Vinod Chandrashekhar Dixit
World Population Day as the name suggests is an annual day observed around the world on 11th July to bring awareness about Population growth and related issues. It is a day set aside to increase awareness about global population issues and the strain it creates on the environment. To gauge the mammoth rise of the Indian population, the most ideal places to visit are Metro stations, airports, malls, railway stations and bus stands. This great awareness event is to bring a population revolution globally as well as breaking sleep of all the deeply slept people to pay their full attention and help in combating this population issue. As the world’s population continues to grow, reaching 7.9 billion in 2021 and projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, it’s essential to address the challenges and opportunities arising from this demographic shift. World Population Day serves as a reminder of the complex issues surrounding global population trends.
Much of population increase is among the poorest socio-economic strata. It would be ideal for a country like India to be more progressive in outlook and shed inhibitions when it comes to free distribution of contraceptives and condoms among the poor. The growth of population reached nearly one billion in 1830 and second billion in the next 100 years. Thereafter the growth was tremendous for within a span of 30 years it reach 3 billion, the fourth billion in 15 years and the firth billion in only 12 years. It is predicted to exceed the population at 9 billion by 2050. More than one billion people do not have access to clean drinking water. A total of 2.7 billion find water scarce for at least one month of the year. A world of 7 billion is both a challenge and an opportunity with implications on sustainability, urbanization, access to health services and youth empowerment. Rapid population growth puts a strain on the environment, resources, and infrastructure. The increasing demand for food, water, and energy leads to deforestation, pollution, and climate change. Urbanization and migration can result in social and economic disparities, straining local resources and infrastructure. Moreover, population growth can exacerbate issues like poverty, inequality, and lack of access to education and healthcare.
If we continue to grow in numbers relentlessly, we would be hard-pressed for resources. Land, housing, water, and food would be scarce. Forests and greenery would be history by then. Our quality of life would be poor. So we have to tackle the population growth right now. It is the responsibility of everyone of us collectively and not just a decision to be made by individuals. Women have the ability and capacity to change the society. Ensuring that they get good education is very important for the society.
The campaign of the World Population Day every year increases the knowledge and skills of the people worldwide towards their reproductive health and family planning. Through this great awareness celebration, people are to make aware to know about population issues like importance of family planning towards the increasing population, gender equality, maternal and baby health, poverty, human rights, right to health, sexual education, use of contraceptives and safety measures like condoms, reproductive health, adolescent pregnancy, girl child education, child marriage, sexually transmitted infections and so many. World Population has witnesses a rapid growth in the last 200 years. Countries like China and India together constitutes 37% of the total world population. Population increase is taking away all the developmental results of our nation.
As we observe World Population Day, it’s essential to recognize the need for collective action. Let this day encourage governments, organizations, and individuals to work together to create a more equitable, sustainable, and healthy world for all. A mission mode strategy will have to be thought of for population stabilization in critical states.
(The author is a freelancer and can be reached at [email protected])
