DEBATE : OVER UP GOVERNMENT DRAFT --POPULATION(CONTROL, STABILISATION AND WELFARE ) BILL, 2021

 UTTAR PRADESH GOVERNMENT DRAFT --POPULATION(CONTROL, STABILISATION AND WELFARE ) BILL, 2021

On World Population Day (11th July), Uttar Pradesh government announced a new population policy for 2021-2030.

• The new policy has provisions to give incentives to those who help in population control.
• THE UTTAR PRADESH GOVERNMENT'S DRAFT LEGISLATION-THE POPULATION (CONTROL,STABILISATION AND WELFARE) BILL, 2021-- INTRODUCING A MANDATORY TWO CHILD NORM.

 

Highlights of the draft bill on population control:

The new policy aims at:

1. Decreasing the total fertility rate from 2.7 to 2.1 by 2026 and 1.7 by 2030.
2. Increase modern contraceptive prevalence rate from 31.7% to 45% by 2026 and 52% by 2030.
3. Increase male methods of contraception use from 10.8% to 15.1% by 2026 and 16.4% by 2030.
4. Decrease maternal mortality rate from 197 to 150 to 98, and infant mortality rate from 43 to 32 to 22, and under 5 infant mortality rate from 47 to 35 to 25.

 

Focus areas:

1. To increase the accessibility of contraceptive measures issued under the Family Planning Programme and provide a proper system for safe abortion.
2. To reduce the newborns’ and maternal mortality rate.
3. To provide for care of the elderly, and better management of education, health, and nutrition of adolescents between 11 to 19 years.

 

Incentives:

1. Promotions, increments, concessions in housing schemes and others perks to employees who adhere to population control norms, and have two or less children.
2. 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 percent increase in the employer’s contribution fund under the National Pension Scheme.
3. For those who are not government employees and still contribute towards keeping the population in check, will get benefits in like rebates in taxes on water, housing, home loans etc.
4. If the parent of a child opts for vasectomy, he/she will be eligible for free medical facilities till the age of 20.

The Uttar Pradesh government plans to set up a state population fund to implement the measures.

 

Awareness creation:

• The draft bill also asks the state government to introduce population control as compulsory subject in all secondary schools.

 

Applicability:

1. The provision of this legislation 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.
2. The policy will be voluntary – it will not be enforced upon anyone.

 

Need for these measures:

Overpopulation exerts strain on resources. It is therefore 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.

 

Issues and concerns associated with the Bill:

1. Experts have advised caution against any population policy that puts women’s health and well being at risk.
2. Given that the burden of contraception and family planning disproportionately falls on women, it is likely that female sterilisation will increase further.
3. Stringent population control measures can potentially lead to an increase in these practices and unsafe abortions given the strong son-preference in India, as has been witnessed in a few states in the past. 
4. State already undergoing a declining fertility rate (TFR), which already halved from 4.82 in 1993 to 2.7 in 2016. it is estimated that the state will achieve the replacement level of TFR(2.1) by 2025.
5. Women organisations termed it unconstitution, for violating the rights to equality as it enforces compulsion, attempts to control womens bodily rigts and fertility, will expose them to domestic violence and abusive relationships.
6. The empirical studies reiterated that socio-economic empowerment of families is far more effective way in limiting the family size, enabling women to opt for reduced fertility rates as rational choices.
7. political parties dubbed the UP bill an 'election propaganda' to attack muslim communities