QUESTIONS TO TRAIN
THE YOUNG AND VULNERABLE MINDS
1. Although
Bhutan has a low population density, our population growth rate is among the
highest in the world. If the rate of growth remains unchecked, what can you
foresee from this statement and what could be a disturbing prospect?
Ø
If
the rate of population growth remains unchecked, the Kingdom’s population will
double in the next 20 years or more. The disturbing prospect that carries many
negative consequences for the following areas:
a)
Environment.
b)
Food
security.
c)
Nutrition.
d)
Employment
creation.
e)
Balance
of Payment.
f)
Sustainability
of the development, well being and welfare.
g)
Slower
the standard of living will rise.
h)
No
quality services to an individual and community.
2. Bhutan
has set ambitious targets for reducing the rate of population growth, but even
if we succeed in achieving them, the Kingdom’s population will continue to grow
for the next 50 years or more…
Suggest
some centerpiece of our policies for addressing this challenge.
Ø
Some
of the centerpiece are:
a)
Reproductive
health care.
b)
Rising
the levels of education, especially for girls.
c)
Creation
of productive employment.
d)
Increase
economic security.
3 “The
pace of rural – urban migration has measurably quickened today”. Bring out some
possible reason for this quickened.
Ø
Some
probable reasons are:
a) Employment opportunities in
urban areas.
b) High and regular wage rate
or income in urban centers.
c) Better facilities such as
education, health, transport, communication etc. in urban areas.
d) Drudgery of farm works.
e) Crop damage by wild
animals.
f) Lack of facilities, etc. in
rural areas.
4. “The
rapid rate of rural – urban migration constitutes major challenges”. Draw out
some major challenges.
Ø
Challenges:
a)
Many
towns are physically unable to absorb many new inhabitants / new migrants.
b)
Many
towns are poorly-equipped to deal with new inhabitants.
c)
Rapid
urbanization could be environmentally destructive – heavy natural resource
utilization, sewage and waste disposal contaminating river and streams.
d)
Social
and environmental problems may follow in the wake.
5.What
are the future population policies of Bhutan?
Ø The
future population policies of Bhutan must be guided by five main requirements:
a)
Promoting
smaller families must be extended to the whole nation/kingdom.
b)
Population
education and awareness programmes to reach the farm level.
c)
Deliberately
target Dzongkhags with the highest rate of population growth and then
decreasing the growth rate.
d)
Target
men and young people as well as women to education programmes.
e)
Seek
to achieve positive synergies with policies and programmes in the fields of
health, nutrition, employment, basic education and reproductive health (family
planning).
6..Our
future strategies for basic education must be further refined and developed
with high priority being accorded to achieving progress…
In
what areas the future education policies of Bhutan needs more priorities.
Ø
Bhutan
education needs more priorities in the following areas:
a)
Improving
access to education in remote parts of the kingdom and to all our young people.
If necessary, our teachers must be provided with appropriate incentives to work
in more remote areas.
b)
Improving
the quality and relevance of education.
c)
Recognizing
the vital role to be played by teachers and enabling them to meet the many
demands required of them.
d)
Promoting
innovation in ways that full advantage of new technologies.
e)
Securing
a reduction in the costs of education – Free Education.
f)
Taking
earliest feasible opportunity to establish a National University not only to
meet national needs but also those of individuals from neighboring countries,
or even further afield – Centres of Excellence.
7. As
of 1st January 2016, the population of Bhutan was estimated to be
778106 people compared to population of 768872 in the year 2015. Calculate the
rate of population growth.
Ø
Solution:
Given: Current / Present
Population (2016) = 778106 people.
Base / Past
Population (2015) = 768872 people.
8. Bhutan
population is projected to increase by 9345 people and reach 787451 in the
beginning of 2017. The natural increase is expected to be positive, as the
number of births will exceed the number of deaths by 9345. Most probably the
difference between immigrants and emigrants is not significant and close to
zero.
What
other natural reasons are involved in changing of population in Bhutan?
Ø
The
natural reasons are:
1.
Birth
Rate
2.
Death
Rate
9. “The density of population is
calculated as permanently settled population of Bhutan to the total territory
of the country”. Which formula of calculating the density is appropriate to
this statement? Write with example.
Ø Arithmetic Density.
Total Population
AD =
Total Area
Example:
6, 34,982
=
38, 394
= 16.5 Persons / sq.km
10. The followings are the age
structure of Bhutan according to the PHCB 2005:
i.
Population
under 15 years – 33.1%
ii.
Population
between 15 – 64 years – 62.2%
iii.
Population
above 65 years – 4.7%
a) By using the above data calculate
the Dependency Ratio.
b) Convert the percentage of age
structure into absolute figures.
c) Define and calculate the Child
Dependency Ratio and Aged Dependency Ratio.
Ø Solution:
a)
Given:
Total independent population = 62.2%
Total dependent population
= 33.1%+ 4.7% = 37.8%
Total
Dependent
Dependency Ratio = × 100
Total Independent
37.8
DR = × 100
62.2
= 60.7%
ü
Dependency
ratio of population is a ratio of people who are generally not in the labour
force (the dependents) to workforce of a country (the independent population).
b)
In absolute figures:
i.
Population
under 15 years: 33.1 × 634982
=
210179 Persons.
100
ii.
Population between 15 – 64 years: 62.2
× 634982 =
394959 Persons.
100
iii.
Population above 65 years : 4.7 × 634982 =
29844 Persons.
100
c)
Child
Dependency Ratio is a ratio of people below working age (under 15) to the work
force of a country.
33.1
CDR = × 100
62.2
= 53.2%
Aged
Dependency Ratio is a ratio of people above working age (65+) to the work force
of a country.
4.7
ADR =
× 100
62.2
= 7.5%
