Two-child norm done away in MP

Bhopal, July 19 (UNI) Candidates contesting panchayati raj institutions' polls in Madhya Pradesh will no longer face disqualification if they have more than two offspring.

As the main opposition Congress and other parties staged a walkout in the assembly today, the Panchayati Raj and Village Self-government (Amendment) Bill, 2006 was passed by voice vote.

Henceforth, nominees for the posts of panch, sarpanch, pradhan and zila pramukh would not be restricted by the number of their children.

Replying to doubts raised during a discussion on the proposal for legislation, Panchayati Raj Minister Gangaram Patel said, ''This step will aid in checking the increasing population inequilibrium and female foeticide.'' Dismissing as baseless the allegations that an RSS agenda was being implemented, he pointed out that the Bill was introduced following a suggestion by Union Panchayati Raj Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar.

''The ban, which was aimed at population control, was actually leading to a spurt in panchayat disputes and having a pronounced deleterious effect on women. Owing to a spurt in female foeticide, infectious ailments are also on the rise. Such a ban should be first implemented in higher institutions,'' Mr Patel added.

The government was attempting to raise awareness by improving education and health services in rural areas with a view to population control, he explained.

Participating in the discussion, Leader of the Opposition Jamuna Devi pointed out that the two-child law was drafted in keeping with former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's national viewpoint.

''The regime is apathetic in implementing the population control policy,'' she alleged.

Fiery exchanges followed SP MLA Sunilam's charge that an RSS agenda was being implemented.

UNI AG-AC MIR RN1945