Bhopal, May 12 : Arrangements for online registration of births and deaths would be made in major cities of the state. This information was given at a workshop held here today on the system of registration of births and deaths. Finance and Planning Minister Raghavji inaugurated the workshop.

Speaking on the occasion, Raghavji said that weekly campaigns should be undertaken for registration of children up to ten years of age whose birth has not been registered yet. He said that plans cannot be chalked out correctly in the absence of exact figures of births and deaths and the schemes would fail to usher in the desired results. He directed the districts which have performed poorly in registration work to improve their performance and said that prizes would be given to districts and workers putting up excellent work.

The Minister said that births and deaths are incidents, information about which spreads among the public immediately at the local level. Therefore, officials engaged in registration work should not sit waiting that someone would come to them for registration. They should do this on their own initiative at their level. He said that the rate of institutional delivery has risen considerably in the state which has made the registration work easy. Attention must be paid to rest of the cases for ensuring cent percent registration.

He said that every possible help would be extended for this work at the administrative level. Incentive money has already been made available.

Speaking on the occasion, Secretary, Planning, Manoj Jhalani said that registration process has been simplified during the last two years with a view to ensuring maximum registration and these efforts have borne encouraging results. He said that arrangement for online registration is being made in major cities of the state. Besides, a software is being developed by Directorate of Planning, Economics and Statistics with the help of which vital facts and statistics about children since birth up to 18 years of age can be recorded. Districts are provided adequate facilities for undertaking registration work in a better way.

Shedding light on registration of births, deaths, representative of UNICEF Ms Leena Bandopadhyaya mentioned about the co-operation being extended by UNICEF in this regard. She said that girls and children of illiterate parents are generally least registered. This area needs special attention. She informed that much better registration work has been undertaken in Madhya Pradesh than other states of the country.

Director in charge, Planning, Economics and Statistics, OP Pathak said that in the year 2005 rate of registration of births was 52.38 per cent which rose to 129.73 per cent in the year 2007. Similarly, the registration of deaths rose to 64.64 per cent from 51.65 per cent during this period. Children up to ten years of age are being identified and registered. So far, 62 such children have been registered and given certificates. He informed that Khandwa, Mandla and Vidisha districts have stood first, second and third in registration and they would be awarded.

The workshop was attended by Chief Executive Officers of Janpad Panchayats, doctors, departmental officers and other concerning officers.