Census 2011 shows the diversity of our country and its vast potential. What is really encouraging is that the decadal growth rate (2001-2011) has been lower than the previous one (1991-2001). It happened last time only during 1911-1921.

There is a significant increase in the literacy rate, especially among females. Overall, the sex ratio has improved, but the most worrying fact is that the child sex ratio has reduced drastically from 927 to 914. Apart from six States, the remaining 29 have shown decline in child sex ratio. The number of children in the age group 0-6 has decreased by five million compared to the previous decade.

Sufficient awareness has to be created among the people regarding the sex ratio and stringent action must be taken against female foeticide.

The elaborate exercise of the Census shows proper utilisation of the country's potential could make India a model nation in the coming decades.

R. Karthik

Chennai

Plan for the long term

It is not a happy thought to read that the country's population has reached 1.21 billion and, further, that the sex ratio is 914 girls to 1,000 boys. To provide infrastructure and logistics facility, in terms of affordable housing, food, transport, medical facilities, educational institutions, and so on, to such a massive population is going to be a humongous task. Land and other natural resources are depleting. Reclaiming coastal land and destroying hills are against nature.

The pressure on various law-enforcing agencies will be colossal. The ‘save-the-girl-child' campaigns seem to be a failure when, in fact, ironically, girls are getting more educated, qualified and responsible than boys.

The politicians should read the writing on the wall and become serious about long-term planning.

Petty political fights is causing intense harm to the country. Most important, the politicians themselves should be educated and free from criminal records. This is a far cry.

Harischandra Parshuram

Mumbai

Laying the track

This is with reference to “Staff costs can derail finance” ( Business Line , April 1). The Railways must be appreciated for laying new rail lines for 709 km against the average annual addition of some 180 km.

It would be worth comparing our progress with China's. It has laid a rail line on the toughest terrain, connecting Beijing with Lhasa.

China plans a new mega city of 43 million people, laying new rail lines for 2300 km, which will enable the people to travel from one corner of the new mega city to another. In India, even after 40 years, travel from Mumbai to Navi Mumbai takes nearly two hours.

S. Subramanyan

Mumbai

comment COMMENT NOW