Click to play videoBangalore: He makes a pretty picture with his five children and eight grandchildren, but Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa doesn’t recommend this for the poor.
Just back from a China trip, he is proposing a Chinese model of population control which says: don’t have more than two children or you won’t get benefits from pro-poor programmes.
If the Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad thought the best way to control population was to promote TV watching among rural viewers, then the Karnataka government wants to go one step further with its hum do, hamare do agenda.
“You must have some control. Those who are capable, let them enjoy for that we have no objection, but those who are really poor, it's very difficult to maintain family,” Yeddyurappa said.
The CM mooted the idea at the ongoing Assembly session, just six months after his Budget talked of incentives like free health care for the newborns of those below the poverty line.
However, the Opposition says he is being whimsical.
Congress MLA DK Shivakumar said, “CM is not the country's head. It's the law of the country. Whoever is poor and eligible should get all benefits the Constitution provides. Yes, control of population has been going on for so many decades but for a parental decision, a child can't suffer.”
Meanwhile, a resident of Bangalore said, “It will be effective but it's not a nice way for the government to go ahead with this policy.”
While another resident said, “We can restrain ourselves and everyone will get the benefits in future.”
For now, Yeddyurappa has invited suggestions from the House.
“After the discussion we will get back on this issue. I am 100 per cent serious about it,” the Chief Minister said.
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