The present attempt is an exposition of the kind of population education we need to undertake among the people in the light of the stage we have reached in the evolution of our population. It focuses specifically on the counter-productive aspects of population-development interaction. The thrust of our argument is that population education cannot be confined to the area of fertility. It must be comprehensive in design so that it simultaneously deals with other elements of population change that tend to compromise our development effort. It considers different aspects of population change in some detail in the hope that those engaged in population component of adult and community education may find it useful in developing their own approaches to their task. In the appendices, we give pertinent data may help appreciation of India's comparative position among nations of the world and of individual states within the country. They also provide a glossary of technical terms used by population experts and a selected list of readings and periodical sources of studies on population and related issues.
This handbook is being circulated in order that population educators may give it their critical consideration and offer comments for the improvement of its contents and readability. Since it has been written in English, it is possible that the communication between the author and the reader may not be as clear as required in some places. It is, therefore, requested that the reader may indicate where the exposition is not explicit and may benefit from elaboration. I wish to place on record my deep appreciation of the help I have received from my colleague, R. P. Tyagi, particularly in preparing the appendices.
This very well reasoned monograph, on the nature of Population Issues is the result of the project that Prof. P. B. Desai undertook on our request, to unfold the interconnected dimensions of Population Education. Prof. P. B. Desai was invited by me to be a member of the Task Force on Curriculum Development for UGC-UNFPA Population Education Project. He gladly agreed to undertake this assignment and prepared this monograph which treats the whole issue of Population in a thorough and encompassing manner.
The Gujarat Vidyapith have already instituted Population Education Resource Centre (PERC) in response to UGC's invitation under UGC-UNFPA Project. The PERC of the Gujarat Vidya-pith have formulated a plan of preparing about six monographs on various aspects of Population Issues so that organisers of Population Education Clubs can effectively promote 'Small Family Norm' as an enduring way of life. Family planning in the form of birth control will inevitably be its central focus. But this central focus can be made to deepen its radiation if the organisers of Population Education Clubs comprehend the whole issue in wholistic perspectives.
While there are enough publications on Family Planning in terms of fertility control or birth control, there is a virtual lack of monographs projecting its inter-relations with changes in our social and economic structures as well. Prof. Desai has completed the assignment of preparing such a basic monograph with a most commendable presentation and clear analysis of the various components interacting with each other to reshape our society, on the basis of small families of not more than two children, and based on effective role of women, better health and hygiene, higher age of marriage, better care for mother and child, and universal access to Family Planning.
I am most grateful to Prof. P. B. Desai for his labours in preparing a basic perspective-book for Population Education. Readers of the monograph will themselves feel the obvious success of his presentation.
On 1st February 1987, I proposed to Dr. P. B. Desai to finalise his draft monograph within a week. He did so promptly. We passed it over to Navjivan Press on 16th February to print it in a record time of less than 10 days so that this monograph can be released during the inauguration of the Second National Conference of the Indian Association of Social Science Institutions on 26th February. My grateful appreciation to its Managing Trustee Shri Jitendra Desai, for producing this publication in such a shortest possible time. The release of this monograph on the occasion of a Conference of Indian Social Scientists to discuss 'Role of Social Science Research and the Problem of Inequality' is very significant. This monograph will be a good model of the kind of Inter-disciplinary Research that can be attempted in the context of our 'Development Process' in relation to growing Population.
My thanks to Dr. (Kum.) Giraben Kotak, Reader in English language Teaching, who rendered most valuable help through most streneous and delicate work of first correcting typing mistakes and then helping in seeing through the proofs of the pages of the MSS before putting this on printing machines. My further thanks to Dr. (Smt.) Ila Naik, Assistant Director of Adult and Continuing Education of Gujarat Vidyapith who is looking after day-to-day work of the PERC, for her very hard work to secure the timely publication of this monograph. My thanks to Dr. Ramaben Desai, Director of Department of Adult and Continuing Education of the Gujarat Vidyapith who gave full support and extended all necessary help in bringing about this publication.
Let me hope Prof. P. B. Desai will continue to prepare more such monographs on this most crucial subject affecting the future of all of us.
It is proposed to publish soon two further monographs, one on the 'Approach Paper on Curriculum Development on "Population Education' prepared by the Task Force and another on the Source Book on Curricula for Population Education.
We cannot forget to thank UGC-UNFPA Project because of which this has become possible.
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