The Population Research Centre (PRC), Shimla was established by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, New Delhi in 1989 at Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla for the study of population, health and social welfare related issues in the overall social and  economic development of Himachal Pradesh. The primary objectives of the PRC are:

1.             To conduct research and training programmes on population and development related issues in a broad inter-disciplinary perspective;
2.            To conduct studies to evaluate and monitor ongoing health and family welfare programmes in Himachal Pradesh;
3.             To promote co-operative endeavor and interaction between research scholars and institution in the field of health, population and development;
4.             To undertake client specific sponsored studies / surveys on request from various agencies (e.g. central and state governments and other funding / donor agencies) on consultancy basis, in the broader field of population, health and family welfare related issues in Himachal Pradesh.

The Population Research Centre has a team of 7 permanent researchers that includes its Hony. Director, Deputy Director, Assistant Director, and 4 Research Investigators. In addition to these it has 2 Fellows. There are four members of the supporting staff.  The temporary ad-hoc staff is also hired for sponsored projects on contact basis from a variety of academic backgrounds (e.g. Demography, Economics, Statistics, Sociology, Public Health, etc.), who have specialized experience in various subjects relating to population and health programmes. 

WORK PERFORMANCE OF THE PRC 

            The Population Research Centre, Shimla has completed more than 42 research studies since its inception in 1989. The studies completed during the last five years include: 

1.       An evaluation of family planning and mother & child health programme in rural areas of Shimla district in H.P.  
2.       Fertility and associated socio-economic characteristics of households in rural areas of district Shimla (H.P.).  
3.      An evaluation of family planning and mother & child health programme in rural areas of Bilaspur district in H.P 
4.      Fertility and associated socio-economic characteristics of households in rural areas of district Bilaspur, H.P. 
5.      An evaluation of family planning and mother & child health programme in rural areas of Chamba district in H.P. 
6.      Fertility and associated socio-economic characteristics of households in rural areas of district Chamba (H.P.) (1996) 
7.      Analysis of migration process in district of Kangra of Himachal Pradesh. (1993) 
8.      Demographic profile of Himachal Pradesh.(1995) 
9.       National Family Health Survey, 1992. 
10.       Operational research on childbirth spacing methods in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. (1995) 
11.      An evaluation of family planning and mother & child health programme in rural areas of Mandi district in H.P. (1996) 
12.       An econometric analysis of determinants of out-migration. (1996) 
13.    An econometric analysis of the socio-economic determinants of fertility – A case study of Mandi district. (1996) 
14.        Ideal family size and acceptance of family planning methods in rural areas of Himachal Pradesh. (1996) 
15.       Assessment of quality and client satisfaction: A rapid survey of Sirmour district in Himachal Pradesh. (1996) 
16.        Assessment of quality and client satisfaction: A rapid survey of Hamirpur district in Himachal Pradesh. (1997) 
17.        Special school health check-up scheme for primary schools: Kangra and Shimla districts in Himachal Pradesh. (1997) 
18.       Concurrent evaluation of family welfare and MCH programme of target free district Sirmour in Himachal Pradesh. (1998) 
19.        Assessment of quality and client satisfaction: A rapid survey of Una district in Himachal Pradesh. (1998) 
20.       Fertility among the schedule castes and schedule tribes; their attitude towards family planning methods in Himachal Pradesh. (1998)
21.        Assessment of quality and client satisfaction: A rapid survey of Bilaspur district in Himachal Pradesh. (1998) 
22.        Assessment of quality and client satisfaction: A rapid survey of Solan district in Himachal Pradesh. (1999) 
23.        Baseline Survey under RCH sub-project in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh. (1999) 
24.        Functioning of RTI/STI Clinics in Himachal Pradesh. (1999) 
25.        An analysis of infant and child mortality in Himachal Pradesh (A study of two districts). (2000) 
26.        Assessment of quality and client satisfaction towards health services : A rapid survey of Shimla district (HP). (2000) 
27.       Factor responsible for unwanted pregnancies: A study of selected areas in Himachal Pradesh. (2000) 
28.        A study on need assessment of abortion in Himachal Pradesh – A study of Shimla city. (2000) 
29.      Functioning of state training institutes on health and family welfare in Himachal Pradesh. (2001) 
30.        Installation and utilization of equipments supplied under CSSM in Himachal Pradesh. (2001) 
31.        Assessment of effectiveness of Mahila Swasthya Sangh in selected districts and to assess what impact of their functioning on population control/RCH objectives. (2001) 
32.        Assessment of effectiveness of Nehru Yuvak Kendras in selected districts of Himachal Pradesh. (2001) 
33.       Assessment of prevalence of RTI and STI in representative samples of population in selected areas of Himachal Pradesh. (2001) 
34.        Evaluation of Zila Saksharta Samities under RCH project in selected districts (Bilaspur, Chamba, Hamirpur, Kangra and Mandi) of Himachal Pradesh during 2000-01. (2001) 
35.       Prevalence Incidences of neo-natal tetanus in  Himachal Pradesh. 
36.        Functioning of Health & Family Welfare Training Institutes in Himachal Pradesh. 
37.     Socio-Economic Levels of Development, Nutrition and Morbidity in Rural Areas in District Sirmour. 
38. Panchyat, Health Services and the People A Case Study of District Kullu in Himachal Pradesh.  
39. Verification of the Authenticity of Records Regarding Intra-Uterine Devices and Sterilization in Solan District of Himachal Pradesh. 

Publications of PRC Staff 

Books

         Women and Development:   The Changing Scenario. 1999. Mittal Publications, New Delhi by Savita Thakur 
Social Structure and Fertility Behaviour, (with S. K. Sharma), Jaipur: Rawat, 2001 by Niranjna 
Social Status of Women and Family Welfare, New Delhi: Kanishka, 2002 by Niranjna

The Population Research Centre is coordinating the Post Graduate Diploma in Women’s Development Studies full time course programme of one-year (two semesters) duration consisting of following six courses (five theory papers and one applied Project Report).