An insight into population growth and its impact on land

The vices of uncontrolled population growth are many and stress on natural resources is one of them. The natural resource that experiences the most stress is, however, land. Population growth and its impact on land use is a concern for governments and environmentalists alike.

The problem

The problem that arises when dealing with population growth and its impact on land is unique. There are not many researchers concentrating on this issue let alone dedicated to finding a solution. The research work that does exists concentrates on case studies rather than the general problem. The case studies on population growth and its impact on land to provide an intriguing narrative for specific areas. They might also provide solutions for the concerned specific areas. The problem, however, is a global phenomenon.

The reasons behind the problem

The land is one resource that is limited in nature and will always be limited. Arable land on that is even more limited and only keeps on depleting. It is on these arable lands that farms and forests exist. It is farms and forests that sustain the population. That means it is these arable lands that majorly sustain the population. The population growth and its impact on land thus become a major issue. The ever-growing population needs more sustenance. The provision of this sustenance comes from arable lands increasing pressure upon them.

Problems due urbanisation

The pressure is not just on arable lands. With increasing urbanisation and industrialisation, a major shift in population towards cities is noticed. This leads to uneven growth of population. In cities, population growth and its impact on land manifest itself in form of lack of living space. This leads to the formation of slums and unplanned growth of cities. The unplanned growth of cities is not just an inconvenience. It leads to problems like the spread of diseases that cannot be contained structures being more prone to natural disasters. In unplanned cities; fires, earthquakes and such natural disasters cause more severe damage than in planned cities.

 The ever-increasing population demands more living area. This demand for the living area leads to deforestation. Deforestation leads to loss of biodiversity and degradation of land. The degraded land is the direct result of the growing population. The degradation of land reduces arable land hence increases the pressure on the remaining land.

Population control is a major issue if one wants to reduce the pressure on land. The existing population is already too much for the lands of the planet to sustain. If the population is not controlled then there will be a severe shortage food and other essential items that come from land.

Probable solutions

To control the population the most effective tool one has is education. Education and awareness programmes about family planning are very necessary. Education should be aimed at sensitizing people towards the cons of increasing population. The increasing pressure on land can be dealt with only by controlling the ever-growing population.

Population growth and its impact on land is a serious issue that needs more concentrated study and a generalised approach.

Development of India needs the Safety of natural resources from overpopulation

Safety of natural resources from the overgrowing population is a very important issue as far as the development of India is concerned. No country, no economy can even dream of being a developed one or retaining the status of a developed one if it does not utilize it's natural resources to the maximum capability. 

The natural resources can not be used to their maximum capacity if they are not safe from the various hazards such as exploitation, improper use and most importantly, the overgrowth of the population which puts an adverse effect on the natural resources and hence impeding the development of India.

What are natural resources?

The dictionary definition of natural resources is “materials or substances occurring in nature which can be exploited for economic gain”. The natural resources are resources that have an existence in nature without any action direct or indirect by mankind. 

The sunlight that graces us from dawn till dusk, the atmosphere that we breathe in, the water that sustains life, the land that we live on along with all its mineral resources and flora and fauna constitute of natural resources and are all very crucial in the development of India.

The natural resources are fast depleting and have hence become a cause of concern for quite a few governments and international organizations such as the United Nations.

 The United Nations has gone to the extent outlining the necessary steps that countries need to take to sustain and safeguard their natural resources in section two of the organization’s Agenda 21.

Why is the safety of natural resources a problem?

In the words of Theodore Roosevelt, “The conservation of natural resources is the fundamental problem. Unless we solve that problem, it will avail us little to solve all others.”

The safety of natural resources is paramount because of the loss of or even depletion of these natural resources will result in the tragic loss of various ecosystem services.

 Many social scientists also see the depletion and loss of natural resources as something that acts as one of the major sources that lead to unrest in societies and conflicts especially in developing countries like India.

To avoid such a scenario and to ensure that there is no hindrance in the path of development of India we need to ensure the safety of natural resources.

The overgrowth in the population of India

India is home to a stunning one point two billion people who put a serious pressure on its natural resources. The load on India’s natural resources have stretched to almost a breaking point due to the overgrowth in population. 

This load leads to economic inequality and lack of equal access to the natural resources which should certainly not be the case.

According to scientists, “drinking water, sewage treatment, rapid depletion of energy resources, extinction of many species of the flora and fauna, inadequate rainfall, serious disturbances in the ecosystem and increased level of life life-threatening and water pollution and extreme hunger rates” are all a result of overgrowth in population.

