Human beings are producers and consumers of earth's resources. Therefore, it is important to know how many people are there in a country, where do they live, how and why their numbers are increasing and what are their characteristics.
A census is an official enumeration of population done periodically. In India the first census in 1872. The first complete census in 1881. censuses are held regularly every tenth year.
We are primarily concerned with three major questions about the population:
(i) Population size and distribution
(ii) Population growth and processes of population change
(iii) Characteristics or qualities of the population: their age, sex- composition, literacy levels, occupational structure and health conditions
POPULATION SIZE AND DISTRIBUTION
India's population as on March 2011 stood at 1,210 million, i.e. 17.5 per cent of the world's population.
The 2011 Census data reveals that Uttar Pradesh (199 million people) is the most populous state, has about 16 per cent of the country's population. Sikkim has just about 0.6 million and Lakshadweep only 64429 people.
Almost half of India's population lives in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, and Andhra Pradesh. Rajasthan, the biggest state in terms of area, has only 6 per cent of the total population of India
Population Density - 382 persons per sq km (2011). vary from 1102 persons per sq km in Bihar to only 17 persons per sq km in Arunachal Pradesh.
501 and above - U.P, Bihar, W.Bengal & Kerala - because of the flat plains with fertile soils and abundant rainfall
251 to 500 - Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu, Jharkhand, Punjab, Haryana and Assam - Hilly, dissected and rocky nature of the terrain, moderate to low rainfall, shallow and less fertile soils
101 to 250 - Rajasthan, M.P, Chattisgarh, Orissa, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland and Meghalaya
less than 100 - J & K, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Mizoram - Rugged terrain and unfavourable climatic conditions
Population Growth
Growth of population refers to the change in the number of inhabitants of a country/territory during a specific period of time. Such a change can be expressed in two ways: in terms of absolute numbers and in terms of percentage change per year.
The absolute numbers added each year or decade is the magnitude of increase also referred to as the absolute increase.
The rate or the pace of population increase is studied in per cent per annum, also referred to as the annual growth rate.
India's population has been steadily increasing from 361 million in 1951 to 1210 million in 2011.
Between 1951 to 1981, the annual rate of population growth was steadily increasing. Since 1981, however, the rate of growth started declining gradually. During this period, birth rates declined rapidly
Processes of Population Change/Growth
There are three main processes of change of population : birth rates, death rates and migration.
The natural increase of population is the difference between birth rates and death rates.
Birth rate is the number of live births per thousand persons in a year.
Death rate 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. Since 1981, birth rates have also started declining gradually, resulting in a gradual decline in the rate of population growth.
The third component, Migration is the movement of people across regions and territories. Migration can be internal (within the country) or international (between the countries).
Internal migration does not change the size of the population, but influences the distribution of population within the nation. Migration plays a very significant 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 i.e. adverse conditions of poverty and unemployment in the rural areas and the "pull" of the city i.e. 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. The urban population was 31.80 per cent in 2011.
Age composition
Number of people in different age groups in a country. It is one of the most basic characteristics of a population.
Children (generally below 15 years) - economically unproductive and need to be provided with food, clothing, education and medical care.
Working Age (15-59 years) - economically productive and biologically reproductive
Aged (Above 59 years) - can be economically productive though they may have retired, may be working voluntarily but are not available for employment through recruitment.
Sex Ratio
The number of females per 1000 males in the population. An important social indicator to measure the extent of equality between males and females in a society at a given time. 940 in 2011
Literacy Rates
According to the Census of 2001, a person aged 7 years. and above who can read and write with understanding in any language, is treated as literate.
The literacy rate in the country as per the Census of 2011 is 70.04 per cent; 82.14 per cent for males and 65.46 per cent for females.
Occupational Structure
The distribution of the population according to different types of occupation is referred to as the occupational structure.
Developed nations have a high proportion of people in secondary, and tertiary activities. Developing countries have a higher proportion of their workforce engaged in primary activities. In India, about 64 per cent of the population is engaged only in agriculture. The proportion of population dependent on secondary and tertiary sectors is about 13 and 20 per cent respectively.
Health
Health is an important component of population composition, which affects the process of development. Death rates have declined to 7.2 per 1000 in 2011 and life expectancy at birth has increased to 64.7 years in 2011.
The substantial improvement is the result of many factors including improvement in public health, prevention of infectious diseases and application of modern medical practices in diagnosis and treatment of ailments.
Health situation is a matter of major concern for India. The per capita calorie consumption is much below the recommended levels and malnutrition afflicts a large percentage of our population. Safe drinking water and basic sanitation amenities are available to only one- third of the rural population.
Adolescent Population
Adolescents are generally grouped in the age-group of 10 to 19 years. It constitutes one-fifth of the total population of India.
Problems faced by Adloescent Population in India
In India, the diet available to adolescents is inadequate in all nutrients. A large number of adolescent girls suffer from anaemia. Their problems have so far not received adequate attention in the process of development. The adolescent girls have to be sensitised to the problems they confront. Their awareness can be improved through the spread of literacy and education among them.
National Population Policy
The Government of India initiated the comprehensive Family Planning Programme in 1952. The National Population Policy 2000 is a culmination of years of planned efforts.
The NPP 2000 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, achieving universal immunisation of children against all vaccine preventable diseases, promoting delayed marriage for girls, and making family welfare a people-centered programme.
NPP 2000 and Adolescents
Besides nutritional requirements, the policy put greater emphasis on other important needs of adolescents including protection from unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases (STD). It called for programmes that aim towards encouraging delayed marriage and child-bearing, education of adolescents about the risks of unprotected sex, making contraceptive services accessible and affordable, providing food supplements, nutritional services, strengthening legal measures to prevent child marriage.
