Assam reinforces two-child policy for govt. jobs, electoral participation

The Assam government has notified a change in its 2017 policy on population and women empowerment to strengthen the two-child norm for eligibility in government jobs, self-help groups (SHGs) and participation in elections.

However, some communities were allowed to have up to three children without losing access to government jobs and benefits and the right to participate in panchayat and urban local body elections. These groups are Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), “Tea Garden Tribes” and Matak and Moran communities.

The notification issued by the State Health and Family Welfare Department on December 5 said that Assam’s Population and Women Empowerment Policy (Amendment) 2025 will come into force with immediate effect.

According to this notification, only candidates with two children will be eligible for civil service, and existing civil servants will be required to strictly comply with the two-child norm as a role model for society.

He also said that individuals, male or female, who marry below the legal age will not be able to take part in government jobs or employment generation schemes of the State.

The revised framework states that SHGs with members who uniformly adhere to the two-child (three children for communities benefiting from relaxation) policy will receive special government incentives.

The notification states that the government may make legal provisions to prohibit persons with more than two children from contesting panchayat and municipal elections and may consider similar legal provisions regarding election or nomination to other statutory bodies and committees.

“In addition to the two-child norm, the Government may impose minimum educational qualifications as eligibility criteria for participation in panchayat and urban local body elections to help create an educated society and demographics,” the notification said.

“The Government of Assam will discuss with the Government of India the issue of ensuring that MLAs comply with family planning norms. The two-child norm will be proposed as the benchmark for all those contesting elections to the State legislature. If any MLA in the State violates family planning norms, i.e. having more than two children, he/she may be disqualified from membership and barred from contesting elections in future,” he says.