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Focus 2003 January - March English |
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POPULATION
FOUNDATION
OF INDIA
Eighth ]RD Tata Memorial Oration by Dr Manmohan
Singh, Leader of Opposition, Rajya Sabha
I Yr r t L!1-::l"rlDJ1;J
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Population Foundation of India organized Eighth
JRD Tata Memorial Oration on February 3,
2003 at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
Dr Manmohan Singh, Leader of Opposition (Rajya
Sabha) delivered the Oration on Population, Poverty and
Sustainable Development. Dr Bharat Ram, Chairman,
Population Foundation of India, presided over the
function. Mr A R Nanda, Executive Director, PFI,
welcomed the participants who were from international,
national, government and non-government organizations.
While delivering the Oration, Dr Manmohan Singh
said that population growth is not the only or the most
important factor giving rise to the world wide concern
about the degradation of our environment and the threat
to the essential life support systems of our planet.
Human population has to be an important constituent
of the sustainable development agenda.
Dr Manmohan Singh said that a credible national
strategy for the removal of mass poverty requires a
strong commitmem to the acceleration of economic
growth and the expansion of employment opportuni-
ties in the framework of a sustainable use of natural
resources. A fast increasing population is leading to a
significant diversion of national investable resources for
consumption which could otherwise be used for
increasing investment and productivity and for
improving the quality of basic social services such as
education, health, sanitation, provision of safe drinking
water and for control of environmemal degradation.
Dr Manmohan Singh said, "progress in education
and health, particularly in the field of female literacy and
Dr Manmohan
Singh delivering
the Eighth JRD
Tata Memorial
Oration.
._
: Dr Manmohan Singh lighting the lamp to inaugurate the fUnction. Others
seen are Dr Bharat Ram, Chairman, PFL Mr Hari
• Shankar Singhania, Vice-Chairman, PF/ (right)
and Mr A R Nanda, Executive Director, PF! (left)
CON , EN'
• Population, Poverty and
control of infant and child mortality is vital for
Sustainable Development........ ... 1
creating an atmosphere conducive to the
• voluntary and willing acceptance of small
family norm. Recognizing the fact that some
• states are fast approaching close to the replace-
ment level of2.I, the situation in northern
• states is still a cause of concern." He empha-
• sized that a sensible approach to the regulation
• of fertility must respect the fundamental rights
• of parents to make informed choices about the
number of children they wish to have and the
type of spacing they would prefer in deciding
• about their family size. Coercion of any kind in
• this regard is unacceptable in a democracy,
• Capacity Building of NGOs in
Maharashtra through RTRDCs
of the Foundation
3
• Dissemination workshop at
Bangalore.
. ..4
• Adolescent Initiatives Project in
Uttaranchal-Launching
Ceremony .
• "Womanhood, Motherhood,
Personhood"
6
• Broadcast of "Ujala" programme
through Gyan Vani-an educational
channel of IGNOU..
.
9
instead alert public opinion can provide
• powerful correctives.
• Important M ting~/Sl!minm
attended by PFI sraff
11
• PFI's Advisory Council mer on
February 26, 2003
12
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Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS
There is a growing need for inregrared and synergistic approach ro
reproducrive healrh and HIV/AIDS strategies and programmes. Reproduc-
tive healrh is a state of complete physical, mental and social well being in all
matters relaring ro rhe reproductive system and ro its functions and processes.
Reproductive health strategies and programmes should encompass a life-cycle
approach covering infants; childten; adolescents; women and men in the
reproductive age group as well as in post-reproductive period. fu women bear the
burden of giving birth and rearing of the children, reproductive health programmes
are generally focused on women. Male involvement, of course, has ro be part and
parcel of every strategy. With HIV/AIDS spreading like an epidemic in the country,
rhere is a need ro integrate reproductive healrh with HIV/AIDS.
Prevalence of HIV in India has increased over the last four years having rhe
highest number ofHN infections in the world. Maximum number of cases reported
are in the sexually active and economically productive age group of 18-40 years and all
reproductive health programmes are focussed on age group 15-45. Over 50 per cent
of all new infections take place among young adults below 25 years. So, there is a
need ro frame specific strategy and programmes to address young adolescents (J 0-19
years) in order ro make them understand the linkage between HIV/AIDS and healthy
sexuality. If the issues are addressed ar their prime age, integrared programmes on
reproductive health and HIV/AIDS could achieve better results.
