National Population Policy:
In
1952, India was the first country in the world to launch family planning programme necessary for reducing birth rates
"to stabilize the population at a level consistent with the requirement of
national economy”.
The Government while recognizing the long run role of
development in reducing population growth lays emphasis on deliberate efforts
at reducing birth rate to achieve substantial results in the short run. The
population policies and national programmes of family planning implemented since
independence went through number of changes and can be conveniently classified
into six phases as follows:
1)
Clinic Approach (1951-61):
In 1950, Government appointed population policy committee and created a family
planning cell in the ministry of Health. The clinical approach was adopted by
Government whereby a number of family planning clinics were opened throughout
the country that performed plethora of activities such a motivation, education,
research and clinic services to control population. It emphasized on the spread
of contraceptive services among the couples to limit family size.
2)
Extension Approach (1962-69):
The clinic approach was replaced by the extension approach whereby the
incentives were offered to people that accepts family planning methods. The
targets on the number of contraceptive acceptors were fixed for the family
planning workers. The demographic goals were specified state by state, district
by district for the programmes. During five year plans the goal of incentives,
targets and time frame or achievement of targets keep on changing at different
period of time.
3) High
Intensity Approach during 70’s:
During early 70’s it was felt that the birth rate was declining and high
population growth was considered to be one of the key factor responsible for
retarding the economic development of the country. The family control measures
were emphasized even made compulsive among couples to adopt them. Incentives
both in cash and kind were offered in addition to those officially sanctioned
by Government.
4)
Coercive Approach Emergency Period (1975-77):
During this period, the rights of individuals were largely suppressed with
Government assuming enormous authoritarian powers. The national population Policy
(NPP) was formulated in 1976. Till 1976, the family planning was entirely
voluntary. The government role was restricted to motivating the people to
accept the family planning and to provide clinical facilities to its acceptors.
The NPP, 1976 inspired many State Governments to make family planning
compulsory for citizens to stop bearing children after three children. The
coercive tactics were adopted to control fertility level. The general public
agitated due to these excesses.
5)
Recovery Phase: Post Emergency Period (1977- 94):
The tremendous unrest among public at large especially on the insistence of
target- based approach caused Government to change the concept of “family
planning” into “family welfare”. The new approach tried to reduce targets for
the adoption of family planning measures such as sterilization. It emphasized
on the demographic change through education and motivation. Thus the new
approach was educational and wholly voluntary. Government makes amendments in
the law raising the minimum age of marriage of girl to 18 years and of boys to
21 years.
During 1980, the family planning programme was restored with continued emphasis
on the sterilization.
6) National Polulation Policy 2000:
At present the government following the national Population Policy 2000. This has been discussed separately.
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