Demographic Transition in South Asia


Book Description

Demographically And Also Economically South Asian Region, Comprising The Countries Of Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan And Sri Lanka, Is One Of The Critical Major Regions Of The World. By Word Standards, It Is Chararacterized By High Rate Of Population Growth, High Density And High Dependency. South Asian Population Growth Makes It Virtually Certain That The Tremendous Rate At Which Population Is Increasing Will Double The Number Of People In The Region Within Next 30 Or 40 Years, However Vigorous And Efficient Family Planning Programmes May Be. Indisputably, This Region Has Been Facing A Population Explosion Of Crisis Dimensions. The Entire Battle Against Poverty Is Thwarted By The Rapid Increase In Population. Without Reduction In The Rate Of Population Increase, The Cherished Hopes Of The People For Better Life Are Doomed To Frustration.In The Present Study, An Attempt Has Been Made To Analyse The Facts And Features Of South Asian Population And The Demographic Factors Affecting The Pace And Level Of Economic And Social Development In The Region. A Population Policy For The Region Is Also Worked Out, For South Asian S Population Problem Cannot Be Solved By Pretence And Wishful Thinking. It Is Emphasized That In The Present Context Of South Asia What Needed Is The Increase In The Productive Capacity To Support A Large Population On The One Hand And To The Reduction In Fertility Rates On The Other Hand So That Growth Of Population Is Stabilized At A Lower Level.










Population Policies and Programmes


Book Description

A seminar on population policies for top-level policy makers and program managers was organized to keep member governments of ESCAP (Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific) abreast of current issues and methodological developments. An in depth review of past, present and future population policies of the member countries precedes several papers summarizing the determinants of fertility: socioeconomic determinants, female autonomy, family structure and size, infant and child mortality and incentives and disincentives. It became apparent during the workshop that all ESCAP countries shared common population issues, such as poverty and large growing populations. Several contributors gave detailed presentations on these issues in their countries: sterilization in Sri Lanka, maternal/child health/family planning in Bangladesh, family planning needs in urban slums and remote poor areas in the Republic of Korea. Papers on impact and efficiency of family planning programs were contributed by Thailand, Malaysia and Bangladesh. It was concluded that future emphasis must be placed on status of women, adolescent childbearing, grass-roots management, spacing methods, communication, evaluation and international cooperation.