Population problem, a planner's view
Chavan, S.B.
Yojana 27(1-2): 17-20
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0044-0515 PMID: 12311992 Document Number: 372284
A matter that is seriously being debated in India is whether the policy of "the stick or the carrot" should be adopted for controlling population growth, i.e., whether the country should depend upon "incentives" or "disincentives" for bringing about wider acceptance of family planning. In this planner's view, this debate is a nonissue in India's social and political context. Due to the fact that a major part of the country's resources are preempted for investment in economically productive sectors, it is not possible to follow a too liberal policy of offering "carrots" or high cash incentives. The family planning program does not function in a vacuum and must be integrated with the national perspective plan and economic priorities. This does not mean that there is no scheme for enabling the poorer sections of the population to avail themselves of the benefit of family planning. Free clinical facilities and supply of contraceptives and easier access to clinical services is certainly not part of the "carrot." If free medical and child care are taken into account, the benefits are quite substantial. Financial incentives are also given to acceptors of sterilization and IUD to compensate them for loss of wages sustained during hospitalization and convalescence. Yet, any incentives that are offered can only be very selected and limited in scope due to the vast numbers of target couples. Regarding the policy of the "stick" or disincentives, there is little room for this form of policy in India's democratic system. Disincentives in the form of denial of food, clothing, shelter, and medical facilities are out of the question for nonacceptors of family planning since these form part of the basic human rights. Some selective disincentives for discouraging "improvement parenthood" could be used when such disincentives can be built into contractual benefits like service conditions of employees of government and the organized sector. What is needed in India is a balanced policy of both selective incentives and disincentives to the extent that they are consistent with the country's resources, plan priorities, democratic fabric, political system, and the Directive Principles of State Policy. The present strategy is to cover as many couples as possible by increasing the facilities for sterilization in the District and taluka hospitals and the primary health centers. The government has also decided to liberalize the rate of payments to the State governments on sterilization. Addition funds have been provided for incentives at higher rates to motivators. There are clear indications that the family planning program is being implemented more seriously now by most of the States since a favorable climate has been created for it.