New Delhi: When Union health minister launched Mission Parivar Vikas (MPV) In September 2016, it identified 145 ‘high focus’ districts across the country that had not responded to government measures to lower fertility rates, control population and, most importantly, curb maternal and infant mortality rates.

Spread across seven states — Uttar Pradesh (57), Bihar (37), Madhya Pradesh (25), Rajasthan (14), Jharkhand (9), Chattisgarh (2), Assam (2) — MPV focusses on Information Education Communication (IEC) methods, said the health ministry.

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Recognizing family pressures on a woman’s choice when to bear children and how many, Centre has asked states to hold ‘saas-bahu sammelans’, to launch saarthi vehicles that will check on a village four times a year and to distribute the ‘nayi pahal contraceptive kits’ to newlyweds, which Uttar Pradesh rolls out today to mark World Population Day. The aim, said the ministry, was to get couples who have accepted family planning on board to counsel other couples.

Family planning, including delaying the first child and leaving gaps between the children, is according to the WHO, “essential to securing the well-being and autonomy of women, while supporting the health and development of communities” as pregnancies close to each other lead to high infant mortality rates, and poor health and possible death for the mothers.