“The Crises confronting the Country”

By

J.L. Gupta

The elections are fast approaching. The politicians are claiming that the lot of the poor people has improved. They are promising more. But there is a gap between promise and performance. Where do we actually stand in the year 2013?

“The Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative, in conjunction with the U.N., have concluded that eight Indian states account for more poor people than the 26 poorest African nations combined. This was the fourth of the ‘10 essential stories’ in the ‘Briefing’ on ‘The World’ in the July 26, 2012 issue of TIME. The situation has only worsened since then. Is it not embarrassing? Should we not think of the remedial measures?

As a people, we have to acknowledge some basic facts. Also face hard realities.

It is true that numerically, we are the largest democracy of the world. We can boast of being a member of a ‘select nuclear club.’ Our satellites are circling the outer space. We have a rich cultural heritage. Nature has given us mines, minerals, mountains and rivers. We have a work force with more than a billion pair of hands. 

Despite all the assets, we face acute shortage of even the basic necessities of life. A large number of our people live in abject poverty. There are slums in every nook and corner of the country. The people have no food to feed their children, clothes to cover their bodies and roof to hide the heads. We have a sizeable section of our people sleeping on foot paths and living in the company of stray cats and dogs. And yet, we claim that fundamental human rights are guaranteed under our Constitution.

A national audit is imperative. Why are the people poor? What should we do? The questions demand an answer.

The truth is that we face the twin crises of character and numbers. There is lack of discipline, integrity and leadership. The political parties even want to hide the source and use of funds. They also want that persons who are under a cloud should have the right to parliamentary privileges. And then, we have the problem of ever increasing numbers. We continue to multiply at a rapid pace. Still, we are doing nothing about it. In fact, the government is scared of even talking about the problem.

What is the way out?

 Every Indian must introspect. Each one of us must ask himself – Am I scrupulously honest? Am I doing my duty? Am I giving my best to the country? And most of all, our leaders must lead, like Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri, by example. They should inspire people to work hard for the good of the society. Live honestly. They must not excite baser human sentiments of caste and religion to secure the votes. All actions of politicians and political parties should be totally transparent. They must live by the decisions delivered by the highest court of the country.

Then, we need to control the numbers. Each extra being is not necessarily a pair of helping hands. It is an additional person to feed; to educate and to provide for. It is not always an asset. It is often a liability. Numerical growth in numbers proportionately reduces the available resources of the family and the nation. Brings down the economic progress. Consequently, the number of people below the poverty line continues to go up. Resultantly, it is no surprise that the poor people of eight states in India were found to be poorer than the 26 poorest African nations combined. Controlling the numbers is, thus, an imperative. And it is possible.

The world has controlled the increase in population. China is the latest example of a total limitation on the growth in numbers. And the results are there for us to see. Economically, it is moving ahead of the advanced nations of the world. The exports are continuously rising. It has flooded the world market with its products. The stores in America are stuffed with the Chinese goods. There is a China town in Vancouver. The Chinese have a global presence. As against this, it is easy to see Indians everywhere but difficult to find an Indian product in any good store in any country of the world. It is so despite our leaders making tall claims and the civil servants frequent trips abroad.

What should be done to check the numerical growth?

First, educate people. Make them alive to the advantages of adopting the available methods for controlling conception. Kerala has achieved a high percentage in literacy. The people including the poor, have controlled the numerical growth.  

Secondly, law should be promulgated to provide that no person having more than two children shall be eligible for any elective office. Still more, it should be provided that no benefit under any scheme or provision for reservation etc. in favour of the weaker or other sections of the society shall be available to a family or its members having more than the prescribed number of children. In the state of Haryana, a similar restriction based on the number of children was placed by law on the right to seek election to the Panchayats etc. The provision was upheld by the Courts. However, later on it was repealed by the legislature. Why? The reason is not difficult to imagine. But such measures are a national necessity and must be adopted immediately.

Above all, the people, must announce that we shall neither support a party which does not undertake to control numbers nor vote for a candidate who has more than two children. Equally, we must make it known that those who use the brute majority to undo the decisions of courts; hide the source or use of funds and /or sponsor shady characters shall be rejected. Shall we? We have no alternative if we want to save the country from chaos.