Archived_Member16
SPNer
Indian population will overtake China's by 2026
By Dean Nelson, The Daily Telegraph - July 12, 2010 12:03 PM
India will overtake China to become the world's most-populous nation within the next 25 years, according to new government figures.
Officials say the rise in -population to more than 1.6 billion by 2050 will threaten the country's rapid economic development.
The subject of population growth has been almost taboo since Indira Gandhi's population policies, which included forced sterilisations, caused anger in the mid-1970s.
According to the author, Dr Amarjeet Singh, of the National Population Stabilization Fund, India will need to reconsider its position to stop population growth fuelling poverty.
India's current population of 1.1 billion will swell by 371 million in 2026, the report said, taking it beyond China's current 1.35 billion.
Dr Singh said: "If we - continue to grow at the - current pace we will double our -population in 50 years making sustainable development unattainable."
His report was denounced by rival experts. "Over the next 25 years India will reap a demographic dividend of high economic growth providing we invest in human resources and health. We could see an economic surge," said AR Nanda, executive director of the Population Foundation of India.
Pavan K Varma, an influential social commentator, said increasing education opportunities and the rise in access to television was already slowing the population growth rate.
"More than 500 million people in rural India are watching cable television and as more and more try to replicate the lifestyles they see portrayed so fleshily, they see how each child reduces the possibility of being part of this upwardly mobile curve," he said.
© Copyright (c) The Daily Telegraph
source: http://www.{censored}/business/Indian+population+will+overtake+China+2026/3267228/story.html
By Dean Nelson, The Daily Telegraph - July 12, 2010 12:03 PM
India will overtake China to become the world's most-populous nation within the next 25 years, according to new government figures.
Officials say the rise in -population to more than 1.6 billion by 2050 will threaten the country's rapid economic development.
The subject of population growth has been almost taboo since Indira Gandhi's population policies, which included forced sterilisations, caused anger in the mid-1970s.
According to the author, Dr Amarjeet Singh, of the National Population Stabilization Fund, India will need to reconsider its position to stop population growth fuelling poverty.
India's current population of 1.1 billion will swell by 371 million in 2026, the report said, taking it beyond China's current 1.35 billion.
Dr Singh said: "If we - continue to grow at the - current pace we will double our -population in 50 years making sustainable development unattainable."
His report was denounced by rival experts. "Over the next 25 years India will reap a demographic dividend of high economic growth providing we invest in human resources and health. We could see an economic surge," said AR Nanda, executive director of the Population Foundation of India.
Pavan K Varma, an influential social commentator, said increasing education opportunities and the rise in access to television was already slowing the population growth rate.
"More than 500 million people in rural India are watching cable television and as more and more try to replicate the lifestyles they see portrayed so fleshily, they see how each child reduces the possibility of being part of this upwardly mobile curve," he said.
© Copyright (c) The Daily Telegraph
source: http://www.{censored}/business/Indian+population+will+overtake+China+2026/3267228/story.html
