Rajasthan moves to stem population growth

NEW DELHI, JULY 22: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has said that his government, in its effort to check population growth, has amen...

NEW DELHI, JULY 22: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has said that his government, in its effort to check population growth, has amended the laws relating to panchayat and local bodies elections by which those having more than two children would not be eligible to contest elections and those already elected face disqualification.

Speaking at the first meeting of the National Population Commission convened by Prime Minister A B Vajpayee here, the Chief Minister said this showed that the state government had the political will to take steps to control population.

He said unless population was checked, the fruits of development would never be able to reach the people while on the other hand, whatever development is taking place would be further retarded.

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Gehlot urged the Prime Minister to revive the UTI scheme under which those with less than two children were given bonds of Rs 15,000 for the girl child. This had encouraged couples to restrict the family and "I request you that this scheme be revived," he said.

He said the economic situation of the state was deteriorating in view of the Fifth Pay Commission report and the state government was facing difficulty managing primary health centres and asked the Centre to bear the expenditure for health services.