China, the only country which is more populous than India, has taken stern measures over the last few years to successfully slow down the rates of growth of population. They have been promoting the idea of a single child and have even gone to the extent of taxing the parents who have 2 or more children. This policy no doubt has shown incredible results but it also has had some adverse effects which has led the international community to question the continuation of such a policy.
The single child policy has created a skewed sex ratio as parents prefer to have a son over a daughter. This disparity in the sex ratio can have a negative impact in the long run. Also the number of abortions have significantly increased.
In a discussion in the Parliament on motion on population stabilization on the 4th of August (report Indian Express, 5th July) the Health Minister, Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad said that there is an urgent need to control population but efforts towards this end will be made through massive awareness and not through law or coercive action. He pointed out that there is a need to change the mindsets of the people, which according to me is the only way in which the population of our country will ever be able to come under control. Members of Parliament could take the lead in spreading awareness campaign in their constituencies he said.
It remains to be seen how effectively our country is able to tackle this huge issue which is a big stumbling block on the path to development.
what according to you nupur should be the steps taken to raise awareness? do you feel we have hope of population stabilization?
ReplyDeleteSir as the Health Minister said if each MP took charge to ensure that awareness campaigns are held in his/her respective constituencies at regular intervals then the response would definitely be positive. The only thing lacking right now is implementation of all the policies and programmes.
ReplyDeletemp's taking charge and ensuring awareness campaigns is an utopian situation given the present conditions, when they themselves are in a stupor i think waking them up is a necessity.
ReplyDeletei feel we all know implementation's lacking but i remember listening to this radio talk once, when a question was raised whether, the public cribbing about the negligent government is good or taking a step is the better option.
i feel cribbing is just the first step in people actually realising the problem and taking steps to make the govt realise their work.
as far as the question of population stabilization goes, pardon me for being cynical, but forming a population that questions and stands up is much more important