Government Moves to Check Population Explosion

Special Correspondent

Silchar: “Population explosion in our country has become a matter of concern as it negates the benefits of economic development and upsets all schemes and projects aimed at betterment and uplift of people in general,” pointed out Dr Biswadeep Choudhury of SMCH at a well-attended awareness camp organized jointly by Village Defence party and Silchar Sadar thana at Gandhi Bhavan here on Saturday. To counter the abnormal growth of human number, the government has taken up various family- planning welfare measures to reduce the total fertility rate. This has yielded positive results, he said.

The target set by the government is to bring down total fertility rate (TFR) to 1.8 from the existing 2.2 Giving a chronological figure, Dr Choudhury said from 5.6 TFR in 1969, it has shown the downward trend of 4.5 in 1990, 3.6 in 1999, 3.2 in 2017 and 2.2 in 2019. All these have been possible for family planning methods by people, men, and women, in general. Growing awareness along with literacy has broken many superstitions and taboos. Bihar with ignorance and illiteracy has the highest TFR of 3.2 while Kerala the lowest TFR of 0.7 in the country. Literacy, awareness and women’s dominant role in Kerala has made family planning a great success.

Dharmananda Deb, the leading advocate of Silchar Bar Association, touching on the important issue of NRC said, “There should not be any apprehension in any one’s mind about the NRC update which is being done under the supervision of the Supreme Court of India and has reached the crucial stage of publication.” To be left out of NRC does not mean one has become a foreigner. He can approach the FT. If not satisfied, he can go to the High Court and ultimately the Supreme Court. Options are there to prove Indian citizenship, Deb clarified.

Deepu Mani Goswami, O/C Sadar police station, cautioned drug consumption and its smuggling both are criminal offenses and the offenders are subjected to harsher punitive measures. His call to all, particularly students and youths, is to desist from such vices which can ruin their career and life. He holds out a warning to those who smuggle in drugs, heroin, and other seductive intoxicants from different sources and push them to sell outlets and easily make them available to the consumers. He at the same time dealt with another burning issue of road accidents which according to him are due mainly to rash driving, high speed and overtaking. Traffic rule violators as per the new rules and regulations framed by the Parliament will be dealt with harshly. Drivers and bike riders have to be cautious, Goswami again cautioned.

Ataur Rahman Laskar, convener, VDP, said since its inception in 1950, their organization is working in close coordination with Assam police in maintaining law and order and effectively curbing the anti-social activities. VDP has stood by police during elections to GP, Assembly, and Parliamentary elections as well NRC update process. “Our monthly pay of Rs 2,500 is too meagre to sustain ourselves in these hard economic days. Our demand to the government is to raise it to Rs 5000 each month.” VDP covers 264 villages under Sadar thana. Also present at the meeting were Ashis Haldar, advisor VDP, and Sahanur Raj Barbhuiya, circle officer, VDP.

Also Read: Citizens’ Forum to CM, FM and Forest Minister to visit SMCH