Question : LEGISLATION TO CONTROL POPULATION

(a) whether the Population Control Policy has been implemented in the country, without any specific target since 1996;

(b) if so, whether the National Population Commission propose to change the policy in order to check the rapid growth of population in the country;

(c) if so, the details of the future course of action;

(d) whether the Government are contemplating to bring any legislation to check the population of the country by encouraging the people for adopting two child norms; and

(e) if so, the time by which the Bill is likely to be introduced in this regard?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI A. RAJA)

(a): From Ist April, 1996 the Family Welfare Programme is being implemented all over India on the basis of Target Free Approach. Keeping in view the shortcomings of the target oriented approach earlier followed, the Department of Family Welfare introduced the decentralised participatory planning approach which inter alia implied abolition of centrally determined targets and laying down of performance targets based on the needs of the people.

(b) & (c): The National Commission on Population (NCP) is of the view that there cannot be a uniform policy relating to population control in view of the socio-economic and demographic diversity in the country. The State Population Policies are being formulated by the State Governments keeping in view their demographic concerns and to meet their specific needs in relation to population stabilization.

(d) & (e): No, Sir.