Expecting couples may soon return to college to give MP govt ‘a baby with values and etiquettes’

BHOPAL: The course for the mothers will include excerpts from holy books, inspirational stories, devotional and patriotic songs right through pregnancy and after the child’s birth. Poor upbringing is the root cause of all problems – be it terrorism, antinational activities... ARCHANA CHITNIS, women and child development minister, MP

The BJP government in Madhya Pradesh wants the children of the next generation to be patriotic and steeped in Indian cultural values. And what better way than starting inculcating the values in the womb?

The state women and child development department and the higher education department have joined hands to design a parenting course that will take off from the moment the woman is identified as pregnant.

The ubiquitous anganwadis would be the main centres for informing the women, but there are also plans to have short –term courses in the university on parenting from the next academic session.

Religious leaders, social workers, engineers, doctors and top educationists have come into a huddle to develop the course for future parents.

“The course for the mothers will include excerpts from holy books, inspirational stories from the lives of social reformers, and devotional and patriotic songs throughout the pregnancy and after the birth. Information about inoculation, nutrition for mother and the child would also be given,” said women and child development minister Archana Chitnis.

The minister believes wellrounded citizens, who will be “both healthy and nationalistic”, will emerge out of this programme. “Poor upbringing is the root cause of all problems – be it terrorism, anti-national activities, family issues like divorce or abandoning aged parents. All these will cease,” she said.

Chitnis believes there is a knowledge gap when it comes to parenting in Indian tradition. “At present, there are no books to guide parents who have to source their knowledge from different people, but this course will inform the mother all she wants to know,” the minister said.

Officials said this will also open job opportunities for youth who will train the parents. For this, the department has decided to take help from National Skill Development Council, said the minister.

The state higher education department will also enter the programme and seek help from Gayatri Pariwar and Children’s University in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

“We’ll include it as shortterm course and expand it accordingly,” said its minister Jaibhan Singh Pawaiya.