Is there an alternative to Is there an alternative to China…?China…?

Managing Population Managing Population ChangeChange

Key statements: Key statements: The population of many LEDCs is growing The population of many LEDCs is growing rapidlyrapidly

Governments in LEDCs have tried to Governments in LEDCs have tried to manage population growthmanage population growth LEDC Governments use anti-natalist LEDC Governments use anti-natalist policiespolicies

IndiaIndia’’s Population s Population

In March 2001, India's latest census In March 2001, India's latest census revealed a total population of 1.027 revealed a total population of 1.027 billion. billion.

Over the last decade, India's population Over the last decade, India's population has grown by 181 million, the equivalent has grown by 181 million, the equivalent of the entire population of Brazil and of the entire population of Brazil and could become the world's most populated could become the world's most populated country by 2020. country by 2020.

Nevertheless, the rate of population Nevertheless, the rate of population growth in India is falling, and population growth in India is falling, and population policies are changing too. policies are changing too.

Example of Managing Example of Managing Population in LEDCsPopulation in LEDCs

Kerala, Kerala, Southern IndiaSouthern India

Population EducationPopulation Education

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Kerala Kerala

Kerala may be one of India’s poorest states but it has experienced the greatest fall in fertility rates. Here women have an average of 2 children, the same level as the UK

KeralaKerala Kerala isnKerala isn’’t a country, but merely a state within India, t a country, but merely a state within India,

but its population is 29 million people!! (larger than but its population is 29 million people!! (larger than Canada's population)Canada's population)

Kerala State has the highest life expectancy in India Kerala State has the highest life expectancy in India (more than 70 years -- a little higher than China's) and (more than 70 years -- a little higher than China's) and the highest rate of literacy in general and female the highest rate of literacy in general and female literacy in particular (considerably higher than China's). literacy in particular (considerably higher than China's).

In the late 1980In the late 1980’’s Kerala's birth rate reached 20 per s Kerala's birth rate reached 20 per 1000 (falling from 44 per 1,000 in the 1950's)1000 (falling from 44 per 1,000 in the 1950's)

Kerala's declining birth rate (estimated at 18 per 1,000 Kerala's declining birth rate (estimated at 18 per 1,000 by 1991). by 1991).

KeralaKerala The moving force has been the desire of Keralan The moving force has been the desire of Keralan

women -- less threatened by child mortality and women -- less threatened by child mortality and more educated than in other poor societies -- to more educated than in other poor societies -- to free themselves from continuous child rearing. free themselves from continuous child rearing.

where gender bias has been overcome through where gender bias has been overcome through expansion of female education and pro-female expansion of female education and pro-female laws of property inheritance for many. laws of property inheritance for many.

It suggests also the importance of education It suggests also the importance of education (especially female education), good health (especially female education), good health services (along with permissive opportunities for services (along with permissive opportunities for family planning) and legal rights for women.family planning) and legal rights for women.

Emancipation of WomenEmancipation of Women Another clear difference is their Another clear difference is their

level of education. 85% of women level of education. 85% of women in Kerala are literate, and girls in Kerala are literate, and girls outnumber boys in higher outnumber boys in higher education. education.

Women with qualifications are Women with qualifications are more likely to work, and marry more likely to work, and marry later. The average age of later. The average age of marriage for women in Kerala is marriage for women in Kerala is the highest in India, which again the highest in India, which again reduces the likelihood of having a reduces the likelihood of having a large family.large family. •With better education, women are more likely to know

how to keep their children healthy. Greater investment in health care by the state government helps too. Consequently, infant mortality in Kerala has fallen dramatically from 210 deaths per 1,000 children in 1930 to 14 deaths per 1,000 today. If children have a greater chance of survival, families are less likely to try for more.

The position of womenKerala's success is thanks to the state government's priority in meeting the basic needs of people, especially young

mothers. Compared to other parts of India, women have been treated differently in Kerala for over a century. Keralese women are regarded as an asset rather than a drain on a family's finances. Instead of paying out a dowry when daughters marry, parents in Kerala receive money from the bridegroom's family. Some women can inherit and own land, giving them financial independence and power of their own.