RSS Chief Bhagwat Urges Couples To Have At Least 3 Children

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat has urged couples to have at least three children to prevent the population from decreasing. Speaking at the 바카라�Kathale Kul (clan) Sammelan바카라� in Nagpur on Sunday, he said that 바카라�kutumb바카라� (family) is an integral part of society, with each family serving as a unit. 

"A declining population is a serious issue. Demographic studies suggest that when a society바카라�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.

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He said, "Many languages and cultures have already disappeared due to this issue. Thus, it is essential to maintain a fertility rate above 2.1." Referring to India바카라�s population policy, Bhagwat said, "The policy, formulated either in 1998 or 2002, clearly says that the total fertility rate should not fall 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 was referring to the Total Fertility Rate (TFR), or the number of babies an average woman aged 15-49 bears over her lifetime. India바카라�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 TFR of 2.1 is considered the "replacement-level fertility," meaning that two children are enough to replace a woman and her partner. Since not all infants survive to reach reproductive age, the replacement TFR is slightly above two. This ensures that each generation can replace itself. Although populations can still grow with falling TFRs, an absolute decline will only occur if TFRs remain below replacement levels for extended periods.

This is not the first time Bhagwat has addressed the population issue. He has previously talked about population control and religion-based population balance.

In 2021, during a book release event in Assam, Bhagwat made a controversial statement claiming that since 1930, 바카라�planned efforts바카라� had been made to increase the Muslim population in India. 바카라�Since 1930, there have been organised attempts at increasing the Muslim population in a planned manner. The design was to increase population in order to exercise their dominance and slowly turn this nation into Pakistan,바카라� Bhagwat said. 

Latching on to Bhagwat바카라�s recent remarks, AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi said, 바카라�PM Modi had earlier said that Muslim women produce more children.바카라� He also referred to Modi바카라�s remarks that if Congress comes to power, it will redistribute gold, including 바카라�mangalsutras바카라�, from mothers and daughters among Muslims.

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

Bhagwat바카라�s latest comments come at a time when Chief Ministers from the South have expressed concern about the ageing population in their states. In October, Andhra Pradesh CM N. Chandrababu Naidu, whose party is part of the BJP-led NDA, called for more children to be born in his state. He said, 바카라�We are considering offering incentives to families with more children and encouraging couples to have larger families.바카라� His government also abolished the two-child rule for candidates contesting local body elections in the state. It is expected that Telangana will soon follow a similar approach.