Tuesday, November 22 2005 18:19 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Cabinet today (Nov 22, 2005) gave a nod to a proposal aimed at lifting restrictions that prevented candidates, with more than two children, from contesting Panchayat elections.

The state Cabinet has decided to remove the provision in Panchayat Raj Act that also forced members of Panchayat, Municipal and agriculture produce wholesale markets to vacate their post, in case their third child is born after January 26, 2001, official sources said here.

Besides creating resentment among elected representatives of Panchayat bodies who considered it 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, the sources said.

Though the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Government in the state had announced plans to scrap the provision several months ago, the move is believed to have been prompted by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (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, sources said.