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Focus 2004 July - September English |
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POPULATION
FOUNDATION
OF INDIA
This year being the
10th anniversary of
the International
Co nferen ce 0 n
Population
and
0
, ICI'D as I . Conte,1 of
'0'''''' ",jiighIS ,nine
?oCi'\\CHQf1 SICb~l}a110n
""""..,,,,-.--0<'
consultation
were:
Mr Hendrik vander Pol,
Country Representative,
UN FPA; Dr Sh iva Ku ma r,
UNICEF; Melissa Upreti,
Development (ICPD) held at
".-- ""~"'''' '''''''''''::~~''''';-''o Legal Advisor for Asia,
Cairo 1994, offered a unique
International Legal Program,
opportunity to understand
Centre for Reproductive
and explore the relationship
Rights; Mrs Nirmala Buch,
between laws, policies and
Mahila Chetna Manch;
rights In relation to
Ms Poonam Muttreja,
reproductive health. Against
MacArthur Foundation;
this backdrop of revisiting
Cairo by engaging civil
society to plan and organize
Mr. A R Nanda Executive Director PFI welcoming participants
at the National Consultation
Dr Abhijit Das, SAHAYOG;
Prof Mohan Rao, JNU;
Dr Sharad Iyenger, ARTH;
events to commemorate ICPD at 10; equality and policies have to be in • Prof Ashish Bose; Dr Sabu George,
Population Foundation of India, in • conformation with the law.
• ONDS; Dr BelaGanatra, IPAS;MsAsmita
association with SAHAYOG, Human'
The programme of the two-day: Basu, Lawyers Collective; Mr Subhash
Rights Law Network and Lawyer's. Consultation covered following five· Mendhapurkar, SUTRA; Mr Colin
Collective, organized a National major themes:
: Gonsalves,Human Rights Law Network;
Consultation on Laws, Policies and,. Population policies and two-
• Dr Shireen Jejeebhoy, Population
Rights in the context of Reproductive:
childnorm
: Council; Ms Tulika Srivastav, AALI;
Health during 25-26 September, 2004, '. Contraception and family planning • Dr Nalini Abraham, Plan International;
at Gulmohar Hall, India Habitat Centre, •• Pre-birth sexselection and access : Dr Prakassama, Academy of Nursing
New Delhi.
to safe abortion
• Studies; Ms Neelam Singh, Vatsalya;
Ms Indira Jaisingh, in her keynote •• Child and adolescent rights
: Ms Jashodhara Dasgupta, SAHAYOG;
address, emphasized that reproductive:. Unsafe motherhood
• Dr Narendra Gupta, Prayas and
rights haveto be seen in the context of.
Eminent speakers at the national Mr LesterCoutinho, PackardFoundation.
• Block Level Consultation on Young People's
• Meeting of PFl's Regional Training and
• • Advocacy Campaign on the Issue of 'Sex
Reproductive and Sexual Health in
Resource Development Centres
5
Selection and Pre-birth Elimination of
Chouparan Block of Hazaribagh District,
Females and Importance of Birth
Jharkhand
2 • • ICPD at 10: National Consultation on "Laws,
Registration'..
. ...9
Policies and Rights in the Context of
• International Youth Day Observed.....3
Reproductive Health and Population
...... 11
• Meetings/Workshops Attended by
Stabilization"..
...... 6
. .12
Executive Director
.4 •
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Editorial
The post ICPD decade has given a new meaning to the
relationship and linkage between population and
development. It has initiated a series of debates and
discussions globally. Most of the discussions have tried to assess
the global and country specific gains in the domain of
population, development and reproductive health.
It is true that the Cairo confirence provided the platform
we to bring about the paradigm shift. are all aware that the
vision of the PoA spurred governments globally into action.
The net result has been an innovative thought process, which
acknowledges the role and relevance of population and
reproductive health issues in improving the quality of lift of
the people.
In India too the post ICPD review after the completion of
one decade has generated introspection to review the tangible
gains and missed opportunities realistically. One of the
explicit benefits has been the integration of population and
reproductive and child health concerns into development
planning, management, strategy decision making, funding
and resource allocation.
As a part of the post ICPD consultative process, PFI in the
recent past has initiated a series of activities in collaboration
with government and civil society to position population
issues within the wider canvas of gender sensitive and rights
based equitable social development.
Commemorating the 10th anniversary of ICPD, PFI,
organized a national consultation on "Laws, Policies and
Rights in the context of Reproductive Health and Population
Stabilisation'~ The two day consultation debated extensively
on five core themes: population and two-child norm,
contraception and ftmily planning, pre-birth sex selection
and access to safi abortion, child and adolescent rights and
unsafi motherhood.
Participation was diverse and each participant
represented a key stakeholder of civil society. It was
unanimously filt that in order to make fUture interventions
result oriented, it was necessary to integrate ftmily planning
as a part of a comprehensive service package and position
reproductive health and reproductive rights in the framework
of comprehensive Primary Health Care.
Poverty was another key area of concern. It was filt that
as poverty was related to malnutrition, hunger, illiteracy, low
status of women and poor health, population and
development policy interventions had to mainstream poverty
eradication.
PFI has also concentrated its intervention on adolescents.
