Reacting to the Uttar Pradesh government’s draft of the proposed population control bill, Welfare Party of India national president Dr SQR Ilyas on Sunday said that the proposed bill by BJP government in UP is constitutionally and legally questionable.
According to a draft of the proposed population control bill, anyone violating 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.
Ilyas said that the human resource is a valuable asset to any country and refuted the claims that the human population is a burden on the limited ecological and economic resources.
“There is no dearth of resources in our country to meet the demand but the problem lies in its equitable distribution,” Ilyas added.
While questioning the timing of proposed bill, WPI chief said the intention is to create noise before the Assembly polls which would sharpen communal polarisation and deepen prejudice and bigotry in society.
He went on to say: “The intention of inflaming passions on this divisive issue, is an indication of erosion in Yogi Government’s popularity. There is a complete failure in handling the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state.”
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. The UPSLC website says, “The State Law Commission, UP is working on control, stabilisation and welfare of the population of the state and has prepared a draft bill.”
Suggestions have been invited from the public to improve the draft bill and July 19 is the last date for it, reported news agency Press Trust of India. Listing incentives for public servants who adopt the two-child norm, the draft bill says, “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 three per cent increase in the employer’s contribution fund under national pension scheme.”
A State Population Fund will be constituted for the purpose of implementation of the act. Listing the government’s duties, the draft bill says that maternity centres will be established at all primary health centres. The centres and NGOs will distribute contraceptive pills, condoms, etc, spread awareness about family planning methods through community health workers and ensure mandatory registration of pregnancies, deliveries, births and deaths across the state.
The draft bill also says that it shall be the duty of the government to introduce a compulsory subject relating to population control in all secondary schools, reported PTI. The bill also seeks to revitalise efforts and provide for measures to control, stabilise and provide welfare to the population of the state by implementing and promoting two-child norm.
According to PTI, the draft bill reads, “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.”
