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Focus 1993 January - March English |
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Volume VII. No.1.
January-March, 1993
BULLETIN
OF FAMILY
PLANNING
FOUNDATION
Mr. JRD Tata has once again stressed the need to consolidate the galn.s
already achieved and move forward, in a determined way, to stabillse our
population in the shortest possible time, through a more humane, efficient
and quality-oriented delivery system.
In his statement to the Annual
General Body Meeting of the
Governing Board of
Continuing.Mr, Tatasaid that fortuna tely
there was no significant opposition to
family planning as such
the Family Planning Foun-
from any quarter. Non-
dation held in Bombay on
adoption of contra-ception
January 29,1993, Mr. Tata
was mainly due to lack of
observed, "India is today
knowledge and indifferent
in a better position to cope
approach on the part of
with the popula tion
health personnel. Forpopu-
problem because not only
lation stabilisation, the rate
there is growing concern
of eligible couples using
about the continuing
contraceptives had to be
increase in the number of
increased from the present
people below the poverty
45per centto 60per cent by
line and other population
2000A.D. and further to 70
related issues, but also a
fairly large service
infrastructure
has
MR. J.R.D. TATA
Chairman, Family Planning
Foundation
per cent in the subsequent
decade. That this was
achievablehadbeenamply
emerged. The question now seems to be proved by States of Kerala, Tamil Nadu,
not one ofaugmenting thehealth network Punjab, etc. which had already achieved
or even increasing financial allocations, 60to 65per cent contraceptive prevalence
but of ensuring more efficient delivery rate with corresponding reduction in
and quality service, the two main causes fertility.
for the slow -progress of the family Mr. Tata commended the new Action
planning programme."
Plan adopted by theGovemrnent ofIndia
Drawing attention to the dramatic as part of the Eighth Five Year Plan,
changes in the demographic scenario that which laysincreased emphasis on, among
took place in Europe, North America and other things, improved quality and
parts of South East Asia due to a strong outreach of health and family planning
motivation for small families, Mr. Tata services.
emphasised the need for "priority in Reviewing the progress of the three
India's further pursuit of population innovative projects recently launched by
stabilisation objectives which must the Family Planning Foundation aimed
include finding the means of convincing at using purposeful social development
parents of the essential need of adopting as a vehicle of promoting reproductive
small family norm in their own and th{!ir health with th{!informed participatior; of
children's long-term interests as well as
those of the country as a whole."
...contd. on Pg.7
... contd. on Pg.4
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"Population Socialisation Among Indian Teenagers"
A Landmark Study on Indian Teenagers'Attitudes towards
Population Issues ana Sexuality
Adolescents - the prospective
parents in the near future-
.
constitute a large segment
preferring a boy and a girl in such a
family while 73percentof them indicated
that even if they did not have a son, they
first source of information on matters
relating to contraception. Teachers
came out poorly in this respect. Only
(almost 40 per cent) of India's booming would not seek one after having two
3%of the respondents described them
population. Their awareness of various daughters.
as their first source of information.
socio-economic issues and attitudes Other important findings of the study
Friends topped as the first source of
towards marriage, family size, inter-sex are:
information.
and inter-familial relationships and 1. About 5% of the respondents were 6. TV emerged as the main media
related areas are of crucial importance
already married though most
followed by newspapers. However,
for the success of population stabili-
respondents were for higher age of
in the rural areas, radio listening still
sation efforts. However, in our pre-
marriage, not below 22 years both for
took the cake.
occupation with married couples for
boys and girls.
7. On smoking and drinking, 91%
pushing up couple
studentscameoutto be non-
protection rate, adequate
attention to this all-
important population
segment standing right on
the threshold of parenthood
has not been given so far.
Equally important is the
question of gaining true
insights into their minds
STUDY REVEALS
* Strong preference for two-child family
* Big influence of parents i", decision-making
in important
matters like marriage
* Religion still an important factor in shaping attitudes
* Very little precise knowledge about contraceptive methods
* T.V. and radio main sources of information.
smokers. However, 1%
admitted to smoking
frequently
and 4%
occasionally. 2% female
students were also found to
be smoking. Similarly,abou t
4%respondents were found
to be consuming alcoholic
beverages. While 5% of the
before strategies to sow the
male respondents did so, 1%
seeds of responsible parenthood are 2. Parents were still accepted as the best
of the female respondents also did it.
formulated. This area, which has
friends and protectors by a large 8. Though no more than one-fourth of
remained almost unexplored, is the
majority of the respondents and they
the sample, there was acceptance of
subject of a recent far-reaching study
wanted to go by parents' decision in
pre-marital sexual contact if they boy
entitled "Popula tion Socialisation Among
respect of vital matters like marriage,
and the girl were actually in love.
