Thursday, September 09, 2004
| The current population in India is second largest after China. It is busting and there are little to no measures in place to control it. In the seventies, Indira Gandhi declared a state of emergency which initiated the horrific trend of forced sterilization. This intrusive measure was exercised on the slums of India on all ages of men - unmarried, young married, and even elderly men. It was shameful and obviously ineffectual.
Jeremy Copeland wrote an article about a recent, and effective, population control program in India. It is in its test stages, but it is proving to not only encourage population control but also to empower women. What blows my mind is how the culture within this country has made the effectiveness of this method so powerful. The questions that were asked in order to find a solution to the population issue considered status of women, quality of life, and respect for tradition and/or religion. This example demonstrates that culture plays a large role in the ability to solve problems. Something that was not considered in the forced sterilization campaign (complete disaster, by the way). India continues to draw on my heart. I read an article like this and miss the dynamic of the people, the complexity of the enormous issues there, and the constant pulse of life thumping against my every sense. What a bizarre romance it is. |
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Fascinating approach. Bypass the government and just do it. Is the money just coming from the one man? Can he keep that up? I love the idea of the women getting the money and freedom from mother-in-laws and husbands. It demonstrates that there are a lot of women out there with different plans for their lives, given the chance.
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