 |
Focus 1989 July - September |
|
|
1 Page 1 |
▲back to top |
Reflections on Population Policy
J. R. D. Tata to Chair International Colloquium
To celebrate the 20th anniversary
of" UNFPA, Mr. J. R. D. Tata,
Chairman Family Planning Founda-
. tion, will preside over a Colloquium
on the theme "Reflections on Popu-
lation Policy: Yesterday and To-
morrow", on September 22, as a
part of the 21st International Popu-
1ation Conference of the Inter-
national Union for the Scientific
Study of Population (I.U.S.S.P.)
being hosted at New Delhi from
20th to 27th September, 1989 by
the Indian Association for the
Study of Population.
nearly 1,200 delegates and
observers from all over the world
are expected to participate.
Neighbourhood Family
Welfare Project
Innovative Scheme Launched lin
Rajasthan ••
Dr. Nafis Sadik, Executive
Director, UNFPA, will be the guest
of honour at the Colloquium in
which about 100 internationally
renowned demographers and popu-
lation research scholars from India
and abroad gathered in the capital
on the occasion of the IUSSP
Conference, will participate.
It may be mentioned that the
IUSSP Conference is being held
in India for the second tim9 after
a lapse of 38 years. The first such
occasion was way back in 1951
when Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the
architect of modern India, inaugu-
ratad the conference at New Delhi.
This time in the centenary year of
Shri Nehru, his grandson Shri Rajiv
Gandhi is inaugurating the con-
ference on September 20, in which
An innovative- family welfare
project funded by the Family Plann-
ing Foundation was launched in
Udaipur district of Rajasthan State
on August 15, 1989.
f ' The project aims at putting into
practice the strategy of neigh-
bourhood family network for de-
veloping indigenous leadership to
promote female literacy, higher age
at marriage and sl'half family nOrm
through participatory processes.
The project is being implemented
in three village clusters of Girwa
block of district Udaipur covering
a population of about 10,000 in
2,000 households of 20 villages
with less than 9 per cent female
literacy.
In the project area it is proposed
to organise rural communities into
|
|
2 Page 2 |
▲back to top |
Chandigarh Workshop Sets the Pace
Involving Organised Sector in F.W. Programmes
Mr. H. A. Barari, Governor,
Haryana, made a strong plea
for' converting family welfare
programme into a mass move-
ment in order to achieve a
zero rate of population growth.
He· warned that if the two-
child norm was not strictly
adhered to, the population of
the country may increase to
well beyond 100 crore by the
turn of the century, and then
It might become difficult to
feed such a large population
even at the present low level
of consumption, what to speak
of a higher level on a par with
the advanced countries.
The Governor was addressing
the first Workshop on "Family
Welfare in the Organised Sector"
held at Chandigarh on July 22,
1989, as a collaborative effort of
the Family Planning Foundation
and the PHD Chamber of Com-
merce and Industry. The workshop
is expected to be a trend-setter for
similar USAID-assisted regional
workshops to be held at Ahmeda-
bad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Bombay,
Calcutta, Kanpur, Madras and
Patna culminating in a national
seminar at New Delhi. The pur-
pose is to motivate the organised
sector of industry to establish
employee-based, self-sustaining
family welfare services.
Threat to Socio-
Economic Fabric
Calling upon the people to adopt
small family norm as a way of life,
Mr. Barari said that uncontrolled
population growth would result
in acute unemployment, poverty
and lawlessness posing a serious
threat to the socio-economic fabric
of the nation. He emphasized that
limited resources of the country
would not be able to withstand
the pressures generated by un-
precedented rise in population;
indeed, the entire life supporting
system might collapse leading to
untold misery, especially for the
economically vulnerable. .
Commending the good work
done in this sphere by the Family
Planning Foundation and the
PHDCCI, the Governor asked them
to further intensify their efforts as
much more remained to be done
in the organised sector of industry.
