INDIA: UNFPA Launches RH and Life Skills Education Programme
The Hindu on 1 February and Business Standard on 31 January reported that, the UNFPA and Indian government teamed up to launch a reproductive health and life skills education programme to "fulfil the reproductive rights of young people, women and marginalised communities. The strategy will also impact the status of young girls and women. The five-year plan of co-operation, in-effect from 2013 till 2017, is set to make an important contribution to achieving health objectives articulated in the government’s 12th Five-Year plan, and accelerate progress on international development targets, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)." UNFPA Frederika Meijer is quoted saying, “Investing in the health of vulnerable young women and marginalised communities, including tribals and minorities, is a key priority for UNFPA, as we believe that investing in young girls helps break cycles of poverty within families."
INDIA: Two-day Workshop Addresses Women’s Issues
The Pioneer and Times of India on 30 January reported on a two-day workshop on issues affecting women including, violence, rape, sexual assault, female foeticide and discrimination on ground of sex. The UNFPA-Madhya Pradesh Convener, Asha Mishra, and Chief Executive Officer of Prayatn, Manish Singh, were the keynote speakers.
INDIA: New Software to Maintain Medical Records of Pregnant Women
New Indian Express on 29 January reported on a software enabling ultrasound units to maintain medical records of pregnant women who undergo the scan and electronically submit the reports to the district appropriate authorities (DAA) as part of the Pre-Conception Prenatal Diagnostics Techniques (PCPNDT) Act. The software was developed by the Health and Family Welfare Department with financial and technical support from UNFPA. It will be mandatory for installation by all registered ultrasound units.
INDIA: Census Software Launched
India Blooms News Service reported on 19 December that census software has been launched by the Registrar General and Census Commission along with the country chiefs of UNFPA, UN Women and the UNICEF representative. The United Nations Statistics Division, in partnership with United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), developed the software which is database technology used for the dissemination of Population and Housing Census results to help countries disseminate their census results at any relevant geographical level, on CD-ROM and also on the web.
INDIA: Joint Efforts and Laws Needed to Ensure Rights of Elderly
The Express Tribune on 18 December and South Asian Media Network on 17 December reported on a workshop organized by UNFPA and HelpAge International. Speakers stressed that the number of senior citizens is increasing while their rights are being ignored. Waqar Qureshi, advocacy and communication officer at HelpAge, urged the government to initiate the process of legislation on a senior citizens bill that has been pending in parliament since 2007.
INDIA: User-friendly Database Software Launched
Indo-Asian News Service on 17 December and Qatar News Agency on 16 December reported that CensusInfo India, a new user-friendly database software to help people access, use and understand the statistical data of India's population and housing census, was launched in the capital. The UN statistics division with UNICEF and UNFPA developed the software.
INDIA: Child Sex Ratio Causes Concern
The Times of India on 16 December reported on a one-day workshop organized by the Odisha State Legal Services Authority in association with the Health and Family Welfare department and supported by the UNFPA. Experts revealed that the ratio in India had fallen to less than 900 girls per 1,000 boys in a number of districts according to the 2011 census.
INDIA: Demographers Urged to Address Population Problems
The Indian Express on 14 December reported that the Gokhale Institute of Political Science and Economics hosted a three-day conference. Anders Thomson, UNFPA deputy country representative, spoke at the conference and talked about the role of demographers in addressing population problems in India.
INDIA: 16-day Activism Programme Launched
Times of India on 11 December reported on a 16-day activism programme at various schools focused on violence against women. The issues, challenges and concerns associeated with gender-based violence are discussed including the various forms of violence against women like child marriage, rape, sexual harassment and 13 others as identified by the UNFPA.
INDIA: Awards Highlight Gender Sensitive Reporting
India Blooms News Service on 27 November and Assam Tribune on 26 November reported that NGO Population First, in collaboration with UNFPA, announced the winners of the Laadli Media Awards for Gender Sensitivity. The awards highlight, acknowledge and celebrate the efforts of various media at providing gender-just perspectives and analysis.