Observing the International Youth Day it was strongly filt
that creating an environment that ftvoured adolescent health
and development is crucial. Development of young people
cannot be seen in isolation. The policies and strategies should
be a shared understanding among partners who can
contribute to the special needs of adolescents and improve the
scale and quality of adolescent health services.
Under a new initiative in Jharkhand, Population
Foundation of India with support ofThe David
and Lucile Packard Foundation has launched a
project on "Building Supportive Environment for
• Adolescents Reproductive and Sexual Health" in the
districts of Ranchi and Hazaribagh. The project is being
implemented through selected NGO partners. The
principle strategy of the project is to address the
• concerns of adolescents through village meetings and
• focusea group discussions. Based on the findings block
• level multi sectoral consultations were held, including
• representatives from various line departments,
• administrators, teachers, health/ICDS workers, parents,
• SHG leaders, village leaders, NGO representatives and
adolescents. The block level consultations for all the
12 blocks in Ranchi district have been completed
The initiative in Hazaribagh district is being
• implemented in collaboration with Nav Bharat Jagriti
Kendra (NBJK). The first block level consultation in
Hazaribagh district was organized in Chouparan block
• on 8th September 2004. Chouparan is located about
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International Youth Day __
The youth of any society act as a : Mr Nanda emphasized the need
generational bridge between' and importance of active
continuityand change. This stage : participation
of youth in
of human growth is a stage of optimism: formulating, implementing and
and this group represents the positive. monitoring the policies and
forces in our society. In order to : programmes for them.
strengthen their role as facilitators of • Ms Anita from CH ETNA,
positive human development, the: Ahmedabad gavethe background
Alliance for Young People organized a : of International Youth Day. She
Dissemination and Experience sharing' mentioned that the International Children performing on International Youth Day
workshop on the theme of "Youth in : Youth Day is an opportunity to
an Intergenerational Society" on the' reiterate our commitment to work' overall community development. He
eve of International Youth Day, August: towards implementing the Planof Action : also suggested that the government
11,2004, at India International Centre, : for Young Peopleannounced by the UN : should change the delivery system and
New Delhi.
• general assembly. She highlighted the' invite large participation of NGOs and
The function began with the: theme for this year "Youth and: youth in information and service
invocation of Lord Ganesha. A dance: Intergenerational Society" and its: delivery system.
performance by children from Alpana • importance in the Indian context.
This was followed by presentation of
Trust, an institution working for:
Dr Nalini Abraham of Plan India: themajorfindingsandrecommendations
physically and mentally challenged' introduced the schemeofthe day to the • of the state level consultations by youth
child ren, was received very well. In: audience and participants and extended : of various states.
order to instill a belief in the power of : welcome to Mr Sandeep Dixit, MP and:
youth the same group also performed· appreciated his being supportive to • The summary of issues and
a dance on "Hum Honge Qamyaab". : alliance all through.
: recommendations provided by
At the same time this idea was'
Mr Sandeep Dixit released the' various states are:
reinforced in the welcome address by : National Consultation Report of the:. Lackof health seeking behaviour due
Bal Panchayat members. Mr A R : alliance and also the State Consultation'
to non-availability of information and
Nanda, Executive Director, PFI, in his' Report for Gujarat.
servicesespecially for sexual and
'~Er\\lPle address, set the tone of the : Ms Renuka of CASP-PLAN Bal.
M~
con sui tat Ion' Panchayat made a presentation on the'
reproductive health Lowawareness
on HIV and AIDS, high prevalence of
,
workshop
by : need for alliance and its role. She: RTIin slum areas, lack of availability
p rovi din g
a : emphasized the need for the alliance to:
of contraception.
backd rop to the' work as a pressure group and move' • Lackof.employment opportunities
alliance formation: things in favour of youth. This was: and poverty was the root cause for
and pro cess of : followed by a presentation by Ms Sawitri' substanceabuse,drug abuse,and lack
block and district· of CASP-PLANBal Panchayat analyzing
of education. It also created familial
level consultations : the National Youth Policy.M r Yashodan'
pressuresfor employment.
leading to a' Ghorpare made a comprehensive'.
Needforcommunitybasedcounseling
n a t ion a I : presentationon the reforms and changes: centers in villages and educational
I eve I : needed in the National Youth Policy.Mr:
institutions, parent-adolescent
consultation· BG Deshmukh, former Cabinet Secretary' interaction forums, participation of
in May'04. : and Member of the Governing Board: youth in programmes, coordinated
• of PFI said that the issues of young'
efforts by Government Departments
(Left) Or. Nalini Abraham, Country Health
Advisor, Plan India, (Right) Mr. Sandeep
Dixit, Mp, releasing the national
consultation report of the Youth Alliance
: people are numerous. At national level :
: we need to prioritize issues. The:
• development of youth should not be.
: seen in isolation but should be a part of:
and NGOs, celebrating youth weeki
festivals, involving opinion leaders in
youth programmes, organizing
training programmes on sexualand
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International Youth Day..
sexual, reproductive health and life
people living in difficult or abnormal
skill education. Gender scanning of • conditions.
syllabus and other literature,
• Gender sensitization for adults and
monitoring
media for gender·
young people, strict law against child
sensitive reporting, counseling at : marriage.
schools involving Swasthyakarmis. :. Create education and employment
• Monitoring the ill effects of media.
opportunities for youth to stop them
on youth health awareness.
