Population control -- top priority
It was a red letter day of sorts for India. On May 11, 2000, at 12.36 pm the country's billionth baby, Astha, was born. But, neither the powers that be nor the people at large seemed to know whether to celebrate or welcome the billionth child.

Now is the time to wake up
Yes, it is a record of sorts for India. On May 11, the billionth child of the sub-continent was born. The figure is both awesome and worrisome. Awesome, due to the sheer number. Worrisome, as it is a warning signal for the Indian demographers to wake up to the reality of the adverse consequences that a mammoth and growing population could have on the economic growth of the country.

Curbing population effectively
Every country has its economic and political agenda chalked out. This includes a population policy too. It is high time India set forth a population policy that enumerates measures which go to the root of the problem. Yes, it should be a policy that seeks to curb unruly growth of India's population in the future. Already, both India and China are on the brink of a population explosion. The need of the hour is to tackle this problem with the seriousness it deserves.

More proactive steps needed
Astha, the billionth baby of the Indian sub-continent, was born on May 11, 2000. She is born in an India, which is on a growth path, where life expectancy for women has improved to go beyond 60 years, where certain diseases have been totally eradicated and which is fast integrating into the new economy.

The economics of population
Population control is not just a question of limiting the numbers. It connotes an improvement in standard of living. It is easy to fall for the temptation to look at the population issue as another simplistic arithmetic model. Population control is not just an issue of controlling numbers. There is a fallacy in the general opinion that a controlled population is bound to enhance the living standards.

"What India really lacks is a human development index"
India's population is still viewed as a numbers game and its growing dimensions are not taken seriously. Dr Sumati Kulkarni, professor and head of the department of development studies at the International Institute for Population Sciences talks to FE-Thinktank on this issue.

"Focus on women’s education"
India should be serious about its growing population. Otherwise, all developmental efforts will come to a nought. Dr (Ms) A M Swaminathan, a private economic consultant, talks to FE-Thinktank on this pressing population issue.