Growing Population

By Sabah Hadi:

We live in the most crowded major country in Europe. So speak statistics from last year’s census. Who ever thought that when we were filling up those regal- looking blue census forms a couple of months ago, we were actually adding to the burgeoning and (it seems) ever- increasing population of England and Wales? England comes second to Malta which is tinier. And so we are warned. We as a country might face problems when it comes to providing ourselves adequate resources to meet the demands of the increasing population.

The immigration rules have been quite relaxed compared to the the First land of immigrants- the USA for many years now. New changes in the immigration policies are helping to control the rate of immigration no doubt but has the damage already been done? Besides, the unchecked Eastern European influx seems to be an inherent problem that England faces given its magnetic pull and promise of a better standard of life.

Census figures are not accurate figures which mean that the population could be more than has been estimated. Quite a worrying prospect in a country and especially in London where increase in population means stiff competition with regards to housing, admissions into schools, colleges and universities and jobs. And to think that we knew all about competition in India courtesy’s its famous population index.

Sabah Hadi is the editor of an anthology For the People, By the People