CAPF: Large Population of India is more of a Bane than a Boon

Large Population of India is more of a Bane than a Boon

Argument For:

In the last census, India has reported decadal population growth rate of around 17%. India has 2nd highest population in the world, but India failed to reap out benefits from its large population. Primarily, we have not succeeded in poverty elimination and job creation along with snail’s pace development in education sector. As a result, the burden of providing basic living facilities falls on shoulder of govt., which has to divert fund in form of direct-indirect subsidy for providing basic living level to the poor and weaker sections, instead of investing in expansion of roads, railways, housing, etc.

From last 2 decades, India has a paradoxical situation where, even though we have achieved higher growth, we could not create enough jobs, and uplift status of weaker sections, thus poor remained poor and rich keeps becoming rich. The dependency ratio has also increased meaning, more people to feed with limited source of income. Thus, increasing population acted as bane for the country.

Argument Against:

India is the fastest growing democracy in the world. It has young population; where more than 50% people in working age group, which believes in comfort living, hence increases economic activity and thus the GDP.

Moreover, govt is also aiming to fetch advantage of demographic dividends by skilling more and more people to make them job ready through its Skill India Mission and providing loans for people interested in self employment through Swarojgar Yojana.

The biggest advantage of huge population is the extra demand it generates which simulates economic activity and thus attracted many multinational companies to come and setup plants and do business in India. Large population, generates large labour force in the market, which is required for success of any industry. In India these labourers are available at cheap rates, which is add-on benefit which companies seek, adding on over all business in the society.

Thus, Increase in population can act as boon for the economy if proper arrangements are made to channelize their energy and reap economic benefits