Population Policy

Brainstorming sessions in a workshop including experts from all over the country, government officials involved in programme implementation, representatives of NGO sector as well as media experts held in March 2000 set the ball rolling for the formulation of the first ever comprehensive Population Policy for Uttar Pradesh.

The Policy was released three months later, by the Chief Minister, on the occasion of the World Population Day on 11th July, 2000 at an impressive function held in Lucknow. The Principal Secretary, Medical, Health & Family Welfare, Government of U.P., outlined the key elements of the Policy while the Chief Secretary, Uttar Pradesh sought the participation of all departments and sections in its implementation so that its goal could be achieved. The Minister of Family Welfare, Government of U.P., exhorted community leaders, religious leaders and pradhans to make population stabilization the foremost priority and involve the community. A distinguished gathering of senior officers of the State Government and from the Department of Medical, Health & Family Welfare together with more than 600 village pradhans and religious leaders from all communities present at the function pledged their support and cooperation in the implementation of the Policy.

It also identifies both RCH and demographic indicators and attempts to achieve its objectives by developing and building on the synergy between efforts in the public, private and commercial sectors. An effort has been made to decentralize planning and implementation and involve various development departments in the activities.

Community involvement is a key factor for successful implementation of any policy. The Population Policy, hence includes active involvement of panchayats to mobilize the community. Poor status of women, early marriage, low literacy and low employment are primary causes for high population growth rate. Strategies defined in the Population Policy therefore aim at delaying the age at marriage, improving mother and childcare services and empowering women. In order to achieve the objectives set for population stabilization, the government infrastructure needs to be strengthened by additional resources. Involvement of cooperative societies, the industrial sector, private medical practitioners and NGOs for programme implementation is thus an important focus area of this policy.

The policy ensures top priority to family planning & MCH performance from the highest level. The programme as well as the contribution of different departments and panchayats are to be monitored on a regular basis. To ensure that implementation is on course, an evaluation will be held once in two years to track the progress and ensure timely corrective action.