The Assam government has officially relaxed its two-child policy for a number of indigenous communities in the State. The decision was notified on December 5 and it now allows members of Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, tea garden workers and the Moran and Matak communities to have up to three children without losing government benefits or facing restrictions in government employment or election participation. According to the notification issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department, the amendment has come into force immediately. The order mentioned that this change has been made in the Population and Women Empowerment Policy of Assam, which was first introduced in 2017. Officials said the amendment aims to respond to specific social and demographic issues faced by these communities.
Commissioner and Secretary Patibandla Ashok Babu, while issuing the order, said that persons belonging to these communities will now be able to apply for government jobs and also take part in elections even if their families have three children. The order further mentioned that incentives for Self Help Groups will also remain available. The Government had earlier decided in its Cabinet meeting held on October 23 that the ST, tea garden, Moran and Matak communities would be exempted from the earlier restrictions and the latest notification has now put that decision into official effect.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, speaking after the Cabinet meeting in October, had said that the main purpose of this step was to protect the demographic future of these communities. The Chief Minister had stated at that time that a strict population limit might slowly weaken their identity and may even threaten their existence in future generations. He had also pointed out that there could be a risk of extinction for some communities within the next fifty years if the two-child policy continued without change.