THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: At a time when the
two-child norm of last century is scorned at across the country, the model state
of family planning in India is contemplating punishment for couples with more
than two children. The Law Reforms Commission of Kerala headed by eminent jurist
Justice V R Krishna Iyer has recommended a penalty of Rs 10,000 and withdrawal
of free education and health care for anyone who goes for a third
child.
The Church in Kerala has called it an import of the Chinese
population policy by the Communist government. The Kerala Family Planning and
Control Bill seeks to promote family planning and birth control as methods of
controlling population.
But what has stirred a storm is the
suggestion for a penalty on any person who goes for a third child. A family or
person having more than two children should also be denied facilities and
advantages like free education, health assistance, facilities for housing and
other priorities including employment allowed under schemes or projects of the
state, says the Bill.
Clause 7 of the Bill reads, "No person or
institution shall use religion, region, sect, caste, cult or other inducements
for production of more children than permitted." Once the law comes into force,
"Any person or a public organization or institution associated with or carrying
on the work of family planning and birth control" may approach a court against
those found violating the provisions.
Predictably, the proposal has
invited sharp reactions from the Church. Only recently had the Kerala Catholic
Bishop's Council expressed "grave" concern at the fall in the birth rate among
its followers. What perturbed the Church was the swelling number of Muslims vis
a vis falling population of Christians and Hindus in the state.