Lok Sabha Question No. 1967 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-29
Subject: Two Child Policy to Control Population
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Kanakmal Katara, Janardan Singh Sigriwal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1967 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29 TH NOVEMBER, 2019

## TWO CHILD POLICY TO CONTROL POPULATION

## 1967. SHRI ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY: SHRI KANAKMAL KATARA: SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the population of the country is increasing, if so, the details of the population growth registered, State/ UT - wise including Bihar during last ten years along with the reasons therefor;

(b)  whether  the  Government  considers population  growth  as  a  serious  challenge and  has conducted any survey in this regard and if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether Government favours the two child policy and proposes to implement the same by enacting uniform law in this regard to control the population in the country, if so, the details thereof and the manner in which the said policy is likely to be implemented;

(d)  whether  several  States/UTs have taken  steps  to  follow  the  above  norm  and if  so,  the details thereof, State/UT -wise;

(e)  whether  the  two - child  norm  is  not being  considered  as  feasible,  if  so,  the alternative norm/policy conceived in this regard; and

(f) whether the Government have proposed schemes for the people planning to have no kids and adopt the deprived children and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

( a) &( b) : India's population has increased to 121.02 crore in 2011 from 102.9 crore 2001 (RGI); however, during 2001 - 2011, the percentage decadal growth has registered the sharpest decline since independence. It declined from 21.5 percent for the period 199 - 2011 to 17.7 percent during 2001 - 11, a decrease of 3.8 percentage points.

The State/UT wise decadal growth rate including Bihar is placed at Annexure.

(c): The  Government  does  not  propose  to  implement  two  child  policy  since  India  is signatory  to  the ICPD  declaration  of  1994  held  at  Cairo  (International  Conference  o Population and Development) which advocates voluntary choice and honouring of reproductive  rights of couples to decide freely  and responsibly the number and spac their children ;

(d) : Health is a state subject, and formulation of population policy is the prerog State Governments. As per information available, following states have a population having  the said norm:

- i. Maharashtra
- ii. Assam

(e): The  National  Family  Planning  programme  is  voluntary  in  nature  and he Government  provides  the  services  free  of  cost  in  all  public  health  and  accredited  p NGO facilities as per demand .

The Government is pursuing the high fertility district approach under Mission Parivar Vikas  (improving  access  to  family  planning  services  in  146  districts  whose  Total  Fe Rate is above 3.0), and expanding the basket of choice for contraceptives to cater to need for contraception prevailing in the countr y.

(f) : There is no such proposal at present.

## Annexure

## State/UT wise Decadal growth rate (Source: RGI)

| SNo.   | Name of State/UT          | D ecadal growth rate(2001 - 2011)   |
|--------|---------------------------|-------------------------------------|
| 1      | Andaman & Nicobar Islands | 6. 9                                |
| 2      | Andhra Pradesh *          | 11. 0                               |
| 3      | ArunachalPradesh          | 26. 0                               |
| 4      | Assam                     | 17. 1                               |
| 5      | Bihar                     | 25. 4                               |
| 6      | Chandigarh                | 17. 2                               |
| 7      | Chhattisgarh              | 22. 6                               |
| 8      | Dadra & Nagar Haveli      | 55. 9                               |
| 9      | Daman & Diu               | 53. 8                               |
| 10     | Goa                       | 8. 2                                |
| 11     | Gujarat                   | 19. 3                               |
| 12     | Haryana                   | 19.9                                |
| 13     | Himachal Pradesh          | 12. 9                               |
| 14     | Jammu & Kashmir           | 23. 6                               |
| 15     | Jharkhand                 | 22.4                                |
| 16     | Karnataka                 | 15.6                                |
| 17     | Kerala                    | 4. 9                                |
| 18     | Lakshadweep               | 6.3                                 |
| 19     | Madhya Pradesh            | 20.3                                |
| 20     | Maharashtra               | 16. 0                               |
| 21     | Manipur                   | 24.5                                |
| 22     | Meghalaya                 | 27. 9                               |
| 23     | Mizoram                   | 23. 5                               |
| 24     | Nagaland                  | - 0. 6                              |
| 25     | NCT of Delhi              | 21. 2                               |
| 26     | Orissa                    | 14. 0                               |
| 27     | Puducherry                | 28. 1                               |
| 28     | Punjab                    | 13. 9                               |
| 29     | Rajasthan                 | 21. 3                               |
| 30     | Sikkim                    | 12. 9                               |
| 31     | Tamil Nadu                | 15.6                                |
| 32     | Tripura                   | 14. 8                               |
| 33     | Uttar Pradesh             | 20. 2                               |
| 34     | Uttarakhand               | 18. 8                               |
| 35     | West Bengal               | 13. 8                               |
|        | INDIA                     | 17. 7                               |

*Figure for undivided Andhra Pradesh