What is AAKAR project and how it Promote Population Stabilization in India?

In 2016, Mobius Foundation started the ‘Project Aakar’ under the guidance of Mr. Pradip Burman. As a part of its sustainability solutions program, the foundation is working to create awareness regarding family planning, promote smaller families, and reduce the burden on our natural resources.

Aligning with the government’s Parivar Vikas Mission to control the growing population, Project Aakar has partnered with local NGOs Kartavya Shila Mahila Aevam Bal Vikas Sanstha. The project has received special attention due to its aligns with guidelines by the Ministry of Health & Family Planning and State policies. In its mission to create a more sustainable environment, Mobius Foundation believes that population control is necessary to stop our natural resources from going extinct. Project Aakar helps to build awareness, influence attitudes of the society towards contraceptives measures, and promote having smaller families.

For the same purpose, the foundation has created a blend of TV, Radio, Celebrity Endorsement, Print, Outdoor, and Mobile Advertisements for spreading awareness. Programs were developed with the corporation of influencers and counselors to spearhead the cause. A special campaign titled “Dampati No. 1” was launched with a special helpline dedicated to spread awareness and promote reproductive health rights and access to family planning services.

Some measures by Mobius Foundation to stabilize the population involved:

1. Ground level work under the Family Planning Program Initiatives to provide Family Planning counseling.

2. Emphasized on the use of Minilap Tubectomy services because of its simplicity and need for only MBBS doctors.

3. Awareness of an effective & reversible contraceptive method called ‘Antara’

4. Inclusion of males in the discussion and programs

5. World Population Day celebration on 11 th July

6. Initiated multi-level activities at district and block level in participation with other ministries, corporates, and private entities.

7. Launched a strategy to help push the age limit of marriage for girls and delay in the first and second child to change the community mind-sets.

In June 2019, Project Aakar entered its second phase with the same theme to stabilize the population.

Phase 2 introduced the concept of mobile vans with a sole focus on health counseling for married

couples and school students between the ages of 17 & 20 years. The project worked to spread awareness about the health impact of early marriage and having a child early. The foundation collaborated with the Community Health Centre (CHC) and Primary Health Centre (PHC) for this mission.

Phase 1 of Project Aakar reached approx 200 villages of Baharaich and Barabanki, two highly populated districts of Uttar Pradesh. It also extended support for the population goal of FY2020 of the government and extended support for the ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ campaign.

Phase 2 of the project also received appreciation from the government for its efforts. The founder of

Mobius Foundation, Mr. Pradip Burman, says “Our resources have not increased in quantity, neither water nor land, what has increased instead is – population. And as a consequence, the portions to share these limited resources have also increased. If we do not control our population now, these precious resources would end soon.”

India is on the verge of becoming the highest populated country in the world. With more than 20.1 Million babies expected to be born during the pandemic, the strain on our natural resources will increase further. Contraceptions are the safest and easiest method to stop our population from

exploding.