Bihar Distributes Condoms And Contraceptives For Migrant Workers Leaving Quarantine Facilities

Men and women leaving COVID-19 quarantine facilities in Bihar are being given contraceptive pills and condoms, distributed by the State Health Society.

According to data from the National Family Health Survey conducted in 2016, Bihar is the state with the highest birth rate, with figure standing at 3.4 children for each woman.

The state’s number of institutional deliveries increased sharply in nine months after November and March when migrant workers returned home to spend time with their families during festivals.

According to Manoj Kumar, executive director of the State Health Society, the state gives out contraceptive pills and condoms as they notice the birth rate increased nine months after major festivals when people came back home for Holi Chhath, and Diwali.

Kumar said the decision to distribute condoms and contraceptives was approved by the highest level. He did forget to mention that Bihar had the highest birth rate in India.

When big cities like Mumbai and Delhi are put under lockdown, migrant workers, with no job and no money left, fled to Bihar. With more than 22 lakh workers have already been back home, the "Shramik" trains arranged to take them back would stop within a day.

On Monday, only 23 trains went to Bihar, in comparison with the number of 140 that run daily on average.

When interstate travel was allowed in May, an addition of 10 lakh migrant workers were home on foot and ride share.

There is no consensus on the number of people leaving the state looking for jobs in big cities but 29 lakh people have applied for the aid worth of Rs 1,000 by the Nitish Kumar government when the nationwide lockdown was enforced in March.

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