Chapter 6 Population

Migrations change the number, distribution and composition of population in both the area of departure and arrival. Migration is the movement of people across regions and territories; it can be internal and international. It plays a vital role in changing the composition and distribution of population, besides this it is an important determinant of population change. It changes not only the population size but also the population composition of urban and rural populations.

A large number of children in a population are a result of high birth rates. Birth rate is the number of live births per thousand persons in a year. It is a major component of growth because in India, birth rates have always been higher than death rates. The main cause of the Indian population has been the rapid decline in death rates. High birth rates and declining death rates led to a large difference between birth rates and death rates resulting in higher rates of population growth.

The magnitude of population growth refers to the number of persons added each year. It is obtained by simply subtracting the earlier population from the later population, which is referred to as the absolute increase, the rate or the pace of population increase is the other important aspect, which is studied in per annum and referred to as the annual growth rate.

According to Census 2001, a literate person is one who is 7 years old and can read and write any language with understanding. As we all know that literacy is a very important quality of a population, only an informed and educated citizen can make intelligent choices and undertake research and development projects, so low levels of literacy are a serious hurdle for economic improvement.

The rate of population in India is declining since 1981 because of the decrease in the birth rate, the spread of education, family planning programmes and national population policy, 2000.

Family planning programmes are very helpful in a way as these programmes are set up to make aware the people of their rights and help them to differentiate between their good and bad. Literacy rate has been so much help because it educates the people, as education is helpful in all respects, birth control measures are playing a greater role in declining the rate of population growth in India.

(i) Age Structure or Composition: It refers to the number of people in different age groups in a country, which is one of the most basic characteristics of a population. A person’s age influences what he needs, buys, does and his capacity to perform. The number and percentage of a population found within the children, working age and aged groups are notable determinants of the population’s social and economic structure, the population of a nation is generally grouped into three categories. Children below five years, working age (15-59 years), aged (above 59 years). This structure can be represented as under:

(ii) Birth Rate: It is the number of live births per thousand persons in a year, which is a major component of growth because in India, birth rates have always been higher than death rates.

(iii) Death Rate: The death per thousand persons in a year is the number which is known as death rate. The main cause of the rate of growth of the Indian population has been the rapid decline in death rates. Since 1981, birth rates have also started declining gradually, resulting in a gradual decline in the rate of population growth.

There are three major components of population growth which are as follows:

(i) Birth rate is a major component of population growth because in India, birth rate has always been higher than death rate, and it is the number of live births per thousand persons in a year.

(ii) The second main cause of the rate of growth of the Indian population has been the rapid decline in death rates; it is the number of deaths per thousand persons in a year. Till 1980, high birth rates and declining death rates led to a large difference between birth rates and death rates resulting in higher rates of population growth.

(iii) The third major component of population growth is migration, which is movement of people across regions and territories; there can be two types of migration internal and international. Internal migration does not change the size of population, but influences the distribution of population within the nation; it plays a vital role in changing the composition and distribution of population.

In India, most migrations have been from rural to urban areas because of the “push” factor in rural areas. These are adverse conditions of poverty and unemployment in the rural areas and the “pull” of the city in terms of increased employment opportunities and better living conditions. Migration is an important determinant of population change. It changes not only the population size but also the population composition of urban and rural populations in terms of age and sex composition. In India, the rural-urban migration has resulted in a steady increase in the percentage of population in cities and towns. The urban population has increased from 17.29 per cent of the total population in 1951 to 27.78 per cent in 2001. There has been a significant increase in the number of ‘million plus cities’ from 23 to 35 in just one decade i.e. 1991 to 2001.

Distinction between population growth and population change:

In between occupational structure and development, there is a definite relationship. The higher level of income depends on the higher proportion of population in secondary and tertiary activities. The lower level of income depends upon the higher dependence of population on agriculture or primary activities. That is the only reason that countries where a high proportion of people is engaged in the primary activities, they are counted among the developing countries, e.g. India. The countries where a higher proportion of people is engaged in secondary and tertiary activities, which are counted among the developed countries e.g. USA, Japan etc.

Healthy population is beneficial in many ways:

(i) If a person is healthy then he can work for many hours without any fatigue.

(ii) If the population of a country is healthy then by giving its more and more time in production it can increase the national income of that country.

(iii) Healthy population has the ability to think more efficiently, positively and intellectually. Good and qualitative leaders for the nation can be selected by them who can run their country more efficiently.

(iv) By raising national income of a country, the standard of living of the population can be reformed.

(v) If the population is healthy then government need not to spend its income for their medicine rather it can be invested for some progress in economy.

(vi) In the development or growth of an economy healthy population plays a vital role in every respect.

