical care as a national mission which is showing results now. This is at a time, when the nation needs many more young pairs of hands to fuel the frenetic pace of industrial activity.

Because of the gradual tapering in India, the population pyramid is preserved in shape, still. This is an unexpected boon, not by design. There is no dearth of young pairs of hands. Menial jobs are begging for people to fill. Problem is to train or re-train them. In higher-end positions, there are cases where efforts are on to retain 'about-to-retire' senior persons. The governments in India who were engaged in incessant fire-fighting to create jobs and to improve the economy on the other hand are able to have a relaxed view. As a result their efforts to help unskilled and migrant sections of labour is bearing friut. The flip side of it all, there is no availability of abundant labour as before for farm operations and agriculture is actually affected; with less number of people in agricultural pursuits. It might be one, if not the chief cause of low agricultural growth worrying the central government. Whatever be the analysis in identifying cause from the effect, as an economic activity agriculture ceased to be prime activity with no guarantee of even minimal returns expected.