Assam: Starting 2021, No Govt Jobs For Those With More Than 2 Kids

The Assam Cabinet has decided that no government jobs will be given to persons having more than two children after January 1, 2021. The important decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting held late Monday evening that also adopted a New Land Policy, which will give three bighas of agricultural land to landless indegenous people and half a bigha for constructing a house. A communique from the Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal's public relations cell stated that those having more than two children will not be considered for government jobs with effect from January 1, 2021 as per the small family norm.

In September 2017, the Assam Assembly had passed the 'Population and Women Empowerment Policy of Assam' that specified that job candidates with two children only would be eligible for government employment and the existing government staff were to strictly follow the two children family norm.

"New Land Policy was adopted. Three bighas of land will be given to landless indigenous people. Landless people will be offered half a bigha to construct their houses. These cannot be sold for 15 years," the CMO statement said.

The Cabinet meeting also decided to increase the bus fares in the state by 25 per cent, it added.

Assam has been at the centre of key citizenship initiative called NRC. The final NRC list in Assam was released on August 31 with 19,06,657 of the total 3,30,27,661 applicants excluded and 3,11,22,004 included. The process of NRC Update was started in Assam following a Supreme Court order in 2013 and since then, the apex court had closely monitored the entire process. The process of receipt of NRC application forms started in May 2015 and ended on 31st August 2015. A total of 3,30,27,661 people applied through 68,37,660 application forms.

As per the Supreme Court orders, the draft NRC (complete draft) was published on 30th July, 2018 wherein 2,89,83,677 numbers of persons were found eligible for inclusion. Thereafter, claims were received from 36,26,630 numbers of persons against exclusions.