Population control imperative
Monday, 19 April 2010
IT is a matter of serious concern that efforts for reducing the population growth rate have slowed down in past several years in Bangladesh that had earlier achieved some notable successes in this area. This country happens to be the world's most densely populated one, in terms of the number of people on average living on every mile of its territories. There is no parallel of a small country of about 55,000 square miles only crammed already with a population of over 150 million which is the demographic size of today's Bangladesh. The more worrisome aspect about the situation in Bangladesh is that its population still remains on a high growth track of an estimated 1.48 per cent annually. At this rate, its population would soar to some 180 million as early as 2020 and to the mind-boggling figure of 280 million by 2085. If this is allowed to happen, then it will become well-nigh impossible to ensure a reasonably decent human existence for Bangladesh's bulging population.
Overpopulation, meaning population not balanced by supporting resources to sustain the same, would almost surely make life and living very wretched for the teeming millions in Bangladesh. Already, the stresses of a huge population are evident everywhere. Per capita income cannot decently rise because the pie of the national income has to be divided among too many recipients. The ever-growing unemployment woes are getting worse and worse as jobs are found to be scarce compared to the needs of the fast rising population. Similar stresses are noted everywhere in health, housing, nutrition, transportation, education, etc.
With a stabilising population growth rate or a smaller population, the needs in each of the sectors could otherwise be met progressively better. That will then remain within manageable limits. Thus, the imperative of population control should be starkly apparent to all, specially to the policy planners who have been addressing the issue but not giving attention to it with the great seriousness it deserves.
While taming of population growth has been signaling as a grim national priority, the policy-makers and the ones in the government of this country have been found not serious enough to address this problem of critical importance. This is most unfortunate and such a mind-set ought to be shaken up by the statistics mentioned above. There is no time to lose in reducing the population growth rate. It must be immediately recognised as one of the very major national problems, more in actions than in words. The identification should be followed up urgently by completely revamping the government-run various population control activities which are not being run now in a coordinated manner with a befitting priority focus.
According to available statistics, nearly 20 per cent of people who would like to adopt family planning practices, have no access to counseling or receiving of contraceptives. This is simply unacceptable and must change. Lack of accountability in the programme must be shaken off and dynamism and efficiency will have to be ensured. Apart from the restructuring of the official population control activities, a decisive battle should be started to change people's psychology and attitudes. Social awareness must be raised about the scourge of early marriage. It is estimated that more than 50 per cent of the females in the country become mothers by the age of 19 and this partly explains why it is proving so difficult to control the population boom. The situation in this regard calls for regular mass campaigns to motivate people away from early marriages.
Overpopulation, meaning population not balanced by supporting resources to sustain the same, would almost surely make life and living very wretched for the teeming millions in Bangladesh. Already, the stresses of a huge population are evident everywhere. Per capita income cannot decently rise because the pie of the national income has to be divided among too many recipients. The ever-growing unemployment woes are getting worse and worse as jobs are found to be scarce compared to the needs of the fast rising population. Similar stresses are noted everywhere in health, housing, nutrition, transportation, education, etc.
With a stabilising population growth rate or a smaller population, the needs in each of the sectors could otherwise be met progressively better. That will then remain within manageable limits. Thus, the imperative of population control should be starkly apparent to all, specially to the policy planners who have been addressing the issue but not giving attention to it with the great seriousness it deserves.
While taming of population growth has been signaling as a grim national priority, the policy-makers and the ones in the government of this country have been found not serious enough to address this problem of critical importance. This is most unfortunate and such a mind-set ought to be shaken up by the statistics mentioned above. There is no time to lose in reducing the population growth rate. It must be immediately recognised as one of the very major national problems, more in actions than in words. The identification should be followed up urgently by completely revamping the government-run various population control activities which are not being run now in a coordinated manner with a befitting priority focus.
According to available statistics, nearly 20 per cent of people who would like to adopt family planning practices, have no access to counseling or receiving of contraceptives. This is simply unacceptable and must change. Lack of accountability in the programme must be shaken off and dynamism and efficiency will have to be ensured. Apart from the restructuring of the official population control activities, a decisive battle should be started to change people's psychology and attitudes. Social awareness must be raised about the scourge of early marriage. It is estimated that more than 50 per cent of the females in the country become mothers by the age of 19 and this partly explains why it is proving so difficult to control the population boom. The situation in this regard calls for regular mass campaigns to motivate people away from early marriages.