FAMILY PLANNING IN TRIBAL AREAS- A Case Study In Rajavommangi Tribal Development Block

Abstract

The study elicited to know the various methods of family planning introduced in the block area and the impact of the Family Planning Programme in this Block. For this purpose, Rajavomangi, the block headquarters, Konda Pallia roadside village and Iabbarthi, an interior village were selected. 10 persons from the three selected villages are selected on purposive sampling basis. The survey conducted by the Family Planning Unit of the Block there are 3,704 Target couples are having more than three children. Target couple which 2,466 couples/may be defined as wife and husband having two or more children. The study noticed that 61% of the favourable respondents opined that it is advisable to undergo vasectomy after four or more than four children indicating their ingrained love for more children. Among these, 50% opined that they favour the adoption of family planning after the birth of fifth child and the rest after the sixth child. The study reveals that the prevailing famine conditions at the time of large-scale introduction of family planning programme showed the famine stricken tribals a ready source of income, however small it may be as it sustains the striving family for a week days. As is evident from case studies and records of the Family Planning Unit of the Block most of the acceptors belonged to low income groups and have deficit budgets. As clearly mirrored in the attitude survey, the overwhelming majority of acceptors are not favourably inclined to restrict the size of the family to two or three children. The ingrained love for more children, fear of infantile mortality and the economic gain from each family members are the main reasons or preferring more than the number of children advocated by the family planning programme. The thumping success achieved during 1967-68 and 1968-69 could not be sustained during 1969-70 and there has been step fall in the number of acceptors of various family planning methods due to the various reasons and the reasons are also mentioned in this study. The preceding discussion brings into lime light certain loop holes in the implementation of family planning programme which are to be plugged for the smooth implementation of the programme without disturbing normal life of the people. It is also essential to keep in mind the peculiar social practice and norms of the tribal societies while performing either tubectomy or vasectomy.