Q.What are the schemes included under National Family Welfare Programme?

The National Family Welfare Programme combines birth-control/contraception, maternal and child health care, immunisation, nutrition, and health education schemes to control population and improve reproductive health.

The Government of India launched the family welfare (originally family planning) programme to control the rapidly rising population and to improve the health of mothers and children. It is not a single measure but a package of coordinated schemes:

1. Promotion of the small-family norm — the 'Hum Do, Hamare Do' idea — encouraging couples to have fewer children through awareness campaigns.
2. Provision of contraceptive/birth-control services — condoms, oral pills, IUDs, and sterilisation (vasectomy/tubectomy) for spacing and limiting births.
3. Maternal and Child Health (MCH) care — antenatal and postnatal care, promotion of safe and institutional deliveries, and care of infants to reduce maternal and infant mortality.
4. Universal Immunisation Programme — vaccination of pregnant women and children against preventable diseases.
5. Nutrition and supplementary feeding for mothers and children.
6. Health and sex education to spread awareness of reproductive health, sexually transmitted infections and responsible parenthood. …