New Delhi: Concerned over the proposed inclusion of the two-child norm in the National Population Policy, the National Commission for Women (NCW) today (Oct 11, 2004) said the norm was "coercive" and demanded that the Centre should hold larger consultations on the issue, especially with women at the grass-root level.

"The Government should consult women, especially those at the grass-root level as it will affect them the most. They cannot impose this coercive population policy without consulting them," NCW chairperson Poornima Advani told reporters in New Delhi.

She said NCW has also asked the State Women's Commissions to hold consultations on the two-child norm and the mechanism of incentives and disincentives it entails.

The issue is also expected to come up in a big way in the conference of Union and State health secretaries on the subject of healthcare for women to be held in New Delhi tomorrow.

"An important dialogue on the issue will take place at the conference tomorrow, with all the health secretaries present," Advani said.

The conference, organised by the NCW, will be the first-ever meeting of health secretaries on the issue of healthcare for women.