Indian Teenagers", conducted by the
etc.
About 13%girls and 28% boys stated
Family Planning Foundation, in 3. As many as 68% of the respondents
thathavingsexual pleasure where and
collaboration with the Population and
preferred arranged marriages. Only
when they found it, was not improper.
Development Program of the Cornell
University (U.S.A.) and the Operations
6%disagreed with thisview. However,
a large majority of them considered Large sampling,
Research Group (India).
.comprehensive
The study which aimed at
EXTENT OF DISCUSSION OF SEXUAL MATTERS
Questionnaire
AItowcpttsastgrrmvashhhheemmoecwfrseicierrlleaotpeccnddciaaooaorpbneigtodeiyotlrrwueikfriltiivoepeortoeftsgmoivasydanreenpu'mnrhgnai;ireaguopnsrtnrnmeesstoiapshegt;igtnrsehineelrientttvepcertaagmeyltahssaeatknnopnolopitaosiddfunirdwafntedttafoohaFidsxdmshosincbektpst;soohnitseh.ltnidoahhsncehmrelssoosrpytaeaisidiufaiwupepdbnwondhlocialaiiknslataniytoeofdreiiinstnlse,logmndoswsgilfdindooulnhggllztasimieutnhcc;t;eketssios-ehihen;;euafneonlrxcnieisepcsatosoaphfttswOHSFNNPEoeiiiumorcoalootnciediihtehrnr.tmhnoadeeebeno,odrrsnrnedoipsdfsatbntsltbscIarloRoeDtrusactosdeensoal-ttssashcpeceuohdr/nessdrsi54seet..nedtrcW wnraRiimsnneodeeesanheollrpriditilserfogrlehieeansiafa.occogdaapenereweigpnannrrtotaMtreesgt1iusrosvlm7.eea4i111dbe651gnt5719ael8dsionHitmio0otinnhnu-dnofseegmwtiacnhonbenaroorneSvuelt1tderitieecl7fiam,52xprti487e15ot34ua,eui7.topfolrdha0ronrteel1oerssy3testhahp%han(efoPPaptenFoeldp1oeadarfof7ilfcn3111a1nmev41ten58734chane7nettiitnhlenh5tstryosrgysyeerRespT348o1bOrw1un1100eA4wduedr7lt6Iia11arefot9he731Dfs0ern12nlrw6notoStord9satfafmiym)rncntto1hhtddsr8m7eeet,bohds2a18opfe1ig510saaRipDsfAtyo0He1tnte%rcnnrUhrsnaoeetdsoahiddoodjcmlncnairolvoahfcseatyhanitrfisosgtlionhru1dagodtra,lgithnteinr6i2seoosrhscenaalasg.a2lfetslrgsneTtsieoeRtrsr,ass-idseblfaeroatwncasprieeucswmfhsjdrovtphaU-dabitowHUentrseposeototoirtfadhleanstctthersrlealtheeredt-yoeiaoarysgnnnelmrnrfuareotgnoeao,tssrncPPimahtftb,ntfn4astihturrneenadhg0aaaeddd1Ddnsuoeddibrif7in,brmaaeeeeegra9a1b,iowo2gdssil1hnnntl0anhyhhm5e,hy8tgdndn0giss,,s1,5.
indicated a strong preference for a two-
little precise knowledge. Electronic selected and administered
the
child family; as many as 90 per cent
media, in the main, emerged as the questionnaire in the class-room without
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EXPOSURE TO VARIOUS MEDIA
Percentage of Respondents
100
80
60
40
20
0----
NEWSPAPER
lIB Regularly
MAGAZINE
RADIO
T.V.
TYPE OF MEDIA
_
Occasionally
_
CJ Less often
Never
any external guidance or pressure.
Outof17,185 students polled, 13,404were
boys and the remaining 3,781 girls.
The 54-point questionnaire being
absolutely central to the study, great care
was taken to structure it and in this task,
valuable guidance came from Prof. J.M.
Stycos of the Cornell University, who
had intimate experience of conducting
similar studies in different parts of the
world. Appropriate advice on the
comm unica tion aspects was provided by
Dr. Royal D.Colle, Chairman Department
of Communication, Cornell University.
