Population - The Increasing Numbers and Rising Problems
The total world population about 50,000 years ago was approximately 1 million.
About 10,000 years ago, the total world population had reached approximately 5.3 million.
World Population (some important dates and figures)
11 July 1987 Population crossed the 5.0 billion mark
1995 Population was nearly 5.6 billion
12 October 1999 Population crossed 6 billion
11 July is observed as World Population Day.
More than 1,00,000 babies are born every day.
Rapid Rise in Population
1. Industrial Major phase in the growth of human population.
Revolution Rapidly growing industries made human life comfortable,
with greater job opportunities and more production of food.
2. New Discoveries in There were remarkable discoveries in medical science in the
Medical Sciences 20th century.
Antibiotics and vaccination were discovered for many
diseases.
This resulted in a sharp decrease in deaths, and the rate of
growth of population rose rapidly.
Three main revolutions in human culture are responsible for the growth of human
population.
Each cultural revolution was followed by a rapid rise in population till it stabilised or
rose very slowly.
Flattened curves: Stability in growth or a very slow rise.
Wavy gaps: Stability in growth or a very slow rise for very long periods of time.
Population Explosion – A Serious Global Concern
Six Main Reasons for a Sharp Rise in World Population in the Recent Past
Better Healthcare
Better Medical Aid
Availability of Food
Improved Nutrition
Large-scale Immunisation
More Number of Children
Reaching Reproductive Age
With a fast-increasing world population, there are numerous problems
Decreasing open spaces
Shrinking of forests
Increasing industrialisation causing air, water and soil pollution
Rapid and intense shortage of drinking water and other resources
Increasing health hazards
Population in India
The trend of increasing population in India is alarming.
A few years ago, it was estimated that India’s population in 2001 would be about 760 million, but it has
already crossed the 1 billion mark.
Factors Responsible for Population Explosion in India
People from rural regions are illiterate and superstitious.
More number of children in a family.
High infant mortality results in more number of pregnancies.
Poor standards of living and poverty provide no recreation other than sex.
Rising Population – Pressure on Natural Resources
1. Food For an unchecked rise in population,
food would be running short.
2. Land
Man uses more and more land for
cultivation and to build residential
colonies, factories and industries.
Thus, usable land would become less
and less available.
3. Forests Rise in population leads to
deforestation.
Deforestation has led to serious
problems such as droughts, flash floods,
soil erosion and extinction of flora and
fauna.
4. Water With an increase in population, the
availability of clean and germ-free water
for drinking purposes would become
scarcer.
An increasing population leads to
pollution of rivers, lakes, ponds etc.
5. Energy Reserves of fossil fuels are fast
depleting.
The increasing population would need more non-conventional resources. Resources such
as solar energy, wind energy and tidal energy must be used by humans to minimise the use
of conventional resources.
Population Growth and Urbanisation – Serious Pressure on Resources
Urbanisation
The population is growing fast. Villages are turning into towns, and towns into cities and cities into
megacities. This process is called urbanisation.
Rising Living Standards of Growing Population
Use of household equipment such as high-end gadgets and better furniture
Use of more clothes
Use of different modes of conveyance such as bike, car, bus, taxi etc.
The above-mentioned factors lead to the overuse of natural resources. Some also lead to pollution.
Need to Check Exploitative Use of Resources
It is necessary for individuals to become conscious and contribute to the sustainable use of natural
resources.
Sustainable development
It is a type of development which meets the need of the present without compromising on the ability of the
future generations to meet their own needs.
Sustainable development can be achieved by
Reduction in excessive use of natural resources
Recycling and reuse of resources wherever possible
More use of renewable resources such as solar energy, wind energy etc.
Rate of Population Growth
The rate of population must be reduced. It will lead to
Less burden on decreasing resources
Better health care
Better education
A Few Statistical Terms
Demography Statistical study of human population with reference to size, density,
distribution and other vital statistics.
Population Density The number of individuals per square kilometre at any given time.
Birth rate (Natality) The number of live births per 1000 people of population per year.
Death rate The number of deaths per 1000 people of population per year.
(Mortality)
Growth Rate of The difference between the birth rate and the death rate.
Population When the birth rate exceeds the death rate, the population grows.
When the birth rate is lower than the death rate, the population
declines.
Need for Adopting Control Measures
When the population of a country increases beyond its means, it brings with it many problems such as
Per capita income reduces
Natural resources such as land, minerals, wood and fuels decrease
General health goes down
The overall quality of life decreases with a larger population.
Population Education and Population Control
With the current growth in population, it is necessary to educate people about the need to control
population growth and the steps which can be taken.
Awareness should be created about population problems.
People need to be aware about the advantages of having small families and the disadvantages of
having many children.
Family Welfare
Family welfare is represented by an inverted red triangle
.
Offices and hospitals with this symbol displayed are known as family welfare centres.
These centres provide help or advice about family planning.
Three aspects of family welfare are
Family planning in terms of having a small family.
Total welfare of the small family, including the diet and nutrition of the child and the pregnant mother.
Subsequent care of children, such as immunisation and oral rehydration therapy, to ensure the
survival of young ones.
Methods of Contraception
1. Hormonal Various hormonal preparations come in the form of tablets or pills
Method commonly called contraceptive pills.
2. Barrier I. Condom Used by men.
Methods It prevents the sperms from being deposited in the
vagina.
II. Diaphragm It can be fitted deep in the vagina to prevent the entry
of sperms into the uterus.
III. Spermicidals These chemicals are placed in the vagina near the
cervix to kill the sperms.
3. Intra- Lippe’s Loop and Copper T are intra-uterine devices.
uterine Commonly used in India.
Devices They are fitted inside the uterus.
(IUDs) These devices do not stop fertilisation but prevent the implantation of the
blastocyst.
4. Surgical I. Tubectomy In women, the abdomen is opened and the fallopian
Methods tubes are cut or ligated, i.e. tied with a nylon thread.
This closes the passage of the ovum.
II. Vasectomy In men, a small cut is made in the scrotum and the vas
deferens is ligated.
A small piece between the two ligatures is removed.
Therefore, between the couple, it is recommended that
the husband should be operated.
5. Induced It is also known as Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP).
Abortion If a woman becomes pregnant and the couple is not willing to have the
baby, then the option of induced abortion is chosen.
Abortion is legally permitted and can be requested by any desirous
female at any government hospital at no cost.
