Assam Panchayat member loses her post for violating two-child norms

The Cachar district administration vide an order, has removed one woman named Nargis Jahan from the post of Anchalik Panchayat member under Barkhola assembly constituency for violating the government’s two-child norms policy.

In the order copy issued on December 23, Cachar district Deputy Commissioner Laya Madduri stated that – “Whereas public grievance was received alleging that Anchalik Panchayat member Nargis Jahan of 125 No. Bhangarpur Gaon Panchayat under 6 No. Salchapra Anchalik Panchayat has given birth to a 3rd child on 2-10-2019 and requested for action to be initiated under section 111(2) of Assam Panchayat Act, 1994.”

According to the reports, the complaint was lodged by a lady named Ismotara Begum.

Complainer Ismotara Begum said that, she had lodged a complaint against Nargis before the Deputy Commissioner.

“After enquiry, it was found that, my complaint was genuine,” Ismotara Begum said.

It is to be mentioned that, Assam government has implemented the two-child norms policy in the panchayat and other local bodies’ elections under which anyone having more than two children can’t be elected or nominated to panchayat and other local bodies’ elections in the state.

The Assam cabinet has also taken a decision that no government jobs will be given to the persons having more than two children after January 1, 2021.

The 126-member Assam assembly had passed the “Population and Women Empowerment Policy of Assam” in September 2017.

Two elected panchayat members had already lost their membership for a similar reason in Karimganj and Hailakandi district in 2018.

The panchayat election in Assam was held last year.

(By Hemanta Kumar Nath, Guwahati)