In rhe states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra,
Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland, H1V prevalence has reached around 2 pet cent
among women attending antenatal clinics. The epidemic contin ues ro shift rowards
women and young people, 25 per cent of HIV infections are estimated ro be among
women with the female:male rario of infection increasing sharply.
Women are more vulnerable ro HN infection due ro socio-cultural, biological and
economic factors that include early marriage; no say in the marital union and matters
relared ro sex and protecting themselves from infection. Women also have poor access to
health education and care. Very often women are found ro be HN posirive only when
their husbands or children are found ro be posirive. The women are often blamed for
bringing AIDS in ro the family, though very often they are the victims rather than the
cause. Women suffering from STIs are at least 4 times more vulnerable to infection.
Providing information, building awareness and strengthening knowledge on the
linkage between RTI/STD-HNIAIDS to young married women, speciallyat the time of
registration of first pregnancy and ante-natal check-ups are the issuesto be addressed while
we are advocating reproductive and child health programmes or providing RCH services.
If the vulnerability of women ro HIV/AIDs is ro be reduced then borh men and
women must work rogerher. Policy makers, communiry leaders, religious leaders
and other people in authority musr recognize rhe seriousness of rhis pandemic even
in the so-called low prevalence areas, with very high fertility and POOtstatus of
reproducrive health.
The inequality between men and women is accelerating the spread of HIVI
AIDS. So ro reduce the incidence and prevalence of HIV/AIDS in women, the
following measures could be implemented:
• Developing appropriate educational programmes that target both men and women.
• Supporting educarion on sex and HIV/AIDS for young adolescents in schoolsl
out-of-school ro increase rheir understanding of human sexuality.
• Reducing unnecessary blood transfusions by improving women's nutrition,
preventing anemia, treating infections, preventing the loss of blood due ro
complications in pregnancy and using blood substitutes wherever possible.
• Encouraging voluntary and confidential testing, supported by counseling services.
• Ensuring that prevention, treatment, care and support services are accessible and
affordable ro all.
• Promoting condoms (including female condoms) as a strategy of dual
protection against unwanted pregnancy and STI-HIV/AIDS.
• Sensitizing policy makers, legislarors and corporates on mulri-secroral approach
ro HIV/AIDS programmes.
The non-government organizations and community based organizarions along with
related development secrors should work on reproductive and child health and other
population-related issues in high fertility regions need to take on the new challenge.
Dr Manmohan Singh suggested thar growth,
• employment and poverty reduction, targets of the Tenth
• Five Year Plan, should be given not only for the Union
• as a whole but also for each State. Central and the state
Governments should submit to their legislature an
annual progress report on poverty reduction, policies in
• place and their effectiveness, and legislature must discuss
these reports.
Highlighting the importance of female literacy, he
said that eight or more years of education is required to
• induce fertility decline and bener care of their children.
• Dr Manmohan Singh suggested that a suitable cess be
levied on all central taXes to mobilize additional
• resources, which are needed to operationalize the
fundamental right of each and every child to free
• elementary education.
Reflecting on the national system of primary health
care, Dr Manmohan Singh said that rural India
• continues to be very poorly served by the health care
system. The current public sector expenditure on health
is less than one per cent ofIndia's Gross Domestic
Product (GDP). The result is that the elite groups are
• becoming increasingly insensitive to the poor quality of
health care provided by the fund starved public sector
• health care system, on which the great majority of the
poor people invariably rely. The nation has to recognize
• that there is a need of a well functioning and publicly
funded primary health care system and a nationwide
system of health insurance against serious illness to
realize the goal of "health for all".
Dr Manmohan Singh said that effective strategies for
sustainable development, poverty reduction, human
• resource development and protection of environment
• must allow for maximum possible decentralisation in
designing and implementing them taking into account
specific resource endowment, constraints and potentiali-
ties of different regions and loealities.
