Question : POPULATION CONTROL MEASURES IN STATES

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

(a) & (b) Yes, Sir. Incentives and disincentives have been proposed in State Population Policies of Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat, as per details given in Annexure-I.

(c) to (f) The National Human Rights Commission served a suo moto notice to the Government of Andhra Pradesh based on a newspaper report that several States, including Andhra Pradesh, are preparing to use coercive population control methods in complete violation of the National Policy. As per information received from the NHRC, the response of Government of Andhra Pradesh is still awaited in the matter. Meanwhile a National Level Resource Committee has been constituted to assist the States in formulation of Population Policies in consonance with the letter and spirit of the National Population Policy, 2000.

Details of the composition of Committee and terms of reference is given in Annexure-II.


Annexure-I

DETAILS OF INCENTIVES AND DISINCENTIVES UNDER STATE POPULATION POLICIES


ANDHRA PRADESH

-	Incentives will be provided in the shape of additional works, school buildings,	etc. and by setting apart a portion from the overall funds available under schemes	such as JRY, EAS,RWS, etc.
-	Every village, which achieves the performance level, will also be selected for	full coverage under schemes such as TRYSEM, low cost sanitation scheme and weaker	section housing scheme.
-	Performance in funding of DWCRA group
-	Rolling shield at every level

Individual Level

- All award of Rs. 10,000 each to three couples per district by lucky dip

- Similar prizes with local contribution

- Preference will be given in schemes such as assignment of land, allotment of surplus agricultural land, assignment of house sites and houses, IRDP, SC Action Plan, BC Action Plan, TRYSEM,PMRY CMYEP, etc.

RAJASTHAN

- Stiffer panel provisions for violation of the legal age at marriage

- Ensuring strict enforcement of Sarda Act, Pre-Natal Diagnostic Technique Act, etc.

- In case of panchayati raj institutions/municipalities where the candidates having two or more children are ineligible to contest elections. The same provisions can also be considered for other elected bodies like cooperative institutions and as a service condition to state government employees.

- Provision of certificate of excellence at district level to various classes of government employees, and voluntary and social organisations for outstanding achievements.

Linking part of the sanction of various development works/schemes with the level of achievement of the population policy. A policy decision has been taken to discontinue the incentive scheme (even to service providers and sterilisation acceptors)

UTTAR PRADESH

Panchayats would be responsible for recording marriages in addition to births and deaths. This data would be shared with the grassroot level workers to help them provide RCH services, including family planning Of the total financial resources allocated to PR institutions, 10% will be earmarked for performance based disbursement, particularly for performance in the areas of reproductive and child health services and female education. Those panchayats whose performance best meets clients RCH needs will be honoured by the Chief Minister and given special development grants for community assets.

MADHYA PRADESH

- From 26th January 2001, persons marrying before legal age at marriage will not be eligible to seek government employment in MP

- Persons having more than 2 children after 26th January 2001 would not be eligible for contesting elections for panchayats, local bodies, mandis or cooperatives in the state. In case they get elected and in the mean time they have the third child, they would be disqualified for that post

- The girl child scheme like Rajlakshmi to ensure retention of girls in schools and to prevent child marriages will be launched in the state with the help of financial institutions.

- Awards will be given in the field of community support for population stabilisation at all levels for the best performing health institutions, individuals and panchayat raj institutions every year

- Rural development schemes, particularly those dealing with infrastructure, will be linked with family planning and reproductive health performance.

GUJARAT

# Encouraging local bodies including the panchayats to more purposefully get involved in health, population and development programmes by sharing resources with accountability.

# Involving Aarogya Samitis in conducting need assessment surveys, carrying out resource planning, conducting health and hygiene programmes, monitoring collection of vital data/statistics with special emphasis on infant and maternal deaths, organizing population educational information building programmes and act as pressure groups to enable mobilization of personnel.

# Involving Panchayati Raj Training institutes in capacity building of panchayat members particularly women members for management of health and population programmes.


Annexure -II

No. N.23011/32/2000-Ply
Government of India
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
Department of Family Welfare
Nirman Bhavan, New Delhi-110011
Dated the 8th March, 2002

ORDER

In order to facilitate formulation of Population Policies at the State with State specific strategies while keeping in mind the general spirit of National Population Policy, 2000, the Government of India has decided to constitute a National Level Resource Committee comprising of the following members :-

(i)	Dr. Vimla Ramachandran, Health Watch

(ii)	Dr. Leela Visaria, Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi University

(iii)	Dr. Almas Ali, Consultant UNFPA/MoHFW

(iv)	Dr. Mohan Rao, Professor, JNU, New Delhi.

(v)	Dr. (Ms) Mira Shiva, VHAI, New Delhi

(vi)	Mr. Diego Palacios Representative of UNFPA

(vii)	Sh. S.C. Srivastava, Director (Policy), MoHFW-Convenor
2 The Terms of Reference of the a `National Level Resource Committee` shall be as under :-
-	To provide technical support to State Governments in formulation of State	Population Policies
-	To hold consultative workshops with the State Government officials, experts	and other civil society actors to assist in formulating the State Population Policy.
3.	UNFPA will support the activities of the National Level Resource Committee.

Sd/-x x x x x x x

(R.N. BANSAL)
UNDER SECRETARY (POLICY)


To	1.	Dr. Vimla Ramachandran, Managing Trustee, YA 6 Sahvikar	Plot No. 68, IP Extention, Delhi-92	2.	Dr. Leela Visaria, Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi	University	3.	Dr. Almas Ali, Consultant UNFPA/MoHFW	4.	Dr. Mohan Rao, Professor, JNU, New Delhi.	5.	Dr. (Ms) Mira Shiva, VHAI, New Delhi	6.	Mr. Diego Palacios Representative of UNFPA	7.	Sh. S.C. Srivastava, Director (Policy), MoHFW