Additionally, a panel of Indian experts
including Dr. P.C Joshi, Dr. Sudhir Kakar,
Dr. Amar Kumar Singh, Dr. Sunil Misra,
Dr. D.S. Muley, Dr. S.C Bhatia and Dr.
(Ms) Anima Sen provided useful
guidance on different aspects of the study
at different stages. These experts are also
helping in evaluation of the findings and
developing policy perspectives.
Follow-up
After reviewing the content of school
curricula which have, for some time,
included family life education and
identifying areas of ignorance of
stereotypes, the Foundation had decided
to use electronic media for education in
this sensitive area. The Directorate
General of All India Radio will be
mounting a weekly programme
specifically aimed at adolescents adopting
a creative format which will attract regular
listening and inter-active participation.
Expert advice has it that to enhance the
impact, audio cassettes and/or well-
prepared reading materials should be
used. Following an inter-active mode,
subject experts will answer questions to
remove fears and doubts on more
intimate aspects. Consultations have
taken place with experts like Dr. Mahinder
C Watsa of the SexEducation Counselling
Research Therapy Training (SECRT)
department of the FPAI, who heads an
important programme of adolescent
education.
Mr. Harish Khanna, Principal
Investigator of the study and Executive
Director of the Family Planning
Foundation, sta ted tha t to further validate
the outcome of the study, the governing
board of the Family Planning Foundation
had decided that Family Planning
Founda tion should engage in a concurrent
study to assess the educational impact of
theAIR serial, as well as an end-of-project
study to determine what kind of
attitudinal changes, if any, were
noticeable. He expressed the hope that
govemmental authorities especially those
entrusted with the vital task of education
planning would find the findings of the
study as well as the conclusions of the
comm unica tion intervention useful in the
all-important task of sensitising and
educating adolescents on vital issues
relating to reproductive health as also in
filling up the gaps in the information
matrix of the communication process,
thus enabling our youth to develop into
well-rounded personalities, strong
enough to grapple with the problems of
sexuality and family size regula tions with
greater self-assurance.
IDEAL FAMILY SIZE
(Percentage of Respondents)
No. of Children
Averege
Indian Family
. Poor
Family
Rich
Family
Total
None
One
Two
Three
Four +
As many as can
Can't say
100
100
100
1
2
1
4
26
3
71
60
54
14
7
18
7
3
17
2
1
6
1
1
1
No. of respondents -17.185
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Dr. Nafis Sadik's Overview of Global
Population Stabilistion Policies and Programmes
"Population is 5 billion dollars have to come from the
a part of the developing countries themselves, the rest
whole develo- from the international community.
pment stra-
tegy.So,coun- Population Issues at
tries must be Earth Summit
Dr. Nafis Sadik,
Executive Director,
United Nations Population
helped to rise
economically.
There must be
efforts to
alleviate pov-
erty, there
must be inve-
stment in the
Contrary to the impression my
personal view is that population issue
was addressed very adequately at the
Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. There is
a whole chapter on demographic issues
in Agenda 21 which is the plan that came
out from the deliberations.
social sectors and there must be increased Church's Attitude
investment in the population sector. Only
We at the UN strongly advocate
then will we be able to solve the issue of information and services based on
sustainable development and within that . scientific knowledge, leaving the choice
the population problem."
to the individual. The Church seems to
This view was expressed by Dr. have a very different view. I think we
Nafis Sadik, Executive Director of the must try to find some accommodation.
United Nations Population Fund
(UNFPA) while presenting an overview The Indian Programme
of the global effort at population
With the growth rate in India now
stabilisation in the course of a wide- less than 2.1, the Indian family planning
ranging interview conducted by Mr. programme, I think, is taking a very
Harish Khanna, Executive Director of the positive turn. The Southern states are
Family Planning Foundation, for A.I.R. doing very well and success is gradually
on October 24,1992. Dr. Sadik was 'on a creeping up towards the North. Under
visit to India to address the 40th the new approach, India will improve
anniversary meeting of the IPPF, briefly coverage as well as quality of services, by
reported in our last issue (Vol. VI, No.4). making the programme not being so
In response to several thought- method-oriented, but rather concept-
provoking lead questions, Dr.Sadik made oriented, that is leaving the choice of the
lucid observations on a whole range of method to the individual and bestowing
problems facing the world-wide family special attention to women's awareness
planning programme. Some excerpts:
and education of girls in schools. India is
Hopeful Signs
now very much seized of the need to
.focus the IEC strategy more sharply to
In the space of 10-20 years, many different target groups. I think that's a
countries in the world including those in very healthy change.