Developing Programme
Strategy
Mr. Harish Khanna, Executive
Director, Family Planning Founda-'
tion, elaborating the pioneering role
of the Foundation under the dyna-
mic leadership of Mr. J. R. D. Tata,
the doyen of Indian industry, gave
a brief account of the background
of regional workshops. He said
the main objective was to sensi-
tise the management cadres in a
fashio that they see the problem
in a specific regional context and
develop a programme strategy bas-
ed on the belief that family planning
was not only in the interest of the
worker and his family, but equally
in the interest of the industrial
enterprise. This aspect was high-
lighted in a pres.entation by Mr.
D. K. Dey about the TISCO pro-
gramme at Jamshedpur which
proved beyond doubt that family
planning investment had resulted
in higher productivity, plant effi-
ciency and reduced welfare burden.
The Chandigarh workshop made
valuable recommendationSto inten-
sify and institutionalise family wel-
fare activities at the plant level.
Mr. J. R. D. Tata, Chairman,
Family Planning Foundation, in
a special messagefor the success
of the regional workshopS, has
urged alJ companies, large and
small, in the corporate sector to
support the regional seminars
being organised by Cnambers
of Commerce and Industry in
collaboration with the Family
Planning Foundation, as a start-
ing point of a movement.
He stressed that any success
achieved in motivating indus-
trial personnel voluntarily to
practise family planning will have
an invaluable multiplier effect
on large communities. "I realise
that motivating any important
change in the habits and prac-
/ices of a society is a difficult
task but success in such achieve-
ment is a thrilling experience
which will bring its own reward. ".
Highlighting the fact that
Indian industry, in both the
public and private sectors, had a
built-in advantage in its ability
to support the nation's family
planning and other welfare pro-
grammes as a result of its easy
access to large groups of em-
ployees and their families, Mr.
Tata fervently hoped that the Go-
vernment will enrol the support
and collaboration of industry and
other independent voluntary
organisations, particularly those
who already have an established
record in the implementation of
the total family welfare and
family planning programmes of
the nation.
|
|
3 Page 3 |
▲back to top |
Looking into the Future
INDIA IN 2021 A.D.
India's population will be around 1,224 or 1,402 million in 2021 AD
depending on high or low couple protection rate, which at present is
40 per cent. And roughly half of the country's population will be in
urban areas c;eating crisis situations with regard to the provision of
basic urban services such as drinking water, roads, houses, sanitation
educational facilities etc.
This disturbing demographic
scenario is unfolded by a recent
study "India 2021 ", conducted by
the Operations Research Group
(ORG), a leading research and
evaluation organisation, under
the leadership of Dr. N. Bhaskara
Rao.
The study underlines the fact
that even if the present impressive
economic growth rate is main-
tained in the '90s and subsequent
decades, more than 15 per cent of
the urban population and 25 per
cent of the rural population will
still be below the poverty line
even in 2021.
Excerpted below are the salient
features of this important study
which, it is hoped, will lead to
public discussion on both the pro-
jections and the policy objectives
for the 8th and subsequent five-
year plans.
of 2.2 per cent, the par capita
income grew by only 1.3 per cent
per annum between 1950 and
1985. The growth rate of national
income had improved in the Sixth
Five Year Plan period (1980-85)
because of a higher level of food-
grain output, which ranged from
130 to 152 million tonnes a year,
and a rapid growth in the service
sector. However, this upsurge was
overwhelmed by growing numbers.
Daunting Challenges
Overall, with population pressures
unlikely to abate over the next
twenty five years and the resource
base not widening, India faces
daunting challenges in giving the
desired momentum to development
to achieve the declared objectives
of elimination of poverty and near
full employment if not by 2000
A.D. at least by 2020.
lhe Eighth Five Year Plan, due to
start from April 1, 1990, would aim
at achieving an annual average of
6 per cent rise in national income
in real terms but this growth rate
has to be achieved by not only
raising additional resources but also
by making more efficient Use of
available resources and better utili-
sation of existing assets and capa-
cities built over the years. lhese
are complex tasks demanding un-
divided attention in confronting
problems of development which
"are compounded by the unchecked
rate of increase in population, rapid
urbanisation and periodical set-
backs in agriculture, all of which
have worsened the status of the
poor.
