Explain the requirement for the control of population growth and birth control.

(D) - An all-round development in various fields has significantly improved the quality of life of the people.
- Increased health facilities along with better living conditions have had an explosive impact on the growth of population.
- The world population,which was around $2$ billion in $1900$,rocketed to about $6$ billion by $2000$ and $7.2$ billion in $2011$. $A$ similar trend was observed in India. Our population,which was approximately $350$ million at the time of independence,reached close to the billion mark by $2000$ and crossed $1.2$ billion in May $2011$.
- According to the $2011$ census report,the population growth rate was less than $2$ percent,i.e.,$20/1000/year$,a rate at which our population could increase rapidly.
- Results of population rise: Population rise leads to a decrease in individual resources. Due to this,problems like an increase in poverty,malnutrition,and many population-related issues are seen. The rate of industrialization and urbanization increases,and pressure is felt on natural resources like soil,air,and water.
- The shortage of basic requirements like food,habitat,and clothes is observed.
- Reasons for population rise: $(i)$ Decline in death rate,$(ii)$ Decline in maternal mortality rate,$(iii)$ Decline in infant mortality rate $(IMR)$,$(iv)$ Increase in the number of people in the reproductive age group.
- Prevention of population rise: Through $RCH$ (Reproductive and Child Health) programmes,we could bring down the population growth rate,though it was only marginal.
- To motivate smaller families by using various contraceptive methods,statutory raising of the marriageable age of females to $18$ years and males to $21$ years,and incentives given to couples with small families are some of the measures taken to tackle this problem.