Declining Fertility Rates in Jammu and Kashmir is matter of concern

 Rameez Makhdoomi

In every society although population control is must but the fertility rate healthy is needed to ensure the continuation of coming generations is showing a decline in Jammu and Kashmir, causing much worry in sane quarters .

It is worth pointing out here that the The total fertility rate (TFR) of a population is the average number of children that would be born to a woman over her lifetime if:

She was to experience the exact current age-specific fertility rates (ASFRs) through her lifetime.

she was to live from birth until the end of her reproductive life.

Few years back a survey revealed that Jammu and Kashmir has a lower fertility rate a finding that has stoked much online and offline debate outhere AR that time. 

As a matter of fact, a National Family Health Survey (2019-21) revealed a sharp fall in the total fertility rate (TFR) --- the average number of children a woman bears in her lifetime --- in Jammu and Kashmir from few years back 2.0 to current 1.4, far below the national average of 2.

It is worth noting here that 

TFR, as per the survey, had witnessed a decline more in urban areas of Jammu and Kashmir. It has reduced from 1.6 in 2015-16 to 1.2 in 2019-20. In rural Jammu and Kashmir, the TFR has declined to 1.5 in 2019-20 from 2.2 in 2015-16.

At present time too many couples are facing infertility which is a matter of serious concern.

Throughout the world, increasing entry of women into the workforce has also delayed marriages which is a top predictor for the number of babies a woman .

Bad food habits coupled with lot of mental stress are reasons for this rising infertility.