INDIA: Preparations Needed In Anticipation of Ageing Population
Daily News & Analysis on 22 November reported on a recent study by the United Nations Population Fund that revealed that the number of people above 60 years in India will reach over 300 million by 2050. Dr. VP Rao, scientific advisory counsel for iBRAIN LifeSciences and convener of the International Conference of Healthy Ageing, said that the problem lies in the fact not enough colleges offer geriatric care as a specialty. "We don't have colleges offering geriatric care and there is also a lack of skilled and quality nursing facilities to take care of the aged. We need medical research in diabetes, skin diseases, dental diseases and other problems associated with aging. Right now we have only a handful of people who are skilled to take on geriatric care and that won't be adequate in the future," Rao said.
UNITED KINGDOM: India to Expect Population ‘Time Bomb’
The Daily Telegraph on 21 November reported that India is facing a population time bomb. UNFPA researchers concluded that the number of over-60s would increase from 100 million today to more than 300 million within 40 years and warned the government to prepare for the additional strain this would put on families and health and welfare services.
INDIA: More Than 70 Percent of Seniors Forced to Work
Afternoon Voice on 21 November and Indo-Asian News Service and the Telegraph on 20 November reported that, according to a survey conducted by the UNFPA, 71 percent of elderly work because of economic necessity and not by choice, and that there is a close link between current work participation and poverty and illiteracy.
INDIA: No Social Safety Nets for Elderly
Inter Press Service on 9 November reported that according to a report on the aging population in India, released by the United Nations Population Fund, the country had 90 million elderly people in 2011, with the number expected to grow to 173 million by 2026. Of the 90 million seniors, 30 million are living alone, and 90 percent work for a living. “India's aging population is constantly grappling with health issues, economic stress, family matters, uncertain living arrangements, gender disparities, urban-rural differences, displacement and slum-like living conditions.”
INDIA: Family Planning Workshop Held
Multiple media outlets reported from 16-23 October on a five-day family planning workshop to strengthen advocacy efforts for promoting family planning and improving counselling skills. The workshop "called for breaking socio-cultural and family barriers to the movement to restrict the family size while laying emphasis on fulfilling unmet needs for contraception." UNFPA and WHO representatives along with nearly 40 delegates from five nations participated.
INDIA: Better Trained Nurses Critical to Improved MMR
New Indian Express on 29 September reported that establishing nursing schools and producing better-trained nurses is vital to improving maternal and newborn health indicators. UNFPA’s Odisha State Programme Coordinator Hemant Dwivedi said, “Community level awareness was crucial if one wanted to tackle maternal deaths.” He added that having an adequate number of health centres and rural hospitals could reduce the maternal mortality rate by around 67 percent.
INDIA: Women’s Empowerment Programme Lauded
United News of India on 28 August reported that UNFPA’s Fredrica Meijer commended the women’s welfare programmes being conducted in Madhya Pradesh.
INDIA: Community Joins Hands for Women’s Health Care
The Hindu on 27 August reported that awareness about maternal health and sex selection as key gender issues has increased in and around Etava village, as a result of a three-year project, ‘Strengthening gender responsive panchayats in Rajasthan,’ launched by an advocacy group, Society for Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA), with the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Read in English: The Hindu
INDIA: Youth Awareness Increasing
Hindustan Times on 28 July reported that UNFPA- supported projects have increased awareness among youth and empowered adolescents with the knowledge and life skills for better reproductive and sexual health.
INDIA: Sehore Takes Care of its Health
Hindustan Times on 28 July reported that youth awareness has increased through a UNFPA supported project which empowered adolescents and youth with knowledge and life skills for better reproductive and sexual health.
INDIA: Minister Stresses Pre-marital Counselling
The Hindustan Times on 8 July reported on the two-day World Congress on Population Stabilisation and Women's Health. UNFPA Representative Frederika Meijer addressed the group saying that access to family planning would save the lives of thousands of women and 1.1 million newborns. She also stressed that half of young girls in India are married before they are 18 years old, heightening their risk of complications or death in childbirth. One in four young women 15-24 years of age dies during childbirth in India.
