Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly scraps three-decade-old two-child policy to comply with local body poll

The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Monday passed bills to amend the AP Panchayat Raj and Municipal Acts, effectively doing away with the three-decade-old policy that disqualified individuals with more than two children from contesting local body elections. According to the changes, every individual can now participate in local government elections, regardless of the number of children they have.

The two-child norm, introduced in 1994 by the then Prime Minister N Chandrababu Naidu government, was aimed at checking population growth. Candidates with more than two children were barred from contesting elections to Gram Panchayats, Mandal Praja Parishads and Zilla Parishads. The two-child rule has also been extended to include holding certain public offices and, in some cases, receiving certain benefits.

Underlining the need to increase the population recently, the Prime Minister presented the draft law that lifts the restrictions on those with more than two children participating in local elections. Naidu justified the termination by citing falling fertility rates and the need to adapt to contemporary socio-economic conditions.

Following the implementation of the two-child norm, the population policy review showed that the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of Andhra Pradesh had dropped significantly as per the National Family Health Survey 2019-21. Urban areas reported TFR as 1.47, while rural areas showed 1.78; both were well below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman. The statewide average fertility rate was 1.7.

The government argued that the two-child norm was now unnecessary and counterproductive. A senior TDP leader explained that this move was due to the decrease in the population of children under 15 years of age in the state.

“As falling fertility rates, population stabilization and changing socio-economic conditions proved outdated and inefficient, the government felt that the repeal of sections aimed at controlling the population would promote inclusive governance, reflect contemporary social values ​​and be in line with global best practices. and demographic trends,” the bills state.

Prime Minister Naidu emphasized that population management can become an economic asset in the future. Defending the change in policy, he said: “Following the successful implementation of family planning earlier, it is time to encourage women and families to have more children.”

The amendments were brought to revise the Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act, 1994, the Andhra Pradesh Municipalities Act, 1965 and the Municipal Corporations Act, 1955. Following the changes, individuals with more than two children are now eligible to participate in local body elections.