south asia: chapter 26, lesson one

Illiteracy

Widespread poverty and illiteracy have left millions without hope that their lives would improve.

What problems come with education in the nation?

Many factors of population growth can be changed through education. Education funds are limited. India spends less than $6 per pupil. annually on primary/secondary education. Small fraction is spent on girls.

What are problems with the population?

As the population grows, India found it difficult to meet the needs of people. Poor sanitation and lack of health education led to outbreaks of disease, overwhelmed the limit of the region's health care systems.

Why do poor people have children?

Children are a source of income. They can beg for money once they are three and work in the fields few years later. Infant mortality is very high in South Asia. 75/1K, compared to Us, 7/1K.

What role does children play in the familiy?

Children represent security and someone to take care of them in the old age. Parents try to have many children to ensure some reach adulthood.

What purpose does education serve?

Education is essential to break the cycle of poverty and provide means to raise standard of living. Helps improve status of women with job opportunities. Better health education reduces need for large families, ensuring babies reach adulthood.

How does India deal with the population growth?

India spends much of its one billion annual health care budget. Campaigns for smaller families. Doesn't work because Indian women marry before 18 and have children early.

Basic necessities

India's population at the beginning of the 21st century is growing so quickly that many of its citizens lack life's basic necessities, food clothing and shelter. They wonder how to manage population growth so economic development can continue.

What does India need to do?

Needs to build 127K new village schools, hire 40K teachers, construct 2.5 million homes, create 4 million new jobs, produce an additional 6 million tons of food every year.

What other countries had the same experience?

Out of 10 most populous countries, three are in South Asia: Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India. South Asia is home to 22 percent of the world. They live on less than 3 percent of the world's land.

What was the Indian population like after the British?

When India gained independence in 1947, population was at 300 million. In 2000, the population more than tripled. It is so large that the annual growth rate of less than 2 percent is producing a population explosion. Before 2045, India will surpass China, all living in a land a third the size of the US.