• Decentralisation can be an important means to increase
• both efficiency and accountability of development
programmes. He ended his speech with the concluding
remarks that there is a need to create an effective
: environment for the Panchayats and the Municipalities
• to set their own agenda for local level development and
• implement it effectively. It is only then that
• decentralisation can become a major force for efficient
• and equitable people centred development.
The Oration was followed by a Question-Answer
session on the subject. Mr Hari Shankar Singhania,
• Vice-Chairman, Population Foundation of India
presented a vote of thanks to the Chief Guest and the
august audience.
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Population Environment Development-A Bulletin of Population Foundation of India
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The Foundation has set up two mote new
Regional Training and Resource Develop-
ment Centres (RTRDCs) in the state of
Maharashtra, one at Society fot Human & Environ-
mental Development (SHED), Mumbai and
anothet at Institute of Health Management (IHM),
Pachod. Earlier, the Foundation had already set up
RTRDCs in various states.
Nine training modules have been prepared by
SHED, in collaboration wirh the Foundation on
various topics, such as reproductive system and
reproductive health, reproductive and child health
services, role ofNGOs in RCH programmes,
delivery of RCH services, population and planned
parenthood, role ofIEC in RCH programmes,
project implementation, monitoring and evaluation
and financial managemenr.
The first Training of Trainers (TOT) programme
• for master trainers was organized during March 24-29,
2003. Fifteen master trainers selected by SHED
attended rhe training programme. Dt B P Thiagarajan,
• Joint Director (M&E) was one of the resource persons
during rhis programme. Detailed discussions on the
nine modules and their effective utilization for
organizing the training programmes for field level
workers of non-government organizations working in
• and around Dharavi slums at Mumbai formed the core
• agenda of rhe six days training programme.
IHM, Pachod has initiated the ground work in
their area.
-t·r-;';":)
Constant efforts can change the community,
says GNK PLAN, who are working in the
Nautanwa block in the district of
Maharajganj, Uttar Pradesh, one of the most
backward districts in India.
GNK Plan has been using the video programmes
developed by Population Foundation of India under
the title "Pragati Ka Dwar : Panchayati Raj" regularly
in their monthly meetings and otherwise, since June
2001, when the training of master trainers was
conducted by Population Foundation of India.
Advocacy with adolescents and women is a major
component of GNK Plan's educational activities.
Video programmes like reproductive health, family
planning methods, communicable diseases and their
prevention, water and sanitation, gender inequality
are shown regularly and discussions are held on safe
motherhood, diarrohea, child care, importance of
• immunization, HIV/
• AIDS ete. in each
hamler.
With the regular
screening of the video
• programme on "Food
and Nutrition" in
• monthly mother's
• meeting on nutrition,
• women are now
aware of rhe impor-
tance of nutrition and
• method of preparation of nutritious food.
The result is less incidence of communicable
• diseases, no incidence of diarrohea for the last two
• years; gauna is being deferred. There is also a
• reduction in infant mortality rarc. Eligible couples
are aware of family planning methods.
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Role of electronic media in empowering members
of Panchayati Raj Institutions
-~~
~lt
Population Foundation ofIndia, in collabo.ra-
tion with Institute of Social and EconomIC
Change (ISEC), Bangalore, implemented a
project on "empowerment of Panchayati Raj Institu-
tions on health issues through electronic medii'. The
project was completed in January 2003. Apart from
I
-I
WORKSHOP ON
EMPOWERING PANCHAYAT MEMBERS ON HEALTH THROUGH
"'~"="~'r Mass Media: KARNATAKA EXPERIENCE
OIlIiJlNIUD n, INSTITVTE FOf: SOCIAL IINO ECONOMIC CHANGE
POPVLATION FOUNDATrON OF INDIA
ISEC, Department of Health and Family Welfare,
Government of Karnataka, extended all support to the
project. The Handbook on Reproductive and Child
Health, prepared by ISEC in Kannada, was published
by India Population Project (IPP-IX). The video
The credit for the success of the project goes to the
programmes used for telecast through Doordarshan-
collaborating non-government organizations, namely,
Bangalore were also given by IPP-IX.
• Family Planning Association of India, Dharwad; Swami
Recommendations that emerged
Vivekananda Youth Movement, Mysore;
Grameena Abyudaya Seva Samsthe,
during the workshop:
• There is unanimous view that this kind of health
education programme should continue and be extended
to all parts of the State.
