Question : TARGET FOR REDUCTION IN POPULATION GROWTH

(a) whether in view of our limited and scarce natural resources, the Government proposes to lay down targets for each State in regard to reduction in the population growth rate;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether despite efforts of the Government the common man is not getting basic amenities such as food, clothing, shelter, health and education because of unabated increase in population;

(d) if so, the steps taken by the Government to check increasing population and the results thereof;

(e) whether the Government has also proposes to prescribe some incentives in the form of higher investment, etc. in those which have achieved the targets in reduction of population growth rate;

(f) if so, the details thereof; and

(g) if not, the reasons therefor?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE( SMT. PANABAKA LAKSHMI)

(a) & (b): No, Sir. The Family Welfare Programme is purely voluntary in nature. Since April 1996, fixing of Target in regard to demographic achievement has been abandoned in favour of decentralized participatory planning based on a Community Needs Assessment Approach (CNAA).

(c) & (d): It is admitted that growing population causes a strain on natural and civic resources of the country.

Various steps have been taken to stabilize the population of the country. These include adoption of National Population Policy (NPP), constitution of the National Commission on Population, registration of the National Population Stabilization Fund and constitution of an Empowered Action Group (EAG) for focused attention on 8 demographically weaker States. The Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) Programme was launched by Government in 1997 for provision of reproductive, maternal, child health and contraceptive services to the people. The Government has recently launched the National Rural Health Mission to provide comprehensive integrated primary health care services throughout the country.

As a result of the measures taken towards population stabilization, the demographic indicators of the country have improved considerably. The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has declined from 6 in 1951 to 3.2 in 1999. The Infant Mortality Rate has declined from 146 in 1951 to 64 per thousand population. The Maternal Mortality Ratio has declined from 437 in 1992 to 407 per lakh live births. The decadal growth rate of population has declined from 24.6% (1981) to 1.93% (2001).

(e to (g): National Family Welfare Programme continues to be a Centrally Sponsored Programme. Assistance given to States has nearly doubled over the last five years for maintenance of family welfare infrastructural units, supply of drugs, contraceptives and extending maternal and child health care services. The States, which show better performance in family welfare, receive higher allocation in the annual budget depending on the performance particularly in respect of supply of contraceptives, compensation for sterilization/IUD insertion and area specific programme.