Playing the numbers game

RAJEEV SHUKLA

Ashok Gehlot and Digvijay Singh must be congratulated for their courageous and visionary steps to put a leash on the spiralling population graph. These states have sent out a strong message that citizens will lose out on job opportunities — and seniority, if they’re already employed — if they don’t strictly abide by the two-children policy. Take Rajasthan, for example. The Department of Personnel in the Rajasthan government notified on June 20 that ‘‘no candidate shall be eligible for appointment to the service who has more than two children on or after 1-6-2002’’. Similarly, no person shall be considered for promotion for five recruitment years from the date on which his promotion becomes due. Of course, this exempts the birth of twins, provided the couple had only one child from a previous delivery.

Though government jobs are not available in plenty, this decision sends out a strong symbolic message. Gehlot’s government also announced that individuals with more than two children will be deemed unfit for contesting any election — be it for Parliament or local bodies — and cannot even become a village pradhan or block committee member. MP has taken similar decisions.

Last year, this columnist had bought a draft Population Bill to the Rajya Sabha, suggesting certain disincentives and incentives. Census reports indicate that our population bomb ticks fastest in northern states like UP, Bihar, Rajasthan and MP. It’s difficult to understand why the Centre is dragging its feet. Those among us who criticise MP Chief Minister Digvijay Singh for dismissing a woman sarpanch for defying two-child norm on the basis that she is an OBC damage the cause. With two Congress-run governments showing the way, the NDA Government must act before it is too late.

Omar’s ascent

Omar Abdullah, the youngest minister in Vajpayee’s council of ministry, is emerging to be one of the most competent of the lot. Omar meticulously checks every file himself and is punctual to the extent of embarrassing his bureaucrats. Unlike his father, Omar avoids parties. Prime Minister Vajpayee and Home Minister Advani are both fond of the young man. After the December 13 attack on Parliament, Omar’s speech was one the most brilliant ones delivered inside the House. Similarly, his speech on POTO was so incisive it disarmed even veterans like Mulayam Singh Yadav and Somnath Chatterjee.

PTV’s world

WANT to know how television can back up a national agenda? Tune in to PTV World. After the Hazratbal episode, it beamed a 52-episode serial lampooning the Indian State and Army. India-thrashing has been continuing all through, but recently there is a fresh nip in their campaign. In a 10-minute capsule aired several times daily, PTV World captures the blasts and killings inside Pakistan and blame them on a nexus between RAW, KGB and Israel (without naming Mossad). The programme even links the border tensions to the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections!