Lucknow: Special incentives for parents who have only two children, and restrictions from availing of government schemes for those who have three or more — these are among the provisions of the draft Uttar Pradesh population control bill released by the state law commission Friday.
The draft bill proposes some stringent measures to restrict couples from having more than two children, and promises cheaper home loans and free education for voluntary sterilisation.
The draft seeks to limit the quantity of rations given under government schemes for parents who choose to have more than two children, and bar them from contesting local body elections or applying for government jobs.
Meanwhile, those who follow the proposed two-child norm would be offered incentives like tax rebates.
The commission uploaded the draft on its website late Friday evening and has invited suggestions from the public till 19 July.
The law commission of Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state, has been working on a proposed population-control law ahead of the assembly polls next year, panel chief Justice Aditya Nath Mittal (Retd) told ThePrint last month.
Speaking to reporters Saturday, Justice Mittal said, “After the suggestions are received and incorporated, the draft bill would be ready in three weeks…by August.”
The draft bill comes as Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is expected to bring in a new population policy for 2021-2030, which is likely to be announced on 11 July, World Population Day.
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Special incentives for those with one child or two
The proposed law offers multiple incentives to families that follow the two-child norm. This includes two additional increments during service for government employees, subsidised purchase of plot or house, and 3 per cent increase in EPF.
There is more on offer for those who have just one child, including two additional increments and free healthcare for the child till he/she attains the age of 20 years. A single child will also be given preference for admission in all education institutions, including the Indian Institute of Management, the All India Institute of Management Science, the draft adds, besides promising scholarship for higher studies in case of a girl child.
Those in govt services who violate the law will also face a bar on promotion. The norms will not apply to those who are already part of government jobs or local councils, the draft adds.
According to the draft law, couples who undergo voluntary sterilisation after one or two children will be rewarded with a rebate on utilities and nominal interest on loans for housing, among other incentives. If parents get sterilised after one child, the education of the child will be free till graduation, the draft law adds.
(Edited by Rachel John)
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