Incentives for two-child BPL mothers suggested

The Catholic Church has, however, rejected the proposal, saying such a recommendation was a violation of human rights.

The Justice V R Krishna Iyer Commission on Rights and Welfare of Women and Child  submitted its report to Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Saturday. The government shall through local government bodies or prescribed agencies provide the cash incentive to the women, Justice T V Ramakrishnan, Vice chairman of the commission, said.

The document says “within the scope of a lawful wedlock, solemnised after the date of commencement of this Code, each unit of husband and wife shall limit its children to two for entitlement to the advantages the state grants to the members of a family.”

Adoption of family planning and birth control as secular policy is necessary to check unhealthy, uneconomic and abnormal increase in population and for sustaining harmony and happiness among all communities, the commission, appointed by the government, said.

It is the right of a couple to decide how many children they need, not the state’s, Kerala Catholic Bishop’s Council spokesperson father Stephen Althara said.