Md. Shairul Mashreque :
The slogan of 2015″Vulnerable Populations in Emergencies” deserves special significance. The bulge in poor in demography is the end result of population explosion. There is little attempt in poor countries to arrest the rate of population. So the poor as the vulnerable is on increase. The situation demands one baby policy to bring population to a reasonable rate. Here are some (year-wise) sologans used by the demographers.
2015 – “Vulnerable Populations in Emergencies”.
2014 – “A time to reflect on population trends and related issues” and “Investing in Young People”.
2013 – “Focus is on Adolescent Pregnancy”.
2012 – “Universal Access to Reproductive Health Services”.
2011 – “7 Billion Actions”.
2010 – “Be Counted: Say What You Need”.
2009 – “Fight Poverty: Educate Girls”.
2008 – “Plan Your Family, Plan Your Future”.
2007 – “Men at Work”.
2006 – “Being Young is Tough”.
2005 – “Equality Empowers”.
2004 – “ICPD at 10”.
2003 – “1,000,000,000 adolescents”.
2002 – “Poverty, Population and Development”.
2001 – “Population, Environment and Development”.
2000 – “Saving Women’s Lives”.
1999 – “Start the Count-up to the Day of Six Billion”.
1998 – “Approaching the Six Billion”.
1997 – “Adolescent Reproductive Health Care”.
1996 – “Reproductive Health and AIDS”.
The policy makers may look at demographic transition over time-bulge and decline of population on a comparative scale in all groups respective of age, sex, class, religion and sect, rural and urban. Time series data is available to surmise population growth at various levels. Nevertheless more important is to probe the fact that we are lagging behind the western countries so far as population control measures are concerned.
Public policy through resource mobilization and allocation cannot do much in determining which way things should move unless the government plans to combat overpopulation through a sustainable population policy. Only observing population day is not enough. Of course, this day is a reminder to all the citizens thinking rationally at the level of awareness with the global policy community reaffirming its commitment to sustainable level of population growth. There can hardly be any argument with the fact that swelling population threatens to put at risk all implementation strategies of development in the substantive areas of public policy. Even a high budgetary allocation against any policy moves for a change can hardly be implemented in a country with a rising population.
We agree with the observation of UNFPA that population boom in Bangladesh should be a matter of concern as it threatened food security and warned disaster management. In Bangladesh, the issues like food security and natural disasters are magnified by the density of the population. “Any climate-induced disaster inevitably affects millions of people,” Researcher James Pender wrote in a recent sweeping report on Bangladesh that ‘by 2080, almost all the 51 million to 97 million people currently living in coastal zones may have to leave.’
The state should encourage and reward those women who cannot offer child.
The state may well provide all logistics and support including allowances and social insurance for health, education and old age to the parents blessed with only one baby. Confidence building measures to be institutionally dealt with is, of course, has a positive impact on the married couples willing to take contraceptives and birth control peels.
The new health policy that is about to be on cards may incorporate a special section on family planning with the indices like reproductive and protective health services including safe birth, safe abortions and prenatal and antenatal services in clinics and maternities and proper nursing of the new born baby. There should have been a provision for the prevention of early marriage and premature pregnancy. I think with well thought measures of birth control in the proposed health policy voluntary family planning movement will be reinforced.
Implementing any human development programme has become a daunting challenge due largely to bulge in population. Demographic transition over time paints an alarming picture of the state of population. The country’s population growth has been showing upward trends over a couple of decades now reaching the height of overpopulation with14.45 people (1.39 growth rate). If there is no attempt to arrest the growth of population the total population will be doubled. With a seemingly overpopulation stage it has been difficult to meet nutritional demands of all citizens. Marginalization has become an acute problem with fast growing of the poor living far below the poverty line. Reproductive health sector is stated to be seriously impaired. The dire consequence of rapid population growth is the depletion of natural resources. Colossal waste and extraction in the man-made humanitarian crisis like the resultant poverty impairs “regenerative capacity’ of natural resources. We now see devastation of resources caused by non-ecological human behaviour. Demographic imbalance, unplanned settlements and economic growth tends to harm natural order of things dismantling ecological settings.
