On board IAF special aircraft, July 16: Dissatisfied with the failure of "persuasive" methods to check population boom in the country during the past 55 years, government is planning to bring in a legislation on a two-child norm with some disincentives to those who violate the norms, including barring them from contesting elections. "Just because of one bitter experience during emergency, it is not good to leave the idea of any legislation to check population in the country. The government is planning to talk to other political parties to achieve a consensus on introducing a legislation," Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani told reporters accompanying him on a visit to Gorakhpur today.
Observing that the country had adopted a lot of persuasive methods, including educational awareness, and there was some success, he said it was important that given the gravity of the problem "we think about other measures" to control the population growth. Informally some senior ministers in the government had spoken about the matter and were of the opinion that some legislative measures should be taken, he said adding, "We will talk to other political parties in the coming session."
According to the proposal, anyone having more than two children would be barred from contesting elections and would not be eligible for any job in government and public sector undertakings. Advani said one such proposal was introduced in the Rajya Sabha many years back and the Rajasthan government had taken such measures at the Panchayat level. Bureau Report