SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) rose from 1.4 in 2019-21 to 1.8 in 2023-24, while Ladakh recorded an increase from 1.3 to 1.6 during the same period, according to data tabled by the Centre in the Lok Sabha on Friday.
The figures, released in an annexure to the reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 973 on Declining of Total Fertility Rate, show that both JK and Ladakh continued to record fertility levels below the national replacement level of 2.1, although the latest rates were higher than those reported in the previous National Family Health Survey (NFHS).
The national TFR remained unchanged at 2.0 between NFHS-5 (2019-21) and NFHS-6 (2023-24), according to the data furnished by Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel in response to a question raised by Raj Kumar Chabbewal.
Jammu and Kashmir’s TFR of 1.8 in NFHS-6 was below the national figure of 2.0, while Ladakh’s rate of 1.6 was lower still. The latest figures, however, represented an increase of 0.4 points in JK and 0.3 points in Ladakh compared with NFHS-5.
The Government said its approach was focused on promoting the healthy timing and spacing of pregnancies for the well-being of mothers and children, in line with the National Health Policy, 2017, and the Sustainable Development Goals, 2030.
In its reply, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said family-planning measures included an expanded range of contraceptives, post-pregnancy contraception, home delivery of contraceptives through ASHA workers, and information and awareness activities through frontline workers. The Mission Parivar Vikas programme, however, is being implemented in 13 specified States and does not include Jammu and Kashmir or Ladakh.
The Government also said the family-planning programme was monitored through Common Review Missions, National Programme Coordination Committee meetings, review meetings at various levels, field monitoring visits and the National Family Health Survey.
The data showed that several States and Union Territories recorded TFRs below the national figure of 2.0 in NFHS-6. Among the neighbouring hill regions, Himachal Pradesh recorded 1.8, while Punjab stood at 1.6. The highest TFR was reported in Bihar at 2.7, while the lowest was recorded in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands at 0.9.
The reply did not provide a separate assessment of the likely impact of declining fertility on ageing, workforce availability, dependency ratios or long-term economic growth. Instead, the Centre outlined its ongoing family-planning and maternal and child health measures as part of its response to demographic trends.
