Can't contest local polls, no Govt jobs, no incentives for those with more than 2 kids
Ahead of the Assembly elections, the Uttar Pradesh Government is all set to bring a population control Bill that provides for debarring those with more than two children from contesting in local polls, as well as preventing them from applying for or getting promotion in Government jobs, and even receiving Government subsidies.
The provisions are part of the draft Bill, titled The Uttar Pradesh Population (Control, Stabilisation and Welfare) Bill, 2021, highlighting the concept “Bacche Do He Acche”.
The Bill, drafted by the Uttar Pradesh State Law Commission (UPSLC), is uploaded on its website and is open for public suggestions till July 19.
The Bill is expected to kick-off a political storm before Assembly elections of 2022 as it may be objected by a particular community which has higher birth rate than Hindus.
Moreover, under the shadow of this Bill, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will unveil a new population policy on Sunday, July 11 — the World population Day.
Under the proposed population control Bill, any couple who follows the two-child policy will receive perks from the Government, said State’s Law Commission chairman Aditya Nath Mittal on Saturday. “We have proposed that any couple that follows the two-child policy will be given all government benefits. They will be able to avail all government welfare schemes,” said Mittal to a select group of journalists.
The UP Law Commission chairman said the new Bill has provisions to debar people who have more than two children from benefitting Government schemes.
“If somebody doesn’t follow this policy, they won’t be eligible for such schemes. Their ration card will be restricted to four units. They will not be able to apply for Government jobs and if they are already Government employees, then they won’t get a promotion,” Mittal stated.
However, the Law Commission chairman added that adherence to the policy will be a voluntary exercise. “If a person voluntarily keeps the number of his family members limited, they will be eligible for Government schemes. We are planning to present the Bill to the Government by the second week of August,” he added.
Meanwhile listing out benefits for public servants who adopt the two-child policy, the draft Bill said, “Public servants who adopt the two-child norm will get two additional increments during the entire service, maternity or as the case may be, paternity leave of 12 months, with full salary and allowances and three per cent increase in the employer’s contribution fund under national pension scheme.”
State Population Fund will be formed to facilitate the implementation of the act. Listing the Government’s responsibilities, the draft Bill said maternity centres will be established at every primary health centre. The centres and NGOs will be assigned the task of distributing contraceptive pills, condoms, and spreading awareness about family planning methods through community health workers.
They will also ensure mandatory registration of pregnancies, deliveries, births and deaths within the State. As per the draft Bill, the Government will introduce a compulsory subject related to population control in all secondary schools.
There are also provisions to provide exemptions in water, electricity, house tax, home loan, and other such facilities to couples with two children who are not in Government jobs.
If the law is implemented, then within a year, all Government officials, employees, and elected representatives of local bodies will have to give an affidavit that they will not violate this policy. It is proposed in the draft that the election can be cancelled if the rules are broken.
Justifying the proposals, the draft Bill said: “In Uttar Pradesh, there are limited ecological and economic resources at hand. It is necessary and urgent that the provision of basic necessities of human life including affordable food, safe drinking water, decent housing, access to quality education, economic/livelihood opportunities, power/electricity for domestic consumption, and a secure living is accessible to all citizens.”
The draft Bill then emphasises that it is necessary to control and stabilise the population of the State in order to promote sustainable development with more equitable distribution. It is necessary to ensure healthy birth spacing through measures related to augmenting the availability, accessibility, and affordability of quality reproductive health services for achieving the goal of population control, stabilisation and its subsequent welfare in the State, the draft Bill said.
