GUWAHATI: Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said those with more than two children will be barred from government jobs. He said the state government is contemplating a legal mechanism to bar those having more than two children from being elected or nominated to panchayat and other local bodies.
This, according to the health minister, will assist in arresting the population growth. Sarma said that government is contemplating stringent laws, including one on child marriages. The draft policy has revealed that that there is a high incidence of marriage of girls between 14 and 16 years of age and boys between 16 and 20 years age group.
The draft state population policy is put in public domain for comments and recommendations. It will be placed before the state assembly soon. The health minister added: “If candidates were found to have married violating the stipulated ages (18 and 21 years), they will also be barred from government jobs. Families having more than two children will also be deprived of various benefits under government schemes.”
Assam population, according to 2011 census, is 3.12 crore. There was increase of about one crore people in the last decade. The policy stated that 17.07% rate of population growth is unsustainable for the state.
“We are trying to bring in socio-economic intervention for overall improvement of reproductive health scenario in the state. We will institutionalise the population control measures.”
Source: Economic Times
