Newlyweds in Odisha to get condoms, contraceptives on wedding day

Bhubaneswar: The Health and Family Welfare department of Odisha government will provide kits to the newlywed couples in the state to encourage family planning. A decision in this regard was taken recently.

As per government sources, the ASHA workers will hand over the kits called ‘Nayee Pahal‘ or ‘Nabadampati Kit’ to the newlywed couples on the wedding day. Each kit will have two towels, a nail cutter, a mirror, a comb, handkerchiefs, condoms, contraceptives and a marriage registration form.

This apart, the kits will have some health literatures published by the department.

“The unique scheme would be rolled out from the upcoming wedding season in September” said National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) Director Shalini Pandit.

Health and Family Welfare Director Bijay Panigrahi said the state government has decided to launch the scheme to strengthen the Family Planning Programme in Odisha.

“The Health department will create awareness among the newlyweds regarding the Family Planning Programme through the scheme. The couples will be made aware to delay the first birth and maintain at least three years’ gap in between births. The scheme would be implemented in both rural and urban areas of Odisha,” Panigrahi said.