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Ahead of the much awaited assembly polls next year Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has unveiled a policy aimed at stabilising the population in Uttar Pradesh and reducing maternal and infant deaths in a time-bound manner as he termed rising population a ‘hurdle in development’.
The Uttar Pradesh Population Policy 2021-2030, unveiled on the occasion of World Population Day, also aims at bringing down the gross fertility rate among women to 2.1 by 2026 and to 1.9 by 2030.
The UP government is implementing this policy keeping in mind all sections of the society, the chief minister said on the occasion.
A few days ago, a draft bill on population control was put up on the website of the Uttar Pradesh law commission inviting suggestions from the public till July 19.
It says people having more than two children in Uttar Pradesh will be debarred from contesting local bodies polls, applying for government jobs or receiving any kind of subsidy.
The draft bill also seeks to prohibit promotions in government jobs for such people, while offering incentives to those limiting their children to two.
Unveiling the population policy , Adityanath said, “Across the world, concerns have been raised from time to time about increasing population being a hurdle in development. Discussions on it have been going on for the past four decades.”
“The countries and states which have made efforts in this direction have seen positive results. However, more efforts are needed,” he said.
Besides seeking to achieve population stabilisation and reduce preventable maternal and infant deaths, the UP Population Policy also aims at preventing the death of children under the age of 5 years and improving their nutritional condition.
Under the policy, efforts will be made to increase accessibility of contraceptive measures under the family planning programme and to provide a proper system for safe abortions, the Uttar Pradesh government said in a statement.
Provisions have been made for ensuring health services for all and for paying special attention to pregnant women, infants, sick newborns and children who are severely malnourished.
Addressing a function at his official residence in Lucknow, the chief minister said efforts to control population is linked to comprehensive awareness in the society.
“We should not forget that the increase in population contributes to poverty in the society. Hence, until all sections of society are made comprehensively aware, there will be a delay in fulfilling various goals.
“Every section of the society has to be associated with the awareness campaign,” Adityanath said.
