**_The_** _Kundwn_ **_Project_**

_27_ Members of all the committees try to promote a small family norm. During the year 1985, for example, 1,549 members referred 2,435 couples to community welfare workers for family planning services. By 1987, 119 males and 12 female members of various committees became contraceptive depot holders, thus making family planning more accessible in the Project Area than in the Control Area. Depot holders are given 1-2 days' training by community welfare workers and the pros and cons of contraceptive methods. They also regularly attend quarterly meetings held at Kundam village where promotional activities are discussed and contraceptive materials are supplied.

A 1986-87 survey conducted by the Operations Research Group (ORG) among 83 members of various committees and clubs from 10 randomly selected Project villages showed that about three quarters were males and majority of male and female members were 35 years of age or older. Among the males 57 percent were members of youth clubs, 25 percent of village betterment committees and the rest of other committees and clubs. Among the females, 80 percent were members of women's clubs and committees. Representation in the committees was considerably larger from higher castes than tribals. When asked about the reasons for joining the committees, about 90 percent mentioned willingness to serve the community as one of them but many others mentioned hope to improve their self-image in the community. For example, 59 percent hoped to acquire status in the community, 48 percent hoped to get acquainted with local government officials, and 32 percent hoped to get political advantage. Many members felt that because of their participation in Project activities, their contacts with the local block development office, primary health center, and Panchayats had increased. Majority of the committee members (66 percent) believed that the main objective of the Project was to promote family planning. Other perceived objectives included establishment of adult and children's educational centers (31 percent), and overall village development and loan disbursement (19 percent each). One-quarter of the members (19 percent of males and 45 percent of females) were not aware of the specific objectives of the Project.

# _Goveranat Senrce_ **_Sdul in_** _Kundxn Block_

Under the government's rural health program, each block has a primary health center (PHC) and a number of subcenters (depending on the block population size). The program has, however, been recently revised to have one PHC for every 50,000 population and one subcenter for every 5,000 population. For tribal and hilly areas, the population coverage for PHC and subcenters have been reduced to 30,000 and 3,000 respectively. Normally 2-3 qualified doctors are posted in a PHC. Most PHCs have a 6-bed hospital for patients and sterilization acceptors. A subeenter is staffed by a female auxiliary nurse midwife (ANM) and a male health worker (HW). The ANM's responsibilities include treating minor ailments, providing MCH care services, immunizing children, and motivating couples to accept family planning. The HW is expected to provide health education, collect blood smears from suspected malaria patients, and help the ANM in family planning motivational work.

In Kundam block a fully staffed PHC is located at Kundam village and a mini-PHC with one doctor is located at the second largest village. Seventeen subcenters have been planned for the block but by 1987 only six were functioning. Of these, only three had both ANMs and HWs. The ANMs of other three subcenters, which are located in tribal areas, did not live at or near the subcenter building because of lack of accommodation. A government dispensary, staffed by a trained paramedical male and an ANM, is located in a comparatively developed village.