• from joining extremist groups and
• Mainstreaming mental health issues • Govt/NGO should work for
vital at school level.
sustainability of their programme for
reproductive health issues.
•• Health and educational infrastructure • young people.
• Raising awareness on hygiene and • should be available at all villages. This :
health issues in school, recruiting
should include PHCs and primary
• A group of students from SNS
more female teachers in schools to
school in all villages. There should be • Foundation performed a dance drama on
ensure girls' education, more
provision for reproductive health
: the theme of dowry and women's search
awareness on preventive medicines • training for teachers in order to
• of identity in today's world.
and increase registration of birth and:
provide comprehensive quality
• Dr K Pappu from CINI gave the vote
deaths.
education.
: of thanks to all participants and guests.
• Participation of youth in policy and •• Raising awareness on legal issues and • Dr Nalini Abraham announced
programme formulation, monitoring:
matters related to violence. Sensitizing: launching of a website of the alliance
and dissemination. Networking with·
youth on laws and available services • and community radio programme in
NYK/NSS and schools for imparting : related with such issues especially : Delhi by the youth in alliance.
6th Sept '04
16th Sept '04
22nd Sept '04
29th Sept '04
Meeting
Media workshop on Female Foeticide organized by Dr Sabu George, Centre for Women
Development Studies, New Delhi at Agra.
Panel discussion on Women's Health & Rights organized by Panos Institute at India Habitat Centre,
New Delhi
Release of Census 2001 data on Disability organized by Registrar General of India at Vigyan
Bhawan, New Delhi
Inaugural function of PFI-Lakshmi Cement's Project 'Integrated Family Welfare Program-Naya Savera'
at Sirohi, Rajasthan.
Media Workshop on Population, Development and Gender organized by Press Institute of India,
Udaipur
Gave a lecture on the "Role of providers in prevention of sex selective abortion and PNDT Act" at the
teaching block of NIHFW (Master Trainer's Training Course for mainstreaming issues in H&FW
training)
Release of 'First Report on Religion' organized by RGI at Vigyan Bhawan
Meeting convened by UNAIDS with NGOs on HIV/AIDS
Consultation Workshop organized by National Advisory Council, GOI to discuss health care delivery
Workshop to discuss current Initiatives in Health and Population Policies organized by the Centre for
Social Medicine & Community Health, JNU
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RTRDC Meet
A review meeting of all the 13 : RTRDCto translate and make necessary •
RTRDCs was held at the PFI • changes according to the regional socio- :
during 29-30 September, 2004, : cultural norms. In total, nearly 4500 •
to critically analyze the programme· personnel have been trained so far.
•
inputs and modes of implementation,:
A SWOT
share the important achievements, : analysis of
lessons learnt and synthesize a plan of • cur r e n t
action for future. This proposed: R T R D C s
mechanism assumesimportance in view· network was
of the fact that the RCH II program is : done to
expected to commence next year and: contri bute
such grass root experiencewill be handy. tow a r d s
in strategizing growth parameters.
: forming a
PFIestablished 13 Regional Training· National level
ResourceDevelopment Centres(RTRDCs): network. The
in 10 states over a period of time with: major opportunities and suggestionsthat: • Develop demonstration sites for the
the following institutions/NGOs -
emerged from the analysis for the·' effectiveness ofthe network.
1. National Institute of Applied Human: network were:
• Share/ subscribe to a common
Research& Development, Cuttack, • A rights based approach to influence·
ideology and value and it should
Orissa.
Health, Population/other policy
• reflect in training content, style and
2. SHED,Mumbai, Maharashtra.
implementation and formulation. • methodology as also in other
3. MYRADA, Bangalore, Karnataka. •• Shareexperiencesthrough newsletters· activities.
4. Bharatiya Grameen Mahila Sangh
and field visits among RTRDC.
PFIto build perspective on issueslike
(BGMS), Indore, Madhya Pradesh. •• Network could provide tools for
gender, rights basedapproach, quality
5. St. Catherine's Hospital, Kanpur,
innovations, policy options, and
of care etc among the network
Uttar Pradesh.
alternative strategies for RCH
members. This would provide the
6. Population ResearchCentre,
programme.
background for comprehensive
Mohanlal Sukhadia University,
• The network could develop innovative: training methodology for the program
Udaipur, Rajasthan.
training strategies in RCH,including·
in terms of style and content.
7. Alternqtive for India Development.
leadership skills in training
• • Takeup action research initiatives to
(AID), Jamshedpur, Jharkhand.
programmes and NGOs.
demonstrate results to the
8. ADITHI, Patna, Bihar.
•• PFIasa National level organization to·
government and other agencies.
9. GayatriTirth - Shantikunj, Haridwar,: lead in co-ordinating and providing
Earlier PFI established a Training
Uttaranchal.
other quality inputs to the network. • ResourceDevelopment Centre at Delhi in
10. Institute of Health Management •• Resourcesharingamongnetwork
• January 1999. The program was
Pachod,Aurangabad, Maharashtra.
partners-like training materials,
sponsored by Ministry of Health and
11. Centre for Rural Entrepreneurship &. training aids and human resources • FamilyWelfare, Government of India. The
Technical Education (CREATE), •• Develop need based specialized
• purpose was to orient NGOson the effect
Lucknow Uttar Pradesh.
modulescateringto the needsof NGOs.• of socio-economic aspects of RCH,
12. AGRAGAMEE, Rayagada,Orissa. •• Encourage local initiatives such as • develop effective com mu n ication
13. India LiteracyBoard, Lucknow, Uttar:
SHGs/CBOs/ PRlsetc. and ensure
techniques and design, implement and
Pradesh.
transferoftechnologyand experiences. monitor RCHprogrammes in an effort
PFIdeveloped a 1a-chapter module for : • Supporting state and regional level • to mainstream RCHissues-with key health
the training, which was adopted by the:
network of partners.
