Two-child norm for all communities in Gujarat

By Our Special Correspondent

GANDHINAGAR, JUNE 6 The Gujarat Government has decided to enact a law to encourage the two-child family norm to check the population explosion in the State.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the State Cabinet held under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister, Mr. Keshubhai Patel, here today. He later told mediapersons that the incentives and disincentives to be framed for adopting the two- child norm would be decided on the basis of the report of a cabinet sub- committee constituted by the Cabinet.

Mr. Patel was quick to add that the law, whatever its structure, would be applicable to all communities and vehemently denied a suggestion that it could be interpreted as a tirade against any particular community. The measure was nothing new and had been prevailing in many parts earlier and the members of the minority communities too had been honouring the law.

The Chief Minister said the Cabinet sub-committee to be headed by the Health and Industries Minister, Mr. Suresh Mehta, the number two in the Cabinet, would submit its recommendations by June 30 after discussing the issues with the leading members of society from different shades and voluntary organisations to ensure no individual or communities were discriminated against or put to inconvenience.

He said the proposed bill to be framed on the basis of the sub- committee's report would be moved in the State Assembly in the next session expected in August. While drafting the Act, care would be taken to ensure that the measure did not encourage female foeticide or any other kind of harassment to women. Sex determination tests were already banned in the State and there was no question of encouraging female foeticide. The measure would become effective exactly a year after the bill was adopted so that the people had enough time to take conscious decisions to limit the size of the families.

Mr. Patel said the population of the State increased from 4.13 crores as per the 1991 census to 5.05 crores in the 2001 census, registering a 22.48 per cent growth as against 21.19 per cent growth rate recorded in the previous decade. Since Independence, the population of the Gujarat had increased three fold which was a matter of concern.

He pointed out that the State's concern on the population explosion and measures to arrest the growth was outlined in the perspective plan formulated some six months ego on ``Social Infrastructure Vision 2010,'' which indicate that the move was neither sudden nor vindictive against any one.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : National
Previous : 'No copy of Sarkaria report presented to PM'
Next     : BJP for ordinance on free movement of foodgrains