DoneNashik: The Nashik Zilla Parishad is giving a push to ‘no scalpel vasectomy’ (NSV), the sterilization procedure for which very few men come forward. Under family planning surgeries, the district health department conducts NSV, tubectomy and laparoscopic tubectomy. Targets have been set internally, although there is a Supreme Court judgment of 2016 (Devika Biswas Vs Union of India) saying that such targets not be set.Many women come forward for post-partum intrauterine contraceptive device (copper T) as part of family planning surgery.District health officer Vijay Dekate said, “The target for NSV is always underachieved. This year we have a target of performing 1,880 NSVs in the rural parts of the district. So far, 350 NSVs have been performed. Our aim is to achieve 100% target by December end.”Asked about the Supreme Court judgment of 2016, the officer said these figures are only circulated internally, so official set out to inform people of the procedures available and encourage them to avail of the services. “In the normal course, few people arrive for these procedures,” he said.Naresh Gite, chief executive officer of the zilla parishad held a meeting with all taluka medical officers to ensure that the target of family planning surgeries was achieved by December.Surgana taluka has been given the target of conducting 500 NSVs, Peth 350, Trimbakeshwar 250, Kalwan 100, Dindori 50, Igatpuri 50, while non-tribal area of Sinnar was given a target of 120, Yeola 50, Malegaon 100, Nandgaon 50, Nashik 40, Niphad 30, Baglan 100, Chandwad 40 and Deola 50.Officials have said that every accredited social health activist must be given a target of convincing two men to undergo NSV.Health officials said family planning was essential as it gave sufficient time for women to recover from weakness after delivery and plan a gap between two children; it also helped to ensure better health of kids.Officials said that apart from NSVs, they were also counselling women to go for family planning procedures at the primary health centres (PHCs) as well at rural, sub-district and civil hospital. An appeal has gone out to women to use birth control pills available at government health facilities.

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