East Asia and some in Latin America
have managed to reduce fertility quite Resources Crunch
dramatically. The problem regions are
I think the 1994 In terna tiona I
South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. The Conference on Population and
encouraging factor is that since 1984, Development is Cairo will do a lot to
almost all African countries which were move attention and resources to the
earlier unresponsive have changed their population issue. If the developing
attitude and formulated population countries set clear priorities and goals for
_ policies and programmes and are also the next 10-20 years, and commit
committing whatever resources they can, maximum resources of their own, the
for programme implementation.
international community is bound to
Needless to say, the resource-gap is still come up with additional resources to fill
very large which has to be filled up with up the gaps. Presently only one per cent
national and international efforts. Of the of overseas development assistance goes
estimated 9 billion dollar annual to population. Well, my effort is to get it
requirement by the year 2000A.D., about increased to four or five per cent, which
should quadruple the resources for
support to population programmes by
the turn of the century.
Focus on Adolescents
What must be done to focus our
attention -on the adolescents which
constitute no less than 40 per cent of the
population? In reply to Mr. Khanna's
question on an issue of far-reaching
import to population stabilisation, Dr.
Sadik responded by saying that the
UNFPA programmes gave priority to
the adolescent. We have to focus more
attention on population education. We
must start preparing the young people of
today so that they understand what the
future is going to be. Some start has been
made in countries like India but the tempo
needs to be increased.
Role ofNGOs
I am sure the non-governmental
organisations are going to get increasing
attention, especially those thathavestrong
contacts with the community. The feeling
in the population sector is that we must
have access to influential people who can
mobilise the populace at the grass-root
level. As to the resources, I think the
voluntary sector should not depend
entirely on the government or for that
matter, on one source of funding, they
must tap multiple sources.
...contd. from Pg.1
Five New Projects ....
ASSOCHAM, CII as well as various
Chambers of Commerce and
Industry;
4). A study into the Strengths and
Weaknesses of non-govemmental
organisations engaged in the family
planning programmes in India to
be conducted by Dr. Ravi Gulhati,
formerly of the World Bank and
Mrs. Kaval Gulhati of CEDPA
under the aegis of Centre for Policy
Research, New Delhi; and
5). A Community-based family
welfare project with special
emphasis on quality of services, to
be jointly. carried out by Escorts
Limited and Family Planning
Foundation in all the five blocks of
district Faridabadof Haryana State.
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Final Report on 1991 Census Places India's
Population at $46.30 Million
India's final population figure based
on the 1991 census, stands at 846.30
million. It is slightly higher (by 2.37
million) than the provisional figure of
843.93 million as announced on March
25, 1991.
This along with other vital
demographic data is contained in a
capsule form in the Primary Census
Abstract (PCA), released on January 13,
1993.
The PCA showed that India's
population now formed 16percentofthe
total world's population, next only to
China. At the national level, there were
over 43.92 crore males in the total
population of 84,63,02,688 heads. The
number of women in the country now
stood at more than 40.70 crore. It means
that there were 927 women per 1,000
men.
The primary abstract, which has
for the first time been computerised and
prepared by the national informa ticcentre
of the Planning Commission, has certain
salient features to be useful for the
planners, administrators, demographers
and others in the country. It gives basic
data about the population, sex ratio,
number of literates, population of
children between the zero to seven years
age group, the number of households
and houses occupied, the number of
Scheduled Castes and Tribes, and above
all, the number of workers engaged in an
income-genera tingorproduction activity.
The real quali ty of the informa tion is tha t
the directory of data about each of the
village, block, tehsil, city and district is
now ready. It also gives the final figures
about the population on the basis of the
1991 census.
An interesting fea ture of the
.
~
INDIA 1991
.
Area (sq km)
No. of households
No. of occupied houses
No. of villages
(i) inhabited
(ii) uninhabited
No. of districts
No. of blocks
No. of towns
No. of urban agglomerations
Total population
Scheduled Caste pop.
Scheduled Tribe pop.
