Uttar Pradesh Population Bill 2021

Subject – Governance

Context – Two-child policy: U.P. law panel submits draft Bill.

Concept –

On World Population Day (11th July),the Uttar Pradesh government announced a new population policy for 2021-2030.
The policy proposes five key targets:
- population control;
- ending curable maternal mortality and illnesses;
- ending curable infant mortality and ensuring betterment in their nutrition status;
- betterment of sexual and reproductive health-related information and facilities among the youth;
- care of elders.
The UP-government’s law commission has also prepared a population control bill, under which a two-child norm will be implemented and promoted.
As per the draft, violation of the policy is penalised with measures such as barring for elections and abidance is rewarded with measures such as promotion in jobs, subsidy etc.
The Uttar Pradesh government plans to set up a state population fund to implement the measures.

Key suggestions adopted by the commission:

Special facilities to all families (irrespective of the BPL category) who have only one child and undertake voluntary sterilisation.
A person who has more than two children after the law comes into force would be debarred from several benefits such as welfare schemes.