POPULATION CONTROL: NEED A CODIFIED LAW

JUST LIKE INDIA ALWAYS NEEDED A WRITTEN CONSTITUTION OR A CODIFIED CRIMINAL LAW, WHICH HAS POWER TO PUNISH ANY VIOLATIONS, IT ALSO NEEDS A CODIFIED LAW ON POPULATION CONTROL. THIS LAW HAS TO HAVE CLEAR PROVISIONS ON THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN A PARTICULAR FAMILY CAN HAVE

- DR SUNIL GUPTA

India, the place where the earliest civilisation began, is indeed a great nation. Politicians - either from the ruling party or the opposition - might sometimes use this 'great nation' rhetoric for votes, but it is no overstatement. We are a country where people from multiple faiths, linguistic preferences and lifestyles have lived as a family.

AHEAD OF NEIGHBOURS

Resources might not be abundant, for example much of our crude is imported, but exports in Information Technology, textiles and other sectors have always helped maintain a healthy balance of trade. India, unlike nations like Sri Lanka or Pakistan, has never failed to honour any debt obligations. That we are a great nation is no rhetoric. That said, it is also imperative to realise that unless timely measures are undertaken with respect to things like population growth, the expression 'India is great' might one day actually become rhetoric.

LOOMING POPULATION CRISIS

No one can deny that our country is staring at a huge population crisis over the coming decades. No Government, regardless of the political party in power, can increase a nation's resources beyond a certain capacity. If we do not have enough crude, we don't have it, simple. Yes, we are rich in agriculture, but with unchecked population growth, this 'abundance' can soon vanish and become 'scarcity'. Neglecting the crisis today could prove detrimental to our coming generations.