Literate population
• excluding Jammu & Kashmir
3.06 million
152.01 million
147.01 million
627,434
580,702
46,732
452
5,774
4,615
3,699
846.30 million
138.22 million"
67.76 million"
359.28 million"
document prepared by the Registrar
General and Census Commissioner of
India is that the population of Delhi has
crossed the 94-lakh mark - to be precise,
it is 94,20,644.Out of this, the number of
literates in the national capital was 58.82
lakh, and the number of male-female
literates was 35.95 lakh and 23.42 lakh
respectively. But surprisingly, the
population of workers in Delhi was very
low, and the number of those classified
as "non-workers" wasquitehigh-about
64.40 lakh (of which 39.51 lakh were
women).
The population data sheet showed
that the highest infant mortality rate was
in Orissa - it was 126, as against the
national rate of BO. Next to Orissa in
infant mortality came Madhya Pradesh-
with a rate of 122. Here, Kerala has the
distinction of having the lowest rate, that
of just 17.
While women workers in the
country, and in all the States, werefarless
than menfolk, the number of women
engaged in cultivation and as agriculture
labour in Punjab was ver low - keeping in
view the fact that Punjab is a highly
agricultural State, and most of the farm
labour employed there comes from
outside Punjab. There were only 64,669
women employed as agriculture labour,
as against 13.88 lakh men. In cultivation
also, there were only 23,149 women and
the number of males stood at 18.94Iakh.
Census Commissioner A.R. Nanda
said that only 37.46 per cent of the
population was classified as "workers",
which included cultivators, agriculture
labour, workers in factories engaged in
any production activity and those
employed in offices and on contract. But
the share of women in the workforce of
the country was much less than that of
men - while the male participation rate
among workers was51.55 percent that of
the females was only 22.5 per cent.
The Scheduled Castes and Tribes
constituted 24.56 per cent of the total
INDUSTRIAL
CATEGORY
DISTRIBUTION OF MAIN WORKERS
Population
percanof total
(Million)
workers
Cultivators
Ag. Labourers
Livestock. etc.
Mining. etc.
Household indo
Non-household indo
Construction
Trade & Commerce
Transport etc.
Others services
110.70
74.60
6.04
1.75
6.80
21.87
5.54
~.~
a~
29.31
<
38.7
26.1
2.1
0.6
2.4
7.6
1.9
~5
u
10.3
population of the country. Of this, ST
were 16.48 per cent. The highest
concentration (28.31 per cent) of SCs was
in Punjab, followed by 25.34 per cent in
Himachal Pradesh and 23.62 in West
Bengal. In Bihar, the population of SCs
andSTswas 14.55and 7.66per cent of the
State population.
Computer has done the magic. The
detailed break-up of the country's
population based on the 1991 census,
down up lo the village level, is rMdy in
285.93
100.0
just about a year's time .
• excluding Jammu & Kashmir
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Population growth,
ENVIRONMENT
urbanisation straining land surface
Rapid population growth and urbanisation have put India's land surface under strain leading to encroachment of flood
plains, creating deserts and causing earthquakes and landslides, while indiscriminate mining and industrial
development too have threatened environment.
Experts at the Geological Survey of India (GSI) are of the opinion that ways and means must be found to control
this land erosion and design safer buildings for housing people in these areas.
Studies in parts of the Gomti river basin in Uttar Pradesh had revealed that the river caused havoc during annual
floods as the long dead channels were also activated during monsoons.
In Ghaziabad, the important geo-environmental problems are pollution of soil and surface and sub-surface water,
resulting from direct discharge of urban-industrial effluents and lowering of the groundwater levels caused by
excessive withdrawal for agriculture and industry.
In Rajasthan studies have identified areas affected by gully erosion and deforestation.
Soil loss, land scarification due to quarrying, subsidence due to haphazard coal mining, depletion of forest resources
and discharge of industrial wastes are the prevalent geo-environmental problems in most parts of India.
Most Polluted Indian Cities
Three Indian cities - Delhi, Bombay and Calcutta -
are among the ten cities of the world which have double the
World Health Organisation's (WHO) specific limits for at least
one pollutant. This is revealed in a study conducted jointly by
the United Nations environment Programme (UNEP) and
WHO.
The study has also concluded that more than two-thirds
of the air-pollution load in the metropolitan areas (which
covers almost ten per cent of the country's population) are
generated by automotive vehicles. To deal with the vehicular
pollution, which has witnessed a three-fold increase in the past
decade, a three-pronged approach is recommended.
This approach envisages the development of an energy-
efficient and less polluting mass-transport system, attitudinal
change, and the use of advanced technology to introduce fuel
efficiency, alternative fuels and environment friendly vehicles .
