Coercive population control policies ...
Beyond Numbers - Implications of the two-child norm: Impact of the Two Child norm on local governance
Sama’s efforts to take forward the campaign against coercive population policies have also involved undertaking a study on the representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions in Madhya Pradesh (2003-2004). The research, carried out in 12 districts of Madhya Pradesh, attempted to capture the experiences of those members (men and women) who were disqualified or had been subjected to removal from office because of the imposition of the two-child norm. The study aimed to understand the impact of the norm on women’s lives – in the public and private spheres, implications for her autonomy, position in the family and to examine participation in political process of the poor and socially marginalized.
The study reflected the ways in which the two-child norm acted as a discriminatory method to disempower the marginalized groups of dalits, women and adivasis, apart from disengaging the youth from the political process. Nearly 50% of the disqualified candidates constitute SC, ST and OBC categories.
Women too have been rendered more vulnerable and doubly disadvantaged. Increase in violence against women - forced abortions, desertion, abandonment, divorce, alleging infidelity, sex-selective abortions, giving up children (especially girls) for adoption, etc., were evident through the research. While on the one hand they rarely have any decision making power regarding the number of children, they face the consequences of having an additional child since their husbands holding the office refuses to acknowledge the newborn. When the woman herself is the actual office holder, having a third child is used as a tool to usurp her authority, and in such cases the mother-in-law or other men often replace her.
It is being disseminated extensively to advocate against coercive population policies in other states. The findings of the study played a crucial role in revoking the two-child norm in Madhya Pradesh.