INDIA: Family Planning Programme Requires Overhaul
The Deccan Herald on 7 July reported that the country's family planning programmed needs to prioritise reversible methods of contraception according to UNFPA Representative Frederika Meijer. Read in English: Deccan Herald
INDIA: A Maternal Death Every 10 Minutes: UN
Zee News on 3 July reported that India recorded 57,000 maternal deaths in 2010, which translates to six every hour and one every 10 minues, according to UN data. However some progress has been made. The newspaper quoted UNFPA Representative Frederika Meijer as saying, ""India is moving well on MMR. We have made progress in this regard. The MMR recorded a 38 per cent decline in maternal deaths between 1999 and 2009. There has been progress but we are not there just yet. The Government needs to ensure the availability of Auxiliary Nurses and Midwives closer to the homes of women who are delivering." Read in English: Zee News
INDIA: Sex Selection Increasing
The Indian Express on 13 June reported that Maharashtra’s child sex ration, 946 per 1,000 in 1991, dropped to 883 in the 2011 census making it the second worst in the country. Sex selection has increased in the region. According to the paper, “foeticide was once restricted to urban pockets and Western Maharashtra but has now spread to most parts of Marathwada in Central Maharashtra and even tribal pockets of Nashik.” After the 2011 numbers were released, the government formed a committee of MLAs and experts to reverse the ratio drop. The state unit of the United Nations Population Fund conducted training and awareness programmes with the government for judges and lawyers. Read in English: The Indian Express
INDIA: UNFPA Commissions Study on Cash Incentives for Female Children
The Indian Express on 13 June reported on a study commissioned by UNFPA for the Planning Commission to review the impact of cash incentive schemes for the girl child in 2010-2011. Dr. T. V. Sekher, who conducted the review, said incentives have the potential to become an effective way to target resources to girls and women although eligibility requirements should be simplified. Currently, "to get the benefits, the requirements include registration of births, childhood immunisation, schooling, and delaying marriage beyond the age of 18... Also, monitoring is limited and hardly any grievance redressal mechanism is in place." Read in English: Indian Express
INDIA: Girl Child Championed at AdAsia 2011
AFAQS reported on 21 October that AdAsia 2011 will devote its attention to the issue of the girl child. Gender will be woven throughout the conference agenda and the issue of sex selection will be discussed at a special session entitled, “The Female Equation: Communicating with Conscience.” Frederika Meijer, UNFPA country representative for India and Bhutan will be conducting the session. Read in English: AFAQS
GLOBAL: CONTINUING COVERAGE ON WORLD OF 7 BILLION
CANADA: CTV published on 16 October an article and video on the upcoming 7 billion population milestone predicted by UNFPA. Read and view in English: CTV
GLOBAL: Multiple media outlets picked up the Associated Press report on 17 October that, “As of Oct. 31, according to the U.N. Population Fund, there will be 7 billion people sharing Earth's land and resources.” Read in English: NPR, The Telegraph, Contra Costa Times
GLOBAL: The Associated Press on 17 October published a piece on the 7 billion quoting UNFPA Deputy Representative in Nigeria Ndyanabangi Bannet who noted that 60 per cent of the population is under 30 and needs to be accommodated with education, training and health care. “It is a plus if it is taken advantage of,” he said of Nigeria’s youth. “But if it is not harnessed, it can be a challenge, because imagine what hordes of unemployed young people can do.” Read in English: Associated Press
GLOBAL: Raleigh International on 17 October published a blog on the approaching population milestone of 7 billion. UNFPA Executive Director Babatunde Osotimehin is quoted saying the event is, “It's an opportunity to bring the issues of population, women's rights and family planning back to centre stage.” Read in English: Raleigh International
GLOBAL: The Press Association on 17 October reported on UNFPA’s 7 billion milestone prediction. Read in English: The Press Association
GLOBAL: Digital Journal on 17 October published an article on the upcoming 7 billion mark and highlighting the upcoming State of World Population report. Read in English: Digital Journal
NIGERIA: The Nigerian Tribune on 17 October reported that worldwide, 215 million women have an unmet need for family planning – a need that will only increase as the population grows. “A world of seven billion people is a distinctive moment in history. It represents an achievement, as well as an unprecedented challenge for the future of the planet and its inhabitants,” said UNFPA’s Babatunde Osotimehin. From 29 November to 2 December an International Conference on Family Planning will convene nearly 2,000 policymakers, scientists and advocates to galvanize action. Read in English: Nigerian Tribune
