Television, the new contraceptive
Health and Family Welfare Minister Gulab Nabi Azad, recently suggested that TV could act as better contraceptive compared to available contraceptives. It is not clear whether this was meant as a serious statement or as a joke.
THE UPA government has been breaking records, be it for the induction of young blood, appointing the first woman Dalit speaker, effectively applying public-private partnership, education reforms, or Section 377. Gulab Nabi Azad, Health and Family Welfare Minister, joined the list of reformists, by issuing a statement on checking the population. The idea is really out-of-the-box but there is a huge question over whether he meant this to be joke or whether it was really meant to be a serious statement.
Our health minister stated on TV that nearly every home had an effective instrument to curb the ever-increasing population. First question is, when more than 50% of the Indian population lives on Rs20 per day, how can they even afford a TV? Second question is, even if government gifts them a TV, would a person opt for the bland Doordarshan? Third question - how will the TV work, if there is no access to electricity? Final question - is TV more interesting and satisfying than the act the minister suggests it substitutes? Gulam Nabi Azad has forgotten the basic issue - poverty and illiteracy.
India's poor belong mainly to rural areas which have no access to basic amenities and have no avenues for entertainment, other than sex. Installing TV won't help the cause of curbing the population. Azad is talking about TV when he should be talking about education and should be working along with Sibal to ensure that everyone gets the most important tool for empowerment - quality education. The government should also ensure that everybody receives quality education and it should try to educate the poor about the benefits of a small family. The government should also take steps to bring in new ways of family planning and should go beyond normal temporary and permanent contraceptives.
The government should convince the poor that if men take the responsibility for family planning, it would go a long way. By commenting on the issue of family planning, Azad has at least achieved one positive thing - he has got people to start thinking about the neglected topic. It will also ensure that though, for the time being, population is serving our interests as a nation, in the future, it could act as a great hindrance for the country's development.
India's poor belong mainly to rural areas which have no access to basic amenities and have no avenues for entertainment, other than sex. Installing TV won't help the cause of curbing the population. Azad is talking about TV when he should be talking about education and should be working along with Sibal to ensure that everyone gets the most important tool for empowerment - quality education. The government should also ensure that everybody receives quality education and it should try to educate the poor about the benefits of a small family. The government should also take steps to bring in new ways of family planning and should go beyond normal temporary and permanent contraceptives.
The government should convince the poor that if men take the responsibility for family planning, it would go a long way. By commenting on the issue of family planning, Azad has at least achieved one positive thing - he has got people to start thinking about the neglected topic. It will also ensure that though, for the time being, population is serving our interests as a nation, in the future, it could act as a great hindrance for the country's development.
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