Manipur Population Commission and Population Policy
Recently the Manipur government has decided that there will be no government benefits and jobs for people having more than four children.
- This decision clearly focused on population control. For this purpose, Manipur State Population Commission is being established.
- Similar laws have been implemented in various states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat etc. with the aim of controlling the population.
- Currently, India accounts for about 18% of the world’s total population, while India has only 2.45% of the global landmass.
- India will soon overtake China to become the most populous country in the world.
Arguments in favor of population control policy-
- Population surplus
- There is pressure on the availability of food, clothing and housing.
- This exacerbates the problem of unemployment and disguised unemployment.
- Increases ecological degradation.
- This puts pressure on the infrastructure.
Arguments against-
- There will be a decrease in the working age population.
- Already the total fertility rate (IFR) has declined.
- The desire to have a son can lead to unsafe abortion and female foeticide.
- The weaker section is unable to bear the cost of contraception or abortion.
- It would be like punishing them.
Source – The Hindu
