A month after pushing its controversial two-child policy, the Assam government now plans a 1,000-member ‘population army’ that will distribute contraceptives and create awareness about population control in Muslim-dominated areas of the state, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told the Assembly on Monday.

“Around 1,000 youths from the char chapori (riverine sand bars) will be engaged to create awareness about population control measures and to supply contraceptives. We are also planning to create a separate work force of ASHA (accredited social health activists) workers who will be tasked with creating awareness about birth control and also supply contraceptives,” the Chief Minister said.

Also read: In Mecca, women set off on hajj as ‘guardian’ rule cast aside

Speaking on the so-called population explosion in the western and central parts of the state, Sarma added, “If population growth among Hindus in Assam was 10 per cent from 2001 to 2011, it was 29 per cent among Muslims,” the Chief Minister added.

Responding to allegations of politics over population, Sarma called for delinking the population control issue from politics and adopting a realistic solution with emphasis on education, health, ending child marriage and financial inclusion to solve the problem among the Muslims of the state, reports PTI.

Also read: Salman Khan reacts as fan demands money back. Watch

Opposition members, while speaking during the discussion, were of the view that that using the issue politically would not solve the problem but asserted that there should not be a population control policy for Muslims alone.

According to the 2011 Census, Muslims comprise 34.22 per cent of Assam’s total population of 3.12 crore and they are in majority in several districts, the agency adds.

The Chief Minister added that the government was also considering increasing the marriageable age of girls to check child marriages. At the same time,  efforts were being made to expand the education network  for girls.

Sarma said that with the decline in population growth of the Hindus in the state, there has been an improvement in their lifestyle and education level but, with a 29 per cent growth rate, the Muslims are currently in a state of crisis.

“In recent times, we have seen that due to lack of living space, many people move to vacant lands, mostly in forest areas, out of compulsion and consequently come into conflict with the law. Migration to Kerala has also increased within the community and women are lured and forced into the flesh trade.