'If we follow AYUSH ministry's advice, next generation will be stunted'

Q&A with Arun Gadre, gynaecologist and member of the Alliance of Doctors for Ethical Healthcare

The AYUSH ministry recently distributed a booklet called Mother and Child Care that recommends what an expectant mother should or should not do to have a healthy baby. It advises pregnant women to shun meat, eggs, desire, anger and lust, and hang ”beautiful“ pictures on walls. ARUN GADRE, Pune-based gynaecologist and member of the Alliance of Doctors for Ethical Healthcare, speaks to Veenu Sandhu about the damage these recommendations can do, more so because they appear to have the government’s backing. Edited excerpts:

The booklet says pregnant women should not consume meat or eggs. How scientific is this advice?

What