On July 11, 2011, along with the rest of the world, Nagaland and its government also observed World Population Day under the theme “Small Family—Overall Development”. As is the convention and also given the huge publicity campaign, we in Nagaland led by our Ministers also participated to “vigorously promote small family norms”, as was stated by one of our senior Minister. In this column we would like to play the devil’s advocate and go against the popular notion of population control as advocated by India’s policy makers and lapped up by our State government. There is nothing wrong in the objective to achieve “a well balanced population for a better living”. Also using the platform of World Population Day to raise awareness on global population issues, such as to stabilize the population or to lower the population growth is also fine and good. India as a country with over a billion people is the second most populated in the world after China. It has therefore every reason to be concern about this population explosion and the future negative impact it will have on development and the environment. And precisely for this, days like July 11 every year is meant especially for countries like China and India.
While Nagaland is part of the Indian Union and her population is also officially counted into the overall billion plus figure, in terms of the percentage, we contribute hardly anything (say around 0.16 percent). In fact some are even commenting that as per the latest Census, Nagaland’s population growth has ‘retarded’. In political science we learn that one of the important elements of a State (Nation) is people inhabiting a territory. Population is therefore an important determinant of not only a State’s economic strength but also its political power. Off-course we are not saying that Nagas or Nagaland State should not participate in India’s national programmes. However we need not transplant policies and programmes but rather adapt it in tune with our local context and needs. And more so because we have constitutional protection under Article 371 (A) and Naga history, culture, identity, land and its resource is unique which has been acknowledged already. The Government of India has used the theme “Small Family—Overall Development” for the July 11 World Population Day campaign. But it has not defined the number of children which should constitute this ‘Small family” though advertisements carried in our local newspapers have depicted a young Naga couple with one child (male). Does it therefore also suggest that the State government is indirectly endorsing the contentious China's one-child policy, in which, with various exceptions, having more than one child is discouraged?
Civil society organizations like the Naga Hoho should maybe do a study to find out whether the current population of indigenous Nagas needs reduction or what the ideal population growth is, based on our land areas and other resources. The question is whether at present Nagas need to adopt a policy of discouraging population growth. A small emerging population like the indigenous Naga people need not be blamed for India’s current population problem (explosion). Nagas should no doubt find the right balance but we should not be penalized for something that we have not contributed towards. Nagas should be forward looking with the rest of the world. However we must study the negative economic, social and political consequences if any arising out of following a programme more suited for mainland India’s exploding population. For our policy makers in the State, we should instead focus attention on balanced development across regions and peoples so that the overcrowding in few places like Kohima and Dimapur may be curtailed. Right now, we need to focus on inclusive development, good governance and social harmony. Further rather than vigorously advocating population control, we need to address the problem related to increasing number of illegal immigrants, which is a bigger threat to the identity of the Naga people.
While Nagaland is part of the Indian Union and her population is also officially counted into the overall billion plus figure, in terms of the percentage, we contribute hardly anything (say around 0.16 percent). In fact some are even commenting that as per the latest Census, Nagaland’s population growth has ‘retarded’. In political science we learn that one of the important elements of a State (Nation) is people inhabiting a territory. Population is therefore an important determinant of not only a State’s economic strength but also its political power. Off-course we are not saying that Nagas or Nagaland State should not participate in India’s national programmes. However we need not transplant policies and programmes but rather adapt it in tune with our local context and needs. And more so because we have constitutional protection under Article 371 (A) and Naga history, culture, identity, land and its resource is unique which has been acknowledged already. The Government of India has used the theme “Small Family—Overall Development” for the July 11 World Population Day campaign. But it has not defined the number of children which should constitute this ‘Small family” though advertisements carried in our local newspapers have depicted a young Naga couple with one child (male). Does it therefore also suggest that the State government is indirectly endorsing the contentious China's one-child policy, in which, with various exceptions, having more than one child is discouraged?
Civil society organizations like the Naga Hoho should maybe do a study to find out whether the current population of indigenous Nagas needs reduction or what the ideal population growth is, based on our land areas and other resources. The question is whether at present Nagas need to adopt a policy of discouraging population growth. A small emerging population like the indigenous Naga people need not be blamed for India’s current population problem (explosion). Nagas should no doubt find the right balance but we should not be penalized for something that we have not contributed towards. Nagas should be forward looking with the rest of the world. However we must study the negative economic, social and political consequences if any arising out of following a programme more suited for mainland India’s exploding population. For our policy makers in the State, we should instead focus attention on balanced development across regions and peoples so that the overcrowding in few places like Kohima and Dimapur may be curtailed. Right now, we need to focus on inclusive development, good governance and social harmony. Further rather than vigorously advocating population control, we need to address the problem related to increasing number of illegal immigrants, which is a bigger threat to the identity of the Naga people.
