Nitish Kumar's remarks sparked outrage but the issues he raised are vital
On 7 November, amid a debate in the Bihar assembly, the state’s chief minister Nitish Kumar made noteworthy remarks. He attributed Bihar’s decreasing fertility rate to the rising educational levels of women. Kumar then gave a detailed explanation of how education equips women with basic sexual knowledge, enabling them to use “withdrawal," a commonly recognized contraceptive method.
His comments sparked a mix of laughter and outrage. Kumar’s underlying message was that an educated woman is more capable of ensuring that sexual activity does not lead to pregnancy, aiding population stabilization. However, reactions were fixated on the explicit nature of his explanation.
The assembly’s discomfort and uproar highlight the challenges of discussing such topics in a society where even a mention of sex is taboo. Women’s reproductive and sexual health is a critical issue, one that should not be trivialized or rendered unmentionable. That a politician with an excellent track record in implementing family planning policies and programmes found it difficult to convey his point illustrates the need for comprehensive sexuality education within society and across the political spectrum.
It’s imperative to steer the discourse back to an urgent topic: reproductive health and rights, especially focused on women’s access to contraception. This, more than petty political squabbles, needs our attention. India has advanced considerably towards stabilizing its population.
The National Family Health Survey for 2019-2021 (NFHS-5) indicates that we now have a replacement-level fertility rate. Women, on average, are having about two children in their lifetimes—a rate that keeps the headcount stable. Yet, regional disparities persist.
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