Population Control Strategies
lhe QRG study of likely popula-
tion trends over the next three
decades shows that achieving net
reproduction rate (NRR) equal to
unity would only be possible in
2015 A.D. with high couple pro-
tection rates (CPR) and constant
fertility alt~nati\\ies, with a popula-
tion of around 1,200 million. If
CPR remains low, the target cannot
be reached even by 2021 when
the population would have crossed
the 1AOO milljon mark.
A Long Haul Ahead
Among low-income countries,
India's development record has
been outstanding but, in relation
to the needs of a growing popula-
tion and the technological societies
of the West, we have at best
scratched the surface of develop-
ment. India has a long haul ahead
to reach the goals of eradication
of poverty and full employment for
all able-bodied persons. lhe long-
term growth trend in national
income has been a mere 3.5 per
cent between 1950 and 1980 and
with an average population growth
CQt3RATulATIONS !
ITS '(OUR5 ~W~TH.
WHATDO)OJ THINK HELL
5E WHEN HE GRCW5 UP'?
|
|
4 Page 4 |
▲back to top |
I India in 2021: A Futuristic Study 1i'----------------------------,
rate resulting in insignificant rise
in per capita incomes over tr,6
years has, far from mitigating,
accentuated the problem of poverty"
The study underlines that the Basic Needs
The study concludes that with a
strategy for the future has to rest
on increasing the couple protec-
tion rate while lowering the age at
which a female adopts contracep-
tion, raising female age at marriage,
and laying emphasis on non-
t9rminal instead of terminal methods
of family planning. More im-
In the context of the projected
explosive growth of population, the
provision of basic needs, popularly
known as •.Roti, Kapda, Makan"
for the entire population of the
country will have to take a higher
priority. Current trends in per
capita availability of nutritious food·
5 per cent rate of growth of the
economy, only 45 per cent of the
rural poor would be crossing the
poverty line by the turn of the
century. Even with a higher GDP
rate of 6 per cent between 2000-
2021, the,situation will not change
much.
lID
portantly, accessibility to couples of
contraception services has to be
greatly improved through a corps
and the extent of prevalence of
malnutrition show that shortage in
food intake as per minimum calo-
Innovative Project
(Continued from page 1)
of female health volunteers who ries requirement would continue to small neighbourhood family net-
.could deliver reliable services.
eXIst even in 2021. In clothing, works consisting of 5 families at
The study also recommends
that a more vigorous attention
has to be devoted to expand
and intensify family welfare
programmes in the organised
sector where comparatively
larger proportion of young men
ane women are employed.
Besides, the educated and
skilled industrial worker is
clearly a leader in his commu-
nity, ensuring a multiplier
effect.
unless the cheaper cloth within the
paying capacity of the poor is ade-
quately produced, the minimum
requirement of cloth per capita
will not be met. Similarly, in
housing for the poor, the con-
struction costs have to be much
lower. Creation of more rural-
based jobs is absolutely essential
to .check the exodus to urban
areas.
Agriculture Needs
Large Investments
grass roots level, into family clusters
consisting of 25 families at the
middle level and then into village
councils consisting of all family
clusters at the village level. The
objective of promoting female lite-
racy, higher age at marriage and
adoption of small family norm is
sought to be realised through non-
formal education, training and
workshop activities at different
levels with the active involvement
of local leaders and facilitators
after they hav~ been identified and
Urbanisation A Major Problem
It is estimated that of the 73 per trained for, their specific roles.
cent of the people in rural areas,
The implementation of the project
I'ndia is no exception to the high
rate of urbanisation taking place in
about 45 per cent are dependent on
agriculture. A reasonable target
has been entrusted to Prayatna
Samiti (Rajasthan Rural Recon-
many parts of the developing world. for 2021 would be to attain struction Society), Udaipur - a
By 1981, about one-fourth of the
population in India lived in urban
areas. From 156 million in 1981,
urban population is estimated to
cropping intensity and yield rate
which would produce 310 million
tonnes of foodgrains for a popula-
tion of 1,225 million, giving 0.70
J! voluntary body registered under
o the Rajasthan Societies Registra-
tion Act. Dr. G. N. Reddy, Presi-
dent, Indian .Rural Reconstruction
rise to between 330 and 350 Kg per capita availability. Agri- Movement is the consultant of this
million by 2001 and 430 million culture needs large investments to pilot project. The Family Planning
by 2021. Urbanisation, which is help raise the incomes of people Foundation has undertaken to pro-
already posing major problems in dependent on land and related vide funds to the tune of Rs.4
the larger towns and metro cities, activities through higher levels of lakhs - Rs. 2,16,000 for the first
will now take the centre stage in output.
