The Government of the Tibet Autonomous Region does not enforce any mandatory family planning policy in the region, Purbu Zhoima, Director of the Regional Family Planning Commission, reiterated on May 24.

“In implementing the family planning policy, the region government has, in line with the situation in the region, given full respect to Tibetan traditional culture and religious beliefs,” said Purbu Zhoima in an interview.

The number of women of childbearing age in Tibet was more than 500,000 in 2000, and more than 30% of them have already had 3 children, according to the official.

At present, the regional government does not impose limit on childbirth in the remote Tibetan areas.

Purbu Zhoima said, since 1990, the regional government has initiated a proposal to encourage the married couples in the farming and pastoral areas to have 3 children with appropriate spacing. As farmers and herdsmen account for 89% of the region’s population, families with 5 or more children have never been punished, she said, adding that women of childbearing age have the right to choose how many children they want and what contraception methods they use.

She explained that family planning in Tibet does not simply focus on population control, but combines family planning with health care of women and children, eradication of poverty and cultivation of ethical family life.

“It is also an important measure to protect the rights of women and children, improve population quality and guarantee the sustainable development of Tibet,” the official noted.

Since 1996, a total of 1,203 family planning workers have been sent to provide medical services for 300,000 people around the region. At the same time, Tibet has strengthened popularization of knowledge on sexual health and methods of childbearing and child upbringing.

Purbu has 2 children. She said, with economic development and changes in lifestyle, more and more Tibetan women have understood the advantages of family planning and scientific contraception to their health and family life.

She said, as a basic policy of China, family planning is implemented in Tibet but with strong flexibility. “The majority of people in Tibet are willing to accept the policy,” Purbu said.

Currently, birth rate in the region’s farming and pastoral areas is 20‰. The mortality rate has dropped markedly, especially among infants and pregnant women, which dropped separately from 430‰ and 50‰ in the early years after the peaceful liberation in 1951 to the current 35‰ and 4.6‰.