The population problem : India / Writings on the sand.

Starting in India and the building of a dam, largely all by hand, the narrator paints a bleak picture of the future explosion of the population in India. Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, talks about the diversity and complexity of this vast nation and the temptation to characterise the country in terms of clique. Birth, death and marriage are very important to Indian communities; marriage comes early (at 15 at the time the film was made) and contributes to large families. Life expectancy is increasing; a dead man is escorted to the crematorium. Mrs Gandhi talks about the interaction of religion (Hinduism specfically) and there is ethnographic footage of a rite to promote fertility and prayers for rain. Traditional agriculture is seen, although it is noted that food production is inefficient and less productive than other places such as Japan. The lack of fertile soil is problematic. Society is changing gradually; half of children attend school whereas their parents are illiterate. Rural village life in a typical family is depicted in detail. This contrasts with the cities teaming with people and traffic. Wealthy people in Bombay testify about their decision to limit their families to a few children. Industrialisation has not resulted in wealth being shared across society. Children attend school; only half attend. The narrator refers to the traditional uninhibited attitude to sex evident in Hindu art, which has been helpful in introducing family planning. Several sequences show demonstrations of birth control techniqies (IUDs; interuterine devices) to family planning practitioners. The lack of trained technologists mean that sterilisation has proved popular. A mobile van donated by the International Planned Parenthood Federation visits remote villages. Amongst other things, the van shows a film which is replicated in part in this film.The villagers look on. In the absence of a television industry, the Indian film industry fills a cultural gap. A film in progress underlines the family planning message. In rural communities, puppets communicate the message. Gandhi supports the use of radio for mass communications.