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- Prof. M.S.Swaminathan, acclaimed by TIME magazine as one of the twenty most influential Asians of the Twentieth Century, and one of only three from India, was the guest speaker at the first MIPD Public Lecture. While delivering the first MIPD lecture on “Population Stabilization and Food and Livelihood Security” at the Constitution Club, New Delhi on September 19, 2008, Prof. MS Swaminathan, brought out several facts about population stabilization and sustainable food and livelihood security issues in India, which could not be ignored by any serious minded person, interested in India‘s future. During his presentation, Prof. Swaminathn raised the question: How can India ensure sustainable food security for a billion-strong population? According to him food security has three components: The first is food availability, which depends on food production and imports. The second is food access, which depends on purchasing power. The third, food absorption, is a function of safe drinking water, primary health care, and education.
Prof. Swaminathan, who chaired the Expert Committee on Population Policy, constituted by the Government of India in 1993, said that in order to solve population issues, we must work at the micro level. He argued to promote an environment that will enable couples to decide for themselves the size of their families. Such planning will have to come from an awareness of the obligations of parents to their children as well as to the society. He emphasized that any population policy should be based on the methodology of “think, plan and act locally and support globally.” He suggested that elected institutions prepare socio-demographic charters for their villages or towns. The principal aim of such charters is to stimulate action on meeting the unmet needs of the local population. In other words, the socio-demographic charters will help to place population goals in the context of health, livelihood, and ecological security.
While summarizing the points raised by Prof. Swaminathan, Dr. Devendra Kothari, Director, MIPD, said that the population issue is an important one. There have never been as many people in India as there are now. And the rate of growth is relatively very high and population is doubling in less than 40 years. And alarmingly, the fact is that nearly fifty per cent of the growth is taking place in the four large north Indian states of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh which together account for around 36 per cent of the country’s population. Dr. Kothari said that the approach suggested by Prof Swaminathan could be of great help to achieve a breakthrough on the population front, with special reference to poor performing states and regions in India.
The function was presided over by Dr. Joe Madiath, Executive Director, Gram Vikas. While welcoming the guests, Ms. Sudha Tewari, President of Parivar Seva Sanstha said that MIPD started its work one year ago in the areas of Reproductive Health, HIV/AIDS, Urbanisation, Rural Development, Women Empowerment and Poverty, etc, Research and outreach strategies are being devised to bridge the rich-poor and gender divides in the areas of population and development.
- Implementation of PPP Model for Strengthening RTI/ STI Services, is a Project that is supported by National AIDS Control Organization (NACO). Currently the IEC activities are underway in each of the seven districts. Each month, two Inter Personal Communication (IPC) and one Street play are organised in the study districts, with support from the community.
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