Nagpur: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghchalak Dr Mohan Bhagwat has called on Indian families to have at least three children, citing concerns over declining population growth rates and their potential impact on society. Speaking at Kathale Kul Sammelan, a congregation of families associated with Kathale clan at Nagpur, Dr Bhagwat insisted that family is the natural carrier of our ‘Sanskriti’, and he underscored the importance of family values.
Referring to past population guidelines, Bhagwat ji said, “In 1998 or 2002, our population policy stated that the growth rate should not fall below 2.1. Even population science says a drop in population growth is detrimental to society. It should not come down below 2.1. It should ideally be three. Otherwise, society will not get destroyed by others; it will perish on its own.”
There are 55 countries of the world who have policies for increasing the TFR , because they have reached at dangerous level. Bharat is among those countries whose replacement rate is at between 1.9-2.0. In this context, he called for a discussions to mantain at least 2.1 of growth rate.
Dr Bhagwat mentioned the importance of ‘Kuldharma’ and said that family values is the edifice of our society. To meet the global challenges & provide solutions, Bharat has to present a model. For bharat to sustain, family institution must sustain.
Dr Bhagwat stated that Sangh has been focusing on Panch Parivartan, Kutumba Prabodhan is one of the key transformative programs RSS has undertaken.
Bhagwat ji highlighted the significance of the family unit in preserving cultural values and societal stability. “The family, as a mordant unit, passes down culture and values from one generation to another, preserving systems that are timeless and globally relevant,” he said.
Dr Bhagwat also emphasised India’s interconnected cultural ethos, contrasting it with individualistic traditions elsewhere. “Bharatiya sanskriti (Indian culture) believes in interconnectedness. If anyone is hungry, we step forward to help. Even a beggar at our doorstep receives food or money, often given through a child, instilling values of compassion and sacrifice in the next generation,” he added.
Bhagwat ji urged people to rise above caste and communal divisions, underscoring sacrifice and shared responsibility as the cornerstones of Indian society. He called for getting rid of caste-based discrimination or differentiation at the family level itself as this would enable the society to get rid of the caste problem automatically. “Sacrifice is our mainstay, not selfishness or self-centeredness,” he asserted.