• Narrow-casting of health education serials should be
considered as an effective alternative for low-cost, easy
and sustained implementation.
• Steps should be taken to ensure that the cable operators
compulsorily beam Doordarshan channels as per the
Prasar Bharati Act.
• The State Departments of Panchayati Raj should be
persuaded to issue directions to all Panchayati Raj
Institutions in their jurisdictions to participate in the
developmental education programmes organized by
various departments and agencies from time to time.
• The Department of Health and Family Welfare in the
states should take an active role in such programmes by
instructing the functionaries from Primary Health
Centers and Sub-centers to actively participate in such
programmes.
• Governmental efforts alone in health education have
been found to be limited. In the background of the
experience gained through this programme, several
NGOs do have the capability and expertise, which may
be utilized to supplement the government efforts in
health education and programme implementation.
Doddaballapur; Jayanthi Gram Women and
Children Welfare Association, Bijapur;
Family Planning Association of India, Bidar:
and Action for Rural Reconstruction
Movement, Gulbarga. The enthusiasm and
involvement of Gram Panchayat members of
six districts in Karnataka made this innova-
tive project meaningful and successful.
To discuss the outcome of the project
and lessons learnt, a state-level workshop was
organized at Bangalore on January 24, 2003.
The representatives of the Population
Foundation of India, State Health
Department, State Institute of Health and
Family Welfare, ISEC, six collaborating
NGOs and health education and
communication experts participated in it.
The findings of the evaluation of the
project, carried out by ISEC, were presented
for discussion. Another workshop was
organized at Dharwad on January 25, 2003
in collaboration with Family Planning
Association of India. The opinion and
suggestions of the volunteers involved in the
project and the panchayat members who
participated in the programme were
discussed in the workshop.
~
Population Environment Development-A Bulletin of Population Foundation of India
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)J0lescence is a period of rransition
between childhood and adulthood,
haracterised by rapid physical,
psychological and behavioural changes. It is
also a time of preparation [Q undertake greater
responsibilities. Adolescents, with all their
vulnerabilities and potential, need sensitive
understanding. The constructive channeling of
the energies of adolescents can be a powerful
force multiplier for national development.
Population Foundation of India in
collaboration with Himalayan Institute
Hospital Trust (HIHT) has launched an
Adolescent Initiatives project in Uttaranchal
for a period of three years, covering three
districts, namely, Dehradun, Udham Singh
• Mr A R Nant:kz, Executive Director, PFL addressing the
audience during the launching ceremony.
Nagar and Nainital. The project focusses on
Hospital Trust, were present on the occasion.
adolescents in the crucial developmental period of
The major goal of the project is to prepare
13-18 years of age. Formal launching ceremony was
leaders for today to make changes for tomorrow. To
held on February 19, 2003 at Dehradun. Hon'ble
• accomplish this goal, an integrated and holistic
Governor of Uttaranchal, Shri Sudarshan Aggrawal
was the Chief Guesr. Mr J C Panr, Member,
model of change will be implemented that focuses
on sensitizing youth through innovative interven-
Governing Board and Mr A R Nanda, Executive
tions that embrace gender equality and enhance self-
Director, PFI, were the guests of honour.
esteem through self-reliance.
Mr S Ramaseshan, Secretary & Treasurer, PFI, also
attended the ceremony. Dt Mohan Swami, Mr Vijay
Dhasmana, Mr Vikram Singh and Dr V Chauhan,
The project comprises five major
· components:
Members, Presidential Body of Himalayan Institute
• Collaboration with major NGOs for resource
development and implementation;
• Conducting a baseline survey that
measutes the Knowledge, Attitudes and
Practices (KAP) of a random sample of
youth 13-18 years of age;
• Interventions that utilize adolescents as
peer educators for physical, mental and
emotional health (including reproductive
health) using career opportunities as an
initial focus;
• Establishment of an Adolescent
Resource Centre at HIHT; and
Information and Counseling Centres at
Launching ceremony: seen (from left) are Mr Vijay Dhasmana,
Dr V Chauhan, Members, Presidential Body of HIHT, Mr Sudarshan
AggrawaL Hon'ble Governor of UHaranchaL Mr A R Nandd, Extttltive
J Director and Mr C Pant, Member, Governing Board, PFI
the NGOs
• Development of training modules for
borh NGOs and adolescent peer
educators.
