• Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath unveiled a policy aimed at stabilising the population in the state and reducing maternal and infant deaths in a time-bound manner.

• A few days ago, a draft Bill on population control was put up on the website of the Uttar Pradesh law commission inviting suggestions from the public till July 19.

• The population policy and the draft Bill for population control have become a political flashpoint in the state where Assembly election is slated to be held early next year.

• Assam has also announced that it will gradually implement a two-child policy for availing benefits under specific schemes funded by the state.

• In many states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Uttarakhand, a person who has more than two children is barred from contesting the local elections.

Highlights of UP’s population policy:

• If enacted, the provisions of the proposed legislation 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.

• It says people having more than two children in Uttar Pradesh will be debarred from contesting local bodies polls, applying for government jobs or receiving any kind of subsidy. 

• It also seeks to prohibit promotions in government jobs for such people, while offering incentives to those limiting their children to two.

• The Uttar Pradesh Population Policy 2021-2030 aims at bringing down the gross fertility rate among women to 2.1 by 2026 and to 1.9 by 2030.

• It aims at preventing the death of children under the age of 5 years and improving their nutritional condition.

• Efforts will be made to increase accessibility of contraceptive measures under the family planning programme and to provide a proper system for safe abortions.

• Provisions have been made for ensuring health services for all and for paying special attention to pregnant women, infants, sick newborns and children who are severely malnourished.

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