As a marked deviation from its earlier population policy, the state government of Madhya Pradesh has chosen to end the two-child norm which used to disallow people having more than two children from seeking government job vacancies. This decision is bound to generate debate in India and abroad since this kind of a change in population policy is considered unprecedented.
In 2001, Madhya Pradesh came up with the two-child norm with a view to encouraging population stabilization. According to this criterion, a person who had over two children from a particular cut-off date would become ineligible to join the government service. Such policies have been enacted in a number of other Indian states in the past under the assumption that such restrictions on government job availability would encourage people to plan their families.
But after two decades, the Madhya Pradesh government thinks that the policy is no longer relevant considering the demographic situation in the present times.
However, supporters believe that the two-child policy was causing certain unintended effects. The critics have continuously pointed out that such rules always affect poor economic sections, rural people, and especially women. Some citizens would have to make tough decisions regarding whether to increase their families or pursue stable employment with the government. Additionally, some believed that the policy promoted practices such as hiding babies and not registering them to remain eligible for jobs.
Elimination of such a restriction will result in more candidates being available to apply for jobs within the government. This decision is in line with the idea that government jobs should be offered on merit, qualification, and competence. Many aspiring applicants who were previously ineligible now have the opportunity to compete for employment with the government.
Another reason for the decision might be demographic factors. India's fertility rates have fallen significantly over the years, and several states including Madhya Pradesh, are witnessing improvements in awareness about family planning practices. According to experts, population stabilization in the country is currently dependent on education, health, and economic prosperity.
The modification of policy can also be attributed to a national-wide debate on the balance between population policies and individual rights. Although the two-child norm was seen as a policy of responsible administration, its opponents argued about the legitimacy of interfering with the size of a family through job restrictions. Hence, the approach of Madhya Pradesh can be regarded as one that favors family planning over the creation of eligibility criteria.
It is believed that this decision might have political repercussions. Employment positions within the government sector are highly valued in India. Therefore, relaxing a criterion that discriminated against a category of job seekers could boost support among those citizens whose interests were affected by the previous policy.
Nevertheless, it cannot be said that the government renounced population planning altogether. On the contrary, this decision means that the state is opting for another strategy that involves raising public awareness, female education, medical assistance for pregnant women, and reproductive health services.
The scrapping of the two-child norm means much more than merely modifying the process of recruitment. It is indicative of changing social dynamics, changing policy priorities, and an increasing concern for inclusiveness in policy. With Madhya Pradesh going ahead with this step, the state becomes a part of the bigger debate about the balancing act that governments have to perform between development and other considerations.
Essentially, the policy reversal sends out the message that access to government jobs must be based on merit and capability alone, and not on family size.
Team Yuva Aaveg-
Adarsh Tiwari
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