With 950 million people，India ranks second to China among the most populous countries. But since Chi...

With 950 million people，India ranks second to China among the most populous countries. But since China 71 a family planning program in 1971，India has been closing the 72 . Indians have reduced their birth rate but not nearly 73 the Chinese have. If current growth rates continue，India’s population will 74 China’s around the year 2028 75 about 1.7 billion.
Should that happen，it won’t be the 76 of the enlightened women of Kerala，a state in southern India. 77 India as a whole adds almost 20 million people a year，Kerala’s population is virtually 78 . The reason is no mystery：nearly two-thirds of Kerala women practice birth control， 79 about 40% in the entire nation.
The difference 80 the emphasis put on health programs， 81 birth control，by the state authorities， 82 in 1957 became India’s first elected Communist 83 . And an educational tradition and matrilineal（母系的）customs in parts of Kerala help girls and boys get 84 good schooling. While one in three Indian women is 85 ，90% of those in Kerala can read and write.
Higher literacy rates 86 Family planning.“Unlike our Parents，we know that we can do more for our children if we have 87 of them，”says Laila Cherian，33，who lives in the Village of Kudamaloor. She has limited herself 88 three children-one below the national
89 of four. That kind of restraint（抑制；克制）will keep Kerala from putting added 90 on world food supplies.
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