Minister of State for Women and Child Welfare, Umashri took strong objection to the statements of Bharatiya Janata (BJP) MP, Sakshi Maharaj and seer, Swami Vasudevananda Saraswathi that Hindu women should give birth to more children.
After visiting the District Government Hospital to see the children who had sustained burns in a gas cylinder blast in an autorickshaw at Indiranagar in Huliyar of Chikkanayakanahalli taluk in the district on Friday, Ms. Umashri said that Ms. Sakshi and the seer are trying to snatch the rights of a women to decide on giving birth to a child. She said it is also an insult and cruelty against women folk as a whole.
‘Children are not born by chanting mantra. Families struggle to make ends meet, given their poor economic status. In such a scenario, it is not advisable for politicians and seers to come out with such statements,’ she said.
She pointed out that during the modern times it is not advisable to have too many children as it is neither good for the mother, nor for the society. When the country is facing population explosion and unemployment, it is unfair to give such an advice to the women.
Anganawadi children
Ms. Umashri said that all the children injured in the blast were out of danger. She said she had visited Victoria Hospital in Bengaluru on Friday morning where the autorickshaw driver, Shabbir and two children are receiving treatment.
One child received 22 per cent burns while the other child has received 32 per cent burns.
She has directed the officers concerned to provide a house to the Anganawadi helper, who was injured in the blast and her house was damaged.
Deputy Commissioner, K.S. Sathya Murthy, Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer, Govindaraju and others were present.
