Bringing A Women’s Perspective to Family Planning

The National Family Planning Programme (FPP) was promoted to restrict the increasing population by reducing the high birth rates in India. It was also encouraged for its potential to reduce poverty, hunger and avert maternal and childhood deaths. Several studies have found a positive association between women empowerment and lower fertility, longer birth intervals and lower rates of unintended pregnancy. Family planning (FP) services gave a sense of autonomy to women to decide when to have children and how many. However, the available services were so women-centric that it puts the burden of FP almost entirely on them, whether it was in the use of contraceptive methods, sterilization or abortions. Despite half a century of efforts to reduce population growth, India still faces challenges in delivering a FPP to help couples delay and space out their children that goes beyond female sterilization. Sharing of FP responsibilities by men during these years has been dismal. The burden of FP also seems to have a negative impact on the economic empowerment of women. This article examines the FPP in India through a women’s perspective. It uses empirical evidence to show how burden of FP is mainly borne by women. It recommends shifting the focus on men and making FP a shared responsibility between men and women, if gender equality has to be achieved in FPPs.