Public policy through resource mobilization and allocation cannot do much in determining which way things should move unless the government plans to combat overpopulation and ensure demographic balance. Only observing population day on the designated day of the month of July is not enough. Of course, this day is a reminder to all the citizens thinking rationally at the level of awareness with the global policy community reaffirming its commitment to sustainable level of population growth. There can hardly be any argument with the fact that swelling population threatens to put at risk all implementation strategies of development in the substantive areas of public policy. Even a high budgetary allocation against any policy moves for a change can hardly be implemented in a country with a rising population.
The current development intervention does not incorporate any concern about maintaining demographic balance through a streamlined population policy and conserving environmental resources. When population base is extremely high it harms ‘per capita well being’ and per capita consumption. Fundamental condition for resilient economic growth is population growth at the desired level. It cannot be done only by allocation on reproductive health.
Efficient policy advocacy role in China characterized by campaign for benevolent family planning has shown positive result overtime. Beneficiaries of the campaign have become aware of their right to choice not only for birth control means, but also for timing, spacing and even number of children
One- child policy has registered a tremendous success in China in terms of limiting population growth ‘cutting population by an estimated 250 million to 300 million people.’ The success came due to efficient policy advocacy role of Chinese government.
The communities have been involved in the down sizing family campaign. A mother needs to apply for a service card for reproductive health care from local family planning workers after she gets pregnant. Issued by the Family Planning commissions the service card provides a pregnant women access to regular gynecological examinations and check up.
According to a recent report ‘the world population has hit a whopping 7 billion and it will reach 10 billion within the next century. On the one hand, this means it is a great success-after all, the goal of any species is to expand and conquer. On the other hand , all that expansion means more mouths to feed, which requires more space and energy, which increases the demand on resources and the environment, perhaps too large a demand for earth to support.’
In view of global population explosion one child policy adopted by China merits consideration. ‘In 1979, in reponse to two decades of rapid population growth Chinese government announced a policy that limited each family to just one child. The Chinese government realized that if population growth continued showing previous growth trends it would be a ‘crushing burden for both society and economy.’
The Asian countries witness bulge in child, adolescent and youth population. They can well take Chinese method of population control as a model. Efficient policy advocacy role in china characterized by campaign for benevolent family planning has shown positive result overtime. Beneficiaries of the campaign have become aware of their right to choice not only for birth control means, but also for timing, spacing and even number of children.
UNICEF has long viewed rightsizing family especially birth spacing as an essential part of maternal and child health service. Advocacy for child spacing is intended to bring about an improvement in the survival, well being and quality of life of the child, the mother and the family.
Birth spacing through family planning is essential element of maternal and child health service. World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and other international policy communities see the primary objective of family planning as bringing about an improvement in the ‘survival, well being and quality of life’ of the mother, child and the family. This is must for improved child survival’ ‘safe motherhood’ and ‘reproductive health’
According to the fifth national population census (March 20110 taken by BBS Bangladesh population stands at 142.319 million. The ration between males and females is almost equal comprising 71.255 million and 71. 064 million males and females respectively. The population grows at the rate 1.34(14.4 in 2001).
The census thus indicates a steady decline in the rate of population growth. It is a good sign thanks to efficient family planning service. Compared to the total area of Bangladesh (55 thousand square mile) population size is extremely high indicating overpopulation. Family planning services are available in Bangladesh. Even then the needs for family planning remain unmet. Most mothers lack information and the quality of services on offer cannot inspire them to resort to downsizing family. They want fewer children still and desire to postpone their next pregnancy.
Family planning in Bangladesh needs to be strengthened as a movement involving a large number of rural and urban women as activists. Fiscal demands for reproductive health for mother and child, education for the vulnerable and employment should be redeemed all within a broad brush social security net. What is urgently needed is persuasion through motivation. It’s high time to enhance social security of the disadvantaged group. One child policy would be a boon to the nation. All out state support may well be given to the family blessed with one child. If the family is poor the state may extend all logistic supports that maybe extendable. Such family should be recognized as a model family to be brought to media focus as a part of advocacy for one child.
