Lok Sabha Question No. 2019 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-31
Subject: Family Planning Programme
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: SHER SINGH GHUBAYA, DALPAT SINGH PARASTE

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE**

**DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE**

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2019**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON 31** **ST** **JULY, 2015**

**Family Planning Programme**

**2019.	SHRI SHER SINGH GHUBAYA:**

**SHRI DALPAT SINGH PARASTE:**

Will the Minister of **HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE** be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has made/ proposes to make any change in the family planning programmes being run by the Government, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether there has been any reduction in the target of vasectomy operation being conducted thereunder, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor, State/ UT-wise; and

(c) the steps taken/being taken by the Government for better and effective implementation of family planning programmes in the country?

**ANSWER**

**THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE**

**(SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)**

(a):	No.

(b):	Family Planning Programme, including Vasectomyin India, is  target free and voluntary in nature. Hence thequestion of reduction in the target of vasectomy operation does not arise.

(c):	As per Annexure attached.

**Annexure**

**Steps taken by the government for better and effective implementation of Family Planning Programme.**

**Interventions under family planning program:**

1. Scheme for ***Home delivery of contraceptives by ASHAs*** at doorstep of beneficiaries: The govt. has launched a scheme to utilize the services of ASHA to deliver contraceptives at the doorstep of beneficiaries. 8.85 Lakhs ASHAs are now distributing contraceptives at the door step.
2. Scheme for ASHAs **to** ***ensure spacing in births*** **:** The scheme is operational from 16 th May, 2012. Under this scheme, services of ASHAs are being utilised for counselling of 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 1 st child.
3. ***Pregnancy testing kits*** have been made an integral part of ASHA kit and are being used to diagnose pregnancy early, so as to ensure early registration of pregnancy/safe abortion services.
4. A new family planning method, i.e. ***post-partum IUCD (PPIUCD)*** has been introduced in the program. PPIUCD services are being provided by trained health providers in government hospitals, within 48 hours after the delivery.
5. Basket of choice has been expanded with introduction of a new ***IUCD-375*** of 5 years effectivity, in addition to the already existing IUCD–380A of 10 years effectivity.
6. Dedicated counselors *(* ***RMNCH counsellors)*** are placed at high case load facilities for providing family planning counseling to clients.
7. Celebration of **World Population Day 11** **th** **July & Fortnight:** The event is observed over a month long period, split into fortnight of mobilization/sensitization followed by a fortnight of assured family planning service delivery and **has been made a mandatory activity from 2012-13** and starts from 27 th June each year.
8. **Other On-going interventions:**

- **Assured delivery of family planning services** for both IUCD and sterilisation.
- **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 beneficiary and also to the service provider (& team) for conducting sterilisations.
- More emphasis on Spacing methods like IUCD.
- Availability of Fixed Day Static Services at all facilities.
- **Quality care in Family Planning** services by establishing Quality Assurance Committees at state and district levels.
- Contraceptives supply management up to peripheral facilities.
- **Demand generation activities** in the form of display of posters, billboards and other audio and video materials in the various facilities.

**FOLLOWING STRATEGIES HAVE BEEN TAKEN UP BY JANSANKHYA STHIRATA KOSH/NATIONAL POPULATION STABILIZATION FUND AS POPULATION CONTROL MEASURES:**

**Advocacy & IEC activities** :- JSK as a part of its awareness and advocacy efforts on population stabilization, has established networks and partnerships with other ministries, development partners, private sectors, corporate and professional bodies for  spreading its activities at the national, state, district and block level.

**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 the birth of children 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, JansankhyaSthirataKosh, invites private sector gynecologists and vasectomy surgeons to conduct sterilization operations in Public Private Partnership mode. The private hospitals/nursing home who achieved target to 10 or more are suitably awarded as per strategy.