Monday, November 21 2005 16:51 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bhopal: Close on the heels of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) asking Hindus to give birth to at least three children, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Madhya Pradesh Government is likely to lift restrictions preventing candidates with more than two children from contesting Panchayat elections.

Since the two-child ceiling has created a host of problems, a proposal to do away with it is expected to be discussed by the State cabinet tomorrow (Nov 22, 2005), official sources said today (Nov 21, 2005).

If the cabinet clears the draft of the Bill aiming at making necessary amendments in the relevant Acts to remove the restrictions on child norms, it will be tabled in the State Assembly during the forthcoming Winter Session, they said.

According to sources, the restrictions had been forcing members of Panchayat, municipal and agriculture produce wholesale markets to vacate their post, in case their child is born after January 26, 2001, when the rules in this regard came to force.

Besides creating resentment among elected representatives of Panchayat bodies, who considered it as discriminatory as it was not enforced for other elected posts like MLAs and MPs, the restrictions had prompted abortions, while doing little to control population boom, official sources pointed out.

Though the Babu Lal Gaur-led BJP Government in the state had announced plans to scrap the provision several months ago, the move is believed to have been prompted by RSS chief K S Sudarshan asking Hindus to give birth to at least three children to maintain demographic balance and ensure their survival in coming times.

Further, the move seems to have support of Union Panchayat Raj Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar, who reportedly wrote to the State Government asking it to remove the restrictions.