The Assam legislative assembly on Friday passed a resolution incorporating population control and woman empowerment policy of Assam, which will give effect to the two-child policy for the Government employees of Assam. Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who moved the resolution, said the policy seeks to bar those having more than two children from being elected or nominated to to local bodies or Government jobs.
The policy will also bar those who will have more than two children from Government jobs, said Sarma.
“The two child norm will be proposed as the yardstick for any contestant to the State legislature. In case any MlA from State flouts the family planning norms i.e. MlAs having more than two children may be disqualified from his or her membership and be debarred from contesting polls,” Sarma said. “The incentives and disincentives under the policy shall be applicable only prospectively. We do not want coercive measure and our policy is different from China, which is why we have moved resolution,” he added.
The minister said that respective departments will issue necessary rules and adhering to two child norm will form part of the service rules of the state government employee.
He added that latest census figure has shown that population of Hindu has declined while population of minority has witnessed sharp increase.
“We have to protect indigenous people’s right or Assam will become Tripura. Change in demography of Assam is a matter of concern. To implements this policy finance department will spend close to Rs 1,000 Crore” Sarma added.
“The policy will also help women empowering. We have already agreedfor 33 percent reservation for women in panchayat and local body polls. Now if we make a minimum HSlC pass as the criterian for contesting polls for the women, it would encourage the women in rural areas to get education at least till HSlC,” he said.
He said that based on scientific and researched pedagogy, suitable chapters on population studies, reproductive and child health, basic sex education and related aspects will be introduced in the course curricula through text books of class 7 onwards”, the policy stated.
The policy further stated that government will consider bringing legislation to increase the reservation of women in eligible jobs up to 50 percent.