New Safe, Simple and
Effective Method of Male Sterilisation
A sutureless technique (No scalpel Vasectomy) is
replacingthe conventional vasectomy. It involves no incision
with knife and hence no stitches. It is a painless and faster
procedure with faster recovery and less chances of bleeding
and other complications. It takes just three minutes to
perform the procedure under local anaesthesia and the
person is back to his routine almost the same day of
operation except in conditions in which heavy manual
labour is involved.
For training and other details, interested parties
are advised to contact Dr. Alok Banerjee, M.S., Associate
Professor, Department of Reproductive Bio-Medicine,
National Institute of Heath and Family Welfare, Munirka,
New Delhi-110 067. (Tel Nos. 667773, 665484 ext. 376,
176, 102).
Strategy to Control AIDS
.Is AIDS a 'Four-Letter' Word?
A total of 11,406cases had been tested HIV
positive among the 16 lakh persons screened
from 1985 upto January 31, 1993. Of these 307
cases were of full blown AIDS.
This information was given by 5hri B.
Shankaranand, Union Minister for Health &
Family Welfare, in reply to a question in the Lok
Sabha on February 25, 1993.
'The Minister said the Government had
constituted a National AIDS ControlBoard for
overall management of the programme. In
addition, a national AIDS committee under the
Chairmanship of the Health Minister had been
set up witha broad-based membership for laying
down the strategy and mobilising popular
support for the programme.
The strategy to control the spread of HIV
infection includes generation of awareness
leading to avoidance of high risk behaviour,
promotion of blood safety and rational use of
blood, control of sexually transmitted diseases
and better clinical management of AIDS cases.
Aids is a four-letter word associated with sex, With
that trite justification, principals of some Delhi schools
recently shooed away health educators who wanted to
address class 12 students about the danger of AIDS from
drug abuse and unsafe sex....
It is important that the citizens of tomorrow know the
full extent of the danger they and their families could face
from AIDS. And to impart this knowledge the Government
should introduce a compulsory sex education course in
schools to be run by trained health workers and educators
who should be supplied with films and audio-visual aids to
drive home the message. Sex education is too important a
matter to be left to the whims of timorous teachers who are
embarrassed to mention the word sex. What use is eduction
if it does not prepare students to face life and its dangers?
AIDS may be a four-letter work, but unless people are
informed about it, more and more could find themselves
dead, which is an even worse four-letter word.
-Editorial; The Pioneer, J30 5, 1993
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"State of the World's Children 1993"
Plea to Devote More Funds for Children's Basic Needs
Four million lives of the world's
children could be saved if
governments invest an additional
$25 billion (Rs. 75,000 crore) to provide
them adequate nutrition, clean water,
basic health care and primary education,
according to the United Nation's
Children's Fund (UNICEF)
"No famine, no flood, no
earthquake, no war, has ever claimed the
lives of 250,000children ina single week,"
says UNICEFs executive director, Mr.
James Grant, in the "State of the World's
Children 1993".
"Yetmalnutrition and disease claim
that num ber of child victims every week.
And for every child who dies, many
more live on with ill health, poor growth,
and illiteracy."
There is something amiss," says
Mr. Grant, "when a passionate cry goes
up over the loss of biodiversity, while
cold silencegreets the unnecessary deaths
of 35,000 children each day from
malnutrition and disease."
The amount required to save the
world's children is less than what
Europeans spend every year on
cigarettes ($50billion), Americans spend
on beer ($ 31 billion) and Japanese on
business entertaining ($ 35 billion). It
amounts to a little more than the cost of a
new airport under construction in Hong
Kong ($ 23 billion) and the cost of a new
road between Tokyo and Kobe ($ 25
billion).
Two thirds of the required funds
could be met by the developing countries
and the remaining one-third could come
from the rich nations. UNICEF points
out that in Africa, the outside help should
have to be higher.
Even with present resources, such
sums could be made available if 20 per
cent governmentspending in developing
countries, were to be allocated to basics
like food, water, sanitation, basic health
care, primary education and family
planning.
Presently less than 10 per cent ($ 4
billion or Rs. 3,000 crore) of the $ 40-
billion (Rs. 120,000 crore) bilateral aid
from the industrialised nations is given
exclusively for these purposes.
As for developing countries, they
devote a little over 10 per cent of their
budgets to meet the basic needs of the
population. More money is spent on
defence and debt servicing than on health
and education.
