SOURCE: Demographic Projections S.L.
GRAPHIC: Wasantha
Recently the govt. introduced anexciting new Health InsuranceScheme which promised Rs.3000 and a six month maternity leave to state employed women at childbirth. Meanwhile on the other hand the govt. is begging for funds to promote family planning and smaller families. What could be the real situation?
recent press reports screamed in bold headlines. The piece of news quoting a prominent Cabinet Minister was aired over the radio and telecast on news-over state television. The aim of this offer, was to increase the population growth in view of an imminent decline in the numbers occupying this country, the reports explained.
Later the Minister concerned, Ratnasiri Wickremanayake clarified the reports, saying that he was talking of a government sponsored Health Insurance Scheme for state employees. This scheme, said the Minister, will ensure a Rs. 3000 payment to women in govt. service at the time of birth. They will also be entitled to three months additional maternity leave.
Even so, the statement raises some interesting questions. Is the population of the country suffering a setback ? Is the birth rate too low ? Is the use of contraceptives and family planning methods in the country "too successful"?
These questions have also given way to interesting, eye opening answers. By raising these questions, The Sunday Times sought opinion of individuals and institutions whose expertise is in the field of population control.
This gave light to the fact that, far from being threatened by a decreased population, the country is at the risk of overstepping our population mark, if present trends continue as present for the next half century.
Already Sri Lanka is the eleventh most densely populated country in the world. With a population well over 18 million spread over a very limited land space, our population density is 280 people per square kilometre. Food production is down. Water resources are depleting. Given this scenario, the country can comfortably accommodate only so many people more. And our rate of growth is still way over the limit.
And as for the use of contraceptives, the prevalence of contraceptive practice is certainly on the favourable side. This is mainly due to government sponsored programmes, providing free contraceptive aids and operations and actually encouraging small families by government propaganda and offering incentives for those undergoing sterilisation operations.
"This has no reference to the population," the Minister said disclaiming the statements attributed to him earlier."It is merely an added health benefit."
Whatever the clarification offered by the Minister, the recently announced Rs. 3000 incentive for child birth coupled with a six month maternity leave period, only serves to encourage reproduction vis-a- vis a "population explosion".
In addition to treating women like production units that are encouraged to give a better yield, a baby boom is just what the country should try its best to avoid, experts clearly state.
"The difference between the number of births and deaths per year, is very high in your country," Country Representative of the UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund), Sunitha Mukherkee said.
"That means that although the birth rate itself is low- at 1.4 percent, there is still a large addition to the population every year, since the death rate is lower. This means that the population will keep increasing." Hopefully, she said, the population will stabilise at around 24 million in 50 years' time. "By this time you should have achieved what is called replacement fertility, where the death rate and birth rate equals and population stabilises." But obviously this goal is still a long way off.
Officials involved in the government arm of population control and study also expressed their concern over the possible repercussions of a move that could increase births. One is that the country would not be able to maintain a healthy rate of economic development if the population growth rate overshadows all else. Already the government is dealing out an unbearable amounts of money trying to maintain infant/elderly population who are most in need of state sponsored health benefit schemes. Another concern is that the family unit itself may not be able to hold up the burden of extra children and the health of both the mother and the child will suffer therefore.
Also it is a question of human rights. "If the parents decide to limit their family to one or two children for whatever reason, they should be given adequate facilities to do so," a senior health official said.
"The infrastructure of the country is not sufficient to cater to population increase even at the present ratio." Daya Abeywickrema, Executive Director of the Family Planning Association said.
"Hospital beds, food production, clean water supply, schooling, all these have to be developed greatly even for the present population to enjoy a reasonable standard of living." He said without the corresponding development in the social and economic sphere, considering a further increase in numbers would certainly be a mistake.
He also said that offering additional maternity leave would prove to be detrimental to the industrial sector. "Already there is discrimination towards women in employment because of this maternity leave problem. It is a serious issue. Six months of maternity leave will only mean that more and more industrialists and other establishments will shy away from recruiting women.
