Population cannot be controlled by law: Nitish Kumar

Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said population growth could not be checked by law, saying awareness and educating girls were among important steps required to be taken to achieve the purpose.

Mr Kumar, during an interaction with media persons after Janata Darbar organised here after a gap of five years, said that he was totally confident of the fact that population growth could not be checked by framing law.

China had framed law to control population growth to check population growth long back and its result was for all to see, he added.

"Creating awareness and educating girls are most important tools to control population", Chief Minister said adding that his government had launched not only awareness drive to control population but also made arrangements for educating girls.

Steps taken by his government had helped in decreasing the rate of population growth, he further added.

Mr Kumar, responding to a query, said that it did not matter which state was doing what but framing law was not a solution to population growth, an oblique reference to Uttar Pradesh where Yogi Adityanth government was preparing for framing law to check population growth.

During an analysis, it came to light that national average of fertility rate of intermediate passed girl was 1.7 percent at while it was 1.6 percent in Bihar, he said adding that taking this factor into consideration, his government had ensured at least intermediate level education for all girls in Bihar.

The Chief Minister said that population growth would continue for several years ahead and it would stabilise

in 2040. After that population would start decreasing, he pointed out.

Why only common civil code, also talk for total prohibition at national level: Nitish Kumar

Amid debate on implementing common civil code across the country after an observation of Delhi High Court, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said, "Why one should talk only for common civil code but attempt should also be made for total prohibition across at national level".

Mr Kumar told media persons here that there was much talks for implementation of common civil code in the country, which was related to article 44 of the constitution but focus should also be on article 47 which dealt with endeavour of the government to enforce total prohibition across the country, to ensure good health of the people.

To a query regarding recent observation of Delhi High Court about common civil code, he stressed that total prohibition at national level was more important.

As it is, Delhi High Court had recently observed that time had come for implementation of common civil code across the country. Since 1985, Supreme Court had on several occasions, observed that government should strive for implementing common civil code but no result was still visible, Delhi High Court had pointed out in its recent judgement.

Complete prohibition was enforced by Nitish Kumar government in the year 2016. Since then, he had been advocating for complete prohibition at national level. (UNI)