SRI LANKA: The Daily Mirror reported on 12 October that UNFPA sources revealed a number of socio-economic challenges the country would face as the world approached 7 billion such as a rapidly ageing population and rising unemployment. Read in English: Daily Mirror
UNITED KINGDOM: The Belfast Telegraph on 17 October cited the UNFPA prediction that the population milestone of 7 billion will be hit on 31 October. Read in English: Belfast Telegraph
UNITED STATES: The Harvard Crimson reported on 13 October on a lecture given by UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin and hosted by the Harvard Centre for Population and Development Studies. Dr. Osotimehin stressed that in a world of seven billion, "We must ask ourselves how to engage with young people in different contexts so as to make them equal partners in the development of their countries.” Read in English: Harvard Crimson
UNITED STATES: Forbes.com published a column on 24 October by Elizabeth Kolbert. “Sometime on October 31st, the world’s population will hit seven billion. The baby who does the trick will most likely appear in India, where the number of births per minute—fifty-one—is higher than in any other nation. But he or she could also be born in China—the world’s most populous country—or in a fast-growing nation like Nigeria or Guatemala or, really, anywhere. The idea that a particular child will on a particular day bring the global population to a particular number is, of course, a fiction; nobody can say, within tens of millions, how many people there are on earth at any given time. The United Nations Population Fund has picked October 31st as its best estimate. That this date is Halloween is presumably just a coincidence.” Read in English: Forbes.com
UNITED STATES: Forbes.com published a blog on 17 October entitled “Too Many People?” The blog cites UNFPA several times stating, “The United Nations has been analyzing and forecasting the world’s demographics for decades.” Read in English: Forbes.com
UNITED STATES: McClatchy Newspapers on 9 October published a column on the importance of family planning in a world of 7 billion and global family planning has declined. “International donations of foreign aid to UNFPA to curb population growth have stagnated at $400 million per year, down from a peak of $700 million in 2002.”
UNITED STATES: The Post Standard on 17 October reiterated UNFPA’s Dr. Osotimehin’s description of the 7 billion milestone as a call to action. Read in English: The Post Standard
UNITED STATES: MSNBC on 15 October published a photoblog saying, “By the end of October, it is expected that there will be 7 billion people living on the planet, according to the U.N. Population Fund. We are hitting this milestone, even though Western Europe, Japan and Russia are currently facing population declines as a result of low birthrates and aging populations.” Read in English: MSNBC
INDIA: Skewed Sex Ratios
The Times of India on 8 October reported that, "An overwhelming majority of the 117 million "missing" girls in Asia are from India and China, the United Nations has observed. And it has laid the blame for this phenomenon squarely on the ultrasonography machine, which has been a topic of debate and heartburn in Mumbai. The problem does seem acute in Mumbai. Its child-sex ratio stands at 892 girls for every 1,000 boys, which is not only much worse than the all-India figure of 914 girls but is also poorer than the Vietnam figure of 899 girls for every 1,000 boys under the age of six. The statistics released by the United Nations Population Fund on Thursday offer some cold comfort; China appears even more casual about the future of its girl child - with only 847 girls born for every 1,000 boys - but the UN mentioning India and China in the same breath does not speak too highly of India's efforts in this sphere, say experts in Mumbai." Read in English: Times of India
INDIA: Two Training Schools to Be Opened
The Times of India reported on 30 September that "United Nations Population Fund country representative Frederika Meijer on Thursday called on CM Nitish Kumar and discussed issues related to health, family welfare, population, human resources, disaster management, planning and development." She also promised UNFPA would help in the establishment of training schools for overall health sector improvement.
INDIA: 55,053 Sex Selevtive Deaths Per Year
DNA reported on 25 September that 55,053 female foetus pregnancies are terminated after sex selection tests. The numbers were disclosed by Anuju Gulati, the state coordinator for the UNFPA, at a seminar organized by the PM Shah Foundation and Lek Ladki Abhiyaan. Read in English: DNA