The Hindu : Women's groups oppose `two-child norm'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 28, 2002

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Women's groups oppose `two-child norm'

By Gargi Parsai

New Delhi May 27. An "anonymous'' strategy paper floated by the Planning Commission, advocating "two-child norm", has come in for sharp criticism from several women organisations, which fear such a move might lead to coercive methods in population stabilisation.

The women's groups feel that if it were implemented, it would deprive (third or more) children of their right to survival and development. But more than that, the coercive "two-child norm" would lead to female foeticide and an imbalance in the sex-ratio which could lead to severe social problems.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare swears by the National Family Planning Population Policy of 2002, which does not endorse coercive methods or even a two-child norm. It talks of a "small family'' at the centre of Reproductive and Child Health (RCH).

The women's groups, led by Vina Majumdar, are protesting that "such an anonymous strategy paper'' be considered by the Union Cabinet. Their observation is based on media reports which suggested that the Union Cabinet would discuss the strategy paper — a fact denied by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The States, including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, have introduced the State Population Policy with offers of incentives and disincentives to meet targets. The latest is a bill proposed by the Uttar Pradesh Government which was full of disincentives for couples "who breach the two-child norm''.

The women's groups had written to the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, C. P. Thakur, and the Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, J. S.Varma, saying they were disturbed by the reports that "anonymous'' strategy papers were to form the basis for setting in motion measures that both reversed and violated existing policies. There were some rules that allowed a woman to go on maternity leave only two times.

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