The BJP-led Government in Assam is now planning to propose the Centre for making it mandatory for the MlAs and MPs to strictly adhere to the two-child norm as proposed by the State Government in its new draft population and women empowerment policy.
Addressing a Press conference, Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Thursday said that the State Government will take up with the Centre that MlAs adhere to the family planning norms.
“Two child norm will be proposed as the yardstick for any contestant to the State legislature. In case any MlA from the State flouted the family planning norms, he may be disqualified from his membership and be debarred from contesting polls in future,” said Sarma.
The Minister, however, said that the two child norm will be relaxed in exceptions where there is birth of twins or triplets or in any special circumstances on a case to case basis.
It may be mentioned here that the Assam Government has recently drafted a new population policy that makes a strict two child norm, which makes it clear that no person would be eligible for government benefits and engagements, including jobs, if the proposed norm was flouted.
The draft policy, which is likely to be tabled in the forthcoming session of the Assam legislative Assembly in August this year, also made it clear that no person will be eligible to become members of the panchayat and civic bodies if they have more than two children.
“The draft policy solicited for public opinion and we have received 88 emails, 600 suggestion through social networking sites and 37 articles and reviews through the media. Based on this we have prepared a second and final draft of the population policy,” he said adding that the new policy is also renamed as Draft Population and Women Empowerment Policy of Assam.
Refuting the apprehension that the proposed policy would lead to atrocities on women, Sarma said said that steps will also be taken to prevent and deter wives being abandoned or deserted by husbands on
flimsy grounds such as birth of girl child.
“The Government will review, enforce and change laws and practices that discriminate against women. Stringent application of laws that prevent underage marriage, law against rape and domestic violence are also mooted,” he said adding that steps will be taken for making provisions for skill upgradation of victims of triple Talaq to help in gainful employment.
“In the interim period, such victims will be provided dependency allowance or pension. In case any women belonging to this category fail to get employment, they may be granted pension by the government,” Sarma said.
“There will be provisions for pension for widows and
that schemes will be launched for divorcees and single women to ensure that they can live their lives with dignity and without economic persecution,” he said adding that the Government has incorporated these suggestions in the new draft as many predicted that women may face desertion in different places due to the new policy.