An extensive literature exists on the determinants of fertility behavior in developing countries, and how these determinants may constrain demand for family planning services.

India can take legitimate pride that it was one of the earliest nations to introduce a population policy, yet fertility control remains a most contentious problem of electoral politics of India in the 1990s.

Most of us know why there are great concerns about demographic growth. As we meet, there are about 5.5 billion human beings, halfway between five and six billion. We add over a quarter of a million people to the earth every, day, day after day.

Although India started its official family planning program way back in 1951, a formal statement on population policy was issued by the Congress Government in 1976 when India passing through Internal Emergency.

In less than 30 years of it existence, Haryana has emerged as the second moss economically advanced state in the country after Punjab. Economic indicators have shown a sharp uptrend ever since the "neglected" parts of the composite Punjab were carved out to form Haryana in 1966.

High family size desire and low acceptance of family planning constitute, the two main factors underlying the high fertility of the Indian population. Excessive loss of children in early childhood in rural areas is considered to be contributory to both of the above factors.

India can take legitimate pride that it was one of the earliest nations to introduce a population policy, yet fertility control remains a most contentious problem of electoral politics of India in the 1990s.

The preference of couples worldwide for a male or female child is an age-old phenomenon. In many developing countries, including India, the preference for sons is strong and has influenced fertility to a large extent.

With 58 percent of married couples in Asia and Oceania using a contraceptive method in 1990 (United Nations, 1994), contraception - a novelty two decades ago - has become the norm in much of the region.