| 1946
Bhore
Committee Report
1952
Launching
of Family Planning Programme
1976
Statement of National
Population Policy
1977
Policy Statement
on Family Welfare Programme
Both
statements were laid on the Table of the House in Parliament,
but never discussed or adopted.
1983
The National Health
Policy of 1983 emphasized the need for "securing the small
family norm, through voluntary efforts and moving towards
the goal of population stabilisation". While adopting the
Health Policy, Parliament emphasized the need for a separate
National Population Policy.
1991
The National Development Council appointed
a Committee on Population with Shri Karunakaran as Chairman.
The Karunakaran Report (Report of the National Development
Council (NDC) Committee on Population) endorsed by NDC in
1993 proposed the formulation of a National Population Policy
to take a "a long term holistic view of development, population
growth and environmental protection" and to "suggest policies
and guidelines (for) formulation of programs" and "a monitoring
mechanism with short, medium and long term perspectives and
goals" (Planning Commission, 1992). It was argued that the
earlier policy statements of 1976 and 1977 were placed on
the table, however, Parliament never really discussed or adopted
them. Specifically, it was recommended that "a National Policy
of Population should be formulated by the Government and adopted
by Parliament".
1993
An Expert Group headed by Dr. M.S. Swaminathan
was asked to prepare a draft of a national population policy
that would be discussed by the Cabinet and then by Parliament.
1994
Report
on a National Population Policy by the Expert Group headed
by Dr. Swaminathan. This report was circulated among Members
of Parliament, and comments requested from central and state
agencies. It was anticipated that a national population policy
approved by the National Development Council and the Parliament
would help produce a broad political consensus.
1997
On the 50th anniversary
of India's Independence, Prime Minister Gujral promised to
announce a National Population Policy in the near future.
During 11/ 97 Cabinet approved the draft National Population
Policy with the direction that this be placed before Parliament.
However, this document could not be placed in either House
of Parliament as the respective Houses stood adjourned followed
by dissolution of the Lok Sabha.
1999
Another round of
consultations was held during 1998, and another draft National
Population Policy was finalised and placed before the Cabinet
in March, 1999. Cabinet appointed a Group of Ministers (headed
by Dy Chairman, Planning Commission) to examine the draft
Policy. The GOM met several times and deliberated over the
nuances of the Population Policy. In order to finalise a view
about inclusion/exclusion of incentives and disincentives,
the Group of Ministers invited a cross-section of experts
from among academia, public health professionals, demographers,
social scientists, and women's representatives. The GOM finalised
a draft population policy, and placed the same before Cabinet.
This was discussed in Cabinet on 19 November, 1999. Several
suggestions were made during the deliberations. On that basis,
a fresh draft was submitted to Cabinet.
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