Question

Explain thz concept of family planning and family welfare in india

Answer 1

India’s population has already reached 1.26 billion in the current year and considering the present growth rate, by 2028, the country’s population will be more than China, according to a recent report from the UN. Though, the report has clearly mentioned that the rate of population growth has slowed down in recent years, due to effective implementation of family planning and family welfare programmes, yet the rate is growing at a much faster rate compared to China. The national fertility rate is still high which is leading to long-term population growth in India.

However, the family planning programme in India cannot be ignored. Let us discuss below about family planning in India and how it has played a major role in solving the problem of population growth in India to a certain extent:

History of Family Planning in India

Population growth has been a cause of worry for the Government of India since a very long time. Just after independence, the Family Planning Association of India was formed in 1949. The country launched a nationwide Family Planning Programme in 1952, a first of its kind in the developing countries. This covered initially birth control programmes and later included under its wing, mother and child health, nutrition and family welfare. In 1966, the ministry of health created a separate department of family planning. The then ruling Janata Government in 1977 developed a new population policy, which was to be accepted not by compulsion but voluntarily. It also changed the name of Family Planning Department to Family Welfare Programme.

Family Planning / Family Welfare Programme (FWP) by the Government in India

This is a centrally sponsored programme, for which 100% help is provided by the Central to all the states of the country. The main strategies for the successful implementation of the FWP programme are:

FWP is integrated with other health services.Emphasis is in the rural areas2-child family norm to be practicedAdopting terminal methods to create a gap between the birth of 2 childrenDoor-to-door campaigns to encourage families to accept the small family normEncouraging education for both boys and girlsEncouragement of breast feedingProper marriageable adopted (21 years for men and 18 years for women)Minimum Needs Programme launched to raise the standard of living of the people.Monetary incentives given to poor people to adopt family planning measures.Creating widespread awareness of family planning through television, radio, news papers, puppet shows etc.