Title: A critical evaluation of the family planning programme and some recommendations.

POPLINE Document Number: 266678

Author(s):

Kumar S

Source citation:

In: India. Ministry of Labour/International Labour Organisation. National Symposium on Labour and Population Policies, New Delhi, 15-18 April 1974: report. New Delhi, India, Continental Printers [1975]. :69-77.

Abstract:

This article proposes to examine the Family Planning Program right from its inception, which is almost 25 years ago, through all its subsequent developments that took place in India. From 1951 to 1956, nothing was attempted nor achieved during this period. During the Second Plan period (1956-1961), the performance of the Program was no better with the exception that for this plan period, financial allocations were raised. From 1961-66, the turning point of the program, there was still no fall in the birth rate (41/thousand) and the growth rate of the population was still at 2.5. The great bane of the Family Planning Program in India is that it is imbued with Malthusian ideas and that it is functioning in a compartmental framework. A major criticism of the Indian Government is that it views poverty and unemployment as a consequence of high density population rather than as products of a social system. The status of women as well as the responsibilities of Trade Unions are discussed in regard of the Family Planning Program. A series of recommendations are made in regard to: population education, status of women, reform of the civil code, abolishment of incentives and disincentives, religious and social prejudices, contraceptive research and role of Trade Unions.

Keywords:

India
Family Planning Program Evaluation
Malthusianism
Poverty
Unemployment
Women's Status
Labor Unions
Goals
Needs
Government Programs
Evaluation
Program Evaluation
Conferences and Congresses
Recommendations
Evaluation Report
Historical Review
Birth Rate
Population Growth
Population Education
Incentives
Disincentives
Action Research
Religion
Human Resources
Asia, Southern
Asia
Developing Countries
Family Planning Programs
Family Planning
Population Theory
Demography
Social Sciences
Socioeconomic Factors
Economic Factors
Employment
Macroeconomic Factors
Organizations
Planning
Organization and Administration
Programs
Fertility Measurements
Fertility
Population Dynamics
Demographic Factors
Population
Education
Policy
Research Methodology