Release of Draft State Population Policy, Assam
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| Government of Assam |
As per 2011 census report, the population of Assam increased to 3.12 crores from 2.66 crores in 2001. The continuous growth of the states population not only poses a severe strain on the natural resources and environment but also hinders the efforts of the Government to improve the quality of life of the people. In this backdrop, Health & Family Welfare Department, Government of Assam has prepared a draft State Population Policy, Assam, with an objective to incentivize families to optimize family size and thus allowing them the freedom to aspire for higher standard of living. The goal of the policy is that every family in Assam should have access to quality education, healthcare and employment opportunities.
Health & Family Welfare (A) Department, Government of Assam requests comments/observations in the E-mail ID to populationpolicyassam@yahoo.com within 30 days to enable the Government to consider the same.
Participation in Government:
1. Government employment:
- Candidates having two children only will be eligible.
- Government servants shall strictly follow norms of two children family to serve as role model for the Society.
2. Electoral participation:
- Government may legislate legal provision to bar people with more than two children to take part in Panchayat and Municipal Body elections.
- Government may consider to legislate similar legal provision for election/nomination to other statutory bodies and committees.
Access to development schemes:
- A District or Gaon Panchayat exceeding targets set under population policy could be given incentives in the shape of additional grants or works and setting apart a portion of overall funds available under development schemes.
- Best service provider awards to districts, PHCs, NGOs for innovative strategies as well as performance.
- Of the total financial resources allocated to Panchayats, 10% to be earmarked for performance based disbursement in the field of reproductive health, child health services and female education.
- Self Help Groups having members with two children each only shall be encouraged by giving special incentives in the form of grants by the Government.
Legislative and other measures:
- Observance of the minimum age of marriage to be made compulsory for availing of government facilities and services.
- Strict enforcement of provisions for violation of the legal age of marriage, foetal sex determination, etc.
- Panchayats will be given incentives by awarding special grants to keep register of population, marriages, births and deaths of its jurisdiction and share that database with the State level database. Similarly, districts will be judged and awarded performance award with grants on effective implementation of this policy.
- Incentives and awards shall be announced for the Gaon Burhas for better performance of their duties for record keeping of the population of the villages. The existing system of record keeping by the Gaon Burhas on population of village, births and deaths shall be strengthened and streamlined.
- There shall be strict measures taken by the Government to ensure retention of girl students at school. For this the government shall provide all necessary facilities like girls’ toilets, water, etc. in all schools. The defaulting schools may be penalized and better performing schools should be awarded.
Other welfare measures:
- The Government may encourage NGOs and religious leaders who advocate small family norms in the society specially in rural and unserved areas by giving incentives like grants and awards. The religious leader may be given incentives like special passes for travel in ASTC buses etc.
- The Government may give incentives to those children who
keep their parents with them (and take proper care).
For more details view Government of Assam website http://www.assam.gov.in/
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