RSS chief Dr. Mohan Bhagwat said- every couple should have at least 3 children

Nagpur :  Expressing concern over declining population growth, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday said that India’s total fertility rate (TFR), the average number of children a woman gives birth to in her lifetime, should be at least 3, which is much higher than the current 2.1. At the same time, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has hit back at this. Commenting on Bhagwat’s remarks, AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi said, “PM Modi had earlier said Muslim women produce more children.” He also referred to Modi’s remark that if the Congress comes to power, it will redistribute the gold, including ‘mangalsutra’, of Muslim mothers and daughters. “Bhagwat says produce more children. Now RSS people should start getting married,” Owaisi said.

Speaking at the ‘Kathle Kul (Lineage) Sammelan’ in Nagpur, Bhagwat also highlighted the important role of families and warned that according to population science, if the total fertility rate of a society falls below 2.1, it may become extinct. Bhagwat said, “Population decline is a serious concern. Demographic studies show that when the total fertility rate of a society falls below 2.1, it runs the risk of extinction. This decline does not necessarily require external threats; a society can gradually die out on its own.” “Many languages ​​and cultures have already been lost due to this issue. Thus, it is necessary to maintain the fertility rate above 2.1,” Bhagwat said and emphasised that “kutumb” (family) is an integral part of society and every family serves as an important building block.

“The population policy of our country, which was formulated in 1998 or 2002, clearly states that the total fertility rate should not be less than 2.1. Now when we say 2.1, it is not possible to have the children in the numerator. So when we say 2.1, it means it should be more, at least three,” Bhagwat said. (Population) science says so. According to National Family Health Survey data released in 2021, India’s TFR has declined from 2.2 to 2 while contraceptive prevalence rate has increased from 54 per cent to 67 per cent. A total fertility rate of 2.1 is considered the replacement rate, which is a key factor in population growth numbers.