UN says FP programme requires overhauling

The country's family planning  programme must prioritise reversible methods of contraception instead of permanent methods practiced at present, said  Frederika Meijer, representative of the United Nations Population Fund in India.

Speaking at the two-day  world congress on population stabilisation, that began here on Saturday, Meijer said: “In India, the unmet need for family planning is around 28 million which accounts for over 10 per cent of the global unmet need.” “If we fulfil the unmet need,  there would be 21 million less unintended births. Access to family planning will  save the lives of thousands of women and 1.1 million new born lives,” she said.

“The impact of universal access to family planning can  be dramatic. The fact that India has the largest youth population (between 10 to 24 years old) of 358 million,  highlights the urgent need to fulfil their reproductive health needs. Right now, the largest ever youth population is entering reproductive years. In a few years, 55 per cent, that is 112 million women will be in their reproductive age,” she pointed out. “Over half of the young girls were married before the age of 18. One in six teenagers become a mother,” Meijer  said.