Migrants keep numbers high

MUMBAI: A city bursting at its seams has received some good news: the number of births in Greater Mumbai has dropped by 4.8% over five years from 2005 to 2009. Demographers and health experts are attributing the phenomenon to improved family planning measures and increased awareness among young couples about the better quality of life that can be provided if there are fewer children in a family.While the number of male births decreased by 4.9%- from 96,063 in 2005 to 91,355 in 2009-the number of female births dropped 4.7%-from 88,108 to 83,943-over the same period. Overall, births in the city dropped by 8,873, from 1,84,171 to 1,75,298, in the same five-year period.While the birth rate has been gradually dropping, the 2008-09 period saw the largest single year drop, from 1,82,759 babies to 1,75,298. This amounted to a drop of 4% or 7,461 babies.The statistics from the BMC health department include births at all public and private hospitals , maternity homes and clinics within Greater Mumbai city limits. In the same five-year period, Mumbai’s death rate climbed 3.3%, from 87,128 in 2005 to 90,033 in 2009. This meant that there were 2,905 more deaths.However, despite these demographic shifts that indicate the city’s population should fall, experts pointed out that the current Census is expected to show that the city’s population has been steadily growing at a rate of 15 to 18%.Continued migration is expected to augur well for the city, as it brings in fresh professional talent and a larger labour force.However, urban infrastructure experts and sociologists said that civic and other planners are not paying attention to the need for a corresponding growth required in infrastructure and other facilities, especially for the suburbs.Mumbai’s population continues to climb upwards, despite a drop in birth and an increase in deaths. Demographers say the rise is occurring due to continued migration to the city of dreams.