The significant Features of the National Population Policy, 2000:

(i) Recognising that the planning of families would improve individual health and welfare, the Government of India initiated the comprehensive Family Planning Programme in 1952, This programme has sought to promote responsible and planned parenthood on a voluntary basis. The National Population Policy 2000 is a concluding action of years of planned efforts.

(ii) It provides a policy framework for imparting free and compulsory school education up to 14 years of age, reducing infant mortality rate to below 30 per 1000 live births.

(iii) This policy has identified adolescents as one of the major sections of the population that need greater attention.

(iv) It called for programmes that aim towards encouraging delayed marriage and child-bearing, education of adolescents about the risks of unprotected sex, making contraceptive service accessible and affordable.

(v) It provides food supplements, nutritional services, strengthening legal measures to prevent child marriage.

(vi) It made family welfare, a people centered programme.

(vii) It considered people the most valuable resource.

(viii) It worked to stabilize the population by 2045.

Hint: Questionnaire No. 1 (format).

(i) What is your name?

Ans. Sakshi, Riya, Ananya, Avani, Aradhya, Aarohi

(ii) In which class do you read?

Ans. 9^th, 9^th, 9^th, 9^th, 9^th, 9^th.

(iii) In which subject do you take keen interest and why?

Ans. Sakshi has keen interest in Mathematics because it sharps our mind and makes our calculation skill better.

Riya has keen interest in English because it is universal language we can talk in English to everyone because people belonging to foreign or other states they know English.

Ananya has keen interest in Science because it helps to understand the human nature and our body organs in detail besides these things we come to know the function of each and every single part which helps to keep us healthy and fit.

Avani too has keen interest in Mathematics and have the same reason behind her keenness.

Aradhya has keen interest in Hindi and she says that being an Indian and Hindi is our mother tongue so that’s the only reason behind her keenness.

Aarohi also likes English as she wants to become a singer specially she wants to sing in English.

(iv) What is the utility of the subject in column (iii) above for the society?

Ans. The utility of the subject in column (iii) above for the society is to know how much a person contributes in the development of a country, and in what quantity.

(v) How many brothers and sisters have you?

Ans. Sakshi has one brother and one sister.

Riya has one brother and one sister.

Ananya has two brothers and two sisters.

Avani has one brother and two sisters.

Aradhya has two sisters and one brother.

Aarohi has no siblings; she is the only daughter of her parents.

(vi) What does your father do?

Ans. Sakshi’s father is a dentist by profession.

Riya’s gather is a master in an export company.

Ananya’s father is a farmer.

Avani’s father is pilot.

Aradhya’s father is an auto driver.

Aarohi’s father is hotel manager.

(vii) Whether your mother is also working somewhere (institution, organization)?

Ans. No student is here whose mother is working in any institution or organization, all are housewife.

Questionnaire No. 2 (format)

(i) What is social science?

Ans. Social Science is the study of human behavior of individuals. It tells about how a society works. It provides important information for governments and policymakers, local authorities, non-governmental organisations and other institutions as well. It also keeps in mind the happiness of people living in a particular society.

(ii) Can you mention any importance of study on social science?

Ans. It helps to improve our society by gaining knowledge we can put some efforts towards the reformation of the society.

It’s the study of human interactions and behavior towards each other.

By looking up the society we can attain some knowledge of successes and failures of the past to better the future.

It provides insight into all types of situations such as friendship, family relations, raising children and other social activities.

We come to know about issues happened in our society and then be able to solve these issues with experiences.

We come to know about human welfare, justice and equality, peace and harmony, freedom, education etc.

(iii) What are the things you learn in social science?

Ans. We learn so many things in science and the very first thing we learn how to behave, how to interact in our society. The second thing we learn in social science is how to contribute in our economy to help it in developing. We learn to deal with political issues as social science has been divided into three parts such as economics, geography, civics and all of these things teach us according to its content and requirement.

(iv) Whether you will say social science a code of conduct or a code of social rules? Why?

Ans. We will say social science a code of social rules because basically in social science we learn about human behavior and what is society’s behavior towards other sections. It helps to deal with issues and work together towards achieving the goal whether it is for social welfare or any individual. It helps to know about the past of any economy which becomes helpful to better the future of that economy.

(v) Can you say social science a sense to build, maintain and bring reforms in society? How?

Ans. Yes, we can say that social science a sense to build, maintain and bring reforms in society. It consists every tiny detail related to human behavior and their tasks. It holds up a mirror to society, besides this it strengthens the pillars of a democracy. It helps to make rules and regulations for a society so that no one can go beyond the limit, freedom is also provided accordingly. Setting up rules and regulations for a society bring reforms because people understand their responsibilities towards it and they properly respond it, if someone tries to escape then he is punished or simply expelled from it.