Declare population problem `national emergency’: IMA

For each of these factors, IMA proposes an action plan. First, modifying the education of girls, considering that “when you educate a girl you educate a family.” Secondly, broadening the approach in order to give it a national impact, which basically comes to decentralising, delegating responsibility to the Gram Panchayats, Nagar Palikas, and the Private Medical Service Providers, who already take care of 80% of the curative healthcare need.

Finally, maximising participation of all sections of the society, meaning individuals, corporations, NGOs, charitable, educational and religious institutions as well as political parties.

India, the IMA pointed out, was the first country to launch a national family planning programme way back in 1951. Still, little has been achieved on the population control front. Annual population growth is a stupendous 17 million, and the consequences on the quality of life, social harmony and the ecosystem are inevitably proportional.

And it will become the most populous country in the world by 2050, with a population of over 162 crore, which is approaching the billion figure by the day.