Timely investments in family planning would better equip women to study, work and plan better families, eventually benefiting the nation and economy, believes Poonam Muttreja
A confident Nirma Devi from Gaya, Bihar, says “We use condoms in our house.” Her transformation from a diminutive girl, married off early, to the present, fervent advocate of family planning (FP), is exemplary. She represents women of today, ready to break away from societal pressures.
Indian women have had a metamorphic journey since independence, with transformative improvements in education and employment. Challenges, however, persist, a number of which can be overcome by giving women control over their own bodies and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) decisions. India’s complex social fabric gives women little freedom over fertility decisions. There is a clear disconnect between the desired fertility rate among women (1.8 as per the fourth National Family Health Survey), as against the total fertility rate (TFR) of 2.2. Furthermore, there are wide disparities in TFR across the nation, ranging from 3.4 in Bihar to 1.2 in Sikkim.
Family planning (FP) has proven to impact all Sustainable Development Goals. Timely investments in FP would allow women to complete their education, enter the workforce and plan families—eventually benefiting the nation and the economy. While FP programmes must ensure women have access to SRH services, their success depends on several factors like quality of care, adequate infrastructure, counseling services, positive provider attitudes and so on.
Elucidating the potential benefits of investing in FP, findings from a study by the Population Foundation of India titled ‘Cost of Inaction in Family Planning in India: An Analysis of Health and Economic Implications’, states that India can prevent up to 2.9 million infant deaths, 1.2 million maternal deaths, 206 million unsafe abortions, and 69 million additional births by 2031 if FP programmes are prioritised. There can also be an additional 13 per cent increase in India’s per capita GDP. These findings echo a 2013-14 estimate by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), which stated that if unmet need for FP is addressed in the next five years, India could avert 35,000 maternal and 12 lakh infant deaths. The provision of safe abortion services, together with FP services, could save the economy approximately Rs 6,500 crore during this period.
There are 80 million teenage girls in India today and the country’s progress rests as much on its young girls as on its young boys. With 65 per cent of the population under the age of 35, policymakers must view this population momentum as an asset. Strong social commitment and political will are needed to overcome structural barriers impeding the progress of women and girls. The national population debate needs to relocate its emphasis from only reducing numbers to empowering people, especially women. The ambitious Ayushman Bharat programme aims to leave no one behind and the government must ensure that SRH of women and girls are put on priority.
(The author is executive director of the Population Foundation of India).