(Md. Shairul Mashreque is Professor, Department of Public Administration, Chittagong University)
The slogan of 2015″Vulnerable Populations in Emergencies” deserves special significance. The bulge in poor in demography is the end result of population explosion. There is little attempt in poor countries to arrest the rate of population. So the poor as the vulnerable is on increase. The situation demands one baby policy to bring population to a reasonable rate. Here are some (year-wise) sologans used by the demographers.
2015 – “Vulnerable Populations in Emergencies”.
2014 – “A time to reflect on population trends and related issues” and “Investing in Young People”.
2013 – “Focus is on Adolescent Pregnancy”.
2012 – “Universal Access to Reproductive Health Services”.
2011 – “7 Billion Actions”.
2010 – “Be Counted: Say What You Need”.
2009 – “Fight Poverty: Educate Girls”.
2008 – “Plan Your Family, Plan Your Future”.
2007 – “Men at Work”.
2006 – “Being Young is Tough”.
2005 – “Equality Empowers”.
2004 – “ICPD at 10”.
2003 – “1,000,000,000 adolescents”.
2002 – “Poverty, Population and Development”.
2001 – “Population, Environment and Development”.
2000 – “Saving Women’s Lives”.
1999 – “Start the Count-up to the Day of Six Billion”.
1998 – “Approaching the Six Billion”.
1997 – “Adolescent Reproductive Health Care”.
1996 – “Reproductive Health and AIDS”.
The policy makers may look at demographic transition over time-bulge and decline of population on a comparative scale in all groups respective of age, sex, class, religion and sect, rural and urban. Time series data is available to surmise population growth at various levels. Nevertheless more important is to probe the fact that we are lagging behind the western countries so far as population control measures are concerned.
Public policy through resource mobilization and allocation cannot do much in determining which way things should move unless the government plans to combat overpopulation through a sustainable population policy. Only observing population day is not enough. Of course, this day is a reminder to all the citizens thinking rationally at the level of awareness with the global policy community reaffirming its commitment to sustainable level of population growth. There can hardly be any argument with the fact that swelling population threatens to put at risk all implementation strategies of development in the substantive areas of public policy. Even a high budgetary allocation against any policy moves for a change can hardly be implemented in a country with a rising population.
We agree with the observation of UNFPA that population boom in Bangladesh should be a matter of concern as it threatened food security and warned disaster management. In Bangladesh, the issues like food security and natural disasters are magnified by the density of the population. “Any climate-induced disaster inevitably affects millions of people,” Researcher James Pender wrote in a recent sweeping report on Bangladesh that ‘by 2080, almost all the 51 million to 97 million people currently living in coastal zones may have to leave.’
The state should encourage and reward those women who cannot offer child.
The state may well provide all logistics and support including allowances and social insurance for health, education and old age to the parents blessed with only one baby. Confidence building measures to be institutionally dealt with is, of course, has a positive impact on the married couples willing to take contraceptives and birth control peels.
The new health policy that is about to be on cards may incorporate a special section on family planning with the indices like reproductive and protective health services including safe birth, safe abortions and prenatal and antenatal services in clinics and maternities and proper nursing of the new born baby. There should have been a provision for the prevention of early marriage and premature pregnancy. I think with well thought measures of birth control in the proposed health policy voluntary family planning movement will be reinforced.
Implementing any human development programme has become a daunting challenge due largely to bulge in population. Demographic transition over time paints an alarming picture of the state of population. The country’s population growth has been showing upward trends over a couple of decades now reaching the height of overpopulation with14.45 people (1.39 growth rate). If there is no attempt to arrest the growth of population the total population will be doubled. With a seemingly overpopulation stage it has been difficult to meet nutritional demands of all citizens. Marginalization has become an acute problem with fast growing of the poor living far below the poverty line. Reproductive health sector is stated to be seriously impaired. The dire consequence of rapid population growth is the depletion of natural resources. Colossal waste and extraction in the man-made humanitarian crisis like the resultant poverty impairs “regenerative capacity’ of natural resources. We now see devastation of resources caused by non-ecological human behaviour. Demographic imbalance, unplanned settlements and economic growth tends to harm natural order of things dismantling ecological settings.
