India’s decades-old population control programs have led to a growing trend among the country’s Muslim minority towards smaller families. In the past, Indian Muslims were known for having large families with the highest population growth rate among India’s religious communities. However, there has been a marked increase in awareness among Indian Muslims about birth control and family planning, resulting in a decline in the Muslim fertility rate. Although it is still higher than all other communities, it has decreased from 3.4 in 2005-06 to 2.4 in 2019-21, making it the fastest decline in fertility rates among all communities in India.
Muslim community leaders and Imams play a significant role
Muslim community leaders and imams have played a vital role in bringing about this change. There was a misconception among Muslims that Islam does not allow the use of birth control measures. Still, the shariat talks of family planning, according to Maulana Khalid Rasheed, the imam of the Lucknow Eidgah in Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state. He said it was their responsibility to clear these misconceptions, and they have conducted awareness programs, made appeals, and delivered speeches about what shariat has said on such issues.
Younger generation leads the change
Attitudes towards family planning are changing even among poorer Muslims, particularly the younger generation. Poonam Muttreja, the executive director of the voluntary organization Population Foundation of India, said young people were exposed to digital media and knew how the other half lived, not just the Hindus, but the better off. However, experts say the public health system is now unable to keep up with the demand for birth control services from people who are aware of their usefulness, also called an unmet need.
Shrinking muslim families signify demographic stability
India’s shrinking Muslim families signify demographic stability, and experts say this trend is a result of India’s population control programs. As India is set to overtake China and become the world’s most populous nation, the decline in Muslim fertility rates indicates the success of India’s population control measures. Although the country’s Muslim population is the world’s third-largest after Indonesia and Pakistan, the trend of smaller Muslim families has become visible in the last 15 years, and this trend is expected to continue.
India’s population control measures have had a significant impact on the country’s Muslim population, leading to a decline in fertility rates and smaller families. Muslim community leaders, imams, and the younger generation have all played a vital role in raising awareness about birth control and family planning. This trend is significant because it indicates demographic stability for India as it becomes the world’s most populous nation. However, more needs to be done to target less educated, poorer Muslims living outside the cities to help them adopt family planning measures.
Despite these encouraging developments, the public health system is currently unable to meet the demand for birth control services from people who are aware of their usefulness. Government data from 2019-2021 reveals that 11.8% of the Muslim population in India had an unmet need for help spacing out or limiting children.
The fall in fertility among Indian Muslims counters frequent criticism from Hindu nationalist politicians and their claims about a soaring Muslim population. S.Y. Quraishi, the author of a book titled ‘The Population Myth Islam, Family Planning and Politics in India’, highlights that “Muslims are adopting family planning much faster than Hindus and if you meet their unmet need, they will do better.”
The success of India’s population control measures among its Muslim population is a significant achievement. It reflects the positive impact of awareness campaigns, targeted efforts by community leaders and imams, and government programs. Moreover, the trend towards smaller families underlines the demographic stability of India, which is set to overtake China as the world’s most populous nation this month.
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The story of India’s birth control measures and the adoption of family planning among its Muslim population illustrates the potential for positive change, even in conservative communities. It demonstrates the importance of targeted awareness campaigns, education, and access to birth control services to improve the lives of individuals and communities, as well as the health and stability of nations.
