Human resource or human burden ? India, population-wise, is the largest democracy in
the world. A nation's greatest resource are its citizens.
It is the people who control the destiny of a nation ¾
not its size or armaments or geography or its natural
resources. All these factors are important, no doubt, but
ultimately it is the people, who by dint of national
pride, dedication, discipline, industry and ingenuity,
decide the standing of the nation in the global
community. The pages of history bear testimony to this
axiom.
By this yardstick India should be among the greatest
nations of the world. We like to repeat this, ad nauseam,
at national functions, but the unfortunate truth is that
we have lost much of the eminence that we enjoyed in the
early post-independence years. The sleeping Asian giant
has not woken up. Rather, it seems to be sinking deeper
into slumber. Socioeconomic indicators have improved but
the improvement has been too slow, inadequate and
inequable. Wealth has been generated but the benefits
have not percolated through all strata of society so that
the poorest of the poor continue to eke out the same
pitiable existence. Consider a few bitter pills ¾ India
is among the poorest nations in terms of per capita GNP
(currently at US$ 340), the country is home to the
largest number of illiterates (adult literacy rate is at
48%), infectious disease mortality figures (5 lakh people
die annually of tuberculosis alone) are among the highest
in the world.
The root cause of the nation's woes can be summed up in
one word ¾ population. In 1947 there were some
350 million Indians. The mid-1997 population estimate was
969.7 million. We have added almost 2 Indias since
independence but do not appear to be much concerned about
it. However, when demand outstrips supply in every sphere
of life, the results are glaringly evident ¾
top-to-bottom corruption, illiteracy and ignorance,
rising unemployment, crumbling public health
infrastructure, unplanned urbanisation, all-round
environmental degradation and pollution. No amount of
planning can offset the enormous population pressure.
Population control is no longer an option for this
country ¾ it is a desperate strategy for survival.
Curiously, mid-term polls are around the corner but the
population issue does not figure in the election
manifesto of any political party. Political will is sadly
lacking. In any case, population is too serious a matter
to be left to our politicians. Instead all responsible
citizens must take it upon themselves to spread the
message of population control and set examples.
And to those who speak of religious sentiments getting
hurt, our reply is survival is more fundamental than
‘religion’.
The lead article in this issue deals with some of the
practicalities of oral contraceptive pills. The pill is a
clinically proven, globally accepted, medicinal tool for
population control. Simultaneously with spreading
awareness, it is a relatively inexpensive method which
can be offered. With this, women can control their
fertility at will, safely, conveniently, for as long as
desired and with complete restoration of fertility upon
withdrawal. The pill is one of the best choices we have
provided it is used correctly. Informed pill-use can be a
valuable strategy in our fight for survival. We Indians
have a long and glorious heritage. Let us live up to it
and show to the world that our people are still human
resource and not burden to the nation. Avijit Hazra
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