In the last decade, several international and national movements have focused their attention, on the long neglected areas of women's reproductive health.

The rapid growth of population is one of the major problems facing the country today. India is at the turning point in its population development. As early as 1970, the birth rate showed a distinct downward trend, and continued to fall further to its present lowest.

There is a growing recognition that gynaecological morbidity is an important health problem among poor women in India.