POPULATION GROWTH : INDIA TOPPING THE WRONG LIST

As published in free press indore edition on 22/02/2011
As per recent report appeared in Times Of India dated 24/01/2011, India is topping the world list of  population growth rate by adding 51 babies every minute , followed by china with just 28 per minute and others are nowhere near the two.The world population will touch the  seven billionth mark by 2012. There is a widespread  concern about  the availability of  enough food, water and energy for the billions being added too quickly and whether the earth can support them. Another observation reveals that the major contribution to this figure will come from the poverty stricken people of developing countries like ours.

Is is no matter of pride.   We do not have enough food stock to implement  food security bill for even the half of our existing population. Adding to this Food inflation across the world is making the situation worse. We are completely dependant on natural rains for our food crop production. A danger is already looming large on the world wheat consumers as the china’s wheat crop is badly affected due to less than normal rainfall this year. China grows more than 50% of the world’s wheat production. The availability of other resources like clean water and energy is not a different story.

The only solution is to control the population growth and this time in India it should come from the social sector because after the misadventure of Late Mr. Sanjay Gandhi, no Government can push up an aggressive plan on this sensitive issue. All religious leaders/ Gurus should take initiative to educate the people of their faith to observe restraint on this front. Non political leaders of large following like Yog Guru Swami Ramdeoji , who has taken up issues of black money and corruption should also adopt this issue. If all religious leaders can come together and form a consensus on this issue, it will be a great service to their community and nation.

Bharat Sharma

C-44/8, BARGAD

Rishinagar Extension

Ujjain(MP)