Guwahati: Assam Cabinet on Monday (October 21) decided that government jobs will not be given to persons having more than two children after January 1, 2021.

This decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting held late on Monday evening that also adopted a "New Land Policy", which would give three bighas of agricultural land to landless indigenous people, and half a bigha for constructing a house.

An official communique from the chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal's public relations cell stated that those having more than two children would not be considered for government jobs with effect from January 1, 2021, as per the small family norm.

In September 2017, the Assam Assembly had passed the 'Population and Women Empowerment Policy of Assam' that specified that candidates with two children only would be eligible for government employment and the existing government staff were to follow the two children family norm strictly.

"New Land Policy was adopted. Three bighas of land will be given to landless indigenous people. Landless people will be offered half a bigha to construct their houses. These cannot be sold for 15 years," the CMO statement said.

The Cabinet meeting also decided to increase the bus fares in the state by 25%, it added.