Assam govt. reinforces two-child policy for jobs, electoral participation, Pg11

Key Highlights:

• The Assam government reinforced its two-child policy on December 5, 2025, for government jobs, SHGs, and electoral participation.
• Certain communities including SCs, STs, Tea Garden Tribes, Matak, and Moran communities are allowed up to three children without losing benefits.
• The amended policy states that individuals marrying below the legal age are ineligible for government jobs.
• The government may legislate provisions to bar people with more than two children from participating in panchayat and municipal elections.

Detailed Insights:

• The Population and Women Empowerment Policy of Assam (Amendment), 2025 is effective immediately.
• Government servants must adhere to the two-child norm to serve as role models.
• SHGs adhering to the two-child policy (three for certain communities) will receive special government incentives.
• The government will propose the two-child norm as a yardstick for anyone contesting elections to the State legislature and may disqualify MLAs flouting this norm.
• The government may also introduce minimum educational qualifications as eligibility criteria for contesting elections to panchayats and urban local bodies.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Self-Help Groups (SHGs): Financial intermediary committees, usually composed of 10–20 local women or men.
• Panchayats: A system of local self-government in rural areas in India.
• Urban Local Bodies: Local governing bodies that administer cities and towns.