Two-child norm to be reviewed

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MAY 30. The Government would review the two-child norm proposal, as part of the implementation strategy to stabilise the population. For this, a consensus would be worked out, the new Minister for Family Welfare, Dr C.P. Thakur told mediapersons here today.

Expressing concern at India's population crossing the one-billion mark, Dr Thakur, said population stabilisation and AIDS awareness would be the top priority programmes of his Ministry.

The first meeting of the newly formed National Population Commission would be held on July 21. The Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, would chair the meeting.

Dr Thakur said in the run up to the Commission conference, a series of meetings had been planned with various health experts, women's groups, NGOs, editors, industry and States Governments to prepare a draft documentation on implementation of the National Population Policy. The draft would be sent to the Commission for approval.

The Minister said the draft would indicate the direction for the implementation of the recently formulated National Population Policy. He said the population programme had suffered a set back in the 70's because of which no political party wants to touch it. But he believes that population concerns have to be brought centrestage through awareness. Dr Thakur is a medical doctor holding MBBS and FRCS degrees.

He said a more focussed and a non-bureaucratic approach would be adopted for implementation of population stabilisation measures in the socio-demographically backward States of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Assam and Haryana. In the ``technology mission'' approach, public health systems would be strengthened, district specific programmes based on community needs formulated in consultation with State Governments and appropriate technology of contraceptives and birth control measures would be adopted.

Interventions under Reproductive and Child Health programmes would be strengthened for reducing infant and maternal mortality.

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