Wednesday, August 23 2006 14:49 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (Aug 23, 2006)said the essence of India's population policy must be one of transforming people into social and national assets and asked Parliamentarians to play an active role in this direction.

Releasing a survey report on 'Person-to-Person Advocacy with Parliamentarians on Population Issues', Singh said the essence of India's population policy must be one of transforming people into social and national assets.

"I hope our elected representatives will play a vital role in this eneavour," Singh said, adding that raising awareness and educating public is an important political task.

He said elected representatives at all levels must play an active role in educating people and raising their awareness on vital social and economic policy issues.

Stating that health and population policy is one of the areas of national concern, the Prime Minister said there is a vital link between reproductive health, the health of mother and child and the general health of the entire family.

There are related challenges like that of HIV/AIDS which impose an enormous social and economic burden on the country.

"In tackling these challenges, one of the biggest hurdles policy makers and social activists face is that of misplaced perceptions and ill-informed attitudes", he said adding he was happy to see that this task is being taken up by all the Parliamentarians.