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Womanhood
I was created from the best of God's creation
I am woman
I am she
My touch is the softness of the dawn sky
My care the warmth of the winter sun
My comfort the pleasant dew dropped grass
My smile chases the dark .... my tears blacken the dark
Of life I am the care
With man myself I share
A look, a glance I think the world well lost for love
Love killed ... pain drowned
Why?
A searing agony left behind
Fear shackling freedom of mind
Why?
• Togetherness no longer an emotion
Togetherness only a subjugation
Why?
• Must I always remain helpless?
My self esteem powerless
Less, less always less
Why?
I will reach ecstasy for love
I will know agony for love
I want to make love for love
I want to give ... for love
Give ... I am never asked
I am only forced
My body is not my own
Forced, mauled, abused, raped
Night after night after night
My body diseased
My mind crushed
Beaten and bullied and brutalized
• When his pleasure is done.
His pleasure ... only his pleasure
• Only his needs that I am to feed
Surely nature meant the pleasure shared
Not forced, not demanded but together cared
I helped to create the nothing
Man controlled my right
• I gave in without a fight
• Custom suppressed me
• Content I was to be oppressed
In strife I gain strength
• In oppression I know my rights
In assertion I learn dignity
• No longer content to be told
No longer fitting into the mould
I am the Durga
How can fear subjugate me?
As a woman I am a person
That might is my right
I am not just a body
• I say so
I am beautiful. .. a beautiful toy
I am soft ... to be crushed
I am giving to be snatched
I am loving to be abused
I am in bed a toy
• In bed to bear only a boy
• Why is my body not my own
Why can I never say-no?
Why must I be abused?
Why can't I be caressed?
Why have I given up my body with these vows?
• To you I can say no
I say so
• I have a mind
I say so
My love can be given
When I say no
I am not less... Never lesser than you
I say so
My strength is within me
I say so
Who am I?
Just the body without the mind
Only the procreator of mankind
This bed ... a battleground
I feel so I am
I think so I am
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Population Environment Development-A Bulletin of Population Foundation of India
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Motherhood
God made the world
Then He made a creator
To me He gave motherhood
The very core of my personhood
To me He gave compassion
The purest of all emotion
He made me a mother
And raised me in stature
A miracle grows within me
Nine months of hope whispering
Nine months of dreams caressing
My thoughts are vibrant
My hopes expectant
Tiny feet pattering into my world
Soft arms linking my life
My heart beats to another rhythm
I breathe life into the living
I am born anew
From a woman I am now a mother
Blow the conches
Scatter the flowers
Light the lamps
Clap to the rhythms
In creating I am created anew
You are a mother
Mother to only sons
You are the creator
You'll create to order
You'll love
Love only the sons of man
Let the conches blow
Let the flowers scatter
Let the lamps be lit
For a son ..a son ..only a son
Nine months of despair. .. agonizing
Nine months of fear. .. killing
Imprisoned for months ... again ... again ... and again
Reprieved only by a son
My life echoes cries of girls unborn
The wails of girls killed
Body bruised
Heart bereaved
Mind grieved
Nature tampered
• Fertility doctored
• Creation controlled
Motherhood limited
Freedom confined
• Myself destroyed
May I never see myself?
• Reflected in those blackened eyes
In the tinkle of the belled feet
In the patterns on hennaed hands
Can I never guide her?
• May I never sing her a lullaby?
Can I never adorn a bride?
May I never mother a daughter?
Where have all the baby girls gone?
Sent to heaven by sex sensitive death
• Where have all the little girls gone
• Sent to heaven starved to death
• Where have all the sisters gone
Gone to heaven abused to death
Where have all the wives gone
• Gone to heaven hounded to death
Where have all the mothers gone
Gone to heaven giving birth till death
My daughter
They call you Devi
Yet you are a curse
You are Annapoorna
Yet denied food
You are Saraswathi
Yet unlettered
You have a temple
Only my womb is denied
• You have divinity
• But denied life
My daughter, a mother bears the burden of your death
• Guilty condemned again ... again ... and again till I
bear a son
• Is the gift of creation
• To be tarnished by destruction
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The gift of life sullied by death
Am I a creator?
