The Congress government in Rajasthan has decided to involve voluntary groups, industrial houses and private bodies in the implementation of family welfare programmes through the corporate social responsibility activities. The participation of private bodies is expected to give a boost to outreach of these programmes in the rural areas.
Industries Commissioner Krishna Kant Pathak said at a workshop here earlier this week that the State expected to strengthen reproductive health rights and reduce high fertility rate as well as maternal and infant mortality ratios, which were above the national average, through the CSR intervention.
Healthcare
Dr. Pathak, who is also the State CSR Secretary, said the business houses could render a significant help in improving the health care infrastructure in the villages. He said the maternal mortality ratio in the State stood at 30% and infant mortality ratio at 10% largely because of poor infrastructure.
Medical & Health Department’s Nodal Officer Dharmesh Arya said the State’s fertility rate at 2.4 was higher than the national average.
The family welfare programmes could be taken to the targeted groups with the help of private bodies, he said.
CSR activities
Representatives of Chambal Fertilisers, NTPC Limited, Cairn India, Pathfinder and Mylan Pharma suggested the CSR activities which could make an effective intervention in the reproductive health sector.