Population stabilization efforts yielding results

The Government will shortly be launching a scheme to make available contraceptives at door steps, in a bid to boost population control efforts. Speaking at the 53rd Convocation of the International Institute of Population Sciences in Mumbai on Friday, the Union Health & Family Welfare Mr. Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said the ASHA health volunteer would promote the use of contraceptives at the household level in targeted districts. Under the scheme, the Centre will make available contraceptives free of cost at the Block level, from where ASHA volunteers will pick up their supplies.

Mr. Azad said the 2011 Census shows that efforts towards population stabilization have been yielding results. “We have succeeded in reducing both fertility and mortality rates substantially and increasing the average life expectancy of the Indian population”, he said. But the Minister expressed concern at the large regional disparities in demographic outcomes across the states of India. He said the Empowered Action Group (EAG) States, i.e. Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgrah, where 45 percent of India’s population resides, have been lagging behind the rest of the country in both fertility and mortality rate declines.

Mr. Azad stressed that the Government is committed to providing quality and universal health care to the rural population through the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). He said the funding to the health sector is going to be increased from the present level of less than 1 per cent of GDP to 2 to 3 percent of GDP during the 12th Fiver Year Plan (2012-17).

The Health & Family Welfare Minister informed that with the launch of NRHM the number of institutional deliveries increased to over one crore in 2010. Under the newly launched The Janani-Sishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK), the Government has made deliveries at government health institutions completely cashless and free. The scheme, launched on June 1, 2011 provides for free diagnostic tests including ultrasound, free medicine, free provision of blood, free diet up-to 3 days for normal delivery and up-to 7 days in case of caesarean births and even free to and fro transport from home to hospital to all pregnant women.

About IIPS

The International Institute of Population Sciences at Deonar, Mumbai is a premier academic institution in the field of population studies. The Institute has trained over 3000 students and professionals in the field of population studies from India and several countries in the Asia and Pacific region, for instance China, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, etc. It conducts several short-term courses and training programmes on various topics for up-grading the skills and knowledge of government officials, researchers and students. The institute is well known for its expertise in conducting large scale surveys, the results of which help the policy makers in formulating appropriate responses.