Two child policy in Uttar Pradesh
Current Affairs
Recently, Uttar Pradesh State Law Commission proposed a population control bill, aiming to take the next step in solving UP’s population problem by incentivising couples. This would make UP the second state after Assam under PM Modi to take such measures. Today we take a look at the bill, the proposed changes and the two sides of the coin.
The bill
The current draft of the bill proposes that couples with more than 2 children will:
Be barred from contesting local elections
Not be able to apply for government jobs
Face restriction in availing rations and other subsidies
"Their ration cards 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," - Chairman of the UP law commission.
Proposed implementation
The bill states that maternity centres will be established in every PHC to educate the public and help with family planning. The state government will also enable NGPOs to the task of distributing contraceptive measures such as pills, condoms and spreading awareness around the myths for the same. Mandatory registrations around pregnancies, deliverance, births and deaths within the state would also be monitored.
UP at a glance
Currently with ~200 million people, UP stands as the most populous subdivision in the world. If UP was a country, it would be the 5th most populous country, only behind China, India, the USA and Indonesia.
The average family size in UP is 5.9 family members per family, the worst in India.
For
UP as a state has been lagging behind with most experts pointing to its enormous population as the culprit. Population control would not only help curb poverty, but would also enable the state for more developmental processes.
Against
With just one year until UP's state elections, the timing for such action couldn’t be accidental. Secondly, the agenda to control the population can be sensitive to many religious and caste minorities in the state, which many would view as a threat to democracy.
What do you think, should the bill see the light of the day?
Like what you read? Share this article with your friends and follow us on:
Instagram | Medium | LinkedIn