“Need to Control Numbers”
By
J.L.Gupta
While the world is growing economically,
we in India, are multiplying numerically. In 1947, we were 350 million. In the
year 2010, we had grown to 1.15 billion. In 2014, we have already reached 1.27
billion. China is still ahead of us with 1.36 billion, but if we do not act now
and continue to grow as at present, we might overtake China sooner than we
imagine. The data is clearly indicative of the fact that the talk of measures
for family planning or welfare has been just a ploy to justify diversion of the
taxpayer’s money. The results belie the claim and show the gap between the
promise and performance.
In this situation, it is imperative for
the Govt. to act immediately. Dr. Harsh
Vardhan has to consider adopting such harsh measures, as may be required. Rules & norms need to be
immediately laid down to check the menace. A policy of carrot and rod has to be
adopted. The following could inter-alia be considered:
1. Illiteracy is one of the major problems
confronting the country. Ignorance leads to suspicions and superstitions. A
massive drive for mass education regarding the benefits of adopting the family
planning measures is essential. People should be convinced that controlling
numbers would help in reducing poverty and lead to prosperity. In Kerala, the
results of alleviation of illiteracy are obvious. The numerical growth has been
checked.
2. No elected office for anyone with more
than two children;
3. No benefit under any scheme for
reservation for any member of a family which has more than two children;
4. While a family which undergoes the
sterilization surgery should be suitably rewarded, those who do not should be
debarred from getting benefit under any scheme for the welfare of weaker
sections;
5. Not only the government, even each
individual can and has to contribute. We can educate the persons helping us at
home, work or otherwise and persuade them to go through whatever is
appropriate. To illustrate: a domestic help was giving birth to a baby every
year. After the birth of the 3rd child, the lady of the house promised
her the old fridge and TV if she underwent tubectomy. She did. Today, the whole
family is doing well. All 0f us must emulate. If we do, it can become the peoples’
movement.
Shall we? There is no choice. We have to.
For our survival as a nation.
Garrett Hardin rightly remarked that a finite world can only support a finite population; therefore the population growth must eventually equal zero. This is especially true in the case of India where the people grow in numbers unchecked. We pay little heed to the consequences.
ReplyDeleteThe speed of production doesn't take into account the need for looking after a life from the cradle to the grave. Indeed it is sad that despite the number of years of freedom we haven't been able to instill the sense of wisdom in our people. I agree with the solutions provided by the author. This is a wake up call for the government of this country.
I wonder often why unbridled population growth which is the cause of so many problems in India and internationally- unemployment, climate change, lack of sanitation, pollution, food shortages, etc is not at the forefront of policy makers as an urgent and important issue. I suppose in India we have been fed this notion of demographic dividend which is supposedly good for the country and the fear politicians have of touching this sensitive topic (the memory of Sanjay Gandhi's programmes have yet not faded away). So no one bothers. Internationally since developed countries are facing an opposite problem, that of very low population growth resulting in growth in numbers of elderly who have to be taken care of and not enough young people for the work force, the policies are geared towards encouraging population growth. And the issue is not on the agenda of any international body. I also think there are religious concerns. Both catholics and muslims do not believe in birth control so Governments are vary of doing anything about it. Recently I was in a meeting of G20 countries' development working group and they were discussing food security for the millions in developing country and I asked them why addressing population growth should not be the focus rather than ensuring there is enough food for the millions of hungry poor and he had no answer.
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