Question : Two Child Policy to Control Population

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the population of the country is increasing, if so, the details of the population growth registered, State/ UT-wise including Bihar during last ten years along with the reasons therefor;

(b) whether the Government considers population growth as a serious challenge and has conducted any survey in this regard and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether Government favours the two child policy and proposes to implement the same by enacting uniform law in this regard to control the population in the country, if so, the details thereof and the manner in which the said policy is likely to be implemented;

(d) whether several States/UTs have taken steps to follow the above norm and if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise;

(e) whether the two-child norm is not being considered as feasible, if so, the alternative norm/policy conceived in this regard; and

(f) whether the Government have proposed schemes for the people planning to have no kids and adopt the deprived children and if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)
(a) & (b): India''s population has increased to 121.02 crore in 2011 from 102.9 crore in 2001 (RGI); however, during 2001-2011, the percentage decadal growth has registered the sharpest decline since independence. It declined from 21.5 percent for the period 1991-2011 to 17.7 percent during 2001-11, a decrease of 3.8 percentage points.

The State/UT wise decadal growth rate including Bihar is placed at Annexure.


(c): The Government does not propose to implement two child policy since India is a signatory to the ICPD declaration of 1994 held at Cairo (International Conference on Population and Development) which advocates voluntary choice and honouring of reproductive rights of couples to decide freely and responsibly the number and spacing of their children;

(d): Health is a state subject, and formulation of population policy is the prerogative of State Governments. As per information available, following states have a population policy having the said norm:
i. Maharashtra
ii. Assam

(e): The National Family Planning programme is voluntary in nature and the Government provides the services free of cost in all public health and accredited private/ NGO facilities as per demand.

The Government is pursuing the high fertility district approach under Mission Parivar Vikas (improving access to family planning services in 146 districts whose Total Fertility Rate is above 3.0), and expanding the basket of choice for contraceptives to cater to the unmet need for contraception prevailing in the country.

(f): There is no such proposal at present.