Birth Control is a touchy subject around the world, but not so much in India. Although public discussion is absent but there is no real opposition to it either. If we were to take up the argument of population as a bane, then contraception would be an effective arsenal at our disposal. Especially considering the more disturbing alternative to get the same result: Abortion.
But if we look at population as an asset regardless of the economic and social implications then the morality of population control comes apart. The Roman Catholic faith is a vocal proponent of this opinion and their justifications are derived from the scriptures, although other Christian sects might not agree. Islam too is a not very keen on the idea of contraception and this is plain to see through the prevalent fertility rate in most Islamic communities. But Hinduism is a major religion which does not prescribe to any particular view on the subject. The lack of a moral compass from the Hindu faith on the subject has driven India's policy on population control into the hands of economists and scientists.
Therefore from the time of abortion being made legal in 1971 in India it took just a few years for the unpopular sterilization program under the Government's Family Planning initiative to get operationalized. Although the actual program was shelved due to its implementation, but the idea that population is India's burden has persisted. Today birth control is a common practice, couples are encouraged to use contraceptives, some local body elections do not allow candidates with too many children. The popularity of contragestion apart from contraception is a testimony to growing perception that population control is necessary.
The one-child policy adopted by China as a method of policy implementation is debated widely. But successive governments in India have tried to achieve similar results without creating a law. Therefore the mission of birth control was sought to be achieved through engineering consent among the public. Hence a generation was taught that excess population is a liability. And this effort has worked, although not to the levels of the Chinese extremes but to the extend that was possible without twisting arms.
Today there is practically no debate on birth control, none of the manifestos in the recent election had anything of note in this direction. The deficit of voices on this crucial issue is a matter of grave concern since birth control defines the structure of future societies and it has the power to fundamentally alter the institution of family.
A great telugu poet Gurazada Apparao once said : "Desamante matti kaadoyi, desamante manushuloyi" meaning, A country is not made of land; a country is made of its people.
But if we look at population as an asset regardless of the economic and social implications then the morality of population control comes apart. The Roman Catholic faith is a vocal proponent of this opinion and their justifications are derived from the scriptures, although other Christian sects might not agree. Islam too is a not very keen on the idea of contraception and this is plain to see through the prevalent fertility rate in most Islamic communities. But Hinduism is a major religion which does not prescribe to any particular view on the subject. The lack of a moral compass from the Hindu faith on the subject has driven India's policy on population control into the hands of economists and scientists.
Therefore from the time of abortion being made legal in 1971 in India it took just a few years for the unpopular sterilization program under the Government's Family Planning initiative to get operationalized. Although the actual program was shelved due to its implementation, but the idea that population is India's burden has persisted. Today birth control is a common practice, couples are encouraged to use contraceptives, some local body elections do not allow candidates with too many children. The popularity of contragestion apart from contraception is a testimony to growing perception that population control is necessary.
The one-child policy adopted by China as a method of policy implementation is debated widely. But successive governments in India have tried to achieve similar results without creating a law. Therefore the mission of birth control was sought to be achieved through engineering consent among the public. Hence a generation was taught that excess population is a liability. And this effort has worked, although not to the levels of the Chinese extremes but to the extend that was possible without twisting arms.
Today there is practically no debate on birth control, none of the manifestos in the recent election had anything of note in this direction. The deficit of voices on this crucial issue is a matter of grave concern since birth control defines the structure of future societies and it has the power to fundamentally alter the institution of family.
A great telugu poet Gurazada Apparao once said : "Desamante matti kaadoyi, desamante manushuloyi" meaning, A country is not made of land; a country is made of its people.
1 comment:
beautifully written and eloquently expressed..
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