Major Policy Shift in Madhya Pradesh
The Madhya Pradesh government has made a significant decision to remove the two-child policy restriction for its employees, ending a rule that had been in place for more than two decades. This move allows state government staff to have more than two children without facing the threat of losing their jobs.
Historical Context and Implementation Timeline
The two-child norm was originally implemented in 2001 and has been a condition of employment for all state government workers until now. According to official sources, the General Administration Department (GAD) recently submitted a formal proposal to the Chief Minister's secretariat seeking the removal of this long-standing restriction.
Once the state cabinet approves this proposal, the new rules will take immediate effect, marking a substantial shift in the state's employment policies. The timing of this decision has generated considerable discussion within political and administrative circles across the state.
Political Influences and Regional Precedents
The issue gained prominence when RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat addressed the matter during his speech in Nagpur on December 1 last year. Speaking at the '100 Years Journey of RSS: New Horizons' event, Bhagwat emphasized that demographic changes carry significant social and political consequences.
He stated, "All scriptures say that societies with very few children gradually disappear. So, this balance must be maintained. Having three children is the right thing." Following this declaration, the Madhya Pradesh government spent ten months considering the matter before indicating in October that it would present the proposal to the state cabinet.
The decision in Madhya Pradesh follows similar moves by neighboring states. Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh had already lifted comparable restrictions in 2016 and 2017 respectively, setting regional precedents for such policy changes.
Sources from the secretariat revealed that the proposal to eliminate the two-child ban underwent three months of thorough discussions at various administrative levels, incorporating inputs from senior officials before reaching its final form. This careful deliberation process ensured that all aspects of the policy change were thoroughly examined before implementation.
The removal of the two-child policy represents one of the most significant changes to employment conditions for Madhya Pradesh government workers in recent years, potentially affecting thousands of state employees and their families across the region.
