(a) whether the strategic support group of National Commission on Population has started working on a two pronged strategy that focuses on area specific and theme specific action plan to try and achieve population stabilisation;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the States and local level institutions have also been associated in achieving this aim; and
(d) if so, the details of the said plan?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI A. RAJA)
(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the table of the Lok Sabha.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 457 FOR 18.4.2001
(a) & (b): The National Commission on Population (NCP) is mandated to promote synergy between
demographic, educational, environmental and developmental programmes and to promote inter-sectoral coordination in planning and implementation across Government agencies of the Central and State Governments so as to hasten population stabilisation. The NCP being a large advisory body, apart from its Secretariat, it was considered necessary to constitute a Core Group of all the key Secretaries to the Government of India whose programmes have a direct bearing on achieving the strategic goals set out in the National Population Policy, 2000. After the deliberations in the Strategic Support Group, a number of Working Groups/Advisory Groups have been set up by the Commission for detailed examination of various issues having a bearing on population stabilisation. These Groups are in the process of finalizing their reports/recommendations. These reports/recommendations will again be considered by the Strategic Support Group for effecting changes needed in policies and programmes and their implementation.
(c) Additionally, the Prime Minister in his address at the first meeting of the National Commission on Population announced that an Empowered Action Group be constituted in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, particularly to pay focussed attention to regions with deficient national socio-demographic indices. Accordingly, an Empowered Action Group has been notified during March, 2001 for paying specific attention to Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Orissa, Uttaranchal, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. Success of population stabilization efforts in these States will impact the socio-demographic indicators at the national level. The Empowered Action Group will:
- formulate programmes aimed at achieving the socio-demographic goals enumerated in the National Population Policy, 2000 in the areas/States that have been lagging behind in containing population growth.
- assist the concerned State Governments in achieving the goals set in their State Population Policy.
- devise ways to meaningful involvement of voluntary association, community organisations and panchayati raj institutions.
- explore the possibility of expanding the scope of social marketing of contraceptives in a manner that make them easily accessible even while raising awareness levels.
(d)
(i) The performance in the implementation of family welfare
programme in the demographically weaker States is being reviewed periodically by a Committee of Secretaries under the chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary.
(ii) The National Commission on Population (NCP) also proposes to associate the State and local level institutions in achieving the national objective of population stabilization. The NCP has held two meetings to review the implementation of the national family welfare programmes in the States, which are having high population growth. In these meetings, the problem areas and gaps in providing family welfare services were identified for remedial action. A seminar of Population Research Centres and institutions doing research work on demographic issues was organised by the NCP to bring in essential academic/research support to its activities. A Conference of District Magistrates of the districts, which have been identified as demographically sensitive, was convened. The participants resolved to adopt a program of action relating to population stabilisation. The NCP will initiate further measures for involving the States and local level institutions on the basis of the recommendations of the Working Groups/Advisory Groups constituted by it.