POPULATION- A CURSE

Apropos the news item “School Says, No space for Taking 3^rd child” which appeared in the Indian Express, Times of India and The Hindustan Times questioning the admission policy of the school for not entertaining applications for the third born, I would appreciate if it is viewed in the context of India where over population, just like terrorism, has become a cancerous disease which all responsible citizens of India need to fight against. Had it not been for the un-controlled population growth, India would have progressed in leaps and bounds. Moreover, if India has to emerge as a global giant it has no option but to adopt stringent measures to control it. China, one of the most populous countries in the world, was able to control its population by strictly adhering to one child norm, but it is rather unfortunate that in India everything is politicized, good intentions misinterpreted and misconstrued. Journalism which should channalize its energy towards encouraging positive initiatives in the larger interest of the country, today thrives on scoops...I do not understand the  hue and cry over the school’s policy of not entertaining applications  of the third born for admission to the Nursery class. The Govt. also has a policy of extending benefits to only the first two born and aptly so because the message of a small family has to reach the masses clear and loud.  Not only this, it is mostly seen that parents having two female children tend to have the 3^rd child in the hope of getting a male child.  Under these circumstances how can the importance of a girl child be prevailed upon the society?  Moreover, a recent survey reveals that female feticide is more prevalent in the urban educated elite of Delhi, thereby undermining the position of a girl child.   I fail to understand why people should go in for a third child, if their family is complete with two children? Can any enlightened citizen of India, disagree with the fact that population of over a billion people rather than being a blessing, has become a curse for us? Is not Increase in crime rate, unemployment, poverty, illiteracy  a result of overpopulation? 

It is a known fact that any change for the better, is a bitter pill, difficult to swallow.  We are harping about depriving, the third child of the Right to Education, but we are not concerned about those who are deprived admission on the basis of criteria, such as profession, alumni, sibling etc and also because of the skewed ratio between demand and supply. We would also like to state that the percentage of parents seeking admission for the third child, especially in a school like ours, is miniscule and the uproar created is senseless, irrelevant and unwarranted. This policy of ours has been in existence for the last so many years but an issue was created this year only, but we are happy as it will help in promoting our cause of spreading the message of a small family, so, we have no regrets. Moreover, we are a compassionate school, a school which feels, hence in case of the second born as twins or in a family which has disabled children, we do consider.

We strongly feel, believe and endorse that the message of a two-child-norm is necessary for the development and progress of the country and   every effort should be made to make all citizens of India irrespective of caste, creed and religion to adhere to the same. I would go a little further why can’t we too adopt one child norm like China? Would it not be in the interest of our country?

Vandana Puri

Principal