District Action Plans

The Project Management Unit of DIFPSA Ghaziabad organized a district level meeting of muslim social and religious leaders on 15 November, 2003. The event proved to be very successful and saw enthusiastic participation by over 600 people from the muslim community.

Dr. K.Z. Bukhari, Shahi Imam of Ghaziabad, an opinion leader and eminent muslim scholar, highlighted several salient features of the khandani mansubabandi (family planning) programme of Indonesia. He also quoted some verses and principles from the holy Koran, which are related to the issues of family planning. A pamphlet, containing the position held by Islam on family planning issues, was developed and distributed to the participants. Appreciating this unique programme, the participants suggested replicating this initiative at the block level, so that more people could be sensitized towards family planning issues.

Realizing the importance of reaching out to influentials who make important decisions related to family planning, an interesting saas bahu sammelan (mother-in-law/daughter-in-law get-together) was organized on 2 December 2003 at the Harper Club in Banda. The get-together focussed on counselling related to family planning and in particular female sterilization. A book on the problems of population explosion entitled, "Badti Abadi Bhayanak Sankat" was also released on the occasion by Mr. Sobran Singh Yadav, Divisional Commissioner, Chitrakoot.

Organized jointly by PMU, DIFPSA and the district health department on the initiative of Mr. Mukesh Meshram, District Magistrate, Banda, the two-day sammelan was a mix of fun, frolic and factual information on family planning. There was enthusiastic participation by more than 350 saas & bahu duos from the neighbouring areas in the various activities, entertainment and games, which included rangoli competitions, bridal dressing and three-legged races and a competition of singing folk songs advocating women's empowerment. The platform was also used for recognizing good performance in the reproductive & child health programme during the last year and honouring providers and presenting certificates to NSV acceptors.

Elaborate IEC activities were undertaken prior to the mela which included putting up outdoor hoardings & banners at prominent locations in the city, distributing pamphlets, making mela related announcements on loudspeakers carried around on rickshaws, and interestingly, using a live elephant with health mela banners displayed on its sides! Nautanki and qawwali were also organized in the mela, along with distribution of pamphlets, to create awareness on issues related to family welfare. A quiz for intermediate students and a baby show were additional attractions, followed by a lucky coupon draw held on the last day of the mela.

The health mela provided a range of services like IUCD insertion, antenatal check ups, immunization and family planning counselling which were conducted in a 5-room complex within the mela venue. Ten stalls were put up in the mela, which included displays by agencies like Mahila Samakhya and UNICEF. Stalls included a paediatric clinic, a general check up and treatment centre, an infertility clinic, an RTI/STD clinic, a pathological tests facility, an exhibition on RCH, an antenatal check up clinic and an IUCD insertion room. A stall was also put up by Hindustan Latex Limited, for display and sale of socially marketed contraceptive brands.