Population Growth - Fertility, Health, and Poverty

India was the first country in the world to adopt family planning as an official program in an effort to check rapid growth of its population which was causing a major constraint in its endeavor for socioeconomic development and a welfare society. During the past 54 years, the family planning program in India has been modified from time to time, both in terms of its approach and its content. Even the objective was broadened from family planning to family welfare. In spite of the high priority, huge infrastructure and funds provided, the outcome is not satisfactory. Recently, the total population of India has passed the billion mark. Last year the Government of India issued the National Population Policy, 2000 statement. A National Commission for Population, with the Prime Minister of India as its Chairman, has also been established. The Commission will oversee and review the implementation of the Population Policy (Department of Family Welfare, 2000). In the following sections I focus on the issue of population growth and its effects as a bio-social crux issue.