POPULATION RESEARCH CENTRES

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Introduction

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare have established a network of 18 Population Research Centres (PRCs) in various Universities (12), other Institutions (6) of national repute, scattered over 17 major States of India on the basis of facilities and other infrastructure available. These Centres are responsible for carrying out research on various topics of Population Stabilisation, Demographic and Socio-Demographic Surveys and Communication aspects of Population and Family Welfare Programme.

Pattern of Inputs

These PRCs are autonomous in their functioning. Government of India provides 100% financial assistance in the form of grant-in-aid on year to year basis towards salaries of staff, books & journals, stationery, vehicles for field surveys and other infrastructural equipments. These grant-in-aid are released to the PRCs in three installments in a year on receipt of essential prescribed documents/bonds and undertakings.

Types of PRCs and it’s Development

At present there are two types of Population Research Centres, one designated as ‘Fully Developed’ and othr ‘Not Fully Developed’ type. The variation in the two types being that in staffing pattern.

Staff Development

With a view to enhance the research capabilities and improve the quality of research, the staff of the Population Research Centres is imparted training both at National and International levels.

Monitoring of the Population Research Centres

These Centres are monitored centrally to ensure that the research effort is not merely academic but also action oriented. The process of allocation of areas specific studies to these Population Research Centres by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare is an ongoing process. These area specific studies are selected every year and cover a vide range of Reproductive & Child Health Programme topics of current relevance. PRCs have since initiated and completed some of these studies during the years 1998-99 and 1999-2000.

Grant-in-aid

During the year 1999-2000 a sum of rupees 4.04 crore has been released to these 18 Population Research Centre as grant-in-aid.

Studies conducted by the PRCs during 1998-99

Most of the studies conducted by these PRCs are on varying topics such as:-

1. Population Growth
2. Socio-economic Characteristics of Rural/Urban Population
3. Evaluation of Family Welfare Programme for non-acceptance of family planning methods,
4. Evaluation of Special School Health Check-up Scheme and
5. Fertility and Socio-economic Indicators.

During the year 1999-2000, these Population Research Centres completed 110 research Studies/papers while 112 studies/papers were at various stages of progress as on 01.04.2000. Some of the important topics of research covered by these PRCs, including the studies assigned by Government of India are as under:-

1. 1. National Family Health Survey-II;
   2. A longitudinal study on Fertility, Mortality, Migration and Morbidity;
   3. Study to assess the availability of Condoms and Oral Pills at village level;
   4. Assessing and ascertaining the factors responsible for unwanted pregnancies
   5. Verification of authenticity of reported cases of sterilization and IUD insertions;
   6. A study on the functioning of State Training Institutions of Health & FW;
   7. Rapid Household Survey under RCH Programme;
   8. Coverage evaluation of Pulse-Polio Immunisation, Regular Immunisation and Maternal Care 1999;
   9. Assessment of Reproductive Tract Infections; and
   10. Assessment and Effectiveness of Mahila Swasthya Sangh in selected districts.

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