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UP’s Draft Population Bill: Of Benefits and Incentives

Population Control Bill

A Closer Look at UP's Draft Bill

Posted
Apr 28, 2023
Category
Recent Events


The Uttar Pradesh government announced a new population policy for 2021-2030 on Sunday. The new policy has provisions to give incentives to those who help in population control. A draft bill on population control has already been uploaded on the UP government's website, and suggestions are invited till July 19. Uttar Pradesh is India's most populous state with a population of around 220 million.

1. For govt employees adhering to the two-child norm
a. Two additional increments during the entire service
b. Subsidy towards purchase of plot or house site or built house from Housing Board or development Authority, as may be prescribed.
c. Soft loan for construction or purchasing a house on nominal rates of interest,as may be prescribed.
d. Rebate on charges for utilities such as water, electricity, water, house tax, as may be prescribed.
e. Maternity or as the case may be, paternity leave of 12 months, with full salary and allowances.
f. Three per cent increase in the emplaoyer‘s contribution Fund under national pension
g. Free health care facility and insurance coverage to spouses.


2. For govt employees adhering to the one-child norm
a. Four additional increments
b. Free health care facility and insurance coverage to the single child till he attain the age of twenty years
c. Preference to single child in admission in all education institutions, including but not limited to Indian Institute of Management, All India Institute of Medical Science etc.
d. Free education upto graduation level
e. Scholarship for higher studies in case of a girl child
f. Preference to single child in government jobs

3. Extension of incentive to the general public adhering to the two-child /single-child norms
a. Individual other than public servant, who adopts two-child norm or one child norm by undergoing voluntary sterilization operation upon himself or spouse, shall be given the incentives such as govt employees comprising – house purchase or construction soft loan, rebate in utilities, 12-month maternity & paternity paid leave, free health care to the spouse.

4. Special Benefit to Couple Living under the Below Poverty Line
a. A couple living below the poverty line, having only one child and undergoing voluntary sterilization operation upon himself or spouse shall be eligible for payment from the Government for a one-time lump-sum amount of Rs 80,000 thousand if the single child is a boy, and rupees one lakh if the single child is a girl.

The draft law, which comes ahead of the forthcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, said that it is necessary to control and stabilize the population due to limited resources in the state. After the enactment of a new law, the benefits of state government-sponsored welfare schemes will be limited to only those with two children or less.

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