As a result of these and other factors, a public consensus is emerging that the country is fast becoming overpopulated. Among other activities, this project attempts to increase access to and demand for family planning. The project will also target AIDS control and improve regional health management capacity. The project takes a unique participatory approach. It includes a Community Development Support Fund to finance sub-projects developed by communities themselves with the participation of beneficiaries.
Project is under preparation, currently in the appraisal stage.
Appraisal, which is carried out by the Bank, provides a comprehensive review of the project and lays the foundation for implementing the project and evaluating it when completed. The Indian Family Welfare program is principally responsible for providing family planning and maternal and child health services. Recognizing many problems with program organization and service delivery, the government proposed an Action Plan for improvement in 1992. Key elements of the plan include service quality improvements, expanded method mix to provide more temporary methods, and modification of the sterilization targeting and incentives systems to remove rigid, centrally-imposed targets, discontinue payments to motivators, and devolve responsibility to the states. This project will assist three states, Assam, Rajasthan, and Karnataka, to implement the action plan.