The overgrowth in population hence not only threatens the natural resources of India but while doing so also impedes the development of India.

The overgrowing population and natural resources

The major concern that comes to the mind when considering the population explosion is the pressure on the finite natural sources like the fossil fuels that mankind is burning at an alarming rate without any consideration or the fresh water which is depleting at an alarming rate or the arable land which provides us with food but is going barren due to wrong farming practices or the coral reefs or the frontier forests.

All these resources are important to the development of an economy and are facing the wrath of the overgrowing population and suffering. This suffering is impeding the development of India.

A study conducted by the United Nations Environmental Programme, which took five years to complete and was the result of the work of fourteen hundred scientists has essentially declared that “Human consumption had far outstripped the available resources. Each person on Earth now requires a third more land to supply his or her needs than the planet can supply.”

So how do we save natural resources from the overgrowing population?

We need to not only stabilize or control the growing population but also cut back on the consumption of resources so that they can be safeguarded and put to proper use in the development of India.

Fighting Overpopulation in India with a Population Control Law

Fighting Overpopulation in India with a Population Control Law

• When more than one-seventh of the entire worlds population lies in one country, it gives rise to numerous problems on a scale that is next to impossible to tackle.

• Overpopulation in India is one of the most alarming problem as India’s population is set to touch 1.69 billion in the year 2050. Seeing these mind-boggling statistics, there exists a dire need for a population control law in India.

• In the monsoon session, a bill was drafted in front of president Ram Nath Kovind demanding a population control law in India.

•  The long awaited “Hum Do, Humare Do” policy would basically mean that the government subsidies would only be given to the first two children. 

•  Similar laws are already in place in countries like Vietnam. Also, China replaced its strict one child policy with a law very similar to this.

   Why do we need to control Overpopulation in India?

•  Inflation has reached an all time high making it hard for families to feed even one child but when we take at look at the economically backward sections of the society, 

• women are still considered to be baby making machines. Projections state that the demand for water in the year 2050 would be 150% of what it was in the year 200. 

• Similarly, the demand for food would be somewhat close to 200% of what it was in the year 2000.

•  If we live to see that day, it would be traumatic because food scarcity and water scarcity were a problem in the year 2000 as well.

•  Meeting twice that would be absolutely absurd and ultimately, India’s growth would not be ecologically sustainable.

• Hence, to try and curb overpopulation in India, we should draw our attention to strengthening the legislature and introduced population control law in India by signing a petition namely the #Bharat4PopulationLaw with www.taxab.org. 

• The gains of economic growth should not be neutralized by the growing population, if we don’t attend to the problem of overpopulation in India now?The increased demand of the growing population would become impossible to deal with.

 

A peek into Failing Population Control In India and its Consequences.

India’s ever-rising population has always been a burning issue in the country. Population controlin India, even though being a sensitive topic, wasn’t always looked away from. Many Reformers and Politicians tried to make a difference but nothing could curb Indians from reaching the one billion people mark second only to China, which, by the looks of it, India is set to overtake by 2030.

Population control in India is a burning topic not just because it hampers the economic development of the country but also because this beautiful country was never made to sustain 1.25 Billion People. Thus, making it a priority issue more than ever.
What is most scary is the fact that if we consider the current projections for the next 25 years, India’s population is set to rise by three hundred and fifty million. Twice as much as the combined growth of USA, China and Western Parts of Europe.

What are the consequences of the failure of population control in India?

Population control in India, when fails enhances poverty. This is a direct relationship, which mostly is a nightmare for all those who run the country. Poverty enhances because providing people with jobs that let them sustain their families becomes a distant dream. Unemployment rates shoot up, which further enhance illiteracy. This becomes a vicious cycle that people can’t get out of because the next generation does not have proper access tofood and education.

How is the government tackling population control in India?

Even though the failure to curb population control in India is a scary nightmare, It is approached in multiple ways so as to curb the problem right from its roots. The awareness of family planning is one such initiative, enhancing literacy rates is another. Initiatives like “BetiBachao, BetiPadhao” send a message to the society that girls are not child bearing machines, they, if provided with the right amount of resources could contribute just as much as their male counterparts can. Enhancing jobs in its entirety with initiatives like “Make In India” decrease unemployment that further help in the establishment of a sound society.