Over 60 per cent of the 12.9million
child deaths in the world each year are
caused by pneumonia (3.6 million or 28
per cent), diarrhoeal diseases (three
million or 23 per cent) and by vaccine-
preventable diseases (2.1 million or 16
per cent) such as measles (0.8 million),
whooping cough (0.36 million),
tuberculosis (0.3 million) and neonatal
tetanus (0.56 million).
Vitamin A deficiency, which
threatens upto 10 million of the world's
children with blindness and early death,
could now be controlled by spending just
about Rs. 3/- per child annually. The
iodine deficiencies that are the world's
single'biggest cause of mental retarda tion
could be eliminated for about$1oomillion
(Rs. 300 crore) - less than the cost of two
fighter planes.
Under five deaths by main cause developing countries, 1990
~o
~
Q.
Vaccine-preventable diseases; 2.1 million (16%)
C
Zo
"Including measles wHh diarrhoeal disease and measles wHh pneumonia
m
'Tl
...contd. from Pg.1
Population Stabilisation ...
the community, Mr. Tata expressed
the hope that the experiences drawn
from these innovative projects could
provide useful models for replication
in the 93 problem districts identified
by the Government of India under
their new Action Plan.
Taking note of the deliberations of
the Earth Summit held at Rio de
Janeiro in June 1992, Mr. Tata pin-
pointed two new concerns deserving
their utmost attention. These were:
steady degradation of the
environment and the not-much-
understood but no less grave threat
of AIDS. Talking of AIDS, he said
that the fact of productive labour in
the developing countries, including
our own, being lost for ever must
stun the consciousness of all thinking
people, so that attention is focussed
on the gut-issue of safe and
responsible sex.
PresidingovertheA.G.M., Dr. Bharat
Ram, Vice-Chairman, Family
Dr. Bharat Ram Vice-
Chairman.
Family Planning Foundation
Planning Found-a tion, expressed the
view tha t as soon as final dis-cussion
on Policy Perspectives pre-sented in
the Executive Direc-tor's position
paper was concl-uded in the third
week of March 1993,the Foun-dation
should go full force into new areas
and further strengthen professional
networks it had developed, and
demonstrate the success of new
approaches, sharpen focus on critical
areas and specially involve the youth,
on whom the future success
depended.
7
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"ENCOUNTER WITH POPULATION CRISIS"
FPF Monographs Receive Overwhelming Response
The Family Planning Foundation has received an enthusiastic response to its four publications brought out, during 1992, under the rubric: "Encounter With
Population Cnsis", based on lectures delivered under the Foundation's auspices by very eminent persons, viz., the Nobel Laureate Dr Norman E Borlaug;
the world-renowned genetic scientists Dr. M. S. Swaminathan; the distinguished civil servant and population expert Dr. Ashok Mitra; and the 1992 UN
Population Award recipient and Chairman of the Family Planning Foundation, Mr. J.R.D. Tata.
Those who have responded include noted parliamentarians and political leaders, eminent commentators and creative thinkers, prominent demographers and
economists, distinguished medical experts and Vice Chancellors as also office holders of voluntary organisations at the national, regional and grassroots levels.
In fact, the monographs have touched a responsive chord in all those thinking people concemed about India's population problem. Many of them have volunteered
to join the alliance led by Mr. J.R.D. Tata to advance the cause of population stabilisation while others have commended the publications as valuable resource
material to stimulate discussion and action on population and related mailers at different fora. A sampling of the response:
Dr. Prayag ehta, Director,
12 universities w ich are acting as resources centres
Patti . ation and Development Centre, New Delhi.
for population education programme to provide
" ey a ~ indeed very valuable contributions to'our
technical resource s~pport to other universities."
derstanCi~8 of the various issues pertaining to
population pib amme in the country."
Shri K L Khanna, Regional Co-ordinator,
/
Dr. Kedar Nath Mod., hairmq':'~:--"""'_'
Nehru Yuva Kendras South Bihar, Ranchi.
~_,--......:"I need the papers for ~reparing certain training
Modi Enterprises, Modi agar (U.P.)
ateriaU e outh."
"The publications have brought out in a very able
manner the various issues regarding family
planning ..... Ihope these publications will be
widely circulated and their reprint in Hindi and
regional languages will be br ught out so that they
may reach every nook and c mer."
Prof Upendra Baxi, Vice-Chancellor,
Delhi University.
