Have 3 kids or run risk of extinction, says RSS’ Bhagwat

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday expressed concern over declining population growth and said India’s total fertility rate (TFR) — the average number of children a woman gives birth to in her lifetime — should be at least 3, well above the present 2.1.

The RSS chief, speaking at an event here, cited examples of how certain languages and societies had vanished as they couldn’t keep pace with time.

“A declining population is a serious concern. Demographic studies suggest that when a society’s total fertility rate falls below 2.1, it risks facing extinction. This decline does not necessarily require external threats; a society can gradually fade away on its own,” Bhagwat said citing population science. “Many languages and cultures have already disappeared due to this issue. Thus, it is essential to maintain a fertility rate of above 2.1,” Bhagwat said and emphasised that “kutumb” (family) was an integral part of society and every family served as a vital building block.

“Our country’s population policy, formulated either in 1998 or 2002, clearly says that the total fertility rate should not be below 2.1. Now when we say 2.1, it is not feasible to have children in fraction. So when we say 2.1, this means it should be more, at least three. The (population) science says so,” Bhagwat said.

India’s TFR has declined from 2.2 to 2 while the contraceptive prevalence rate has increased from 54 per cent to 67 per cent, according to the National Family Health Survey data released in 2021.

A total fertility rate of 2.1 is considered as the replacement rate, which is a crucial factor in population growth. It ensures the replacement of a woman and her partner upon death with no overall increase or decrease in numbers.

Latching on to Bhagwat’s remarks, AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi said: “PM Modi had earlier said that Muslim women produced more children.” He also referred to Modi’s remarks that if the Congress came to power, it would redistribute gold, including “mangalsutras”, from mothers and daughters among Muslims.

“Bhagwat says produce more children. Now those in the RSS should start marrying,” Owaisi said.