Population stabilization: yes, Population control: no, says Prime Minister

New Delhi – Coercive population control, to achieve population stabilization, was unacceptable in a free society and would never be implemented in India, Indian Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh has confirmed.

While chairing the first meeting of the re–constituted National Commission on Population here in New Delhi recently, Dr. Singh outlined a three–pronged strategy focussing on empowerment of women and elimination of poverty.

The Indian Prime Minister had made it clear that government's policy did not encourage incentives and disincentives since in the past these had, at best, marginal impact and sometimes even caused resentment and non–acceptance.

"I sincerely believe that coercion of any kind to achieve population stabilisation is unacceptable in a free society," he stressed.

Government’s approach placed fertility reduction in a broader context of evolving an effective development strategy that focussed its attention on elimination of poverty, empowerment of women and offered choice in limiting family size.

Observing that population stabilisation should not be mistaken for population control, Dr. Singh said that there was widespread consensus that the former entailed a holistic, comprehensive approach towards education and health care, particularly for women and children.