POPULATION GROWTH IN INDIA

POPULATION GROWTH IN INDIA

                    In 2011 , population in these two age groups formed  The high growth rate of population in India during the planning period has resulted in a tremendous pressure of population on land resulting in declining land-man ratio which in turn has proved as an obstacle to development. As said in the earlier chapter the density of population which was 117.

Population and growth of per capital Income: Rapid growth of population has proved to be obstacle in the way of raising the growth rate of per capital income and standard of living to a higher level. Increasing population has siphoned off the benefits of rising national Income with the result that there has not been any appreciable increase in the per capital income.

Population  growth and per-capital Availability  of  food:   A high growth rate of population makes the food situation acute which we witnessed till the  fourth plan. This is one reason why about 45 % of our children are underweight and our infant mortality rate at 47 per 1000 is much higher than our neighbors- it is 20 in Sri Lanka and 33 in China.

Population and the Burden of Unproductive  Consumers:  A high  growth rate of population leads to an increase in the number of unproductive consumers who are not engaged in employment and therefore  do not make any contribution to the growth of national income. Broadly  speaking, population  in the age group of 0-14 and 60 years and above about 41% of the total population.

Population and unemployment:   Rapidly  rising population increase  the  number of entrants in the employment market and adds to the dimension of the problem of unemployment. This is because in an underdeveloped economy , employment opportunities  in  labor   force.

Population and capital Formation: A Rapidly rising population makes it all the more difficult and in fact obstructs the process of capital formation. The addition to population means addition to the large number of existing consumers. The newly, born till they  reach the working age,have to be fed clothed  and educated .

       Besides,   a part of saving will have to be used For providing such essential public service like health, education, medical care, sanitation, housing etc.

Population and Burden of Education, Healthcare and Housing:  Rapidly growing population causes. An-increasing burden on providing education healthcare and housing facilities which puts a heavy Strain on our slender resources.  It is also worthwhile pointing out here that expenditure on education in 2012-2012 was estimated at about 3.31. Percent of our gross domestic product and that on Health was just a meager of about  1.36 %of our Gross domestic product.

Need for a Higher Rate of Demographic Investment: The  Rate of demographic investment is that rate of Investment which is necessary to maintain the current per capital  income in the context of rising Population. The present growth rate of population. Is about 2% per annul  Now,  to  maintain population at the existing standard of living, national income must also rise at the rate of 2% per annul  The capital output ratio for the Indian economy at present is estimated at 5.5.Hence, in order to bring about an increase in national income At the rate of 2% , demographic  investment   of The order of  about 11% (2x5.5)  is   necessary.

This  results  in  showing  down  the   rate  of  Economic    growth.