Or just a procreator
Am I an identity?
Or just a womb
Am I a woman?
Or just a channel for man
Am I a mother?
Or just a son bearer
In strife I gain strength
In oppression I know my right
In assertion I learn dignity
No longer content to be told
No longer fitting into the mould
I am the creator
I am the mother
I am not the body
I am also the mind
I am a mother
To man and woman
In me is the might
To fight for my right
I mirror my mother
• My daughter reflects me
Mother and daughter
Created and creator
• Challenged by strife
• Together in strength
• Challenged by strife
Empowered in strength
· I am
Standing alone in dignity
Individual in my identity
• I am Daughter sister wife mother
• Relationships limit me
• No crutch for me can be right
• My personhood itself is my might
I am
Support assistance help protection
Make me a victim of situation
• I have the dignity
• To be the architect of my destiny
I am
So many faces
• So many facets
• Daughter wife mother
• A person beyond all dimensions
I love I cteate I care I share
I think I work I invent I discover
I am a homemaker
I am a nation builder
Empowered by my confidence
Secure with knowledge
I can take on the universe
\\X!ith myself in grace
• I am so you are
I know so I am
The poem on reproductive rights written and
narrated by Ms Meera Khanna was presented in the
• form of Bharatnatayam by Ms Rama Vaidyanathan on
February 4, 2003 under the sponsorship of UNFPA.
The dance recital was a unique attempt to combine
• the vibrancy of Bharatnatayam with the poignancy
of contemporary concern on sexual and
• reproductive rights.
Women are often restricted in their individuality by
• their relationships. It is ironic that relationships, while
• giving women their identity, also deprive them of their
• individuality.
She is a woman, a lover; a wife. This identity rests on
her sexual dimension. She is also known as a mother; an
identity rooted in her reproductive capacity. But when
is she ever known as a human, as a person?
The presentation, in three distinct sections,
explores each of her dimensions and rises above all
relationships to extol her as a person with a capacity
and capability which, while encompassing her sexual
and reproductive identity, goes beyond to recognise
her talents and expressions as a person. It is the
celebration of her personhood.
"From the point of view of reverence due, a teacher is tenfold superior to a mere lecturer, a father
hundred-fold to a teacher, and a mother a thousand-fold to a father. n
(Manu Smrti - II, 145)
All the problems of the Indian woman would be solved, largely by herself, as soon as she receives
education on the right lines. For a woman, the heart is the essence of personality. Education, apart
from imparting information and ideas, should help to expand her heart, to strengthen her capacity to
love, cherish and protect. Out of this will flow the virtues of fearlessness and practical efficiency.
Swami Vivekananda
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Population
community
- a series
Foundation of India's
radio programme "Ujala"
of 52 episodes on health
and social development has been selected by
IGNOU for broadcasr through Gyan Vani,
from their four major stations, Allahabad,
Lucknow, Bhopal, and Delhi.
Population Foundation of
India's community radio
programme "Ujala" is
being rebroadcast from All
India Radio-Indore through
Medium-wave in Kheti
Grahasti programme on every
Sunday, between 7.30 to
8.00p.m. with effect from
March 30, 2003. The
The fifth meeting on partnership
on sex selective abortions/female
network
foeticide
•
was held on February 7, 2003 at the
Ministty of Health & Family Welfare, Nirman
Bhavan, New Delhi. Population Foundation of
India co-hosted this meeting. The main aim of
this network meeting was to discuss on draft
national advocacy strategy and steps to be taken to
curb the evil practice of sex selective abortions/
female foeticide.
progtamme can be listened in
Indore, Ujjain, Dewas, Dhar,
Shajapur, Rarlam, Khandwa-
East Nimar, Khargone-West
Nimar, Harda, Neemuch,
Mandsaur, Jhabua,
Hoshangabad, Sehore, Bhopal
and border areas of
Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar
Pradesh and Gujarar.
