UP Health Minister Jai Pratap Singh on Wednesday (4 March) said that the new population policy of the state was on the anvil, reported by SWARAJYA

Uttar Pradesh: To control the increasing population in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led state government is planning to bring a new population policy, which could have provisions including not allowing people with more than two children to avail benefits of state’s welfare schemes or contest panchayat elections.

“Population policy of different states is being studied and the best from them is being culled out for our state which is the most populous in India,” He said

He further added that a group of experts is reviewing a draft of the population policy, which was last revised in 2000.

State’s Family Welfare director-general Dr Badri Vishal, said that while the southern states of the country have been able to control their population, the northern states are still struggling.

“Several states, particularly Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh – which are smaller than us in terms of population – have rolled out schemes to de-incentivise too many children. In both the states, those with more than two children cannot contest panchayat elections. We propose to adopt this rule,” he said.

Withholding benefits under state government’s welfare schemes to those having over two children are also under consideration to control population in Uttar Pradesh.

“Though this is a tough call, certain states do not reimburse school fee allowance to those government employees who have more than two children,” said an officer.

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