Why RSS chief’s push for large families is out of step

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Why RSS chief’s push for large families is out of step

Saturday, 28 December 2024 | K S Tomar

Why RSS chief’s push for large families is out of step

By advocating outdated solutions to demographic trends, Bhagwat’s vision risks deepening societal divisions and ignoring the socio-economic realities of today

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat’s recent appeal for larger families, framed as a response to perceived demographic challenges, reveals a worldview rooted in traditionalism. This perspective clashes with the progressive social, cultural, and economic ethos of modern India. While presented as a solution to counter declining population trends, Bhagwat’s remarks have ignited debates over their communal undertones, potential to deepen gender inequality, and disconnection from contemporary realities.

Bhagwat’s remarks are part of a larger discourse on demographic imbalances, often aimed at minority communities. This rhetoric fosters fear, undermines social harmony, and contradicts India’s pluralistic traditions. Today’s youth prioritise quality of life over larger families, influenced by rising living costs, career aspirations, and financial stability. Bhagwat’s appeal appears disconnected from these realities, highlighting a gap between traditionalist agendas and contemporary Indian values.

The RSS chief’s observations clash with India’s family planning efforts from the late 1960s and 1970s when the emphasis was on small families. Even former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, during her tenure, highlighted the dangers of unchecked population growth, stressing the need for planned families.

Bhagwat’s outdated stance ignores this historical context and the progress India has made in population stabilisation through education, healthcare, and women’s empowerment. Bhagwat’s proposal for families to have more children is based on the argument that declining fertility rates threaten the survival and dominance of certain communities.

This narrative, often accompanied by alarmist rhetoric about population imbalances, underscores divisive politics. Although demographic trends warrant attention, his suggested solution disregards socio-economic realities and entrenches regressive norms. Interestingly, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has echoed similar sentiments, advocating for larger families in his state.

However, such approaches seem out of step with modern India’s aspirations. India is not experiencing a population decline but rather a slowdown in growth.

According to the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5), the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has dropped to 2.0, below the replacement level of 2.1. This trend reflects advancements in education, healthcare, and women’s autonomy. While policymakers globally view such developments as markers of progress, Bhagwat’s remarks frame this demographic shift as a cultural and religious issue, perpetuating communal narratives that risk deepening societal divisions. 

Bhagwat’s outdated stance ignores this historical context and the progress India has made in population stabilisation through education, healthcare, and women’s empowerment. The RSS’s vision aligns with traditional family structures, where women are expected to prioritise domestic roles.

By advocating for larger families, Bhagwat inadvertently reinforces these outdated norms, perpetuating cycles of dependency and limiting women’s agency. 

Central to Bhagwat’s argument is a patriarchal notion that reduces women to their reproductive roles. His call for more children disregards women’s aspirations, autonomy, and wellbeing, placing an undue burden on them.

Resource Constraints 

With a population exceeding 1.4 billion, India faces severe resource constraints, including food insecurity, water scarcity, and unemployment.  Increasing family sizes would exacerbate these issues, placing further strain on public services and natural resources. India’s youth population, often hailed as a demographic dividend, grapples with high unemployment rates.

The Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) reports that unemployment among those aged 15-29 exceeds 20 per cent. Without job creation, additional population growth risks turning this dividend into a liability. India is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change. Global policymakers advocate for sustainable development, making Bhagwat’s vision seem misaligned with contemporary priorities.

Cultural and Ethical Disconnect

India’s ethos is rooted in diversity, balance, and individual choice. Bhagwat’s remarks dismiss these values, echoing authoritarian tendencies that clash with Indian democracy. Family planning decisions are deeply personal and should not be influenced by socio-political agendas.

Intervening in such choices undermines personal freedoms and contradicts the principles of modern India. In a country where maternal mortality remains a concern and reproductive healthcare is uneven, urging women to have more children intensifies existing vulnerabilities. Instead of alarmist rhetoric, India’s leadership should focus on forward-looking policies to address demographic concerns constructively: Improved access to education, particularly for girls, is key to stabilising population growth. Educated women are more likely to make informed reproductive choices, contributing to sustainable demographics and enhancing Healthcare. Investing in maternal and child healthcare can reduce mortality rates and improve quality of life.

Policies empowering the youth and enhancing employability can transform India’s demographic potential into an asset. 

(Writer is a senior political analyst and strategic affairs columnist; views are personal)

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