Population control, best remedy for India?
China through strict-most measures checked its population-growth by implementing one-child policy. But unexpected success led China to take reverse steps for first two-child policy and now to three-child policy. But despite so many problems being faced by India due to its haphazard population-growth leading to fast-changing demography in the country where population of a particular minority community is increasing at a faster rate decreasing population-percentage of majority community in the country.
With a prominent member of opposition having brought a private-member bill in Rajya Sabha in tune with PIL filed by a spokesperson of ruling BJP, central government should introduce two-child norm as a part of reformative measures. Even President Ramnath Kovind tweeted supporting population-control on June 5, 2020. It was surprising that Union Health Ministry unexpectedly opposed a much-required population-control legislation when in an affidavit filed at Supreme Court the ministry told that any such step could be counter-productive leading to demographic distortions. At least incentives for small families should be replaced by disincentives for large families.
All government-facilities including reservation-benefits, freebies, subsidies, monetary relief, government-jobs and service-promotion may be auto-terminated on birth of third child in the family. Not only right to contest election, but even right to vote may be snatched on birth of third child in the family. However exemption may be there in case of certification of disability by a government-doctor of any of earlier two children. A person should be permitted to have only one wife like system exists even in Islamic countries.
Madhu Agrawal, Delhi
China’s new 3-child policy
China has come out with a new child policy. Couples can have up to three children now. Its earlier one child policy was a lonely affair. Thereafter its two-child norm was an ideal. It probably did not meet China’s expansionist plans.
China has reclaimed Hong Kong and invaded Tibet. It has also set its sight on other territories. In case of documents one can make one original and two copies suffice totalling three. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of having children.
Vinay Rodrigues, Margao
Allowance for tiatrists
This is in response to the write-up ‘Lip service to tiatrists won’t work. The govt needs to ‘act’ real now’ by Ajit John (Herald, June 5) describing the pathetic situation faced by tiatrists these days due to the absence of tiatrs. Tiatrists should be given some maintenance allowance especially those who are solely dependent on tiatrs only. They have served the Goan community well during the last almost 200 years. If our community has developed so much it is partly because of their efforts they made from the stage that gave to Goa some of the finest tiatrists. If today their greatness to a certain extent remained hidden from outside Goan World it is only because their works have not been published in other international languages.
Tiatrs gives you full picture of Goa and Goans. Though a part of the tiatrs audience may get some messages of ill doings of the government and enjoyment in seeing the criticising the Government and its ministers malfunctioning, tiatrs give much more of family values and some lessons of life.
Goa Government should come to the rescue of the tiatr industry thereby making the life of many tiatrists miserable. In the absence of any dynamic and highly smart member of tiatr fraternity the issue of their pathetic situation will remain as chronic disease.
A Veronica Fernandes, Candolim
WHO webinar on June 10
The media reported that doctors in Goa are perplexed at the reason some patients still show positive after 30 days of treatment. Last year the doctors were learning by themselves the meaning of high-flow nasal cannula and were shocked when covid patients had sugar levels shooting to 300. The key point is the virus has attacked other nations first who have countered the same and have more competencies than those here. If the solution is not within your four walls you need to look outside. The reason for the high incidence of kidney ailments in Canacona is still not known and we do not wish to get outside help.
On June 10, WHO is holding a webinar: Enhancing capabilities to manage health care and public health in emergencies.
Quote: The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that a complex set of knowledge, skills and attitudes – commonly called competencies – are essential for protecting and saving lives. Strengthening the competencies of personnel and volunteers from a wide range of professions to manage complex national responses and work in hospitals, clinics and communities, is more important than ever, not just for COVID19 but for any health emergency” unquote. Don’t miss the key word: attitude.
Hopefully the right people who have assumed they are doing better than the world in handling the lives of the public will attend and implement. Webinar Registration – Zoom
R Fernandes, Margao
Central Vista called the shots
As usual, the supporters and opponents of the Prime Minister have started a media battle on Central Vista. How it is a Vanity project or how it is a project in National Interest. While arguments go forth from both sides, my view is simple. Any project which gives rise to employment, which leads to infrastructure development, is good for the country.
This project will give jobs to thousands of workmen, lead to demand for cement, steel, marbles, tiles, electrical equipment, electronic equipment and so on. Who benefits? Industry. Workers. Who spends it? The government. So cash flows are assured. Why crib when a meaningful expenditure is incurred leading to increase in incomes and spending? Guess only the middlemen and commission agents will protest. And of course, the opposition.
Jayanthy S. Maniam, Mumbai
Schools must provide apt environment
Providing school education for the deprived is not a child’s play. Children have their own emotions, likes and dislikes. The authorities should rise to the occasion; mere lip service will not do. Last two years have been cruel for a child’s personality development. Boys and girls have been robbed of honing their aptitude in the schooling environment. There was a hesitant restart of some schools only to shut doors for the better. When governments decide on internet education to children, it has to be clear on so many aspects.
Online education, thanks to the proliferation of smart phones, has ceased to be the privilege of a select few. That said, there are large sections of the population that struggle to make both ends meet. For them, arranging online education for their wards can be a distant dream. Internet connectivity to India’s big chunk of rural population is still not foolproof. There always are the other attendant socio-economic issues known to cripple a child’s progress. Governments cannot miss the woods for the trees. It is not as if online education does not demand books of its participants.
In an inclusive education, there is little scope for ifs and buts. One may not see the schools reopening in June though some governments have decided in principle to permit physical classes. However, the third wave of the pandemic, said to infect children, is looming large, and the parents are a worried lot.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