• functionariesthrough appropriatetraining.
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Advocacr.
'"
Confuruncu Highlights
The two day Consultation
highlighted various issues
and challenges related to
family planning including issues
related to population policies,
•
-~&
National Consultationon law
•
Reproductive Health Ql
25 . 26 Sec*lmbet 211M,
ratio allover the country with a
rapid decline in the number and
proportion of girl children. This is
a violation of right to equality and
non-discrimination.
reproductive rights, reproductive
3. The National Population
health and primary health. Through
Policy was accepted by the
the various open discussion the
Government of India in 2000, and
participants
also provided
does not include targets and
recommendationsto the government
coercive measures, however many
under the five thematic areas.
state population policies are in
contradiction to the NPP.
The major recommendations
• Reproductive Health (RH) and:
4. The Supreme Court judgement on
of the Consultation were:
. Reproductive Rights (RR) have to be • the two-child norm needsto be interpreted
• Family Planning is not an isolated: viewed in the context of Comprehensive: in terms of its implications on the right to
programme,butisapartofcomprehensive' Primary Health Care -which is still a' equalityandthedemocraticrighttovote
service package including safe: revolutionaryconceptthatlooksfarbeyond : and contest elections.
motherhood, reduction of infant and child: the customary boundariesof curativeand : 5. The Co m mon M in imum
mortality, survival of girl child, women's· preventive medicine and tries to address· Programme of the UPA Government is
education & empowerment, adolescent: the underlying causesof poverty,hunger/ : committed to the well being of the
health, health information & counseling' food-security and poor health.
• ordinary citizens, fifty percent of who
etc.Therefore, FamilyPlanning (FP)hasto :
• are women. However the CMP includes
be positioned in the broader context of : Thematic highlights ofthe
. provisions for a targeted population
Re pro d u c t i ve • Consultation are as follows: . control programme within its section on
Health (RH)and:
• women and children.
Reproductive' I. Population Policy and the
Rights(RR) : Two Child Norm
. Recommendations for Action
1. The UPA government has shown
: Issues and Concerns
~: its concern on improving health care
: 1. The current population gro th : servicesand has committed to increase
: rate is the lowest in the last fifty years, : investment in health care; however it
• even then there is misplaced emphasis' needs to develop policies and
: on population stabilization strategi s. : programmes to provide improved
• The phenomenon of populati n' servicesto the marginalized.
: momentum is not acknowledg d.
2. There needs to be budgetary
in family planni g : analysis to understand the relative
pro g ram e' investmentsand allocations in Healthand
~.
H\\BII
\\\\OlU
\\1n
planning
ad. FamilyWelfareandwithinFamilyWelfare
implementation • on Family Planning and the rest of
2. Emphasis n· Reproductive Health, and the extent of
pop u I a tin
subsidiesbeing provided to privatesector.
s tab i I i z a t ion
3. The demographic goal of TFRof
strategies has led • 2.1 needsto be located within the overall
to distortion of sex: socio demographic goals spelled out in
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Advocacy
s
the National Population Policy.
• 3. The focus on family planning
4. The small family norm isa desirable' programmes has led to an increase in
goal but hasto be seen in the context of : contraceptive prevalence over the
the overall reality of son preference. In • years;howeverthe reduction in infant
this context it is necessaryto havea large : mortality rates has been inadequate.
public education campaign on the girl : This is a cause for concern.
child and on pre birth elimination ofthe'
4. Contraception and family
female foetus.
: planning programmes need to be
5. The CMP of the UPA refers to a • seen in the context of HIV/AIDS.
targeted population control programme.:
5. Therapeutic standards are not: sex-ratio), infant mortality, survival of
This provision must be changed because : followed in the case of family planning • mothers, food security,educational status
it is not only in consonance with the' relatedmedicalinterventionsleadingto poor: of women etc. should be developed and
principles of the Constitution, the NPP, : quality of care and complications. These' can form the basis for comparing
: constitute medical negligenceaswell. : performanceovertime and acrossdistricts.
6. There are no grievance redressal: 5. A clear role for the NGOs and civil
: mechanisms for women who are' society needs to be articulated especially
• suffering from failures or side effects of : in programme planning, review and in
: family planning related interventions. : monitoring quality of care of service
7. Thereare a number of bills pending • delivery. There must be space for NGOs
: in the parliament, which seekto enforce: for experimenting with new approaches
: family planning. These need to be : to service delivery as well.
ASHIS BOSE
• reviewed. There are laws, which.
: discriminate against personswho do not: III. Pre-birth Sex Selection and
• adopt family planning measures, these' access to Safe abortion
: should be reviewed.
