Meghalaya received more money than other NE states barring Assam from 2013-17
SHILLONG: The Centre has sanctioned over Rs 467 lakh for family planning in Meghalaya for the last four years, but this has not shown any tangible results.
As per an official data released by the Centre for the financial year 2016-17, it has sanctioned more funds to Meghalaya compared to other northeastern states, except Assam.
A look at the year-wise sanctioning of money for family planning in Meghalaya reveals that Rs 143.76 lakh was sanctioned in 2013-14, Rs 103.49 lakh in 2014-15, Rs 108.72 lakh in 2015-16 and Rs 111.31 lakh in 2016-17.
Meanwhile, for 2016-17, the Centre sanctioned Rs 96.98 lakh for Arunachal Pradesh, Rs 70.11 lakh for Manipur, Rs 63.67 lakh for Mizoram, Rs 95.42 lakh for Nagaland, Rs 23.95 lakh for Sikkim and Rs 95.20 lakh for Tripura. However, Assam being a bigger state got Rs 1,976.43 lakh.
The population of Meghalaya as per the 2011 census is 29,66,889.
According to population experts, Meghalaya’s population growth rate is the highest due to the higher birth rates in comparison to other states. The Sample Registration System Bulletin, 2011 had stated that the estimated birth rate of Meghalaya is 24.1% whereas estimated birth rate in Arunachal Pradesh was 19.8 %, Manipur 14.8 %, Mizoram 16.6 %, Nagaland 16.1 %, Tripura 14.3 % and Assam 22.8 %.The national birth rate at 21.8 per cent is also lower than Meghalaya.
An official with the health department admitted that Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is high in Meghalaya.
According to a 2012 data, while in Meghalaya around 73,000 babies are born every year, the number is only 43,000 in Tripura.
Sources, however, said that while the Centre had sanctioned more funds for family planning initiatives in Meghalaya, the desired result is yet to be achieved since there is no holistic approach and aggressive campaigning on the part of the state government.