The Assam government on April 9 announced a draft population policy which suggested denial of government jobs to people with more than two children and making education up to university level free for all girls in the state.
“This is a draft population policy. We have suggested that people having more than two children will not be eligible for any government jobs,” Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said at a press conference in Guwahati. Any person getting a job after meeting this condition will have to maintain it till end of his service, he added.
“For employment generation schemes like giving tractors, offering homes and others government benefits, this two-children norm will be applicable. Besides, all elections such as panchayats, municipal bodies and autonomous councils held under the state election commission will also have this norm for candidates,” Sarma said.
Sarma, who is also the education minister, said the policy also aims to give free education to all girls up to university level. “We want to make all facilities free, including fees, transportation, books and mess dues in hostels. This step is also likely to arrest the school dropout rate,” he added.
