The Hindu : National : 'Small families, not two child norm, acceptable'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 22, 2004

National

National

'Small families, not two child norm, acceptable'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 21. The debate within the Muslim community on family planning and the need to have small families continues unabated. Today the Jamaat Ulema-e-Hind, an influential body of Muslim clerics, came out in support of small families but has opposed the idea of imposing the two-child norm. "If people want to go in for small families, they are welcome to do it. But we will oppose the move to impose a two-child norm. It should be left to individuals to plan the size of their families. Nothing should be imposed," said Maulana Mehmood Madani, general secretary of the organisation.

The Jamaat also deplored the idea of conducting a religion-based census on the ground that it was open to misinterpretation. "It does not serve any purpose. On the contrary, it is being used by vested interests to put a particular community in the dock," said Maulana Madani.

Documentary released

Addressing the media at the release of a documentary film, `Kya Hum Ghulam Hi Rahenge,' on the Muslim community by the noted film-maker, Mahesh Bhatt, the Jamaat general secretary was of the opinion that the people should not view the issue as a Hindu or Muslim problem. "The fact is that illiteracy and backwardness have a direct bearing on the population pattern," he said.

Counter-productive

Maulana Madani was of the view that imposing the two-child norm might prove counter-productive and was unlikely to go down well with the people. "Our experience has shown that anything that is imposed from above is always resisted by the people," he said.

The Jamaat leader said that the Government should concentrate on creating awareness on the issue and educating the people on the benefits of having smaller families.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Mahesh Bhatt lauded the Jamaat for its role in the freedom struggle and it efforts in rehabilitating those displaced during the Gujarat riots.

"This organisation was in the forefront of the freedom struggle. It was among the first to call for complete Independence — it called Gandhi a Mahatma much before others did," he said.

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