Policy should focus on well-being than population control: Experts
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Bhubaneswar: Ahead of World Population Day, experts said here on Wednesday that there is a pressing need to revise population control strategies according to demographic indices.
The shift must be towards well-being and healthy ageing rather than population control, they observed.
Binod Kumar Patro, professor of community medicine and family medicine at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, said India achieved the total fertility rate (TFR) targets by 2022. "India's TFR stands at 2.0, as per the 2022 Sample Registration System (SRS) report released in June this year. This means, on average, a woman in India is expected to give birth to two children during her reproductive years," he added.
"While it is a remarkable achievement for India to have a fertility rate below the replacement level of 2.1, it masks significant differences across the states that demand state-specific policy approaches rather than blanket solutions," said Patro.
A TFR of below 2.1 children per woman indicates that the population is declining. States like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh have TFRs above the replacement level, whereas Sikkim has the lowest TFR of 1.1.
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Similarly, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Odisha have TFRs of 1.3, 1.4 and 1.7, respectively.
"The one-size-fits-all approach to population policy has outlived its utility. While the country has successfully stabilised overall population growth, with an average TFR of 2.0, which is below the replacement level, the complex challenge now is to manage different demographic stages across various states. It requires tailored approaches that address each region's specific needs and challenges," said Patro.
Amarendra Das, an associate professor of humanities and social sciences at NISER Bhubaneswar, said India will have to worry about decline in population by 2047. "We need to think about and prepare a policy to tackle the problem. TFR of 11 states, including Odisha, is decreasing, which means population growth is stabilising there," he added.
He said a support system should be provided to couples to encourage having a second child.
"A crèche system at different govt and private offices should be made mandatory. Govt support in terms of leaves and other assistance should be given to couples having a second child," he added.
B M Otta, former professor of population studies at Fakir Mohan University, Balasore, said the govt should consider preparing tailor-made policies, keeping in mind the TFR rate of the states. "When policies were framed for population control, we were struggling to bring down the increasing population of the country. But now the situation is changing fast," he added.
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