Demographic Disparity

"Do not count the numbers but the numbers you can count on"; need not to mention, quality is more important than quantity. Enough is enough, we celebrated the thriving numbers more often than anybody else on this planet. Certainly, its about the population, with a staggering growth rate as if we are in competition with some other universe to save the human race from extinction. Its worrisome for any rational person to contemplate that, we do not have a coherent population policy at national level. There is absolutely no advisory that could potentially deter further growth in population.

Is This What We are Proud Of....

A billion and a quarter population which we achieved in 4 decades almost doubling the original count, is rather result of a failed population policy that we all should be deeply concerned about. Resources never grow not at-least in tandem with a 100% growth rate in consumers. Well somebody can claim that with the use of technology we can still multiply the production figures but still that has a physical limitation. Among the few most populous nations only Bangladesh is more dense than India which is also a serious apprehension for us though for different reason. Bangladeshi citizens illegally infiltrate into India in search of better opportunities and cause further chaos. In terms of density we are three times that's of China and more than 10-15 times in comparison to a United State or a Brazil with enough habitable land. The urban/rural population distribution gives little respite as a third of our billion plus population lives in cities, in almost 20 major metropolis we have more than 100 million habitants.

The Indo-Gangatic plain through Pakistan to Bangladesh contributes to almost a 7th of world's overall population with the density of a congested city. May be river Ganga should be credited with not just fertile land but also fertile women across the famous plain. 

Message is Hidden in the Picture

Moving the discussion further, it seems deceptive for us to think we are banking on a startling 600 million youth demography under the age of 40 and the whole perception becomes rather ridiculous when we compare with China's rising population around retirement age. In the right perspective, if China has a temporal concern around the old age issues for pension and healthcare bill, we have more bigger and perpetual concern. Historically, China exceeds India in all age segments let alone older demography. However, China has a bigger chunk in old age than the younger counterparts. 

The reason is quite obvious, population control measures, forcing people to go for single child, resulting in fewer younger people. The growth rate has declined substantially from 23% in 60s to 6% in the last decade where as we still grew at the rate of a stunning 16%. 10 years down the line when these old people would would no longer figure in the population graph, China would be much thinner as well as younger nation. As per The Guardian's projection by 2100, India with 1550 million would top the population chart, toppling China with 941 million population.

Quality takes the precedence over quantity, when we take pride in a huge younger population, we should also count the number bellow poverty line, who are illiterate, unemployed, and surviving without even basic facilities. You can not count on these numbers similar to counting the graves in a crematorium. Unless, we have a much thinner population for reasonable distribution of the scantly available resources, we are heading towards inferno. The world's largest democracy could flourish only when the demography has a quality life. Access to basic amenities, healthcare, education and security with surplus job avenues are primary to quality life.

Most of the problems here finally boils down to the large population, but no body thinks its appropriate to discuss that in public. That's such a taboo in our society we all conveniently ignore the issue till the issue completely engulfs us. Thanks to medical science, the higher birth rate and lower mortality rate, add almost 15 million population every year. Which is hardly possible for any government to rearrange the resources for the newly added population, with new schools, hospitals and jobs.