The increase of population in India is at an alarming stage. Now we are the second largest populated country in the world, China being the first. So the population of India has crossed the limit of one Arab. So, the need of family planning is the need of the hour. England was the first country in the world to start family planning centres. America and other European countries also launched a campaign in favour of family planning. They gave family planning as much publicity as could be possible. After this it has spread throughout the world.
In India there are many reasons for family planning. The most important being the economic aspect. If we are having children more than our capacity to nourish them and to educate them well, then the living standard cannot be raised which is the main objective of our economic planning. Secondly, it is also a hindrance in country's progress. Lastly, it is also a factor to mother's health. If she will be having more children, she will have a poor state of health. Increase in population leads to various problems, i.e. shortage of food, unemployment, lack of civic conditions, housing problem and inadequate availability of health services. If we solve these problems by our available economic resources the country instead of making progress towards prosperity will lack behind. So, the need of the hour is family planning.
There are many hindrances in the path of family planning. The majority of people five in villages and are illiterate, ignorant, orthodox and superstitious. They believe that children are God gifts. This stands in the way of progress in the field of family planning. Being very poor, sex is the only means for their recreation. After hard labour throughout the day they turn out to it for enjoyment. This results in population increase. Religion is also an obstacle in the field of family planning. So all these hindrances do not let us achieve our target of family planning.
Our Government is doing its level best to achieve the target of family planning. Many family planning centres have been set up in different parts of the country at various places. Family planning devices are distributed to the people without any charges. Mass media and electronic media is used for wide publicity. We can see slogans like "we two, our two" etc. on TV, radio, magazines, news papers and on buses. By these efforts now people's minds have changed and they have started thinking about the need of family planning
