Family Planning

THE birth rate in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra has fallen below 32 per thousand, the target of the Fourth Plan. According to the Report of the Ministry of Health and Family Plan-ning for 1971-72, it is also declining steadily in Mysore, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa, and, if present trend continues, it should reach the Fourth Plan target next year. Over 12.4 million couples, out of 98 million couples, in the reproductive age group have been protected against unwanted children. 8.6 million people have preferred sterilisa-tion, 1.5 million have had IUCDs insert-ed and 2,2 million have preferred con-ventional contraceptives. Had it not been for the family planning programme, there would have been 9.4 million more mouths to feed in the country.