Two Child Norm for Elections in India

Some states have legislated two-child norms for certain elected posts. The policy is modelled after China’s one child policy, which now allows couples to have two children effective from 1 January 2016.  This policy aims to create disadvantage for families with more than two children. The disadvantages include disqualification for certain elected posts like village panchayat and municipal bodies; decline of benefits from certain government and welfare programmes like maternal and child health programmes etc.

Initially 9 states introduced the two-child norm. They are Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat. Subsequently, four states, namely, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh had revoked the norm.

Criticisms

The norm is criticized as discriminatory and anti-democratic. It is contended that this norm interferes with the right to reproductive function. Secondly, it is contended that this norm results in negative outcomes like disowning of third child, abortion, female foeticide, divorce and desertion of women.