The Uttar Pradesh State Law Commission (UPSLC) has invited suggestions from the public on the Population (Control, Stabilisation and Welfare) Bill, 2021, whereby anyone violating two-child policy will be debarred from contesting local bodies elections, from applying for or getting promotion in government jobs, and receiving any kind of government subsidy. It also proposes limiting ration card units to four. As per the UPSLC website, July 19 is the last date for suggestions to help improve the draft bill.
Meanwhile, the draft bill also lists incentives for public servants who adopt the two-child norm. For them, the bill promises two additional increments during the entire service, maternity or paternity leave of 12 months with full salary and allowances and three per cent hike in the employer’s contribution fund under the National Pension Scheme. A State Population Fund will be constituted for the purpose of the implementation of the Act.
Listing the government’s duties, the draft bill says that maternity centres will be established at all primary health centres. The centres and NGOs will distribute contraceptive pills, condoms, etc, spread awareness about family planning methods through community health workers and ensure mandatory registration of pregnancies, deliveries, births and deaths across the state.
According to the draft bill, it shall be the duty of the government to introduce a compulsory subject relating to population control in all secondary schools. The bill also seeks to revitalise efforts and provide for measures to control, stabilise and provide welfare to the population of the state by implementing and promoting two-child norm.
The draft bill reads, “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.” It is necessary to control, stabilise the population of the state to promote 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, stabilisation and its welfare in the state, the draft bill reads.