Bribery in Rajasthan

Today I saw an absolutely appalling, but sadly all too familiar, story about sterilization in Rajasthan. The government there is bribing women with the chance to win prizes in drawings — from food processors to cars — if they undergo sterilization. This is a horrific intrusion by the government into one of the most personal areas of people’s lives.

It also reveals flawed thinking about population. People are producers, not just consumers of resources. India’s population is it’s greatest asset. I wrote about all of this in more depth some weeks ago. For a more complete argument, see that post.

I hope the government of Rajasthan will rethink its policy and do so soon. India desperately needs the great resource that is its people.