India’s Population: Opportunities and Looming Threats
Keywords:
Population, Undernourishment, Ageing PopulationAbstract
With falling fertility rates in India, the fear of population explosion has receded; however, the challenges posed by the present population are enormous. This paper throws light on some recent trends in health and nutrition that are the adverse fallouts of a huge population. The recent fall in the ranks in Global Hunger Index of India from 83rd position in 2000 to 97th position among 118 countries in 2016 ring an alarming bell to the miserable condition of our present population. The paper has also discussed the looming dangers of a mismatch between rising young population and stagnant job growth as well as the far-fetched but approaching troubles of an ageing population.
References
Alam, Moneer and Pratima Yadav, 2014. “The Other Side of Indian Demographics: Accelerating Growth
in Ageing and Its challenges”, Institute of Economic Growth, Policy Brief No. 7/ 2014.
Bhat, Sanchita. 2016. “Future of Work: 65 Age Bracket Drive Labour Force Growth in India and China”,
Euromonitor. Weblink: http://blog.euromonitor.com/2016/08/future-work-65-age-bracket-drive-labour-
force-growth-india-china.html
Bhatla, Seema and Bal Krishan Negi. 2016. “Linking Food and Nutrition Security”. Article in The Hindu,
November, 2016. Weblink: http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/linking-food-and-nutrition-security/
article9316091.ece (Accessed 17 November, 2016)
Bloom, David E and J G Williamson (1998): ‘Demographic Transitions an Economic Miracle in Emerging
Asia’, World Bank Economic Review, Vol 12, No 3, pp 419-56.
Economic Survey of India, Various issues.
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (2010), Growing Food for 9 Billion, FAO, Rome.
Herrmann, Michael (2012), “Factoring population dynamics into sustainable development”, in OECD,
Development Co-operation Report 2012: Lessons in Linking Sustainability and Development, OECD Publishing.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/dcr-2012-11-en
James, K.S., 2008. Glorifying Malthus: Current debate on’demographic dividend’in India. Economic and
Political Weekly, Vol. pp.63-69.
Patel, Aakar. 2016. “India Won’t Benefit from Demographic Dividend: Mass Unemployment, Unrest Looms
Ahead”, Article posted on 28 August, 2016. Weblink: http://www.firstpost.com/india/india-wont-benefit-
from-rising-population-mass-unemployment-unrest-looms-ahead-2980040.html
Puri, V. K., S.K. Misra. 2015. “Indian Economy”, edited, Himalayan Publishing House.
Sharma, Ruchir. 2016. “Rise and Fall of Nations: Ten Rules of Change in the Post-Crisis World”, Edited.
Penguin Random House, UK.
Thomas, J. J., 2014. ‘Demographic Challenge and Employment Growth in India’, Economic and Political
Weekly, Vol. 49 (6), 2014.