year and Rs. 1,84,000 for the
development planning requiring
massive investments for the basic Crossing the Poverty Line
second year.
services- 3,000-3,500 crores every
Reduction of poverty and un-
The idea is to develop pro-
year for the next 25 years, accord- employment have been the avowed totype of a replicable model for
ing to the National Commission aims of planning in India since Rajasthan and similar deve' oping
on Urbanisation.
Independence. India's low growth areas.
|
|
5 Page 5 |
▲back to top |
turn and is now set to extend to
3,000 Blocks.
In the exchange of views bet-
ween the two sides, many poi nts of
commonality were observed.
NYKS Director General, Shri Akhil
Bakshi and FPF Executive Director,
Shri Harish Khanna shared their
recent experiences wilh village
youth leaders who had shown re-
markable sensitivity to issues of en-
vironmental degradation under the
pressure of, incessant population
. growth. Thus sensitised and
motivated, youngmen and women
were ready to assume leadership
role in the 1,05,000 villages that
the HSV project aims at reaching.
Some members of the Chinese delegation with Mr. J. R. D. Tata. On extreme
right is Mr. Harish Khanna, Executive Director, Family Planning Foundation.
Population Issues Discussed with
Chinese Parliamentary Delegation
An 8-member Parliamentary
Delegation under the leadership
of Mr. Liu lBing, Deputy of the
National :People's Congress of
China and Vice-Chairman of Edu-
cation, Science, Culture, Public
Health Committee of the NPCC
visited India in April this year at the
invitation of the Indian Associa-
tion of Parliamentarians on Popula-
tion and Development (IAPPD).
On April 20, Family Planning
Foundation arranged an informal
discussion between the members
of the delegation and members of
the Governing Board of the
Foundation. The jidea was to en-
able members of the Board to gain
insights about the Chinese popula-
tion control programmes and
simultaneously to facilitate amongst
the Chinese a better understanding
of the Indian family planning pro-
gramme, to which the Family
Planning Foundation has been con-
tributing its mite. Mr. J. R. D. Tata,
Chairman of the Governing Board
of the Family Planning Foundation,
led this exchange of views and
experiences .between (the guests
and the hosts representing the two
most populous countries of the
world engaged in the crucial task
of stabilising their populations as
early as possible.
It may be recalled that the IAPPD,
under the chairmanship of Mr. Sat
Paul Mittal. MP, has had fraternal
relation with their counterparts in
China, facilitating exchange of
views on population related issues
between the two Asian giants. The
Foundation has ,been collaborat-
ing with IAPPD in the task of
involving parliamentarians and
legislators in confronting popula-
tion issues.
'rhe Foundation also arranged a
visit of the Chinese delegation to
the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan
(NYKS) where they were briefed
about the NYKS-FPF collaborative
project aimed at sensitising the
rural youth towards human survival
values with a focus on population.
This project has gathered momen-
"It is curious how the Chinese
had managed, in scarcely over a
decade, to reduce the average num-
ber of children per .family from six
to fewer than three", according to
J. Mayone Styeos, Director of the
population and development pro-
gramme at Cornell Univorsity,
(U.S.A.). -
Outside China, coercion is the
explanation usually cited to achieve
what has been, until recently, the
Chinese goal of one child per family.
But though "there are legal incen-
tives and disincentives to dis-
courage fertilitY," he opines, "these
are not sufficient to account for
such monumental change." There
have been many social and econo-
mic advances in China that have
greatly expedite~ the family plann-
ing programme, and he cites two
factors in particular that could be
instructive to other countries.
