The Debate Over Bigger Families: A Complex Issue in Southern India, CMs Call for Increase in Population

The debate over declining fertility rates, thus, reflects a complex interplay of demography, politics, and cultural priorities

- Dr AL Sharada

A new controversy has emerged as politicians advocate for larger families, particularly in southern states such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. These states, with fertility rates below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman, are being urged to reverse the trend. However, this push raises important questions about the socio-economic implications, women's rights, and the real motives behind the demand. It also has immense potential to threaten the very basis of our federal structure with southern states feeling threatened by the demographic and political dominance of the more populous states and asserting their identity.

Fertility rates are closely tied to social and economic development. States that are economically better off tend to have lower fertility rates due to several factors: improved education for girls, women's empowerment, rising aspirations for children, increasing costs of raising families, and better awareness and access to contraception. For example, Kerala, with a fertility rate of 1.7, has high literacy rates and better healthcare access, contributing to smaller family sizes.

At the same time, India's socio-economic development is uneven, leading to stark differences in fertility rates across states and communities. This disparity highlights the need for region-specific policies rather than blanket solutions like promoting larger families.

While low fertility could be a cause for concern, we as a nation are far from attaining a stable population (where population does not grow) or declining population (where population declines much below the replacement level fertility) which would take one to two generations to manifest.

However, there are many concerns driving the current push for larger families, which are social, cultural and political in nature.