Population Explosion:The word ‘explosion’ in the term ‘population explosion’ rightly points out the destructive edge of increased population. India has already crossed the one billion mark and the population is increasing unabated.

Although positive references have been made to population by optimists, all of us know that an overly populated nation is always on the brink of disaster. Where the population goes out of control, the government is unable to provide even basic necessities to its citizens. There is also the problem of unemployment. Family planning programmes have not been highly successful because the uneducated lot is unaware of the benefits of family planning.

Ironically, the poor and uneducated continue to have many children whereas the middle-class and the upper-middle-class go in for family planning. This has tilted the balance in such a way that soon the ratio between the haves and the have-nots will be a dangerous one. The poor people will outnumber the rich and such a development is not at all healthy.

That is why educating the masses is of paramount importance. Only through education and awareness programmes can we make the lower classes realize that there is no point in increasing the number of children. Thus, children will get the chance to grow as healthy citizens and society too will progress without unrest and dissatisfaction among its people.

India, which has made substantial programmes in almost every field, will have the satisfaction of being progressive in the area of population too. Having said this much, it is.necessary to acknowledge with joy that in certain areas where intensive family planning work has been done, the birth rate has come down and this leaves us with a ray of hope.