MEASURE DHS - Journal Details

Family Welfare Programme in India: Expenditure vs Performance
Authors:	P Arokiasamy, Chander Shekhar, K Srinivasan, Srinivas Goli
Source:	Economic and Political Weekly, october 22, 2011 vol xlvi no 43
Topic(s):	Health policy change
Country:	Asia India
Published:	OCT 2011
Abstract:	Since the launch of the reproductive and child health policy regime in 1998-99, there has been a massive rise in government expenditure on family welfare programmes in India. This paper makes a systematic effort to assess the performance of the family welfare programmes vis-à-vis the trends in expenditure. The trends in key performance indicators for India and selected states reveal that progress has been slow and limited in the post-rch policy regime. Child immunisation coverage has decelerated, and the increase in the contraceptive prevalence rate and institutional delivery coverage have stalled. Consequently, the pace of reduction in the total fertility rate and infant mortality rate has slowed. Overall, the progress in key programme indicators is found to be incommensurate with rising expenditure.