Population explosion 8211; burning issue across borders

The one billion of India have become the most talked about people in all kinds of fora. Rotary International joined the debate on the expl...

The one billion of India have become the most talked about people in all kinds of fora. Rotary International joined the debate on the exploding population of the country with a two day workshop. One Billion Plus8217; delved into the whys and hows of too many, discussing the problems and probably for the first time, involving Rotary8217;s Pakistan counterparts in the debate on population in the sub-continent.

8220;On the surface they might appear different, but in reality the problems are the same,8221; says Tariq Allawala, Governor of Rotary district 3270 in Pakistan. 8220;The challenges for controlling the population are the same and at this junction an exchange of experiences and ideas is very important.8221;

Stressing on the one billion figure, speaker after speaker discussed the poverty and misery that stemmed from the problem. Putting the statistics in place, Dr Ishaq Jamkhanwala, president of Anjuman-i-Islam said: 8220;In India any increase in population is undesirable from the growth point of view. Any rise in population will mean an increase in the number of unproductive consumers and dependents.8221;

Illiteracy was the most frequently uttered word as the audience was forced to sit up and take note of the fact that an uneducated population was the real problem.

Addressing the school students who were part of the audience, gynaecologist Dr Usha Krishna said: 8220;If each one of you students took on the responsibility of educating your servant8217;s children, the literacy movement will go a long way. We all need to stop complaining and do the job at hand.8221;

The students, particularly the boys, also got a lesson in loving right. 8220;All of you must inculcate caring gestures from a youthful age. Give your girlfriend flowers and learn to love and respect women from today. I want you all to be sensitive, wonderful young people.8221;

Following her little speech there was a round of applause for all the daughters of the country, before the workshop progressed further.

Story continues below this ad

Speaking on concerns of adolescents, Dr Raj Brahmbhatt, consultant-in-charge of the Sexuality Education Counselling Research Therapy/Training said that the youth of today needed role models and people they could talk to about their problems. 8220;With adolescents forming one-fifth of India8217;s population, it is important to address their needs,8221; Brahmbhatt said. 8220;We have to listen to and answer their queries.8221;

At the end of the two day workshop, all Rotarians present at the function reaffirmed their support to the cause of family planning. Also, they urged the state government to initiate special awards for agencies involved in family planning and give all the future programmes due publicity.

Summing up the proceedings of the two day meet, Rotarian Manibhai Doshi said: 8220;When the deputy chief minister inaugurated the workshop he emphasised the need for constant pressure on the government agencies to keep the family planning programme going. He also hinted at involving religious leaders to spread the message. Our organisation and many others will have to play that role and make sure that population control remains on top of the government8217;s agenda.8221;