Opposition members fear bill to regulate population will victimise women
India Today
Opposition MPs Fauzia Khan and L Hanumanthaiah expressed apprehension that Population Regulation Bill is targeted at a particular community and if passed, it will further marginalise the marginalised.
Indian women of this generation will be the biggest victims of a private member bill that seeks to regulate population by promoting two-child per couple policy, opposition members said in the Rajya Sabha on Friday.
Taking part in a discussion over the Population Regulation Bill, 2019 moved by BJP's Rakesh Sinha, opposition members Fauzia Khan (NCP) and L Hanumanthaiah (Congress) also expressed apprehension that the move is targeted at a particular community and if passed, it will further marginalise the marginalised.
"The biggest victims of the bill will be Indian women in general of this generation, irrespective of any community," Khan asserted.
She said that as such at present many women in India can't refuse marriage or having children and they are also forced to undergo non-voluntary birth control measures. Irrespective of their health, they are forced to undergo pregnancy for the want of a boy child, she said.
Manoj Kumar Jha (RJD) said no law should lead to victimisation of women.
"There is maximum possibility of victimisation of women in this," he said participating in the discussion on the bill.
Amar Patnaik (BJD) said while one may think that legislative and coercive measures offer the best way to achieve population control, history showed otherwise.
