In recent elections, the topic of having children has gained significant attention. In Delhi alone, over 300,000 babies were born in 2022 and 2023. Ahead of the upcoming elections, the BJP has promised ₹21,000 to pregnant women if they win, totaling ₹3,150 crore. This is just one example of how the issue of childbirth is becoming a political talking point in India.
However, having children is a deeply personal decision. While governments can encourage families to grow, they should not pressure individuals into having large families. For instance, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu recently proposed that candidates for local elections should have at least three children. This idea, along with other suggestions from leaders like RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, who advocates for at least three children per couple, raises concerns. In Madhya Pradesh, some organizations are even offering financial incentives to Brahmin families with four children. Similar discussions are happening globally, with leaders in the U.S. and Italy also expressing concern over low birth rates and criticizing those who prioritize pets over children.
Despite these calls for larger families, there are challenges to pushing for higher birth rates. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin has also supported the idea of having more children, possibly because states with smaller populations could lose political representation. However, experts like former RBI chief Subbarao argue that promoting migration could be a better solution to addressing population concerns than encouraging larger families.
Ultimately, the decision to have children should remain with women, who should have the freedom to decide when and how many children they want. Having more children requires significant time away from education or work, and with the current job shortage, this could add further strain. Moreover, childbirth carries risks, as history has shown – a queen, for example, tragically died giving birth to her 14th child. Instead of focusing on increasing the birth rate, the emphasis should perhaps be on improving life for the children already born.
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