Family planning and development: issues in inter-agency coordination in Uttar Pradesh
Simmons, R.; Simmons, G.B.; Ashraf, A.; Misra, B.D.
Socio economic development and population control: 145-166
1988
Document Number: 368395
Inter-agency coordination and organizational aspects of the Indian family welfare programme are examined using data from Uttar Pradesh. The problems of inter-agency coordination for the promotion of family planning are highlighted. In order to implement consistent programme strategies, it is not only critical to choose agencies wisely in terms of their client orientation, but also to pay close attention to how the various agencies involved will work together. The data present a discouraging picture, exhibiting a total lack of coordination between the health and family welfare department and the staff of the revenue department who share the responsibility for promoting family planning. In fact, the client interaction strategies pursued by staff of revenue departments are quite inconsistent with those of the extension workers of the family welfare programme. The revenue staff have a range of resources at their disposal which they could use for influencing the decision to accept sterilization. At times, the way they approach and influence people for accepting family planning is counter productive and gives a bad name to the programme. Overall, lack of inter-agency coordination, inability of the family welfare workers to become members of the local community, inadequate supervision and follow-up and payment of high out-of-pocket incentives have done little to legitimize the programme. Unless these administrative bottlenecks are resolved there is not much hope of the programme achieving its goal.