In a major development, Congress MLA from Jalandhar North, Bawa Henry, has submitted a private member’s bill titled "The Population Control Bill 2025" to the Punjab Assembly speaker’s office, seeking strict measures to curb population growth in the state. Bawa Henry's population control proposed bill aims to penalise couples with more than two children by imposing fines and revoking various civil rights.
What is proposed in Bawa's Punjab Population Control Bill?
According to the bill, if a couple has more than two children after the law is enacted, both spouses will become ineligible to vote, contest elections, or hold government positions. Additionally, they would be banned from availing government schemes, scholarships, or consultancy contracts with the state. Furthermore, a monetary penalty of Rs 10 lakh per additional child is also proposed.
The bill was submitted to Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan via WhatsApp and in person. Henry reportedly said he would urge the Speaker to table it in the next Assembly session.
The proposed legislation comes amid concerns over Punjab’s declining Total Fertility Rate (TFR). According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 2019–21, Punjab's TFR stands at 1.6, below the replacement level of 2.1. Despite migration into Punjab from other states, the trend of young Punjabis moving abroad and reduced birth rates has alarmed political observers.
Earlier this year, Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira and Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa also raised concerns over demographic shifts, calling for restrictions on non-Punjabis purchasing agricultural land in the state.
The bill further proposes the formation of a State Population Control and Public Welfare Committee to draft and implement a comprehensive two-child policy.