Family planning programmes: lessons from management interventions
Murthy, N.
Vikalpa 11(3): 205-212
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0256-0909 PMID: 12282682 Document Number: 293356
The India Population Project (IPP), implemented in Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka from 1973-80, is compared with that of Maharashtra, whose management development efforts have been regarded as among the best in the field. The reasons why the interventions successful in Maharashtra failed to have an impact in Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka are explored. Marharashtra attempted its reorganization not only at the district level, as did Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka, but at the state level, where public health was separated from medical education. The lesson to be learned for decentralization to be effective is that certain preconditions must be satisfied: the appointment of strong and committed supervisors at all levels and the creation of an environment in which they can exercise control. Other lessons learned are that management intervention systems require systematic and sustained work on the part of program managers; and that management interventions lead to program improvement only in the hands of competent managers.