•
•
• Issues and Concerns
and International commitments but also· Recommendations
1. The major reasons for seeking
with the overall vision of the Common.
1. Family planning should be seen in : abortion are linked to unmet needs for
Minimum Programme.
• the context of comprehensive primary' contraception. This is also true for young
II. Family Planning
: health care. There must be systemic: couplesaswellasforthosenottraditionally
: efforts to strengthen comprehensive: covered under the family planning
• primary health care service delivery. • programme like unmarried adolescents,
Issues and Concerns
• 2. The community needs assessment: widows and separatedwomen.
1. The ICPD PoA and the National' approach needs to be followed. This' 2. Sex pre-selection and selection
Population Policy provide the: should be incorporated into all health: abortion of the female foetus is
foundations of a paradigm shift in which : related programme planning, and health: emerging as an important reason for
the objective of family planning' micro-plans prepared on their basis. • seeking abortion. Son preference is a
programmes becomes individual well:
3. The monitoring of health and: driving cultural force in many regions,
being, however this concept has not yet: family welfare programmes at the district: and the juvenile sex ratio continues to
been operationalized
• level should be within the supervision of • fall rapidly, despite the PNDT act and
2. Unmet needsfor family planning is : an ombudsman, who should be from a : its widespread publicity.
high, and rightly isan issueof concern.But· social justice background.
3. The information about the MTPact
theseneedto beseeninthe contextof unmet : 4. Composite indicators which : isnot widespread and many communities
needsfor other health servicesaswell. • incorporate sex-ratio ( especiallyjuvenile: still consider abortion illegal.
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A dvocacr
•
4. The PNDTact has been provided
Act but is a violation of the rights of
wide publicity in recent times, which
the child and a violation of the right
has contributed to communities'
to marry.
perception that even abortion is
3. The right to marry includes
illegal, thereby increasing the risk of
consent in marriage. Low age at
unsafe abortions.
marriage also violates the right to
consent in marriage.
Recommendations for action
4. The right to marry and found a
1. The small family norm is a
family includesthe rightto choose not
desirable goal but has to be seen in
to do so. This right is included in
the context of the overall reality of son:
CEDAW.
preference. In this context it is necessary. 6. Maternal death and morbidity is : 5. Large proportions of married
to have a large public education: violation oftherightto life,rightto health, : adolescentshaveearlychildbearing. Early
campaign on the girl child and on pre- • right to equality and non-discrimination, • childbearing leads to increased risk of
birth elimination of the female foetus : and the right not to be subject to cruel, : maternal mortality and morbidity, which
2. The widespread dissemination of: inhuman and degrading treatment.
• is a violation of the right to life and the
medical technology, especially those·
• rightto health.
relatedto pre-natal sexdetermination and : Recommendations for action
. 6. There is a need to recognize that
pre-conception techniques need to be : 1. Maternal deaths should be· adolescents, both boys and girls are
regulatedusingepidemiologicalprinciples.• notifiable, audited and compensated. : engaged in sex, mostly unsafe. A failure
3. There must be widespread publicity: Audit teams must include members of • to do results in a violation of their rights
of the MTP Act.
'.
the community/NGO representatives. : to health, reproductive rights, right to
4. There must be greater public:
2. Emergency obstetric care centres: information and servicesand so on.
education on provision for safe abortion, : with all necessary services must be •
sex discrimination and the rights. established and these should be: Recommendations for action
approach among all sections of society. : monitored on a regular basis by the·
1. The laws concerning children,
• district panchayat.
: marriage and health should be reviewed
3. The number of ANMs must be : to ensure they harmonize with the
• increasedto 2 per 5000 population (3000 • Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Issues and Concerns
. in rural and hilly areas)without creating: 2. The age at marriage should be
1.Thereisunacceptably high maternal: a separate cadre.
• made 18 years for both boys and girls.
death and morbidity in most parts of the: 4. ANMs must beadequatelytrained in: 3. Registration of marriage should be
country.
• conductingdeliveriesand maderesponsible: compulsory and can be done at the
2. The quality of obstetric services: for safepregnanciesand deliveries
• Panchayat level
available at the community level is of : 5. Performance indicators of the:
4. Marital rape must be legally
very poor quality.
• Family Welfare programme should· recognized, and all forms of non-
3. Essentialobstetric servicesneeded: include maternal health indicators and: consensual sexcriminalized
to ensure maternal health and survivalof· no just family planning indicators.
• 5. There must be la rge pu bl ic
the child is still not universally available. : 6. Prophylactic iron-folic acid· campaigns on the risks and dangers of
4. Thereare no serviceprovidersskilled: supplement should be provided to all: early child bearing.
in conducting delivery at the peripheral. adolescent girls.
6. There is also a need to address the
level.The ANM is now designated as the:
• boys among adolescents, as well as out
Female Multi-purpose Worker with: V. Child and Adolescent Rights : of school adolescents.
multiple responsibilities, and little or no •
7. There is a need to develop a cadre
mid-wifery skills.
• Issues and Concerns
: of trainers and counselors to work with
5. The debate on the need and utility·
1. Gender discrimination leads to • adolescents.
forTBAsand the emphasison Institutional: violence against the girl child including.
8. There is a need to reach services
deliveryfails to take into account the fact: sexualviolence
: young people through effective means
that in many parts of India most·
2. Early marriage is not only a • including youth clinics, servicesin clubs
deliveries take place at home. Many of : violation of the Child Marriage Restraint: and supplies through other outlets.
