Shimla: Himachal is amongst the ten states of Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Punjab, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal and three UTs of Chandigarh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Pondicherry who have achieved the total fertility rate (TFR) target of two child per couple set out under National Population Policy, 2000, a central health ministry report states.
Although the deadline for the population control target is 2010 but we have achieved it a year ahead, said a government spokesman.
The report released recently records that more than 75 percent villages have accessibility to a health sub-centre within a distance of 3 Kms and 94.5 % villages have access to PHC within 10 kms.  About 80 % of villages have sub-centres located in government buildings; 83.1 % sub-centres have ANM; and 70.8 PHCs have at least four beds.
The report pointed out that about 90 percent of unmarried women considered education about family life and sex education were important. Those aware of the minimum marriageable age were  96 % and those who had heard of HIV/AIDs was 93.5 percent.
One another factors attributed for adopting small family norm is the growing literacy levels among women.
The state has a laid out a network of over 3800 health institutions for providing health care services close to the homes of residents and to raise skewed sex ratios the government has launched a month long campaign ‘Beti Anmol Hai’ for creating awareness about the girl child.
As Editor, Ravinder Makhaik leads a team of media professionals at Hill Post.
Spanning a career of over two decades in mass communication, as a Documentary Filmmaker, TV journalist, Print Media journalist and with Online & Social Media, he brings with him a vast experience. He lives in Shimla.