Graphics: •
Ifi'an
Anwar
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Workshop organized by MAMATA at
Bhubaneswar, Orissa
~0.(
The phenomenon of "missing women"
symbolises the alarming trend of decline in
female-male sex ratio in the Indian popula-
tion. This is the outcome of the continuing gender
discrimination in the society. Of late, the pernicious
practice of sex determination in the shape of female
foeticide has aggravated the problem.
MAMATA, assisted by Population
Foundation of India, organized a State-
• level Workshop on this important issue
on January 19, 2003, at Bhubaneswar.
• Participants represented different
• segments of conscious public opinion including
demographers, academicians, students of colleges
• and universities, leaders of medical fraternity, local
• heads of international organizations, representarives
of leading NGOs and prominent social activists.
Shri A R Nanda, Executive Director, PFI,
emphasized that correcting sex imbalance in our
• population was as important as population stabiliza-
• tion. He said, "population stabilization achieved
• through the practice of two sons per family cannot
• be our goal, unless we opt for demographic imbal-
• ance and social disaster."
According to Mr Nanda, incentives, disincentives
• and targets imposed from above should have no
• place in family welfare programme. Firstly, they are
• unnecessary, as birth rates have commenced a
decline in large parts of the country. Secondly, as
• past experience indicates, they are ineffective and
• serve only to generate false programme performance
data. Thirdly, the financial allocations for incentives
• are a drain of scarce resources that ought to be
• utilized fot strengthening ptimary health care.
• FourtWy, they inflict damage on the credentials of a
so-called welfare programme by deeply alienating
• people, the poor and powerless in particular, from
• the health care system. Finally, they profoundly
• violate human and democratic rights.
Shri S B Mishra, formet Chief Secretary of
• Orissa and Chairman (Honorary) of MAMATA, set
• the tone for discussion by touching upon the general
• issue of gender discrimination and the specific issue
• of female foeticide. He was of the opinion that
• female foeticide is growing in spite of legislation and
• the current workshop was a timely effort to address
this issue and discuss its various dimensions.
Mr Mishra said
that the data under
the 'sex composition
of the population of
the Census 2001',
had brought to the
fore certain danger-
ous trends. He said
that the sex ratio has
been declining over
• the past 100 years, from 972 in 1901 to 946 in 1951
• and to 933 in 2001. The number of missing women
will continue to increase unless the civil society
comes Out actively against cultural, social and
• economic discrimination against women.
Dr Saraswati Swain, retired Professor of
• S.C.B.Medical College and Secretary General,
• NIAHRD, Cuttack, mentioned that the question of
'missing women' was a broad issue with ramifica-
tions on every aspect of human life. The areas of
• concern, according to her, are high maternal
mortality and morbidity, rising trends of female
• foeticide, continuing practice of female infanticide,
• inadequacy and inaccessibility of health services,
specially in rural areas, low educational levels, male
• dominance in household decision-making, inferior
• social status of women and above all, the 'culture of
silence' that abets declining sex ratio even further.
Dr S N Torasia, Secretary of MAMATA and a
• prominent educationist and technology-administra-
tor, proposed a vote of thanks.
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2.1 Page 11 |
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111._
}\\ttsll leel
• Executive Director attended a two-day Collo-
quium on Population Policy-Development and
Human Rights organized by the National
Human Rights Commission on January 9-10,
2003 at New Delhi.
• Executive Director made a presentation
on "Population and Development -
Myths and Realities" in a ptogramme
organized by the regional branch,
Indian Insti tute of Public
Administration, Orissa, on January 20,
2003 at Bhubaneswar (Orissa).
• Executive Director, as a member of the
International Advisory Committee of
the David and Lucile Packard Founda-
tion, attended the Advisory Committee
meeting, held during March 3-4, 2003
at San Francisco.
• Executive Director attended and made a
presentation at Seminars on Population
and Development organized by Rotary
International at Mumbai and Jaipur in
February and March respecrively.
• PFI made a presentation on Public-
Private Partnership for HIV Prevention
- PARSHI (Partnership for Reproduc-
tive and Sexual Health and HIV/AIDSI
STI Interventions in India) at a NACO
meeting on March 20, 2003.
