Foreign Minister: For once I want to reply with one word, and that is, no.
Question: What if any, economic expenditure will India cut back to finance refugees relief?
Foreign Minister: I think it is quite obvious that the entire expenditure on refugees will be non-productive. And, it will definitely cut into our expenditure which had been earmarked for development purposes, and it is from that point of view the impact of this upon our advance on the economic front which is the source of concern.
Question: Mr. Minister, How can Indo-American relations be improved at this point?
Foreign Minister: It is difficult to answer that. But one method is that if all of you support me in this, they will be very greatly improved. (laughter)
Question: A questioner wants to know, candidly, what percentage of your people go to bed hungry every night? Is your country making maximum use of fishmeal to provide needed protein in the diet of your people? And, do you view the population explosion as the leading problem facing the world community of nations toady? And on the same subject what can you tell us about the progress of birth control in India?
Foreign Minister: Several questions have been rolled into one. Perhaps a full-dress debate on our economic planning and development will be initiated or triggered off if I deal with these matters in any great detail.
But, I will try to answer as briefly as I can. The first question is as to how many people sleep without a meal. My reply is one, because our food production last year crossed a 100 million ton mark. And in cereal, our position is fairly comfortable. We have drastically reduced our food imports. We are importing some small quantities to build up a reserve than for current consumption. The second question is about utilization of fishmeal, or what is it?
Question: Yes, sir. Is your country making maximum use of fishmeal to provide needed protein in the diet of your people?
Foreign Minister: Well, we haven’t got enough of fish, and we want to catch more. And, we are prepared to go even to troubled waters for that. We have no inhibitions in consuming fish. If you have served it and have watched the Indians handling their fork in relation to fish you probably would have got the answer for this. What is next?
Question: Do you view the population explosion as the leading problem facing the world community of nations today?
Foreign Minister: I agree. And it is for this reason that we also urge in all international forums that just as peace in indivisible, it should be increasingly realized that poverty also is indivisible. And, therefore, a great burden lies in the affluent society to watch this situation very carefully and to willingly contribute their share in
