FAMILY WELFARE PROGRAMME

Family planning as an official programme was adopted in 1952 as it was recognized that a rapidly growing population would be a more of a hindrance than help in raising the standard of living of the people.During the First and Second Five Year Plans (1951-1961), the programme was taken in amodest way with a clinical approach. The programme was recognised in the Third Plan after the publication of 1961 Census results which showed a higher growth rate than anticipated. The cliniacl approach was supplemented by extension approach under which the message, services and supplies of contraceptives were taken to the people.

In1966, a full-fledged Department of Family Planning was created. During the three Annual Plans (1966-69), the family planning programme, which was descibed as the “kingpin” of the Plan, was made the time bound and target oriented with vastly increasing funds. In the Fourth Plan, the programme was given the highest priority. The approch during this Plan aws to integrate increasingly family welfare services with those for health, maternal and child care and nutrition.The family welfare workers were converted into multipurpose workersto enable them to pay special attention to surveying to family welfare motivation and services.The Seventh Plan (1985-90) envisages new targets.

The country had adopted the long-term demographic goal of reducing the net reproduction rate to 1 by 2000 AD.

The National Family Welfare Programme has four components.

1. Administration and Organization which includes recruitment of staff, getting eqipment and supplies.

2. Training-Medical, paramedical and social workers in this field .

3. Social and Health

4. Supplies and Services.

Category: PSM Notes