Public policy through resource mobilization and allocation cannot do much in determining which way things should move unless the government plans to combat overpopulation and ensure demographic balance. Only observing population day on the designated day of the month of July is not enough. Of course, this day is a reminder to all the citizens thinking rationally at the level of awareness with the global policy community reaffirming its commitment to sustainable level of population growth. There can hardly be any argument with the fact that swelling population threatens to put at risk all implementation strategies of development in the substantive areas of public policy. Even a high budgetary allocation against any policy moves for a change can hardly be implemented in a country with a rising population.
The current development intervention does not incorporate any concern about maintaining demographic balance through a streamlined population policy and conserving environmental resources. When population base is extremely high it harms ‘per capita well being’ and per capita consumption. Fundamental condition for resilient economic growth is population growth at the desired level. It cannot be done only by allocation on reproductive health.
Efficient policy advocacy role in China characterized by campaign for benevolent family planning has shown positive result overtime. Beneficiaries of the campaign have become aware of their right to choice not only for birth control means, but also for timing, spacing and even number of children
One- child policy has registered a tremendous success in China in terms of limiting population growth ‘cutting population by an estimated 250 million to 300 million people.’ The success came due to efficient policy advocacy role of Chinese government.
The communities have been involved in the down sizing family campaign. A mother needs to apply for a service card for reproductive health care from local family planning workers after she gets pregnant. Issued by the Family Planning commissions the service card provides a pregnant women access to regular gynecological examinations and check up.
According to a recent report ‘the world population has hit a whopping 7 billion and it will reach 10 billion within the next century. On the one hand, this means it is a great success-after all, the goal of any species is to expand and conquer. On the other hand , all that expansion means more mouths to feed, which requires more space and energy, which increases the demand on resources and the environment, perhaps too large a demand for earth to support.’
In view of global population explosion one child policy adopted by China merits consideration. ‘In 1979, in reponse to two decades of rapid population growth Chinese government announced a policy that limited each family to just one child. The Chinese government realized that if population growth continued showing previous growth trends it would be a ‘crushing burden for both society and economy.’
The Asian countries witness bulge in child, adolescent and youth population. They can well take Chinese method of population control as a model. Efficient policy advocacy role in china characterized by campaign for benevolent family planning has shown positive result overtime. Beneficiaries of the campaign have become aware of their right to choice not only for birth control means, but also for timing, spacing and even number of children.
UNICEF has long viewed rightsizing family especially birth spacing as an essential part of maternal and child health service. Advocacy for child spacing is intended to bring about an improvement in the survival, well being and quality of life of the child, the mother and the family.
Birth spacing through family planning is essential element of maternal and child health service. World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and other international policy communities see the primary objective of family planning as bringing about an improvement in the ‘survival, well being and quality of life’ of the mother, child and the family. This is must for improved child survival’ ‘safe motherhood’ and ‘reproductive health’
According to the fifth national population census (March 20110 taken by BBS Bangladesh population stands at 142.319 million. The ration between males and females is almost equal comprising 71.255 million and 71. 064 million males and females respectively. The population grows at the rate 1.34(14.4 in 2001).
The census thus indicates a steady decline in the rate of population growth. It is a good sign thanks to efficient family planning service. Compared to the total area of Bangladesh (55 thousand square mile) population size is extremely high indicating overpopulation. Family planning services are available in Bangladesh. Even then the needs for family planning remain unmet. Most mothers lack information and the quality of services on offer cannot inspire them to resort to downsizing family. They want fewer children still and desire to postpone their next pregnancy.
Family planning in Bangladesh needs to be strengthened as a movement involving a large number of rural and urban women as activists. Fiscal demands for reproductive health for mother and child, education for the vulnerable and employment should be redeemed all within a broad brush social security net. What is urgently needed is persuasion through motivation. It’s high time to enhance social security of the disadvantaged group. One child policy would be a boon to the nation. All out state support may well be given to the family blessed with one child. If the family is poor the state may extend all logistic supports that maybe extendable. Such family should be recognized as a model family to be brought to media focus as a part of advocacy for one child.
(Md. Shairul Mashreque is Professor, Department of Public Administration, Chittagong University)
