Family Planning has been a key priority area of the Government and it has been vigorously pursued through the National Rural Health Mission launched in the year 2005 in line with the policy framework for population stabilization as envisaged in the National Population Policy, 2000.
The main objectives of National Population Policy, 2000 was to address the unmet needs for contraception and achieving a stable population by 2045, at a level consistent with the requirements of sustainable economic growth, social development and environmental protection.
As a result of the initiatives of the Government, the country’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has declined from 2.7 in 2006 to 2.2 in 2016 (NFHS- IV). The decadal growth rate has declined from 21.54 % in 1990-2000 to 17.64 % during 2001-11.
The Crude Birth Rate has declined from 23.8 in 2005 to 20.8 (SRS 2015) and 24 states/UTs have already achieved the replacement level TFR of 2.1 or less out of 36 states/UTs.
New interventions under Family Planning Programe of India:
Mission Parivar Vikas: The Government has launched Mission Parivar Vikas for substantially increasing the access to contraceptives and family planning services in the high fertility districts of seven high focus states with TFR of 3 and above. These 146 districts are from the seven high focus, high TFR states (Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Assam) that itself constitutes 44% of the country’s population.
New Contraceptive Choices: The current basket of choice has been expanded to include the new contraceptives viz. Injectable contraceptive, Centchroman and Progrsterone Only Pills (POP).
Redesigned Contraceptive Packaging: The packaging for Condoms, OCPs and ECPs has now been improved and redesigned so as to influence the demand for these commodities
New Family Planning Media Campaign: A360 degree media campaign has been launched to generate contraceptive demand.
Enhanced Compensation Scheme for Sterilization- The sterilization compensation scheme has been enhanced in 11 high focus states (8 EAG, Assam, Gujarat, Haryana)
A new IUCD (Cu 375) with 5 years effectivity has been introduced in the programme as an alternative to the exiting IUCD (Cu 380A with effectivity of 10 years).
A new method of IUCD insertion i.e. PPIUCD has been introduced.
Emphasis on Postpartum Family Planning (PPFP) services with PPIUCD and promotion of minilap as the main mode of providing sterilization in the form of post-partum sterilization to capitalize on the huge cases coming in for institutional delivery under JSY.
Scheme for ensuring drop back services to sterilization clients
Appointment of dedicated RMNCH+A counsellors at high case load facilities.
Assured delivery of family planning services – In last four years states have shown their commitment to strengthen fixed day family planning services for both IUCD and sterilization.
Scheme for Home delivery of contraceptives by ASHAs at doorstep of beneficiaries.
Scheme for ASHAs to ensure spacing in births:
Under the scheme, services of ASHAs are being utilized for counselling newly married couples to ensure delay of 2 years in birth after marriage and couples with 1 child to have spacing of 3 years after the birth of 1st child.
The scheme is being implemented in 18 states of the country (8 EAG, 8 North East, Gujarat and Haryana). Additionally the spacing component has been approved in West Bengal, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Punjab, Maharashtra, Daman Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
Celebration of World Population Day & fortnight (July 11 – July 24):
The World Population Day celebration is a step to boost Family Planning efforts all over the country.
The event is observed over a month long period, split into an initial fortnight of mobilization/sensitization followed by a fortnight of assured family planning service delivery.
June 27 to July 10: “Dampati Sampark Pakhwada” or “Mobilisation Fortnight”
July 11 to July 24 “Jansankhya Sthirtha Pakhwada” or “Population Stabilisation Fortnight”
On-going Interventions under Family Planning Programme
Ensuring quality of care in Family Planning services by establishing Quality Assurance Committees in all state and districts.
Increasing male participation and promotion of ‘Non Scalpel Vasectomy’’.
Operating the ‘National Family Planning Indemnity Scheme’ (NFPIS) under which clients are insured in the eventualities of deaths, complications and failures following sterilization and the providers/ accredited institutions are indemnified against litigations in those eventualities.
Compensation scheme for sterilization acceptors – under the scheme MoHFW provides compensation for loss of wages to the beneficiaries on account of undergoing sterilisation.
Accreditation of more private/ NGO facilities to increase the provider base for family planning services under PPP.
Improving contraceptives supply management up to peripheral facilities
A rational human resource development plan is in place for provision of IUCD, Minilap and NSV to empower the facilities (DH, CHC, PHC, SHC) with at least one provider each for each of the services and Sub Centres with ANMs trained in IUCD insertion
Emphasis on Minilap Tubectomy services because of its logistical simplicity with less failure rates.
Demand generation activities in the form of display of posters, billboards and other audio and video materials in the various facilities
STRETAGIES ADOPTED BY JANSANKHYA STHIRATA KOSH/NATIONAL POPULATION STABILIZATION FUND FOR POPULATION CONTROL:
Prerna Strategy:- JSK has launched this strategy for helping to push up the age of marriage of girls and delay in first child and spacing in second child birth in the interest of health of young mothers and infants. The couple who adopt this strategy awarded suitably. This helps to change the mindsets of the community.
Santushti Strategy:- Under this strategy, Jansankhya Sthirata Kosh, invites private sector gynaecologists and vasectomy surgeons to conduct sterilization operations in Public Private Partnership mode. The private hospitals/nursing home who achieved target of 10 or more are suitably awarded as per strategy.
National Helpline:- JSK is also running a call centers for providing free advice on reproductive health, family planning, maternal health and child health etc. Toll free no. is 1800116555.
As per the available report from the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL), which is an initiative by seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT Bombay, Delhi, Guwahati, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Madras and Roorkee) and Indian institute of science (IISC) for creating course contents in engineering and science, the problems resulting from overpopulation is given below:
· Providing employment to growing population:
· Problem of utilisation of manpower
· Over-strained infrastructure
· Pressure on land and other renewable natural resources
· Increased cost of production
· Inequitable distribution of income