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May 2004
by
edward
—
last modified
17-08-07 22:14
:: 1 May 2004-Newsletter ::
From: Population First
Sent: Thursday, April 29, 2004
1:06 PM
To: mattard_kini@vsnl.net
Subject: Newsletter-May
2004
| A
Communications Initiative for Sustainable Human Development in
India |
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| E-NEWSLETTER |
Inaugural Issue û 1 May 2004 |
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| ADVANI PROMOTES TWO
CHILD NORM Will The Ruling Alliance Go
Back On The Rights Approach To Population? |
| India s Deputy Prime Minister
Mr. Lal Krishna Advani has on two occasions during the current election
campaign spoken for strictly imposing a two child norm. There is a need
for a blend of incentives and disincentives so that all Indian families in
future abide by the two-child norm. I repeat my earlier suggestion of
debarring those who violate the two-child norm from holding public
office, Mr.. Advani said on April 11, 2004 at Janjgir in Chhattisgarh
State. [Full statement at http://www.bjp.org/Press/april_1104a.htm].
Earlier, on March 18, 2004 at Jagityal in Andhra Pradesh State, the Deputy
Prime Minister called for similar State action against families who have
more than two children [see box for news story as filed by Press Trust of!
India]. |
There is no doubt that
the two child norm needs to be promoted in India if the country
wishes to stabilise its population by 2045 as set out in the National Population
Policy 2000.
But the big issue is how we go about
this. Indeed, the route to this is set out in the NPP document
itself, which was issued by the government of which Mr.Advani is
such a senior member. NPP clearly lays down that the two child norm
should be pursued within the framework of social development. By
focusing on the need to provide quality and gender-sensitive health
services, improving female literacy and working for women s
empowerment, the NPP set out an enlightened framework within which
population goals need to be reached.
So much so, that the NPP
document has been hailed as a first big step in the country s effort
to look at population issues from the perspective of social
development, and is the reference point for India s current rights
based approach to the subject.
It is against this backdrop
that Mr.Advani s statements come as disturbing backtrack to a quick
fix model that has failed time and again.
It is today an
accepted position among demographers, policy watchers and government
sources that population growth is higher among the most
disadvantaged sections like the rural poor, migrant slum
populations, and the tribals. Unchecked population growth, thus,
relates directly to poverty and lack of access to health and
education facilities.
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Jagityal
(Andhra Pradesh), Mar 18 (PTI) Deputy Prime Minister L K
Advani today sought political consensus on strict
implementation of two child norm in the country and a one-time
amendment to pave way for a fixed five year term and
simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
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"I strongly
advocate a policy whereby all individuals who violate the
two-child norm will be automatically debarred from holding
public office and government job. I believe this will be
strong disincentive for large families," he told a press
conference in this naxal-infested town in Telengana region on
the ninth day of his Bharat Udhay Yatra.
Disagreeing
with a questioner that his proposal on two child norm might go
against minorities, Advani said "This should not be construed
as anti-minority policy".
The Deputy Prime Minister,
however, said there should be a political consensus on the
issue. "Efforts will be made to build this consensus after the
elections are over. It had to be done in a manner that is
acceptable to all". PTI
>>>Source: Press Trust of India
>>>
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It is these vulnerable
sections of society that will need government support by means of health
services, primary education and the like. Till these don t reach them,
they will be caught in the vicious circle of poverty leading to higher
mortality and so larger families. [The
Basics] By keeping them from holding any public office and from the
government job market, the government can only ensure that the
marginalised, particularly women, are further denied access to development
resources.
In fact, Mr.Advani s statement itself shows that
development is the best contraceptive. As he said at Jagtial [Andhra
Pradesh]: It is not a question of majority and minority. If it is an
educated family, it would adopt two-child norm irrespective of its
religious belief. Facts and figures apart, what could be a better
illustration of population being an issue of development rather than the
subject matter of targets. If educated families go for a two child norm,
then Mr.Advani ought to advocate educating the country, not using the
threat of disincentives or the lure of incentives to reach
goals.
