New Delhi: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat raised alarms over the declining population growth rate in India, warning that a drop below a certain threshold could pose a significant threat to society. Bhagwat emphasized that the ideal fertility rate for a society should be 2.1, and if it falls below this number, it could lead to serious consequences.
He said “The decline in the population growth rate is not good for the society,” stressing that it could endanger the very survival of society.
What Mohan Bhagwat said
According to Bhagwat, modern population science suggests that when a society’s fertility rate drops below 2.1, it leads to the eventual disappearance of that society. He pointed out that “many languages and societies were destroyed” due to such a decline in population.
The RSS chief also referred to India’s population policy, which was formulated in 1998 or 2002, and noted that the policy emphasizes the importance of maintaining a population growth rate above 2.1 for the sustainability of society.
His comments come at a time when several BJP leaders have been vocal about the need for a population control law. Among them is BJP MLA from Rajasthan, Balmukundacharya, who recently spoke about the necessity of such a law. “It is necessary to bring a population control bill for balance and development,” Balmukundacharya had said, while also targeting a specific community. He stated, “Four wives and 36 children cannot be allowed,” claiming that unchecked population growth impedes the country’s development.
India’s fertility rate
This statement from the BJP MLA was met with criticism from the Congress party, which accused the BJP of using population control as a guise to target a particular community. Congress leaders argued that the BJP’s focus was not genuinely on controlling population growth, but rather on pushing an agenda against a specific group. However, Congress also expressed support for a population control law, if implemented fairly and without bias.
Historically, India’s fertility rate has seen a significant decline since independence. In 1950, the fertility rate was as high as 6.2 children per woman. However, this has drastically reduced to 2.1 percent in recent years. If the current trend continues, experts predict that by 2050, India’s fertility rate could fall to just 1.3, raising concerns about the future demographic structure of the country.