According to a population survey done by the Population Information Centre of the Ministry of Health and Social Services every year some 350000 births are recorded. The number of deaths do not tally to even 100,000. Therefore the natural increase is some 250 000 every year. If the trend continues the country will overstep the projected population mark of 24 million by 2050.
What's more, the aged population of our country is rapidly on the increase. In 1881 the percentage of the population over 65 years was only 2.2 , whereas by now it's well over 6.2 and by 2020 it is projected to be 12.1 percent. All this only goes to show that the country's resources will be unbearably stretched by an impending baby boom.
To keep up a fair growth rate and work towards an equilibrium in the coming years, controlling births, individually and as a nation is of high priority. The government realised this years ago. Many campaigns espousing the cause of smaller families were initiated by the government. When the UNFPA began its work in Sri Lanka about 20 years ago, they completely funded the contraceptive needs of the country and paid for media campaigns to promote their use. Today, because of the great success in getting a country to accept family planning, the UNFPA has decided to gradually cut down on aid.
"The UNFPA has spent $ 2.5 million on contraceptives for Sri Lanka for the past five years," Ms. Mukherkee said. This is only half the present requirement of contraceptives for Sri Lanka. The aid was stopped this year. But, the government had requested the UN agency to continue its support up to the year 2000 " The budget for the next four years is $ 3.2 million," she said.
This brings us to a cross road. The government is begging for funds to promote family planning and smaller families, while on the other hand the same government is offering money and additional maternity leave for childbirth. What the long term objective of the government is, one cannot say. Health insurance is a very progressive idea but the payment of Rs. 3000 at childbirth is a questionable move. Of course, many do not believe that a payment of Rs. 3000 is at all sufficient- and it's difficult to think of any family being motivated to produce more children merely for the sake of the money. But the government cannot deny that it has offered this as a dangling carrot. For what objective, its any body's guess.
New Year's Eve in Sri Lanka has often been one studded with late night parties and galas. It has also not stopped short at claiming the lives of many reckless drivers who consume liqour and drive.
It is a fact that driving after consuming liqour is a risk to the lives of drivers and those who travel with them. But it is a question to ponder why this social menace continues. Relentless efforts by the traffic law enforcers have proven unsuccessful as their message is not properly heeded.
The Traffic Police say that publicity on this subject has been poor unlike in some foreign countries,
"But we have been able to reduce the number of cases over the years by enforcing stringent penalties to the offenders," said SSP Traffic Camillus Abeygoona-wardene.
Mr. Abeygoonawardene said that New-Year's eve will be different this year for boozers, as an extensive campaign to trap those who drive under the influence of liquor is to take shape.
"Police are to be placed on high alert at various strategic locations, to nab offenders. They will be fined Rs. 3000 on the spot, or will be taken into police custody," he said.
Special police teams are to be deployed in the city on December 31, both in uniform and civvies till the dawn of New Year. Mr. Abeygoonewardene added that last year's figures dropped below that of the previous year's, but this, he said could be attributed to various factors as last year's parties which were on a low key, after several tragic incidents which struck the country.
With things settling back to normalcy and enthusiasm among both the young and old high as ever, Colombo seems to be all set for high fun on New Year's eve. The traffic police predict a high rate of accidents on December 31, as there has been a rise in drunk driving the recent past even during the non festive season.
The traffic police during the day time on December 31, has decided to go round the city in vehicles announcing special slogans on the tragic consequences of driving after consuming alcoholic beverages. "Besides a general warning will also be issued during the same journey about penalties which await the offenders," said Abeygoonawardene.
He further said that two special vehicles (buses) will be put on service, for the first time in Sri Lanka, as a mobile unit for the Breathalyzer Tests.
"Suspicious drivers would be subject to an instant Breathalyzer check and be fined, taken into custody or have their licences withdrawn if they are found positive of alcohol," he said.
The DIG added that they have printed numerous car-stickers and other placards giving due warning to those who drive after consuming liqour. Some of the catchy slogans read, "Don't drink and drive -there is no cure for the mourning after".
The traffic police wishes all drivers a safe and accident free New Year.
Continue to Plus page 2 - Looking back: on the path of 1996
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