Guwahati: The BJP government in Assam on Thursday announced a slew of schemes meant for welfare and empowerment of women as per the second draft of the proposed ‘Population and women empowerment policy of Assam’ besides proposing to debar persons with more than two children to contest in elections held to the state Assembly as well as the Parliament.
Assam’s minister for finance, health, education etc., Himanta Bishwa Sarma while releasing the second draft of the population policy announced that Muslim women who are victims of triple talaq, would be provided pension by the state government till they complete skill development training sponsored for them.
All widows will also be provided with pension by the state government while 50 % reservation will be provided to women in state government jobs which will go a long way in empowering the women of the state.
As per the second draft of the policy, Assam government proposes to debar persons with more than two children from contesting any election in the state, right from the panchayat level to MP-level.
While proposing to bring about laws to bar people with more than two children from contesting election for panchayat, municipal and other statutory bodies and committees at the state level, Assam government will take up the issue with the Central government for its implementation of the same in case of MLAs and MPs from the state as it will require a Assam-specific amendment to the Representation of the People’s Act.
Sarma said, “We have made some changes in the first draft population policy after receiving feedback.
Some minor changes could be incorporated later and placed before the next state Cabinet meeting. We will, then, place the final draft policy before the state legislative assembly in August.”
The first draft policy which was released on March 27 last, had already advocated a strict two-child policy for government servants and elected/nominated representatives of panchayat, municipal and statutory bodies, with the second draft taking it a step further to include MLAs and MPs from the state.
Sarma, however, added that there could be relaxation or exemptions in specific instances on a case-to-case basis.
The second draft also proposes for intensive educational and publicity campaign on family planning, especially in the 11 districts of the state where the rate of population growth is higher than the state average rate.