• Mr S Ramaseshan, Secretary &
Treasurer, attended the South Asian
Workshop on Organizational Self-
Awareness, Accountability and Gover-
nance in Non-Governmenr Develop-
mental Organizations on February 14,
2003 at New Delhi.
• Dr Kumudha Aruldas, Joint Director
(Programmes) and Mr Manoj Kar,
Consultant (HIV-RCH) attended the
National Seminar on "What Works in
HIV/AIDS Care and Support?" organized
by Population Council/Horizons Programme on
March 28, 2003, at New Delhi.
•• Dr Sharmila Neogi attended White
Ribbon Alliance India meeting on
March 17, 2003, ar CEDPA, New Delhi.
The meeting was focussed on planning of
Safe Motherhood Day on April 11, 2003.
• Mrs Geeta Malhotra, Programme
Officer (IEe) participated in the
Capacity Building Programme on Media
Advocacy organized by National Centre
for Advocacy Studies, Pune, during
February 10-15, 2003 at Pune.
• Mrs Geeta Malhotra, Programme Officer (lEe)
attended the Seminar on Economic Empower-
ment of Women: Shaping the 21st Century,
organized by the Parliamentary Standing Com-
mittee and cn on March 1, 2003, at Parliament
House Annexe, New Delhi.
• Dr A A Jayachandran, Programme
Associate, attended the one-day Dis-
semination workshop conducted by
DFID, New Delhi and Bristol Univer-
sity, UK, on "Socio-economic differen-
tials in health and health care in India:
Analysis of NFHS data for West Bengal,
Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra
Pradesh" on March 25, 2003, at New
Delhi. The workshop was conducted to
report on the findings from this study
and invite discussions on issues of
methodology and policy.
•• Dr A A Jayachandran attended a three-day
"National-level Workshop for the Applica-
tion of GIS (Geographic Information
System) in Health Sector" organized by
Vardaan Foundation, Vardaan Consultants
and Center for Action Research and Develop-
mental Studies, all based in Vadodara at
Baroda during March 27-29, 2003.
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PF1"'}\\d vi3~ry CD!!Il!;.il I.f1et
.fl ~F~.6ru~F17 .2 lD03
T;e Population FOWldationofIndia has irsAdvisory
CoWlcil, consisting of experts in related field, such as
Sociology,Demography, Communications, Health Services,
Environment, Education, Management, Women's Development ete. It
conuibutes to the formulation
of the FOWldatiOn'pSolicies
and programmes. This year's
meeting was held on
February 26, 2003.
Dr M S Swaminathan chaired
the meeting. Mr A R Nanda,
Executive Director, made a
Dr M 5 Swaminathan (left) chairing the
Advisory Council Meeting. Mr A R Nanda,
Executive Director, PFI, is making a presentation.
presentation on the future
suategy and progranunes of
the FOWldation.
IJDJ"t POSlf::lilt:Slt
I OJ('JISl~l.rI.l.Icrl~rllL
rl
('
LDS1Je.reS1Cf::
Due to some unavoidable
circumstances, the State-
level Advocacy Conference on
Population Stabilization,
Health and Social Develop-
ment Issues in Jharkhand,
scheduled to be held at Ranchi
during May 5-6, 2003, has
been postponed.
ll~~~NJw1L.ing3
• Dr Kumudha Aruldas has joined the FOWldationas
Joint Director, Programmes on
March 17, 2003. Before joining the Foundation,
Dr Kumudha was working with Plan India
COWlUYOffice at New Delhi.
• Mr Manoj Kat has joined the FOWldationas Consultant
(RCH & HIV/AIDS).
• Dr Lalitendu Jagatdeb has joined the Foundation as
Consultant (Advocacy).
Ms Sunita Arora, Programme
Associate, has resigned from the
Foundation on March 25, 2003 to
join CEDPA, New Delhi.
Mr A R Nanda, Executive Director, PFJ,
presenting a bouquet to Ms Sunita Arora
Published by Population Foundation of India
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Tel.: 26867080, 26867081 Fax: 26852766
e-mail: popfound@sity.com I website: www.popfound.org
Editorial Direction & Guidance:
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Editor: Mrs Geeta Malhotra
Editorial Comll).ittee:
Dr B P Thiagarajan
Dr Kumudha Aruldas
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