First, "The Chinese have educat-
ed both adults and adolescents to
associate their family behaviour
(age at marriage and the number
of children they have) with national
welfare .. The Chinese have en-
deavoured to convince their people
that controllins individual family
(Continued on page 6)
|
|
6 Page 6 |
▲back to top |
Strong Support for Family Planning in Lok Sabha About India, he said that the per
capita availability of land would be
Family Planning received strong
support from almost all members
of the Lok Sabha - nearly 30 -
who participated in the debate on a
private member's resolution, moved
by Dr. Krupasindhu Bhoi, urging
the Government to take urgent
steps for improving the quality of
life of the people.
Village Sarpanches should take
genuine interest in making family
planning a success. They also
wanted more and better pro-
grammes through the media to
encourage family planning.
0
Crusade To Protect
Ecology
just 0.15 hectare by 2,001 com-
pared to 0.35 hectare now.
To feed the growing population
at that stage would be a real
challenge and could be met only
by developing suitable technologies
for raising land productivity even
while ensuring environmental pro-
tection, he observed.
0
Moving the resolution, Dr. Bhoi
pleaded for a comprehensive legis-
lation in two phases so that the
country could adopt a one child
norm in order to ultimately achieve
a zero per cent population growth
rate.
He wanted the Government to :
(i) recognise the family welfare
programme as a national
imperative;
(ii) evolve a national consensus
for acceptance of one child
per couple norm by the
people;
(iii) raise the level of education
of women;
(iv) provide adequate health
careto women andchil~ren;
(v) lay down a uniform civil
code for all citizens espe-
cially with regard to
marriage and family wel-
fare; and
(vi) set l:lp a National Popula-
tion Commission to suggest
measures to achieve the
target of zero per cent
population growth rate by
the turn of the century.
During discussion on the resolu-
tion, several members said legisla-
Dr. M. S. Swaminathan, eminent
(Continued from page 5)
environmentalist, urged the media size is necessaryfor the well-being
in South Asia to launch an "en- of the greater community. Even
vironmental crusade" to protect children are acutely aware of
the region's rich biological diversity national and world population pro-
from degradation.
,blems through population educa-
"This was because the time has tion." A survey of 5,000 high-
come to start a mass-awareness school students in Sichuan Pro-
campaign and ensure people's vince, for example, indicated that
participation in this gigantic task", . 85 percent knew the size of world
Dr. Swaminathan said, while in- population and 79 percent thought
augurating recently a workshop on it too large. In Costa Rica,
"Environmental issues in agricul- Colombia and Peru, fewer than 5
ture" organised by the Forum of percent in each country were able-
Agro Rural Media (FARM), formed to identify world population size,
a year ago by agricultural corres- and fewer than half considered it
pondents.
to; large.
He observed that the media
Statistics are also an important
could playa leading role in this part of the programme. "Birth
by acting as an early warning rates, death rates, population
system.
figures and target statistics are
He also stressed the need for on the tip of most tongues down
sustainable agricultural and to the village level. Pride in
rural development. "This could achieving birth quotas is not dis-
be achieved only if the region's similar to pride in meeting produc-
continued biological impove- tion quotas .. The uses of group
rishment is arrested.
and individual rewards and punish-
The concept of sustainability
ments, the close monitoring of
to be put into operation, goal setling and goal achievement,
should have a methodological
and the use of group persuasion to
approach. "For this we must affect motivation and performance
tion alone could not achieve the develop precise tools".
are more acceptable and feasible
goal and, therefore, efforts should
Of the nearly 500 million poor because they are adaptations of a
be made to ensure full participation and malnourished people in the longstanding system in the econo-
by the people. In this context it world, more than 300 million mic sphere." What others may see
was suggested that leaders of all are in South Asia. "Most of as coercion is regarded by many
political parties should sit together them are in such a state due to Chinese as another necessary pat-
and evolve effective strategies to the non-availability and low riotic sacrifice.
help control the rapid growth of productivity
population. IMPs, MLAs and land."
of the degraded
(World Development Forum,
.
