In most demographic surveys, respondents are asked to state their desired family size and whether they intend to have additional children. However, the predictive accuracy of their statements about future fertility has been the subject of considerable controversy.

Though fertility is a biological phenomenon there are a number of other factors influencing the levels and differentials of fertility among tribals.

Organising camp for providing contraceptive services to a large number of people at one place has been a significant feature of the family planning programme. Table 1 would make the thrust of the camps very clear.

The Times of India dated 13 January 1994 featured on its front-page news of a tragic event. ‘A sixty-year old advocate... leaped to his death from the eighth floor of the Bombay Hospital and died of multiple injuries... (This followed) the revelation that he was HIV positive ...

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.

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.

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.

Hysterectomy is major surgery with a mortality rate of 1-2 per 1000 operations and an even higher complication rate. There is a widespread misconception, even among doctors that removal of the uterus, without removal of the ovaries has little or no long-term health consequences for the woman.

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.

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.