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Govt. to abolish two-child norm in panchayat bodies

Special Correspondent

Govt. to promulgate Ordinance in this regard

CHANDIGARH: The Haryana Cabinet on Friday decided to promulgate an Ordinance to amend Section 175(q) of the Haryana Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, retrospectively with effect from January 1, 2005 to omit the section according to which no person having more than two children could be a Sarpanch or Panch of a Gram Panchayat or a member of a Panchayat Samiti or Zila Parishad or continue as such.

Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda told media persons that the Assembly not being in session, it was decided to promulgate an Ordinance to amend the Act. He said that it was felt that the two-child norm resulted in social distortions including giving children away in adoption, forced abortion and non-registration of births. Even studies assigned by the Central Government had indicated that the two-child norm resulted in adverse effects on women's empowerment, especially in the case of Dalits and weaker sections of society.

The Cabinet also decided to amend Appendix-I of Punjab Civil Services Rules Volume-II relating to Family Pension Scheme, 1964, to provide that the pension would be admissible in case of widow or widower up to the date of death or re-marriage, which ever is earlier. At present, the benefit is restricted till the age of 25 years or re-marriage which ever is earlier.

It also decided to set up a Women's University named after Bhagat Phool Singh at Khanpur Kalan in Sonipat district by issuing an ordinance. The University, which would be teaching-cum-affiliating, would facilitate women in the field of higher education with special emphasis on emerging areas of Information Technology, Computer Education, Medical Sciences, Bio-Technology, Environmental Studies, Technology and Management Studies. The Haryana Governor would be its Chancellor.

The Cabinet also decided to enact Haryana Minerals (Prevention of Illegal Mining, Transportation and Storage) Rules, 2006, to check illegal mining of minerals.

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