Vol. 7 No. 13)
|
|
7 Page 7 |
▲back to top |
Family Welfare in the Organised Sector
Second Workshop Held at Bombay
The second Workshop on
"Family Welfare in the Orga-
nised Sector" in the series of
nine regional workshops was
held at Bombay on September
1, 1989.
The workshop inaugurated
by Shri Viren J. Shah, Presi-
dent, The Associated Chambers
of Commerce and Industry of
India (ASSOCHAM) and pre-
sided over by Shri Rohit J.
Patel, President, Indian Mer-
chant's Chamber (IMC) was
jointly organised by the I.M.C.
and the Family Planning
Foundation.
In his inaugural address, Shti
Shah stressed the need for
initiating result-oriented pro-
grammes by the industrial units
for the welfare of their
workers, with the ultimate aim
of enabling them to practise
family planning. He appealed
to the participants to reach
this message to their senior
managers.
Earlier, in his welcome
address, Shri Patel exhorted
the organised sector and
various voluntary agencies to
extend a helping hand to the
Government in solving the
population problem.
Shri S. P. Godrej, Chairman,
Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing
Company,
Governing
and
Board
Member
of the
Foundation shared with the
participants the experience of
his organisation in providing
family welfare services to their
workers, including various in-
centives offered to them and
and the gains derived by the
Company.
The participants guided by
eminent population experts
deliberated on relevant issues
in syndicates and in the end
developed the outline of an
effective strategy for organi-
sed in-plant family planning
services.
0
Breast-Feeding--A
Natural Contraceptive
Breast-feeding can prevent up
to four births during a woman's
reproductive years, but a decline
in the practice in Africa and Asia
threatens a new surge of popula-
tion growth there. Three resear-
chers, reporting in the British
scientific journal, Nature, said that
this decline is occurring mainly
among young, affluent, educated,
urban women. Breast-feeding offers
almost total fertility control during
the first few months following the
birth of a child, with diminishing
protection over the next 18 months.
When a woman breast-feeds her
'baby, the nerves that are stimulated
trigger the production of a variety
of chemicals that suppress ovarian
activity. The researcherssaid that
major increasesin contraceptive use
would be required to offs~t the
increasedfertility rate resulting from
the decline in breast-feeding. In
Senegal. for example, a 50 perCflnt
decline in breast-feeding would
require a 400 percent increase in
the use of contraception. In
Pakistan and Nepal, the contra-
ceptive increase would have to be
even greater.
(Population, December 1988,
United Nations Population Fund
Newsletter).
The Five-Year
Contraceptive
For women all over the world, a
newly developed and about-to-be-
marketed contraceptive could en-
ormously facilitate family planning.
According to a Washington Post
editorial. the FDA has approved a
long-acting contraceptive implant-
ed under the skin of a woman's
upper arm, which will prevent
pregnancy for as long as five years
and can be removed at any time a
woman wishes to become preg-
nant. It promises several advan-
tages over current contracptive de-
vices: a 99 percent effective rate;
and because it does not contain
estrogen, greater safety than the
pill. Comments the Post: "It will
be revolutionary because it is so
easy to use. Implantation is a
simple medical procedure, and
health care workers all over the
world can be trained to do the job.
Its use does not require a re-.
current, regular affirmative deci-
sion, as taking the pill does. It
will not be a continuing expense
Or require a constant supply of
medication. In the developing
world, overburdened with popula-
tion and shortchanged in medical
care and sl1t:>pliest,his technique
can be readily explained, and five-
year contraception can be offered
in a single procedure .. Improved
contraceptive devices will greatly
limit the need for abortions, and
the new implants - safe, easy,
effective and long-lasting - sound
like the most promising develop-
ment in this field in a gener ation."
(World Development Forum,
Vol. 7 No. 13)
Population Pressures
Jeopardise Survival
of All Species
Competition with humans for
habitat is leading to the extinction
of other species co-inhabiting the
planet, warns an Australian re-
searcher. Habitat is a limited
resource, Dr. David Bennett points
out in the environmental journal
(Continued on page 8)
|
|
8 Page 8 |
▲back to top |
A Tireless Worker
Tara Ali Baig: a name synonymous
with Child Welfare
In the death of Smt. Tara Ali
Baig on July 17, 1989 at Madras,
the country lost a veteran and
tireless worker for many humane
causes - women's and children's
welfare, population control and
family welfare, upliftment of the
downtrodden and underprivileged
sections of society. Tara Ali Baig's
enthusiasm for life and her commit-
ment to the causes she held dear
was infectious. And true to type
when the end came, she was in
Madras visiting an SOS village!
