Nadda launches new family planning initiative on World Population Day

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare J.P. Nadda on Tuesday launched a new family planning initiative on the World Population Day at an event organised by the Jansankhya Sthirita Kosh (JSK).

Mission Parivar Vikas, which aims to focus at 146 districts in seven states, seeks to control the high rate of population growth especially in the rural areas.

Nadda said, "Mission Parivar Vikas will focus on 146 high fertility districts in seven states with high TFR. Under this, specific targetted initiatives shall be taken for population stabilisation through better services delivery."

The event was also attended by Anupriya Patel, Minister of State (HFW).

According to Nadda, Mission Parivar Vikas is an initiative by the Ministry to strategically focus on improving access through provision of services, promotional schemes, commodity security, capacity building, and enabling environment and intensive monitoring.

The Minister congratulated the team and asked them to keep a bi-annual check on the programme to gauge its success.

He added, "We have enhanced the basket of contraceptive choices to meet the changing needs of people and have taken steps to ensure that quality assured services and commodities are delivered to the last-mile consumers in both rural and urban areas."

He also launched a new injectable under the "Antara" program and launched a new software-Family Planning Logistics Management Information System (FPLMIS) - which is designed to provide information on the demand and supplies of contraceptives to health facilities and ASHAs to strengthen the management.

In addition to this, the Health Minister also launched a new consumer friendly website on family planning and a fifty two week radio show so that couples can discuss issues pertaining to family planning.

Along with him, Anupriya Patel focused on how population development and growth is interlinked to national and global challenges and their solutions. She also said that non-governmental parties like NGOs, private sector and corporate sector should help the government to come up with a solution to population control.

Along with the launch of this initiative, Nadda handed out awards to the winners of a painting competition organised by the JSK.

A number of high profile dignitaries were present at the function as well.