With its latest cabinet decision, Assam has decided to join the likes of Rajasthan and Madhya Predesh by 2021 when it will implement the two-child policy for government jobs. Interestingly, the decision was taken under the leadership of Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who himself is the eighth child of his parents.
Sarbananda was born in Assam's Chabua as the youngest of eight children, including two girls, of Jibeswar and Dineswari Sonowal. Girish Sonowal, one among the Sonowal siblings, passed away in 2017, reported Malayala Manorama.
After completing his higher studies from Dibrugarh and Gauhati Universiries, Sarbananda began his political career in the All Assam Students Union (AASU). He was its president between 1992 and 1999. Sonowal later joined the Asom Gana Parishad in 2001 and was elected MLA in the same year. In 2011, however, he switched sides to the BJP and was elected the chief minister of Assam in 2016 after being elected from Majuli consituency. Sarbananda, who will turn 58 on October 31, is single.
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In a late evening decision on Monday, a communique from the chief minister's public relations cell stated that those having more than two children will not be considered for government jobs with effect from January 1, 2021 as per the small family norm.
Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh also bar individuals with more than two children for government jobs. While states like Telangana and Andhra Pradesh do not allow candidates with more than two children for contesting in elections, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand and Odisha bar individuals from contesting elections for bodies of local self-governance—panchayats, municipalities and municipal corporations.