In the words of Amita Malik, a
renowned journalist, "Tara Ali Baig
crowded so much into her intense
life that it seems incredible. Yet
she kept her graciousness, dignity,
sense of fun and an old-fashioned
dedication to service of the com-
munity which found its zenith,
among other things, in her lwork
for underprivileged children not only
in India, but all over the world.
She might have walked literally
with kings, but never lost the
common touch. She found time to
be a devoted wife and mother, to
keep open house down the years
for a variety of people and with
compassion of a greatly moving
type."
for Many Causes
F.P.F. Tribute
The following resolution was
passed at a meeting held in the
office of the Family Planning
Foundation on July 18, 1989 to
condole the sudden demise of
Smt. Tara Ali Baig, "a very
sincere and devoted member of
the Governing Board of the
Family Planning Foundation:~
"We, the officers and staff of
the Family Planning Founda-
tion learn with deep sorrow the
sudden demise of Smt. Tara
Ali Baig in Madras on Monday
night. Smt. Tara Ali Baig,
besides being President of the
SOS Villages in India and
President of International
Council of Child Welfare, was
a very sincere and devoted
member of the Governing
Board of the Family Planning
Foundation almost from its in-
ception. Her deep 1under-
standing of the anguish'of the
poor as well as the problems
faced by women and children
greatly influenced the vision of
the Foundation about its role in
society. We will greatly miss
her inspiring presence in our
midst but hope that her ideals
will continue to provide gui-
dance and strength. We ex-
tend our heart-felt condolences
to the:members of her bereaved
family, and pray that her soul
may rest in peace:'
Tara Ali Baig's name is synony-
mous with child welfare not only
in India but the world over, and
she was conferred with the highest
accolades that the international
community could possibly shower.
She was the first Asian member -
and woman to boot - to be elected
as President of the International
Union for Child Welfare, Geneva
Until the very end, she was Pres-
ident of the SOS Children's villages
in India, an office she had held
since 1967.
Tara Ali Baig was a prolific writer,
notching up ten books and dozens
of 'middles' and articles in news-
papers. Her recent autobiographi-
cal reminiscences in the shape of
"Portrait of an Era", is a fitting
finale to a fruitful, though hectic
life. As she recounts in this book,
"one of my gifts, if I say it myself,
is to make something out of no-
thing. It is a considerable art."
And Tara Ali Baig did make some-
thing out of her life and this equally
extended into her work - centres
for women and children in need,
new initiatives for rural, tribal and
urban communities (even the
efficacy of dry-latrines initiated two
years ago did not escape her
attention), Film Censor Board, arts
and letters, Family Planning
Foundation, etc. her family, her
large spectrum of friends and in
each sphere she left an indelible
impTession, a mark that stemmed
from her ability to organise with
unerring· insight, the limited re-
sources of time and material where-
withal. A glorious life indeed!
Population Pressures
(Continued from page 7)
Buzzworm. He adds, "An ever-
expanding human population en-
croaches on the quantIty and
quality of habitats, diminishing
their size while the harmful effects
of human activities such as pollu-
tion degrade them." Bennett
argues that the "glacial impact" of
such population pressures "jeopar-
dizes the survival of every species
including humans." He concludes
that humanity must recognize that
safeguarding the continuing diver-
sity of other species is a key to
assuring its own preservation.
(Buzzworm, Summer 1988
Boulder, Colorado).
Published by the Family Planning Foundation, 198 Golf Links, New Delhi 110003. Tel: 621135,697583,619278
Printed at the Statesman Press, The Statesman Ltd., Connaught Circus, New Delhi-110001.
Editorial Direction 8' Guidance: Harish Khanna
Editorial Consultant: J. L. saaz