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Advocacy Campaigns
A media workshop on the issue: producers of AIR, New Delhi. The:
of 'Sex Selection and Pre-birth • workshop ended with a voice vote for ••
Elimination of Females and: all possiblecoordination and mutual help:
the advocacy campaign.
Censusdata and research materials
should be used as news item.
importance of Birth Registration'with the· between AIR and PFIto carry forward •• A consortium can be formed between
Producers of All India Radio, New Delhi: the campaign to all corners of the:
AIR and PFI,Plan India and other like-
was organized on August, 28, 2004 at : country through radio.
minded organisations to visit villages
PFI. The workshop was chaired by •
and make program at village level.
Mr A R Nanda, Executive Director, PFI. : Suggestions and
Welcoming the participants, Mr Nanda • Recommendations from the
:. PFI can approach AIR for rebate in
prime time slot.
gave a brief description of various: floor:
programmes like Hum Log, Dehleezand :. The reach of radio within the
community radio programmes·
community should be explored and • PFI~8dEvllllt
undertaken by PFIon health and social: used effectively in channelizing social •
issues.Acknowledging the importance of : messages.
• • PFIwas a co-sponsor of the Mahila
radio in terms of its reach and •• Information and data available with • Swasthya Mela organized by the
effectivenessin imparting the messages,: socialorganisationslike PFI,PlanIndia:
Nav Bharat Jagriti Kendra, Ranchi
he said that carrying the Behavioral· should be shared with the media so·
during September 2004. The aim
ChangeCommunication (BCC)and other: as to highlight them in various
of the mela was to demonstrate
socialmessagesthrough AIRisour priority.: programmes and also make new
the improved capacity of
He urged the program officials of AIRto·
programmes on social issues.
Government Medical Servicesin
come forward and join hands with social :. Phone-inprogrammes should be used • delivering reproductive and child
organizations like PFIand Plan India and : . to give a voice to the victim of such·
health careand promoting gender
make programmes which highlights not. evil practices especially women.
equity.
only the issue of sex selection and pre- :. Community radio at the village and : L-
--.J
birth elimination of femalesbut alsoother·
social development initiatives.
••
Making a presentationon demographic:
scenario of Child Sex Ratio in Delhi,·
according to Census 2001, Ms Suman:.
Parashar, Joint Director, Office of the:
Registrar General of India said that the.
block level should be encouraged.
PFIshould buy time and space in AIR:
for airing programmes on social
Issues.
•
AIRandPFlcandoaseriesinformof:
stage play, interactive chat show in :
FM etc on female foeticide issues.
Efforts Towards R8dUcing
MatnaiMortaltYthrough
AdvooacyinF_DistrictsDf
IIIdviIIId KftIIQIIIlt in Drissa
UI •••••• L
imbalancethathassetattheearlyage-group :.
isdifficult of be removedand would remain·
to haunt the population for a long time to:
come. Shesaidthat the declining child sex:
ratio isa powerful indicatorto examinethe·
socialresponseand attitudetowardsthe girl:
child in recentpast.In her presentation,she·.
gavea detailed picture in terms of data to:
the media so as to help them realizethe:.
grim situation as it existsnow.
The workshop was attended by more:
PFIand AIR can conceptualize
Under the above project, a block
programs at two different stages like· •
consultation meeting was held
nukkad natak and stage play for the :
during 13th and 14th September,
common massesand legal
2004, in Dasmantpur block of
programmes for the elite and
Koraput district. A mixed group of
educated mass.
around 50 participants from
PFIcan be invited for technical inputs·
different sections like SHG,ANM,
to the quarterly meetings of AIR. •
AWW, and PRlsattended. The
Programmes on social issuesshould •
presence of senior officials both
be punctuated with entertainment
from district and block level was
programmes.
than twenty producers and Executive· • AIR YuvVani should be roped in for· L-
--l
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1.10 Page 10 |
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Advocacy Campaigns
II. Advocacy workshop with the Corporate/Industry and Commerce of
Andhra Pradesh
As part ofthe ongoing campaign •
launched jointly by PFI and Plan
India against sex selection and
Highlighting the performance ofthe State
• in civil registration system since 1990 he
• said that the total reporting level in Andhra
pre-birth elimination of females in eleven·
Pradesh has gone up considerably from
states, an advocacy workshop on •
13.3 percent in
Population and Development: Gender:
1990 to 80.1
Balance and importance of Birth·
percent in 2002.
Registration with the corporate/industry:
Ch a i ri n g
th e
and commerce of Andhra Pradesh was: as a problem only
workshop Mr B G
organized on September 9,2004, at Hotel • on the basis of its
Shastri, PastPresident
Viceroy, Hyderabad. The workshop was: ever increasing
FAPCCI assured full
organized in association with Federation • nu m ber rather it
su p port fo r the
of Andhra Pradesh Chambers of : should be viewed prinCipa Iyasa national: campaign and said FAPCCI will takethis
Com merce a nd Ind ustry (FAPCCI) .• assert. While making a presentation on • campaign forward through its corporate
Addressing the workshop, Mr A R Nanda, : present demographic scenario of child sex: members. He said that if we reduce the
Executive Director, Population Foundation : ratio in the state and the importance of • barriers for women in the society, a girl
of India said that population as an issue • birth registration, Mr V S Bhaskar, Director: would grow by herself.
shou Id not be viewed in a na rrow : of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh·
The workshop was attended by more
perspective as it could, otherwise, have • said that though births are being registered : than fifty participants including some of
severe repercussions on the gender· in the state, distribution of birth certificates· the eminent industrialist of Andhra Pradesh
balance. Population should not be treated : is not being done at the same pace. : and was widely covered by media.
