Thursday, October 25, 2007

Sonia in Shanghai

[Don’t Blame Population: Blame Planning
Why should we go for family planning at all when China claims that it is short of human power even with its 800 million people? No hand is free in China, it has done much to utilise its huge human power and has brought a ‘great leap’ in its gross national production and no belly remains hungry now. But we face the population problem due to our faulty planning. We have not created employment potential for our masses and our GNP lags behind. To employ the masses India has no dearth of intellect and resources even if the population gets doubled.
Why should we give up our long tradition for Democratic approach? Having more than 3 children will not create pressure for well-to-do persons in society. Poorer people on the other hand welcome more children which means – more earning members in the family. Many parents also do not dare to go in for birth control because of the fear of child mortality. Also, sterilisation operations many times cause serious consequences to the men or women. There are many social and physical factors going against the idea of family planning.
Lastly, our Indian culture, all through, has maintained a regard for humanity, emotions, maternal love and family life. And let it not get deteriorated by all these pressures and compulsions. Mother Teresa said at Panaji, that she is against making birth control compulsory. But the Union heath Minister Dr. Karan Singh emphasised the need of some compulsory measures for birth control. Let the Government take note of our beloved PM’s comment that, “it will be too drastic a step.”
-- Tusar N. Mohapatra, Bhubaneswar, Yojana Students’ Forum 15th April, 1976] 11:06 AM
At the invitation of Hu Jintao, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are on a five-day visit to China. Dr. Karan Singh is also accompanying them. [TNM] 11:06 AM

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