India has steadily declined from a TFR of 2.9 in 2015 to a TFR rate close to 2.2 in 2018
Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare JP Nadda inaugurated the workshop with the theme ‘Population stabilisation: A right and responsibility’ on the occasion of World Population Day 2018, today at the Pravasi Bhratiya Kendra, New Delhi. The workshop was jointly organised by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and Jansankhya Sthirta Kosh.
“We are addressing the issue of population stabilisation in the country within the lifecycle framework. As part of this strategy, right from the time of conception till the child grows, various programmes of the Ministry cater to the needs of immunisation of the pregnant mother and the child, carrying on till the adolescent stage and further. Also, it is part of the comprehensive strategy being implemented through various Ministries and Departments,” said JP Nadda.
The Union Minister stated that it is a matter of pride for the country that we have been able to achieve steady decline in the Total Fertility Rate (TFR). From a TFR of 2.9 in 2015 to a TFR rate close to 2.2 in 2018, means India is progressing at a good rate of decline, he added. He said that over the last few years, a host of new initiatives have been undertaken under the Family Planning programme such as expanded choice of contraceptives, Mission Parivar Vikas in 146 High Priority Districts (HPDs) in the seven high focus states, Family Planning Logistics Management Information System (FP-LMIS), a comprehensive 360 degree media campaign including a dedicated FP webpage, radio chat shows etc. in an effort to take services down to the last mile. The Government is extensively focussing on strengthening post pregnancy contraception (post-partum as well as post-abortion) to meet the unmet need for family planning specifically in the immediate post-partum and post-abortion period.
As part of the Mission Parivar Vikas program, the focus is on creating awareness about the expanding choices of family planning and on ensuring that the services are easily accessible by the people, Nadda stated.
JP Nadda also gave away ‘Prerna Awards’ to BPL couples who have broken the stereotype of early marriage, early childbirth and repeated child birth and have helped change the mindsets of the community. PRERNA, a Responsible Parenthood Strategy is being implemented in seven focus states namely Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Rajasthan.
Also present at the function were Preeti Sudan, Secretary (HFW), Manoj Jhalani, AS&MD, Smt. Preeti Nath, Executive Director, Jansankhya Sthirata Kosh and Dr S Venkatesh, Dirctoe (DGHS) along with other senior officers of the Ministry and representatives of development partners.
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