Centre asks states to ensure hundred pc registration birth

New Delhi, May 23 (UNI) The Centre has asked States to take all possible steps to ensure hundred per cent registration of births and deaths, as this was mandated by the National Population Policy.

Inaugurating the two day Annual National Conference of Chief Registrars of Births and Deaths here Secretary (Border Management) B S Lalli made this appeal to the states.

The Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs R S Sirohi stressed the need to ensure that all children, who have remained uncovered in the past, were given birth certificates by undertaking a campaign.

Registrar General of India D.K. Sikri pointed out that the birth and death registrations have been hovering around 58 per cent and 55 per cent respectively for quite some time in the country. This would receive a quantum jump if the States having lower registration could improve their current level of registration.

The conference is being attended by Chief Registrars of Births and Deaths of the States, Principal Secretaries/Secretaries looking after the registration of births and deaths in some States, representatives of UNICEF, Plan India and officials of the Registrar General of India and Directorates of Census Operations.

It will review the progress of registration of births and deaths and the steps required to improve it. It will also discuss the scheme of Medical Certification of Causes of Deaths and the need for regularly monitoring the sex ratio at birth by the States.

UNI AJ LS ND1426