Bill geared to control women’s fertility rather than improving health, they sayThe Uttar Pradesh government’s proposed law on population control is ‘unconstitutional’ as it violates the right to equality and should be “immediately withdrawn”, demanded women’s organisations, health networks, academics in a memorandum addressed to President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday. The Draft Uttar Pradesh (UP) Population Control, Stabilisation and Welfare Bill, 2021, proposes a two-child policy and those violating it would be barred from contesting local body elections, applying for government jobs and getting subsidies under government welfare schemes. Also read: Efficacy of two-child norm has never been demonstrated, says Population Foundation of India’s Poonam MuttrejaThey write that the prevailing gap in abortion services will further result in violence and abandonment of women and children. “The Bill is geared to control [and reduce] women’s fertility rather than improving women’s health and promoting women’s reproductive rights. The proposed Bill should be deemed unconstitutional since it violates the right to equality,” they write.

Source: The Hindu July 19, 2021 16:07 UTC