Govt to launch statewide family planning drive from Feb 23

Patna: Health minister Mangal Pandey on Thursday said the state health department is committed to population stabilisation and ensuring universal access to family planning services. He announced that Dampatti Sampark Week will be held from Feb 23 to March 5, followed by a family planning service fortnight from March 6 to 20, to expand awareness and provide timely services to eligible couples.According to the minister, the campaign aims to inform communities about the full range of family planning options and ensure that people receive services of their choice on time. ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, Jeevika Didis, Vikas Mitra and other community-level partners will be engaged to motivate families and support informed decision-making at the grassroots.To strengthen coordination and on-ground management, district-level meetings will be convened under the chairmanship of the district officer, with participation from concerned departments, public representatives, and district and block-level officers from Jeevika and the Mahadalit Vikas Mission. The department will ensure uninterrupted supply of family welfare materials from district stores to health sub-centres through free medicine vehicles.The minister said sterilisation and vasectomy services will be organised through planned camps, with coordination among medical officers, camp managers, health managers, block teams, counsellors and frontline staff including Ayush doctors, CHOs, staff nurses, ANMs and ASHAs. Each camp will target 15 to 30 beneficiaries, with all basic facilities in place.For public awareness, e-rickshaw-based publicity will be conducted in every block for five days from March 1 to 8, 2026 (excluding the Holi holiday). Saas Bahu Beti conferences will also be held at Urban Primary Health Centres, health sub-centres and Anganwadi centres. Beneficiaries undergoing sterilisation or vasectomy will be provided free transport home through government ambulances.