III. Workshop with Media Representatives
Amedia workshop on 'Population •
and Development: Gender Balance:
nd importance
of Birth:
hierarchical position of Registrars has to
• be clearly defined in tune with the chain
: of reporting. Talking about the initiatives
Registration' was organized on September·
• taken by the state, he said that the
8, 2004 at Hyderabad. Mr A R Nanda, :
• government is planning to launch a training
Executive Director, Population Foundation :
program to generate awareness about civil
of India welcomed and thanked the media •
registration. Sharing some facts about the
for turning up in such a large number for:
child sex ratio in the state he said that there
the workshop. Sharing his views he said •
• are 12 districts with a child sex ratio less
thatthough Andhra Pradesh does not have: present state of registration mechanism : than the state average of 961.
an adverse child sex ratio in comparison • which has completely gone hay wire after·
The workshop was also addressed by
to some of the northern states like: the abolition ofthe Village Officer System. : Dr Mastana Rao, Chief Registrar, Andhra
Haryana and Punjab, Census 2001 data: He flayed some of the old practices of : Pradesh. He said that though the State
shows a declining trend which is a cause· family planning and said that population· has done well in maintaining a healthy
of concern. Advocating for the Right to : control should have one aim- 'better: gender balance, the percentage of birth
Universal Birth Registration (UBR) he said· quality of life'.
• registration has gone down, somehow,
that proper implementation of UBR can:
Making a presentation on the current: to 50 percent in 2003 from a peak of 80
prove very effective in keeping a tab on : scenario of gender balance and birth: percent in 1998. The state government
the declining child sex ratio. He praised· registration in Andhra Pradesh, Mr V S • is determined to take the figure back to
the initiatives taken by Andhra Pradesh in : Bhaskar, Director of Census Operations, : 80 percent, he assured. The workshop
the past in maintaining an effective· AndhraPradeshsaidthataciearchainof·
was attended by more than 20
registration mechanism but, at the same: reporting of birth should be established for: representatives from leading print and
time, he showed his concern about the: effective registration and the role and : electronic media.
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2.1 Page 11 |
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New Initiatives
1. RCH Programme through : Adapting RCHLifeCycleApproach". This : 4. Advocacy with Senior Government
Safe Motherhood Initiatives
. three-year project will cover 53 villages'
Administrators.
Population Foundation of India: of Jungle Kaudia Block of Gorakhpur : 5. Positioning RCH-II through Civil
has initiated a new project on : district in U.p, covering a population of: Society Consultations.
"Implementing RCH Programme· 51,180.
·6. Advocacy on Abortion.
through Safe Motherhood Initiatives". •
: 7. Advocacy with Corporate Sector:
Collaborating with three leading NGOs: • 3. Advocacy for Perspective
Mobilizing Resourcesfor Family
Social Work and Environment For Rural: Building on ICPD and National.
Planning/Reproductive Health.
Advancement (SWERA);Shikshit Rojgar : Population Policy 2000
: 8. Advocacy for Increasing Provisionand
Kendra Prabandhak Samiti (SRKPSa) nd· Population Foundation of India with·
Demand for Underused
Shiv Siksha Samiti (SSS), the project: the financial support from The David and'
Contraceptive Methods.
will cover 62 villages in 3 districts of : Lucile Packard Foundation has initiated: 9. National Consultation Workshop on
Rajasthan namely Ajmer, Jhunjhunu, & • a Project entitled "Advocacy for.
NPP+5.
Tonk. TheNGOswil1 cover a population : Perspective Building on ICPD and:
Thevisionofthisprojectistoenable
of 20,000 each for a period of three' National Population Policy 2000" in • government and other stakeholders to
years. ARTH (Action Research and: August 2004, in the states of Bihar and: formulate policies and programmes on
Training for Health), Udaipur will be : Jharkhand.
: population and reproductive health,
the Nodal Agency to provide technical·
The two-year project will initiate· with a focus on young people within a
support to the three implementing: multisectoral advocacy interventions: rights-based approach. The main
NGOs.
• with the following
advocacy' objective is to effect change through
: activities.
: various state and other stakeholders
2. RCH life Cycle Approach
. 1. Awareness and Perspectivebuilding : (media, judiciary, administrators,
Population Foundation of India has' among Elected Representatives. • financers, policy makers) for sustained
joined hands with Manav SevaSansthan : 2. Advocacy with Judiciary: Building : implementation of ICPDProgramme of
(SEVA),Gorakhpur, U.P, by initiating a: Perspectivesamong Judges and
: Action and National Population Policy
project on "Enhancing Health Status of • Lawyers.
2000, through effective advocacy
Women, Children and Adolescents by : 3. Media Advocacy.
: initiatives.
