NHRC to consider human rights issues concerning Population Policies framed by the State Governments

The NHRC has decided to consider all relevant human rights issues relating to population policies, which have been adopted or are being framed by certain State Governments
The Commission received a petition from representatives of women’s groups and health activists highlighting certain issues concerning the population policies adopted by some of the State Governments in the country. The petitioners stated that it was profoundly disturbing that several State Governments have announced population policies which, allegedly, in very significant ways, violated the letter and the spirit of the National Population Policy.
The Commission has, accordingly, issued notice to the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Human Resource Development (Department of Women & Child Development) and the National Commission on Population, Government of India asking for their views on the matter. In addition, the National Commission on Population has also been requested to indicate whether the Government was considering a Strategy Paper to review the National Family Welfare Programme and Policy and, if so, the purpose and nature for which that paper would be used.
The Commission has, in addition, taken suo-motu cognizance of a news report which stated that several States were preparing to use coercive population control methods in complete violation of the National Policy and that this would not only lead to the violation of human rights but may also adversely affect the rights of vulnerable sections of society. The report added that at least five States Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra had already framed policies that proposed various disincentives, including denial of free rations and education to the third child. The Commission has, therefore, also issued notices to these five States.
Responses have already been received from the Ministry of Health and the National Commission on Population. On receiving responses from the others, the Commission will consider the issue in its entirety.