INDIAN MINISTER SAYS TV IS GOOD BIRTH CONTROL SYSTEM

San Francisco Chronicle - Earlier this month the United Nations warned that the world population--at least 6.7 billion--would double in the next 40 years if growth rates remain unchecked. The UN specifically singled out India, where the number of people--1.17 billion--is increasing by 1.6% a year, and said that population explosion could exacerbate problems such as famine, disease and struggles over resources.

In rural India where birthrates are high, many people live in homes without electricity. Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has called the country to redouble its efforts to bring electricity to the rural population so these people can plug in TV sets and watch late-night soap operas rather than have sex.

"If there is electricity in every village then people will watch TV until late night and then fall asleep. They won't get a chance to produce children," Azad said. "When there is no electricity there is nothing else to do but produce babies." He added: "Don't think that I am saying this in a lighter vein. I am serious. TV will have a great impact. It's a great medium to tackle the problem . . . 80 percent of population growth can be reduced through TV."