"1 am honoured by your invitation to associate
myself with your endeavour. Please convey my
assurance to assist Shri J.R.D. Tata in his
endeavour."
Shri D.P. Hira, Additional Secretary,
University Grants Commission, New Delhi.
"We shall be grateful if the ~PF sends these
publications to the universities so that they can use
these lectures in their programme/activities under
the population education pI,'Ogramme... at least to
Dr. Jagdish C Sobti, Hony. Joint Secretary,
Indian Medical Association, New Delhi.
"We are willing to join the alliance to advance the
cause of population stabilization on which the
future strength of our country re ts."
Among the leading lights who have encouraged us by their response are: Dr. B. D
Jatti, former Vice-President of India; Shri Mani Shankar Aiyer, M.P.; Syed
Shahabuddin, M.P.; Shri Jaswant Singh, M.P.; Shri Dharma Vira, former civil
servant and Govemor; Shri T.N. Kaul, former Ambassador; General K.V.Krishna
Rao (Retd.); Mr. A.K. Damodaran, IFS (Retd.), Dr. Badri N. Saxena, Senior Deputy
Director General, ICMR; Sm!. Renuka Ray, President, Women's Co-ordinating
Council; Shri. M.V. Kamath, Writer & Commentator; Shri S.P. Gupta, Chairman,
The Indian Archaeological Society; Dr. M.E. Khan Associate & Host Country
Advisor, The Population Council; Dr. Ramlal Parikh, Vice-Chancellor, Gujarat
Vidyapith; Dr. Vikas Satwalekar, Executive Director, National Institute of Design;
Mr. Ward Rinehart, Deputy Director, Population Information Program, Johns
Hopkins University(U.S.A.); Dr.AmarKumarSingh, Honorary Executive Chairperson,
Council for Social Development; Dr. B.P.S. Bhadouria, Department of Economics,
Lucknow University; Dr. Usha Singh, Inst~ute of Home Economics, Delhi University;
Shri B. Sangma, Secretary, Meghalaya State Social Welfare Advisory Board; Shri
Shyam Benegal, Film Producer; Prof. M.K. Premi, President, Indian Association for
the Study of Population; Dr. SA Jeyaram, Director-Incharge, The Gandhigram
Insmute of Rural Health and FarTilyWelfare Trust, Tamil Nadu; ShriT. Padmanabhan,
Director, Documentation & Library Services, Tamil University; Shri Narender K.
Sehgal, Joint Adviser (NCSTC); Shri Shefali Sunderlal Chandel, Manager, MARC,
Delhi; Shri Radhakrishnan Nair, Youth Coordinator, NYK, Kerala; Dr. N. Baskara
Rao, Professor, Population Research Centre, Bangalore; Shri B.C. Prabhakar,
Secretary, Kamataka State Employers' Association; Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Associate
Prof. & Atg Head, Dept. of Community Medicine, PGI; Dr. Pam Rajput, Director,
Centre for Women's Studies & Development, Panjab University; Dr. G.P. Talwar,
Prof of Eminence, National Institute of Immunology; Dr. T. Verghese, Director,
National Institute of Communicable Diseases; Dr. R.K. Pachauri, Director, Tata
Energy Research Institute; Dr. P.N. Ghei, Secretary General, Indian Hospital
Association; Mrs. Madhusmita Mishra, Secretary, Jeevan Rekha Parish ad, U.P.;
Prof. S. C. Bhatia, Dept. of Adult, Continuing Education & Extension Delhi University;
Ms Amnta Patel, Managing Director, National Dairy Development Board; Mrs. M.
Khan, Programme Officer, U.P. Voluntary Health Association; Shri M.C. Rajendran,
Dy. General Manager, Hindustan Latex Ltd.; Prof. Gian Chand Jain, Litterateur and
educationist; Shri Naval K. Dave, National Director, Christian Children's Fund, Inc.;
Prof. K.B. Pathak, Actg Director, Intemationallnstitute for Population Sciences;.
Mrs. Nihar Bhattacharya, social worker; Prof. M.N. Srinivas, Bangalore.
Published by the FAMILY PLANNING FOUNDATION, 8-28, Qutub Institutional Area, New Delhi-110016. Tel.: 6867080, 6867081.
Designed and Printed by Reproductions India, 8-9, Manjusha, 57 Nehru Place, New Delhi-110019. Tel.: 6466624, 6429091.
Editorial Direction: Harish Khanna
Editorial Consultant: J.L. Saaz
8