Punjab MLA Proposes Population Control Bill with Severe Penalties

Chandigarh, July 4 (PTI) - Avtar Singh Junior, a Congress MLA from Jalandhar North, has introduced a private member's bill seeking to establish a law for population control in Punjab by enforcing penalties on married couples who have more than two living children. The bill, which was submitted to Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan on Wednesday, proposes various disincentives for couples who conceive an additional child beyond the two-child limit. The Population Control Bill 2025 includes penalties such as disqualification from voting, ineligibility to contest elections for the state legislature, panchayats, or municipal bodies, as well as exclusion from government welfare programs. Furthermore, couples would be barred from securing jobs in government or government-funded institutions and from receiving state-funded scholarships, fellowships, or educational incentives. A notable provision is a financial penalty of at least Rs 10 lakh for each additional child born after the law's implementation.

The bill also seeks to establish a state population control and public welfare committee that would formulate and enforce a population control policy centered around a two-child norm. The committee would appoint nodal officers for family planning in district civil hospitals, promote contraception strategies, and conduct counseling sessions for eligible couples. To incentivize adherence to the two-child policy, families below the poverty line would receive direct cash incentives, whereas the general population may benefit from soft loans, tax rebates, and additional subsidies.

According to Avtar Singh Junior, the bill's intent is to promote responsible parenthood, safeguard maternal health, and sustain Punjab's natural resources, such as soil, forests, and rivers. He emphasized that controlling the population would relieve pressure on state resources, allowing for increased spending on healthcare, better educational facilities, and enhanced infrastructure. He also cited research suggesting a direct link between overpopulation and crime, arguing that population control could help address issues like crime, unemployment, and drug abuse in Punjab.

The MLA has called for a discussion in the Vidhan Sabha, expressing openness to suggestions and debates on the proposal. "I welcome suggestions and arguments for or against the proposal. It is crucial that we have a debate," Junior stated.

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