A census is an official enumeration of population done periodically. In India the first census in 1872. The first complete census in 1881. censuses are held regularly every tenth year.
We are primarily concerned with three major questions about the population:
(i) Population size and distribution
(ii) Population growth and processes of population change
(iii) Characteristics or qualities of the population: their age, sex- composition, literacy levels, occupational structure and health conditions
POPULATION SIZE AND DISTRIBUTION
India's population as on March 2011 stood at 1,210 million, i.e. 17.5 per cent of the world's population.
The 2011 Census data reveals that Uttar Pradesh (199 million people) is the most populous state, has about 16 per cent of the country's population. Sikkim has just about 0.6 million and Lakshadweep only 64429 people.
Almost half of India's population lives in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, and Andhra Pradesh. Rajasthan, the biggest state in terms of area, has only 6 per cent of the total population of India
Population Density - 382 persons per sq km (2011). vary from 1102 persons per sq km in Bihar to only 17 persons per sq km in Arunachal Pradesh.
501 and above - U.P, Bihar, W.Bengal & Kerala - because of the flat plains with fertile soils and abundant rainfall
251 to 500 - Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu, Jharkhand, Punjab, Haryana and Assam - Hilly, dissected and rocky nature of the terrain, moderate to low rainfall, shallow and less fertile soils
101 to 250 - Rajasthan, M.P, Chattisgarh, Orissa, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland and Meghalaya
less than 100 - J & K, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Mizoram - Rugged terrain and unfavourable climatic conditions
Population Growth
Growth of population refers to the change in the number of inhabitants of a country/territory during a specific period of time. Such a change can be expressed in two ways: in terms of absolute numbers and in terms of percentage change per year.
The absolute numbers added each year or decade is the magnitude of increase also referred to as the absolute increase.
The rate or the pace of population increase is studied in per cent per annum, also referred to as the annual growth rate.
India's population has been steadily increasing from 361 million in 1951 to 1210 million in 2011.
Between 1951 to 1981, the annual rate of population growth was steadily increasing. Since 1981, however, the rate of growth started declining gradually. During this period, birth rates declined rapidly
Processes of Population Change/Growth
There are three main processes of change of population : birth rates, death rates and migration.
The natural increase of population is the difference between birth rates and death rates.
Birth rate is the number of live births per thousand persons in a year.
Death rate 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. Since 1981, birth rates have also started declining gradually, resulting in a gradual decline in the rate of population growth.
The third component, Migration is the movement of people across regions and territories. Migration can be internal (within the country) or international (between the countries).
Internal migration does not change the size of the population, but influences the distribution of population within the nation. Migration plays a very significant 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 i.e. adverse conditions of poverty and unemployment in the rural areas and the "pull" of the city i.e. 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. The urban population was 31.80 per cent in 2011.
Age composition
Number of people in different age groups in a country. It is one of the most basic characteristics of a population.
Children (generally below 15 years) - economically unproductive and need to be provided with food, clothing, education and medical care.
Working Age (15-59 years) - economically productive and biologically reproductive
Aged (Above 59 years) - can be economically productive though they may have retired, may be working voluntarily but are not available for employment through recruitment.
Sex Ratio
The number of females per 1000 males in the population. An important social indicator to measure the extent of equality between males and females in a society at a given time. 940 in 2011
Literacy Rates
According to the Census of 2001, a person aged 7 years. and above who can read and write with understanding in any language, is treated as literate.
The literacy rate in the country as per the Census of 2011 is 70.04 per cent; 82.14 per cent for males and 65.46 per cent for females.
Occupational Structure
The distribution of the population according to different types of occupation is referred to as the occupational structure.
Developed nations have a high proportion of people in secondary, and tertiary activities. Developing countries have a higher proportion of their workforce engaged in primary activities. In India, about 64 per cent of the population is engaged only in agriculture. The proportion of population dependent on secondary and tertiary sectors is about 13 and 20 per cent respectively.
Health
Health is an important component of population composition, which affects the process of development. Death rates have declined to 7.2 per 1000 in 2011 and life expectancy at birth has increased to 64.7 years in 2011.
The substantial improvement is the result of many factors including improvement in public health, prevention of infectious diseases and application of modern medical practices in diagnosis and treatment of ailments.
Health situation is a matter of major concern for India. The per capita calorie consumption is much below the recommended levels and malnutrition afflicts a large percentage of our population. Safe drinking water and basic sanitation amenities are available to only one- third of the rural population.
Adolescent Population
Adolescents are generally grouped in the age-group of 10 to 19 years. It constitutes one-fifth of the total population of India.
Problems faced by Adloescent Population in India
In India, the diet available to adolescents is inadequate in all nutrients. A large number of adolescent girls suffer from anaemia. Their problems have so far not received adequate attention in the process of development. The adolescent girls have to be sensitised to the problems they confront. Their awareness can be improved through the spread of literacy and education among them.
National Population Policy
The Government of India initiated the comprehensive Family Planning Programme in 1952. The National Population Policy 2000 is a culmination of years of planned efforts.
The NPP 2000 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, achieving universal immunisation of children against all vaccine preventable diseases, promoting delayed marriage for girls, and making family welfare a people-centered programme.
NPP 2000 and Adolescents
Besides nutritional requirements, the policy put greater emphasis on other important needs of adolescents including protection from unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases (STD). It called for programmes that aim towards encouraging delayed marriage and child-bearing, education of adolescents about the risks of unprotected sex, making contraceptive services accessible and affordable, providing food supplements, nutritional services, strengthening legal measures to prevent child marriage.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.