DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22459#0038
Eight
Ihimalamxn vLituca
January 27,
1952
PLANMNG THE FAMILY
(Continued from page 7)
the world has ceased to be an individual
matter and has assumed a social impor-
tance as vital as life itself, but they
ignore that the rate of increase in our
population is alarming enough to avoid
taking risks with unsafe methods. The
Catholics are provoked to the extent of
suggesting that ‘extermination of the
excess popu'atien and "the killing of
beggars and old men" will solve the
population problem! That the suggestion
is as stupid as those who advance them
arc prejudiced is evident.
The discussion of methods brings
us to the question of the best method
oi contraception. Dr. Abraham Stone,
a W. II. 0. adviser and Vice President
ol the Planned Parenthood Association
oi America, who came in India to advise
the Oovernment of India oil birth con-
trol, be lei v es that, no ideal method or no
ideal contraceptive has v»*t been devised.
I had a biief discussion with him on
the subject when he said that it was
not possible to stale precisely what me-
thod would suit India best, though he
thought that the “rhythm method” or the
‘safe peiiod” method desired a trial on
an experimental basis.
Dr. Stone believes that the rhycbm
method has all the chances of success
even after taking into account the illiteracy
of the rural women. All that is needed
is patient education, he says.
Dr. Stone showed me a bracelet of
beads invented by him. The bracelet is
to be worn by women and contains
multi-coloured beads to signify the‘ safe5’
and ‘’.unsafe5’ periods in their menstrual
cycle. It indicates the safe period with
green beads the unsafe with red and
the safe period again with white heads
—the safe period computed to last for
the first fourteen days ol the cycle and
the ten middle days reckoned as unsafe.
Dr. Stone addressed several meetings
in the city in which he explained that
there was no danger of birth control
resulting in the extinction of mankind
and that the normal desire of married
couples to have children would always
keep the world populated. That same
desire constituted an answer to the
propaganda that birth control would re-
sult in race suicide. Dr.'Stone feels that
th‘ ‘rhythm method 5 would work well
with Indian masses because it is harmless
to the couples and does not prove a
strain on their meagre economic resour-
ces. fhcre is however, great controversy
on this point. Dr. Chandrasekhar him-
self being one of those who fu 1 that
the ‘ rhythm method” is not enough.
The Planning Commission has ac-
cepted the recommendations of the All
India Kamilv Planning Association and
has stressed the need for introducing
birth control in India.
In India today, which periodically
faces famine due to food shortage, it is
essential that government concentrates
on sterilising the mentally deficient and
the physically unfit. The problem oi
contraception assumes an obvious impor-
tance in a country where at least 2(H),
000 women die every year at child birth
and out of every hundred babies born,
twenty live die hv the time their parents
can celebrate their first birthday—Indian
.'Social Reformer.
WANTED
Wanted immediate a Junior Pill Clerk.
Apply personally to :— .
The Secretary,
Kaiimpong Mission Industries
As social ion.
( Kaiimpong Arts & traits.)
Ihimalamxn vLituca
January 27,
1952
PLANMNG THE FAMILY
(Continued from page 7)
the world has ceased to be an individual
matter and has assumed a social impor-
tance as vital as life itself, but they
ignore that the rate of increase in our
population is alarming enough to avoid
taking risks with unsafe methods. The
Catholics are provoked to the extent of
suggesting that ‘extermination of the
excess popu'atien and "the killing of
beggars and old men" will solve the
population problem! That the suggestion
is as stupid as those who advance them
arc prejudiced is evident.
The discussion of methods brings
us to the question of the best method
oi contraception. Dr. Abraham Stone,
a W. II. 0. adviser and Vice President
ol the Planned Parenthood Association
oi America, who came in India to advise
the Oovernment of India oil birth con-
trol, be lei v es that, no ideal method or no
ideal contraceptive has v»*t been devised.
I had a biief discussion with him on
the subject when he said that it was
not possible to stale precisely what me-
thod would suit India best, though he
thought that the “rhythm method” or the
‘safe peiiod” method desired a trial on
an experimental basis.
Dr. Stone believes that the rhycbm
method has all the chances of success
even after taking into account the illiteracy
of the rural women. All that is needed
is patient education, he says.
Dr. Stone showed me a bracelet of
beads invented by him. The bracelet is
to be worn by women and contains
multi-coloured beads to signify the‘ safe5’
and ‘’.unsafe5’ periods in their menstrual
cycle. It indicates the safe period with
green beads the unsafe with red and
the safe period again with white heads
—the safe period computed to last for
the first fourteen days ol the cycle and
the ten middle days reckoned as unsafe.
Dr. Stone addressed several meetings
in the city in which he explained that
there was no danger of birth control
resulting in the extinction of mankind
and that the normal desire of married
couples to have children would always
keep the world populated. That same
desire constituted an answer to the
propaganda that birth control would re-
sult in race suicide. Dr.'Stone feels that
th‘ ‘rhythm method 5 would work well
with Indian masses because it is harmless
to the couples and does not prove a
strain on their meagre economic resour-
ces. fhcre is however, great controversy
on this point. Dr. Chandrasekhar him-
self being one of those who fu 1 that
the ‘ rhythm method” is not enough.
The Planning Commission has ac-
cepted the recommendations of the All
India Kamilv Planning Association and
has stressed the need for introducing
birth control in India.
In India today, which periodically
faces famine due to food shortage, it is
essential that government concentrates
on sterilising the mentally deficient and
the physically unfit. The problem oi
contraception assumes an obvious impor-
tance in a country where at least 2(H),
000 women die every year at child birth
and out of every hundred babies born,
twenty live die hv the time their parents
can celebrate their first birthday—Indian
.'Social Reformer.
WANTED
Wanted immediate a Junior Pill Clerk.
Apply personally to :— .
The Secretary,
Kaiimpong Mission Industries
As social ion.
( Kaiimpong Arts & traits.)