On World Contraception Day, Population Foundation of India, with support from Mobius Foundation, marked the progress of the Umeed project in transforming reproductive health services in Uttar Pradesh. Implemented in close collaboration with the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Umeed spans more than 6,100 villages across 50 blocks in seven high-fertility districts—Bahraich, Balrampur, Barabanki, Gonda, Unnao, Sitapur, and Shravasti—reaching nearly 1.25 crore people in the reproductive age group.
Speaking on the occasion, Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director of Population Foundation of India, said: “Contraceptive choice is not only about health—it is about dignity, empowerment, and the ability of women to shape their own futures. Through Umeed, we are working closely with government and communities to ensure no woman is denied this right. When women have access to accurate information, quality services, and supportive environments, the impact is felt not just in healthier families but in stronger, more equitable communities.”
In Uttar Pradesh, nearly 60% of births occur within three years of a previous delivery—heightening the risks of maternal ill-health, premature births, and low birth weight infants. Evidence shows that proper spacing between pregnancies can prevent up to one-third of maternal deaths and one in ten child deaths. Yet unmet need for family planning is highest (24%) among women in the postpartum period, making it a critical point for intervention.
At the heart of the project is the Umeed Counselling Corner—dedicated spaces that ensure privacy and provide respectful, non-judgemental, client-centered counselling. Staffed by trained counsellors and stocked with informational materials, these corners expand access to a full range of contraceptive options, provide support for managing side effects, and address persistent myths and misconceptions. To date, 77 counselling corners have been established, reaching more than 47,000 clients and demonstrating growing demand for high-quality family planning services.
Umeed has also trained over 11,500 ASHAs and ANMs in family planning methods, counselling, and method switching. This ensures that every contact point—whether during delivery, postnatal visits, or routine check-ups—becomes an opportunity to provide accurate information and supportive counselling. By promoting method switching, the project addresses the so-called “leaking bucket” of family planning, reducing discontinuation and ensuring continuity of use.
Recognizing that stigma, misinformation, gender norms, and lack of male engagement remain major barriers, Umeed has placed strong emphasis on social and behaviour change initiatives. The Itni Bhi Kya Jaldi Hai campaign, launched on World Population Day 2025 in four districts, involves mobile video vans that screen campaign films, distribute infotainment materials, provide on-site counselling, and facilitate contraceptive distribution through ASHAs. In just about three months, the vans have already covered 566 villages and directly engaged 30,000 people. A new campaign to spark male engagement, Desh Badlega Jab Mard Badlega, is slated for a launch by the end of the year.
Mobius Foundation’s Chairman, Pradeep Burman, has long championed the vision of ensuring safe, affordable, and accessible contraception for every woman. His emphasis on family planning as a pathway to women’s empowerment and sustainable development continues to guide Population Foundation of India’s work.
Population Foundation of India also called upon schools, colleges, and communities across Uttar Pradesh to actively join this movement for change. Equipping the next generation with knowledge and confidence to make informed choices is vital not only for women’s empowerment but also for building a healthier, stronger state.
With its integrated focus on strengthening health systems, building frontline capacity, and shifting gender and social norms, the Umeed project offers a powerful model for advancing reproductive rights and family planning in high-fertility districts. On World Contraception Day, it stands as a reminder that expanding choices for women is not just good health policy—it is the foundation of empowerment, equality, and progress.
