State okays population control scheme

MUMBAI, MARCH 9: Alarmed by the population explosion, the Congress-led Democratic Front on Wednesday approved a multi-pronged strategy to stabilise the population by 2021.

"We have drafted a new policy to ensure that the population is stabilised by 2021. The policy envisages to reduce the birth rate from 2.6 per thousand to 2.1 per thousand during the next four years. A high-level committee headed by the Chief Minister will be set up to implement the policy in letter and spirit," Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said.

According to the scheme, if a couple undergoes family planning operation after the delivery of first or second girl child, then Rs 10,000 will be deposited in the name of the girl child for a period of 18 years. And if the girl studies up to Std X, another Rs 5,000 will be deposited in her name for five years.