PATNA, Aug. 2 -- A sterilisation drive across Bihar from July 11 to July 31 as part of the family planning initiative in the wake of the World Population Day (July 11), saw only 2% men among 15,033 participants, state health officials said on Sunday. This highlights that women continue to share the larger onus for permanent family planning despite male sterilisation (vasectomy) being a simpler, safer and less invasive procedure.

Of the total procedures during the campaign, 14,728 were female sterilisations, while only 305 were male sterilisations, meaning men accounted for just around 2% of all sterilisations carried out. Women continued to shoulder nearly 98% of the burden of permanent contraception, according to government data.

Bihar...