NHRC on Population Policy

The National Human Rights Commission thoroughly examined the National Population Policy 2000(NPP) and expressed concern regarding inbuilt discrimination in the Policy. Following its righteous approach, the Commission reprimanded some of the State governments, which had framed Population Policies reflective of a coercive approach through incentives/disincentives and thus in clash with the National Population Policy.
Keeping in mind the urgent need for consistency between Population Policy and Human Rights and Human Development, the meeting of the Statutory Full Commission decided to constitute a Working Group to examine the issue of incentive/disincentive on the 'two-child norm'. The Working Group was also to monitor the Population Policy of various State governments and its execution.
Shri A.K. Shivakumar, Advisor to UNICEF, India, was appointed the Convenor, of the Group. The Working Group submitted to the Commission a report alongwith a Reporting Format with regard to the status on the implementation of the Population Policy. The Reporting Format was meticulously designed under the expertise of the Members of the Working Group. The Commission thoroughly examined the report submitted and made recommendations, which were discussed and endorsed in the Statutory Full Commission. The two recommendations were: -
a) Solicit comments and suggestions on the Implementation Reports submitted by the State governments and Union Territories and different stakeholders.
b) Select a few States every year for detailed discussion on the implementation of health and population policies (Implementation Report submitted by State governments to be the basis) in order to ensure that in practice the policies enforced do not violate the dignity of women and the rights of individuals.
The Reporting format has now been circulated to all the Chief Secretaries/administrators of all the States and Union Territories with a request to submit the required information to the Commission.