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Another popular myth that exists in the population discourse is that the Muslims bear way too many children than Hindus and thus impede national development. However, the data suggests that the fertility rate among Muslims have gone down faster (from 4.4 in 1992-93 to 2.3 during 2019, a 2.1 point decrease) than Hindus (from 3.3 in 1992-93 to 1.94 during 2019, a 1.36 point decline) in the last two decades. Further, fertility rates of Hindus in many states such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkahand is higher than Muslims in Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Tamil Nadu, suggesting that fertility rates are a regional phenomena than a religious one, linked to various socio-economic developmental factors of the region in which people live.

https://thewire.in/society/the-mythical-population-problem-and-the-actual-worries 

The rhetoric of population explosion, population bomb or population emergency mobilises a disproportionate response from the state apparatuses and has been on a rise since Assam Population Bill, 2021 and draft UP Population Bill, 2021 brought two-child policies into popular discourse once again. A number of BJP-ruled states since are discussing bringing in a population control law, despite India reaching fertility rate of 2.0 nationally.

This discourse also puts the blame on people for reproducing too much and taking away from the resources of the country, as if people reproduce in a vacuum. This individualisation of blame for the problem overlooks structural problems and policy failures that has led to lower female participation in workforce, education levels and political representation, lack of access to sufficient and diverse contraceptive methods and an overall inequitable developmental process, all of which influences fertility levels of population. It must be kept in mind that resources of the country are not a static entity entirely, and it increases as demographic dividend is reaped.

by Sushant Kumar

21/01/2023

The move comes on the heels of the ministry discontinuing the Maulana Azad National Fellowship.

https://thewire.in/government/padho-pardesh-scheme-discontinued 

Students belonging to minority communities can no longer avail of interest subsidies on education loans to study abroad. The Ministry of Minority Affairs (MOMA) has discontinued the Padho Pardesh scheme which enables this, reported The Hindu BusinessLine.

Last month, the Indian Banks’ Association notified banks about the discontinuation of the scheme from 2022-23. However, no reason has been specified for the change, as per the news report.

Under the Padho Pardesh Interest Subsidy Scheme, students who belong to minority communities – including Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and Parsis – and want to pursue higher studies such as a master’s degree, MPhil and PhD abroad, are eligible to obtain interest subsidies on their entire loan amounts for a specified time period (course period, plus one year or six months after getting job, whichever is earlier).

16/01/2023

Anti-Conversion Laws: The trope of forced religious conversions  https://sabrangindia.in/article/anti-conversion-laws-trope-forced-religious-conversions Tanya Arora 20 Dec 2022  Even with central “anti-conversion law”, figures show up the claim for “forced religious conversions” for what it is, an exaggeration

It is an established principled of just and fair jurisprudence that once any law is passed, that contains anti-constitutional and oppressive provisions, selective policing, state surveillance, harassment or interference in issues of personal liberty, privacy and autonomy, follow. These take a collective form when the very intent of such laws is not community neutral but majoritarian.