However, we do agree that there is a need to bridge the
demographic gap between the southern states and the northern states. The
government will do well to focus on the three issues which are important,
apart from social development, for achieving replacement level fertility
in high fertility states and districts of the country making services
accessible to those with contraceptive needs (meeting the unmet need),
countering the marked preference for a male child and promoting spacing in
a big way.
It is also important to ask ourselves how justifiable
is it for a nation whose constitution promises protection against
discrimination to make parity i.e. whether one is a first, second or a
third child, the basis for discrimination. Since Mr.Advani said he would
look for political consensus on the two child norm, it is time the various
stake holders take a position on the issue. By doing so, we at least
ensure that any policy decision at a later stage would be based on a
healthy understanding of the issues.
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| MANIFESTO |
| The demographic transition
India is witnessing calls for structural changes that can no longer be
avoided in the policy making process. As India s top political parties
head for the polls to form a new national government, Population
First sought to build political consensus on health and population
issues. In this regard, a consultative meeting was held on 24 January to |
identify the framework to be
adopted by the political parties in their manifestoes. The intention was
to detect the gap between professed intentions and actual action and to
get leading political parties to commit themselves to bridge the gap with
appropriate resource allocation. A draft manifesto was submitted to all
the political parties. More.... |
| MOTIVATION THROUGH
EXPERIMENTAL THEATRE |
| The two residential five-day
Motivational Workshops took place at the Thane District Training Centre in
January and February 2004. The initiative was taken forward after the
release of an assessment report which highlighted the problems in health
communications in the two Primary Health Centres [PHCs] areas of Dolkhamb
and Kinhavali in Thane district. The participants, PHC personnel, had a
chance to experience themselves and each other as they were
affirmatively |
pushed to a higher ground of
self-acknowledgement by Manjul Bharadwaj, the workshop conductor.
Motivation was heightened through the techniques of experimental theatre.
Not intending to technically train or skill the participants, the sessions
brought to the fore the potential of many health workers in planning and
providing effective services. The workshop resulted in building their
self-confidence and self-respect to help them perform their duties better.
More.... |
| HEALTH CAMPS ON
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY |
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In celebration of the
spirit of the women, Population First organised two separate health
melavas [meaning fairs in Marathi] in the PHCs of Dolkhamb and
Kinhavali. |
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The underlying theme of the
event was Women Have a Right to Health which was emphasized by the many
activities put forward. General health check-ups, child health,
counselling services and games were held in a non-threatening and friendly
atmosphere. The main objective was to provide information in an
entertaining and interesting fashion using cultural activities, games and
group counselling sessions. More.... |
| TRUSTEES
MEETING |
| The meeting was held at the
Indian Merchants Chamber on 6 February 2004, bringing together for the
first time the Board of Trustees and the Advisory Council of Population
First. Important issues related to the organisation s activity such as the
Thane pilot project, Youth Campaign and |
Media Advocacy were covered
and discussed. One of the high moments of the meeting was the launching of
the website, which is designed as the central feature in the
organisation s communications strategy. Rajashree Birla, a promoter of
development initiatives of the Birla Group, inaugurated the site. More.... |
| POPULATION
FIRST |
| Population First is a
communications based initiative that embraces the government objective of
achieving population stabilisation by the year 2045. Working to support
the government s programmes, Population First builds the
communication foundations for partnership between government, civil
society, the corporate sector and the media, creating a common ground for
the sharing views and perspectives that will help lead change in society.
The whole idea evolves around the belief that empowering women to exercise
their rights |
helps achieve social
development and provides a refreshing and appropriate framework for
addressing issues related to health and population. A focus area of the
organisation is reproductive health, which is closely connected with
decisions on family size and must be seen within the context of equal
rights for women and children. In this endeavour, Population First
counts on the responsible participation of the community, a response which
we hope to kick start at least in part by our communications initiatives.
More.... |
Copyright 2004, Population First
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