Here's how more than two children in UP likely to refrain localites from govt benefits

In a move to control population, the Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday drafted a proposal which directs couples to not have more than two children.

Under the newly proposed population control Bill, violators of the policy will refrain from additional government benefits including applying for or getting promotion in government jobs, and receiving any kind of government subsidy along with contesting local bodies elections.

The Uttar Pradesh State Law Commission (UPSLC) states that the provisions are part of the draft titled The Uttar Pradesh Population (Control, Stabilization and Welfare) Bill, 2021.

The UPSLC website says, “The State Law Commission, UP is working on control, stabilization and welfare of the population of the state and has prepared a draft bill.”

Moreover, the UP govt has asked for public suggestions as well to improve the draft Bill. Notably, UP people can write their suggestions by July 19.

Listing incentives for public servants who adopt the two-child norm, the draft bill says, “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 3 percent increase in the employer’s contribution fund under national pension scheme.”

A State Population Fund will be constituted for the purpose of implementation of the act.

How UP government will implement it?

As per the population control draft Bill, the UP govt will spread awareness about family planning methods by following:

1.   Establishing maternity centers at all primary health centers

2.   Distribution of  contraceptive pills, condoms, etc by the health centers and NGOs

Also Read:Modi 2.0 cabinet has 42% ministers with criminal cases, 90% crorepatis, says ADR report

3.   Community health workers to spread awareness about family planning

4.   Ensuring mandatory registration of pregnancies, deliveries, births, and deaths across the state

5.   Introducing ‘population control’ as a compulsory subject in all secondary schools

 What is the aim of introducing the bill?

With this bill, the UP govt seeks to strengthen efforts to provide measures of birth control, stabilize and provide welfare to the population of the state by implementing and promoting the two-child norm.

The draft bill reads, “In Uttar Pradesh, there are the 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.” It is necessary to control, stabilize the population of the state for the promotion of sustainable development with more equitable distribution, it says.

“It is necessary to ensure healthy birth spacing through measures related to augmenting the availability, accessibility, and affordability of quality reproductive health services to achieve the goal of population control, stabilization and its welfare in the state,” the draft bill reads.