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Population Policy

  Madhya Pradesh Population

Policy

Madhya Pradesh Population Policy Document

Policy
Introduction Objectives Approach Implementation
Initiatives

Introduction

Madhya Pradesh is the second largest state in the country in terms of area. Its
population has crossed the 60 million mark and accounts for 5.88% of the
total population of the country. Although the sex ratio has reflected an
increasing trend, the state still ranks amongst the more backward states in
terms of most demographic indicators. Diversity in Socio-economic conditions
is in the nature of the state. With an area of 3.08 Lac square K.M. and density
of population 196 per kilometer, it makes the State a difficult terrain, hard to
reach and inaccessible. In terms of Human Development Index (HDI) with an
index value of 34.8 the state lags behind the all India average of 45. The state
also has a sizable tribal population.

The pace at which the population has been growing can be gauged by the fact
that the state's population doubled during the period of 30 years, between
1951 and 1981from 26 to 52 million. At the present pace, it will double again in
the succeeding 34 years, that is, up to 2015. The Technical Group on
Population Projections constituted by the Planning Commission of the
Government of India, concluded that Madhya Pradesh would reach replacement
level fertility (which is a prerequisite for initiating the process of population
stabilization), after 2060. If this were to happen, the census of 2061 would
show a population size of 190 million. This forms the backdrop for the State's
Population Policy.

The state has taken the initiative of adopting a state specific population policy
to address the serious problem of rapid, (and if not checked), alarming
population growth. The policy reiterates a commitment for a renewed
momentum to population stabilization efforts.

Objectives:

Specific objectives of the policy are:

Achieving the replacement level fertility (a total fertility rate of 2.1) by

the year 2011 by increasing the contraceptive prevalence rate to 65
percent from the current 42 percent.

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Reducing the infant mortality rate to 62 by the year 2011, from the
current level of 90.

Reducing the maternal mortality rate to 220 by the year 2011, from the
current level of 498.

Policy Initiatives:

In order to achieve the aforesaid objectives, the policy identifies the following
key initiatives:

To create an encouraging environment for planned family and to

generate demand for family planning and reproductive health services.
To increase the involvement of Panchayati Raj institutions, private sector
and Non-Government Organizations to promote people's participation in
population stabilization efforts.

To reorganize the management and administration of the family welfare

programme so as to make it efficient and to fulfill the family welfare needs of
the people.
To develop appropriate implementing structures to ensure inter-sectoral
coordination amongst various development departments.

Approach:

The policy approach is multi-sectoral in nature. It stresses the importance of

both family planning and reproductive health services, as well as sustainable
social and economic development in order to step up the pace of population
transition in the state. It endeavors to address the root causes of high fertility
viz. gender disparities in access to education, employment and other
productive resources, and thereby create an environment that helps families
make informed decisions. This marks a significant departure from the past,
where 'population' was regarded simply as a sub-sector of the health sector.
The policy recognizes that the population perspective must cut across all
sectors to achieve the goal of improving the quality of life of the people. It also
recognizes that several issues impacting on reproductive health status and
quality of life require serious advocacy initiatives in order to mobilize society,
change attitudes and trigger action.

Implementation:

The 73rd and 74th Amendment to the Constitution for democratic

decentralization has been fully implemented in the state. The elected three-tier
Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies have been delegated
several government functions. Many residual powers of the state government,
hitherto exercised from the state capital, have been extensively decentralized
and delegated to District Planning Committees which are now vested with
powers and responsibilities to plan and implement crucial development
programmes.
'Gram Swaraj' has been achieved through effective delegation to 'Gram
Sabhas' enabling speedy decision making.

Special emphasis has been placed on literacy, which is a precondition to any

real empowerment, through the scheme for guaranteeing education to all. This
is reflected in the increase in female literacy in the state from 29 percent in
1991 to 50 percent in 2001.

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The life of the average woman is one of deprivation in every sphere. The girl
child gets less nutrition, health care and education- a lesser childhood than the
boy child. She soon becomes a woman, often missing out on her adolescence.
She is married early, becomes a mother soon after and that too at frequent
intervals; she has no say in any of these crucial events of her life, each of
which adversely affects her health. The roots of gender inequality are social
and economic. The state policy for women and the state nutrition policy have
made serious efforts towards redressing this imbalance.

Efforts are being made to provide complete health care, especially to women,
through the presence of trained birth attendants, provision of emergency
obstetric care, helping women avoid unwanted pregnancy, preventing sexually
transmitted infections and addressing other factors that contribute to poor
health.

In order to provide access to health for all, a Prathmik Swasthya Sewa Kosh
has been set up to provide assistance to private service providers in setting up
a hospital in hitherto un-serviced areas.

The 'Swasth Jeevan Sewa Guarantee Yojana' launched on 11th July 2001
(World Population Day) will further revamp service delivery systems through
direct community action. It is hoped that by end 2002, there will be no village
in the state without a trained Jan Swastha Rakshaka and a Trained Birth
Attendant.

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