Continued jom page 2
• accessibility to protection methods. • on the basis of thematic areas. The
30 Kms from Hazaribagh district •• Unwanted pregnancy and unsafe • groups were divided in a fashion sothat
headquarters and has more than 200: abortion.
: all sections of participants were
villages under 24 Panchayats.
• • Unemployment and high level
• represented in each group. The groups
PFI Ranchi gave a presentation on: migration of young people and lack : were asked to discuss and present the
various aspects concerning the subject.: of livelihood oriented education.
reasons for the present situation and
It was later followed by a fruitful.
Asapartoftheexerciseagroupwork:
suggest action points to address it.
discussion on the findings of FDGson : was done with the participants on the'
The RCMO-Hazaribagh, BDO-
adolescentsand issuesraisedby the NBJK• four thematic areasthat emerged
• Chou pa ra n, and MOl c-Chou pa ra n
team concerning the area.The team was: from the presentation:
• participated in the consultation along
able to highlight successfully key' • Awareness on Reproductive and
• with about 60 other participants
concerns of the young people. Some of : sexual health issues.
: including various representatives from
the critical issuesraised were:
• Poor schooling and high drop outs. : government departments, NGOs, SHG
• Distantly located schools and
• • Unemployment and migration.
• members, opinion leaders, teachers,
highdrop-out rate.
• Unprotected sex,contraception and : Anganwari workers, ANMs, doctors and
• Nosourceofinformationof
safe abortion services.
adolescent girls from the local
reproductive and sexualhealth.
Using a participatory format the: government girls school.
• High prevalenceof unsafesexand low : participantsweredividedint04groups:
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2.2 Page 12 |
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forthcoming Events
• Advocacy workshop on pre-birth: will be organized by Parivar Seva Sanstha : November 3,2004, Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
elimination of females with Industrialists· with the support of PFI,Packard Foundation·
• Youth Health Parliamentary Forum on
of Gujarat, October 1, 2004 at Gujarat : UNFPA & Ministry of Health and Family: HIV/AIDS will organize a two day
Chambers of Commerce & Industry, • Welfare.
Ahmedabad.
• • PFI along with Rotary International
workshop on the issue of HIV/AIDS during
6-7th November 2004 at New Delhi which
• Advocacy workshop on rig hts of the : Saket and UNFPAwill organize a Population wou Id be attended by 3000 you ng people
girl child with Delhi Medical Association, • Advocacy Workshop for school children from allover the country.
October 16, 2004.
• on October 30, 2004 at Gyan Bharti
• State level Advocacy workshop on
• Advocacy workshop on pre-birth • School, Saket.
• quality of care of RH services in four states
elimination of females with Industrialists:
• Launching of the Community Radio : of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and
ofPunjab,HimachaIPradeshandHaryana,
• Programme in undivided districts of· Orissa under the PFI-UNFPA Country
October 26,2004 at CII, Chandigarh.
• Koratput and Kalahandi, Orissa, October: Programme - 6 Project, November -
• Workshop on "Expanding Choices of : 31,2004, AIR-Jeypore
December, followed by a Joint Consultation
Contraception: Injectables-Learningfrom.
• Advocacy workshop on pre-birth Meeting at Delhi in the month of
Experiences" from 27 -29th October 2004 : elimination offemales with Gujarat M LAs, December, 2004.
~'1:EJ~~1JjJJJJJJ]iJ
Dr Vikram Gupta joined PFI as Programme·
Resources for Empowerment in Action), an NGO based in Delhi
Associate in August 2004. A MBBS and MCH : on issues of sexuality, adolescent reproductive and sexual health
(Masters in Community Health), Dr Vikram has worked • and rights. hsand
with CARE India (UP) in Varanasi as the NGO • Ms Mini Thakur joined as Fellow in August 2004 and is
Coordinator and Capacity Building Officer (NC-CBO) : involved in the Packard Foundation supported
in the RACHNA Programme. At PFI, he is responsible. programme on 'Advocacy and Perspective Building
for various RCH, Adolescent Health and RTRDC projects.
• on ICPD and National Population Policy (2000)'.
Ms Sudipta Mukhopadhyay joined as Fellow in August 2004 : Earlier, Ms Mini was with the United Nations
and is involved in the Packard Foundation
Population Fund (UNFPA) Rajasthan state office as
supported programme on 'Advocacy and
consultant on community empowerment initiatives.
Perspective Building on ICPD and National
Population Policy (2000)' Prior to joining the
Foundation, Ms Sudipta was working as
Programme Coordinator with CREA (Creating
Mr Subir Kole, working as a Programme Associate
(Programmes) at PFI, has moved on to join a Ph.D. programme
in East West Centre, Hawai.
Published by Population Foundation oHndia
B-28, Qutab Institutional Area,
New Delhi-1 10016.
Tel.: 26867080, 26867081 Fax: 26852766
e-mail: popfound@sif)r.com / website: www.popfound.org
Editorial Direction & Guidance:
MrARNanda
Editor: Mrs Geeta Malhotra
Editorial Assistance:
Ms Shalini Prasad
Editorial Committee:
Dr B P Thiagarajan
Dr Kumudha Aruldas
Compiltion: Ms R Vanaja
'1lfundeLivered pLease return to:
1 Population Foundation of India
••
~
B-28, Qutab Institutional Area, Tara Crescent, New Delhi-110016.