Guruswamy has very capably analyzed the scenario and pointed out that we are following a misguided and negative approach to solve the national problem of unemployment, namely, by trying to control the population while at the same time reducing the outlay on making the people more productive by providing them better education, skills, and health care. Guruswamy also points out that in 2020 India will have more than 270 million people in the 15 to 35 age segments, when productivity and economic contribution is the highest. The path to prosperity has to pass through institutions that will make these population segments capable and productive, such that they can make an effective economic contribution. It is arrogant and elitist of the justice system to disrespect the individuals rights. Why not then mandate the Government to take immediate steps to provide compulsory education to all? It is equally inconsiderate and irresponsible of the economically stronger segments of the society to continue to grab more and more benefits while not ensuring similar benefits for the poor.
Guruswamy has very capably analyzed the scenario and pointed out that we are following a misguided and negative approach to solve the national problem of unemployment, namely, by trying to control the population while at the same time reducing the outlay on making the people more productive by providing them better education, skills, and health care.
Guruswamy also points out that in 2020 India will have more than 270 million people in the 15 to 35 age segments, when productivity and economic contribution is the highest. The path to prosperity has to pass through institutions that will make these population segments capable and productive, such that they can make an effective economic contribution.
It is arrogant and elitist of the justice system to disrespect the individuals rights. Why not then mandate the Government to take immediate steps to provide compulsory education to all? It is equally inconsiderate and irresponsible of the economically stronger segments of the society to continue to grab more and more benefits while not ensuring similar benefits for the poor.
Mohan, Like you I used to think that if the govt stops all the sops for the farmers and other subsidies for the people things would look better, but Mohan you are not so right. A capitalist govt like the United States offers so many sops to the farmers and milk producers, that it buys all the exces milk produced. It makes evaporated milk out of them and sells it to a loos for chocolate manufacturers. (Ref. Newsweek mag) You need to give some subisdary to stabalize things. I dont mean to give everyting free to the farmers, but I think we do need to give something to retain them there and for me to have a decent affordable meal here in the city.
I agree with the author on one thing, ie. the composition of population, the more the population in the age group of 15-64, the better as it is the productive force of the nation. I live in Japan, and am witnessing this fact in Japan where the dependents outweigh the productive force.
But the author forgets that we are talking about India, which is too overpopulated. Even if there is an increase in the productive force and we gain solutions to health, education probs etc. is it possible to generate so many jobs? How do we make place for so many people to live? The schools and colleges are already over-filled, that students don't get admission and there is so much of unhealthy competition. The real estate prices are already unaffordable. With more ppl it will inflate further. There are more evils to face with more population.
If the problem is population then cause is ourimmature political leaders thereestablished weak government.population is an asset for smart king and an excuse for imbicile.china cause of his population with cheap labor has filled all world with made in china although very cheap products
(Contd. from Part I ). They also are keen on increasing their number by getting more and more people from their states resorting to nepotism. The state worst affected by migration is Maharashtra, where there is no opposition to Hindi and as a result people from northern (and southern) states don't face any difficulty. If we see the distribution of country's total population on the basis of mother-tongue, we will find that the population growth of the people originally from southern states is to the same extent as that of people from other states.
Dear Mohan Guruswamy, Although it is not the subject of your article, I would like to shatter the widespread myth about the population growth which is deliberately created by a section of media and also appears in your aforesaid writing. You have stated that the population growth of the four southern states is a third to half that of the four BIMARU states and Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat and Maharashtra. This statement is based on the statewise population figures as per the census which does not take into account migration of people from one state to another. So it is a misleading statement suggesting that only people from southern states take family planning seriously (and behave as responsible citizens!). Actually, because of staunch opposition to the use of our national language Hindi, people from other states fearing communication difficulties are reluctant to migrate to southern states and the influx from other states into them is automatically stopped. Whereas people from southern states migrate to all other states with working knowledge of Hindi but retaining their regional identity and language. (contd. under Part II)
Good article. Swinging from the right to have children to economics to policy! If you do not belong in policy framing think tanks, you should go sign up now! :-)
Thanks for your views.
PS: to rediff.com : why doesn't Mr. Guruswamy have his own page/profile/bio on the commentator's list page. If there is such a page, could you mail the link to me (remove the "nospam." in my email.)
