Do we need to re-examine our “population policy”?
This poll was triggered by the comements of President Pratibha Patil at Tumkur recently where she reportedly said:
President Pratibha Devisingh Patil asked the Union Government to take a re-look at the population policy, just as China did to stabilise its population.
…Quoting a survey that 100 million people are under threat of starvation the world-over, she emphasised the need for addressing food security globally. “The world population shot up from 2.5 billion in 1950 to 6 billion by 2000. It is expected to touch 9 billion by 2050. India’s population is growing at the rate of 2.1 per cent every year. As we are expected to surpass China in population in the near future, it is high time we looked at our policy, besides ensuring food security,†she said.Â
What do you think?
*
Poll continued below
*
Multiple choices allowed. Other Comments/ suggestions and ideas welcome as always.
Related Poll: What should be India’s top developmental priority?Â
Other Polls: Should there be certain “selection criteria†for MPs?Â
.
While I have not voted, I just want to point out one thing. Having a single child is the only way to actually reduce the population, everything else would result in an exponential increase of population.
There is one community in India driving a lot of the growth. We know who they are
*** COMMENT DELETED ***
*** NOTE by MODERATOR ***
@ Pratap: Pl. stick to the topic and facts (and/or references).
Thanks.
Sticking to a common civil code can avoid some growth.. and also solve the issue raised by Nishka..
Female literacy would be the best option I guess, but I ended up voting for offering financial incentives because that was the first one I read. (IMHOs only) I feel that will make people voluntarily take up population control rather than us involving more government in enforcing such issues like China. We already know our brilliant record at enforcing laws in India.
@ Nishka, Kalidas: I do not have ready access to data on birth-rates amongst different communities…Does either of you have that?
And I do not think laws are an answer…financial incentives (and dis-incentives/higher taxes) might work better…
Ah.. I am very pleased that you engaged me.. perhaps this is the first time.
Elementary googling throws up this article sir
http://kashmirherald.com/featuredarticle/indiacensus.html
The laws that I am talking about are with regard to ending polygamy in the above mentioned society. We must have the same laws extending to all the members of the society.
P.S. How do you hyperlink texts in comments on this blog? I do not know how to do that.
1) Enforce monogamy strictly.
2) Enforce one child norm strictly.
3) If it is a second marriage, then too the person having one living child should not beget a second one.
4) The government should treat the child as national asset and provide education and all amenities to him/her till he/she attains majority.
5) Education upto secondary level should be made compulsory and free.
6) In the event of the death of the child, the government should take care of the needs of parents at their old age.
7) Government should enforce one child norm strictly and the choice how to limit the birth should be left out to the persons concerned.
8) For the second child the government should impose a tax on the parents till the child attains majority. The tax should not be less than the actual expenses for bringing up the child, plus a penalty equal to the said amount.
9) If the birth of a third child takes place, both the parents should be imprisoned for the rest of their lives. All their assets should be confiscated. But the children should, still be treated, as the assets of the nation and looked after by the state.
This may be my Utopian wish, but the State cannot sacrifice the welfare of the children already born for those who are unborn. There is no other way we can build an egalitarian society where every child get education he/she deserves and elevate himself/herself to the level of his/her ability. The government need not bother to consider whether this has religious sanction or not for there are bound to be opposition.
I sincerely wish that all the children born (not the unborn ones) are treated as our state asset and every one of them is provided with all facilities and education by the state. Every child has a right to receive such facilities.
I think enforcement is unlikely to yield results in democracy like India. We don’t obey simple road rules so enforcing family planning rules are nearly impossible. It was done in China but it has its own problems with growing ageing population relying on shriking younger age class.
I think education is key to solving India’s problems – social responsibility, obeying basic laws and respect for others. Enforecement is necessary but it is always complementary.
I am taking here about primary and secondary education. People who go on to study higher education have already shown their mark on the world stage through success of NRI community.
From The Hindu: