Why are population growth and fertility rates persistently high?
That is mainly because the government took the initiative in bringing down mortality rates and provided medical facilities. But we have not been able to bring down fertility rates at the same pace. The main factors contributing to high fertility rates are low levels of education, low per capita income, certain beliefs and practices, and lack of knowledge of family planning. That has resulted in population growth that the country cannot manage. However, in some states family planning programs have succeeded and fertility rates have come down. These are also states that have higher education levels and higher per capita incomes: the southern states and the western states. We have reached a stationary population in Goa, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu states. By 2010, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka will join them. Next will be Maharashtra and Gujarat. But it will take at least 25 to 50 years to bring down fertility rates in northern and eastern states. The last state to reach a stationary population
