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November 15, 2013

RSS to Hindus: shun family planning, have more kids


Ramesh Babu, Hindustan Times
Kochi, October 27, 2013

RSS to Hindus: shun family planning, have more kids

For the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), it’s the more the merrier.

On the lines of the Catholic church’s campaign to have more children and win rewards, the RSS has advised Hindus to go for bigger families and not to limit their number of children. Concerned over the dwindling size of Hindu families, it has asked community members not to follow family planning norms blindly and create small families.

The Sangh feels that big families will help check the menacing demographic changes taking place in many parts of the country. The one-child norm practiced by most Hindu families will endanger the very existence of the community, it warned.

“According to the 2011 Census, growth rate of children in the age group of 0-6 is 15% among Hindus, whereas it is 18% among Muslims. Small family norms are posing a big threat to Hindus. So each family should have three children,” RSS joint secretary Dattareya Hosbal said on the sidelines of the RSS national executive meet, which concluded in Kochi on Sunday.

Two years ago, a worried Catholic Church in Kerala had announced a mega-plan -- ‘Jeeva Samrudhi’ -- to encourage families with more than three children. It even coined the slogan of ‘big family, happy family’ and decided to bear educational and other expenses of families who have more than three children.

According to the latest Census report, Christian population has come down to 18.75% from the earlier 22% in the state, forcing the church to press the panic button.

“Blindly following family planning norms by a community won’t do any good to the country. It will trigger serious imbalance in the country,” Hosbal said, adding that the Sangh will go all out to encourage big families.

The three-day executive, which concluded in Kochi on Sunday, also supported the Madhav Gadgil Committee report on the Western Ghats.

“The flawed development model and lavish lifestyle of some are causing immense damage to the environment.

In this context, the Madhav Gadgil Committee report is a landmark. His recommendations are in the larger interest of the nation,” RSS general secretary Suresh Joshi said, demanding a national debate on both (Gadgil and Kasturi Rangan) panels on Western Ghats.

He also criticised the proposed Communal and Targeted Violence Bill which will be introduced in the winter session of parliament. “It is highly biased and unlawful. It seeks to divide society on minority-majority lines, which is unconstitutional.

It will destroy communal harmony and cause immense damage to the social fabric. Instead of preventing communal violence, it will only lead to further division on communal lines,” he said, asking the UPA government to have a second thought on it.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/Print/1141099.aspx?s=p

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