The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : `176 babies born each minute'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 12, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

`176 babies born each minute'

Staff Reporter

Population control measures launched: Ashok

Bangalore: As many as 176 babies are born each minute around the world, R. Ashok, Health Minister, said at a programme to mark World Population Day, organised by the Department of Health and Family Welfare and Rashtriya Grameen Arogya Abhiyan, here on Tuesday.

He said that according to estimates, the country's population was 109 crore, and that of the State over five crore. "With the increase in population, the problems faced by people have increased. Population should be controlled in the interest of a healthy society, and the Department of Health and Family Welfare has introduced several programmes in this regard," he said.

Awareness

Minister for Medical Education V.S. Acharya, who presided over the function, said it was important to create awareness among the youth about measures to control population. Nutritional programmes should be popularised so that both the mother and the child were healthy, he added.

Infant mortality rate

He said the infant mortality rate (IMR) had increased.

There was a correlation between literacy and the IMR, and steps should be taken to increase literacy and awareness. "IMR was lowest in areas with high literacy rates, such as Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts," he said.

It was high in backward districts, such as Bellary, Koppal, Bijapur, Bagalakot, Raichur and Gulbarga. The population control programme should be popularised in the State, he added.

Usha Ganesh, Principal Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, spoke about the programmes of the department.

Minister for Youth Services Alkod Hanumanthappa and Minister for Rural Water Supply S.A. Ravindranath spoke.

Commissioner of the department Basavaraju welcomed the gathering.

M.G. Prasad, Director, proposed a vote of thanks.

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