Question

Does India follow any population stabilisation measures? If so, collect the details and discuss in the classroom. You may refer to the latest Economic Survey, annual reports or website of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (http://mohfw.nic.in).

Answer 1

Yes, India follows several population stabilisation measures through the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and related programmes. These measures aim to promote responsible family planning, improve maternal and child health, and help families achieve their desired family size. Important measures include:

• Providing access to family planning and contraceptive services.
• Promoting spacing between births and smaller family norms.
• Improving maternal and child healthcare.
• Creating awareness about reproductive health and family welfare.
• Encouraging later marriage and reducing teenage pregnancies.
• Providing family planning services through public health centres and community health facilities.
• Giving special attention to areas where fertility and population growth are relatively high.

Recent official data also shows progress: the unmet need for family planning declined from 12.9% in NFHS-4 to 9.4% in NFHS-5, while healthy spacing of three years or more between births increased from 42.6% to 52.3%.

India is working towards population stabilisation through family planning, health services, education and awareness. These measures can help improve the health of mothers and children and support sustainable economic and social development.