Population

(Science: Vol. 195 (Mar. 25, 1977)

India's problem is further complicated by a tradition and culture that require a man and woman to rear several children. Each couple automatically follows Malthus's "second fixed law of nature" and procreates without restraint. The norms of traditional society sanction early and universal marri age and lead to early childbearing and, often, early widowhood. The average age of rural Indian women when they give birth to a third child is 25. A review of accepters in a dozen or so vasectomy camps in several states showed that the average age of the wife ranged from 30 years (in Kerala) to 38 years (in Uttar Pradesh). The number of living children per sterilized couple in both Kerala and Uttar Pradesh was about four. In order to achieve the demographic targets, sterilizations should be performed when the wives are in their mid-20's.

In the Indian cultural context, a stop to childbearing at age 25 would be revolutionary. A young wife in a village receives favored treatment only when she is pregnant. For her, pregnancy, babies, and motherhood are Godgiven. She only participates in religious rites for the welfare of her husband and children. Without living children her joys and her status would be less. Not surprisingly, the average number of children a married woman gives birth to in her lifetime is about six. Even a young woman is aware of the need for children, especially sons, to care for her in her old age. It has been estimated that one half of lndian women who survive to age 55 to 59 are widows. Prudence dictates that for old age security a woman should bear enough sons to ensure that several will survive to adulthood. In rural Delhi mothers have lost 36 peccent of their children within 1 year of birth.

For centuries, Indian farmers have known the great economic advantage in having many children. M. Mamdani, a political scientist who interviewed villagers in the Khanna district of the Punjab, found that virtuallv all these men testified to the economic value of children, especially sons. He chastised Western researchers in India for failing to appreciate the economic rationality to the rural Indian family of having many children. Furthermore. the need for children, especially sons, is reinforced in the Hindu religion; a son is needed to perform certain rites at the father's funeral ceremonies known as "shradh." The economic and cultural forces for having children in Indian rural society are so strong that they render Malthus's preventive check, "a foresight of the difficulties attending the rearing of a family," quite worthless.

K.Guihati, "Compulsory Sterilization: The Change in India's Population Policy," Science, Vol.196 (March25, 19771, pp. 1300-1305

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