Twenty first century India: population,economy,human development and the environment

This book is the first fully integrated account of the impact of India's population on development. A major contribution to the debate on these issues, it examines how population growth will affect India's future and how India can best manage this last phase of its demographic transition.
Using a variety of modelling and analytical tools the authors study historical empirical information on India's population and make projections about future trends in fertility, mortality and urbanization. The possible impacts of demographic growth on the economy and the environment are explored in the light of recent experience.
It has been found that growing numbers do complicate the task of achieving widespread education and contribute to poverty with increasing divergence in social conditions among the states. Though there is a 'demographic bonus' from the declining proportion of dependants to workers in the population that will help economic growth, the rapid increase in the labour force has serious adverse consequences for employment.
The book is reasonably optimistic about India's food prospects: the country can continue to feed itself. It can also enjoy higher levels of energy use, manufacturing and modern forms of transport, with less chemical pollution. Consequently, India's cities can become cleaner and healthier places to live in, though good management of water as a resource will continue to be a serious challenge, and one most strongly related to population growth. This will also be true of other common property resources, which will face severe pressures.