Lucknow: The Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath government has drafted the proposed population control bill; anyone violating the two-child policy in Uttar Pradesh will be debarred from contesting local bodies elections, from applying for or getting promotion in government jobs, and receiving any kind of government subsidy.

The Uttar Pradesh State Law Commission (UPSLC) states that the provisions are part of the draft titled The Uttar Pradesh Population (Control, Stabilization, and Welfare) Bill, 2021. Further, the government has said that “ the State Law Commission, UP is working on control, stabilization, and welfare of the population of the state and has prepared a draft bill."

The further draft bill has proposed that public servants who adopt the two-child norm will get two additional increments during the entire service, maternity or as the case may be. Paternity leave of 12 months, with full salary and allowances and a three percent increase in the employer’s contribution fund under the national pension scheme. 

The proposed bill has drawn flak from the opposition parties across the country. Congress termed it as political agenda ahead of UP assembly polls next year. The Samajwadi Party said the move meant the murder of democracy. 

The government has decided to constitute a state population fund for the purpose of implementation of the act.

Bill also proposed to set up maternity centres that will be established at all primary health centres. The centres and NGOs will distribute contraceptive pills, condoms, and other pregnancy controlled measures, spread awareness about family planning methods through community health workers and ensure mandatory registration of pregnancies, deliveries, births, and deaths across the state.

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It the bill is implemented, the provisions of the draft titled The Uttar Pradesh Population (Control, Stabilization and Welfare) Bill, 2021 will come into force after one year from the date of publication in the Gazette.

This act shall apply to a married couple where the boy is not less than 21 years of age and the girl is not less than 18. Objections have been invited from the public to improve the draft bill and July 19 is the last date for it.

"In Uttar Pradesh, there are the limited ecological and economic resources at hand. It is necessary and urgent that the provision of basic necessities of human life, including affordable food, safe drinking water, decent housing, access to quality education, economic/livelihood opportunities, power/electricity for domestic consumption, and a secure living is accessible to all citizens”, reported in PTI news agency. 

Further draft bill stated that "In Uttar Pradesh, there are limited ecological and economic resources at hand. It is necessary and urgent to provide basic necessities of human life, including affordable food, safe drinking water, decent housing, access to quality education, economic/livelihood opportunities, power/electricity for domestic consumption, and a secure living is accessible to all citizens."

Opposition criticizes

Samajwadi Party MLC Ashutosh Sinha said, "Bringing this bill means the murder of democracy. This is an immature decision on the part of the Uttar Pradesh government."

SP MLA of Sambhal constituency, Iqbal Mehmood said that any law on population control would be a "conspiracy" against Muslims.

"The rise in the country's population is due to the Dalits and tribals and not because of Muslims," the SP MLA had said.

Congress spokesperson Ashok Singh in a Hindi tweet said, "The RSS and BJP leaders talk about increasing the population. Population control is a subject of the Centre. Yogi Adityanath (CM) is bringing the bill keeping in mind the UP Assembly elections."