THE INTEGRATION OF FAMILY-PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES IN INDIA

The current level of population growth in India is likely to result in India becoming the world's most populous country early in the twenty- first century. Population issues have been an important and often cont roversial, aspect of the development policies of the Government of Ind ia (GOI) since independence. Current strategies include integrating he alth and development programmes with family planning programmes and ex panding the role of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) like the Fam ily Planning Association of India (FPAI). The two FPAI organisations i n Shimoga District, Karnataka (the Shimoga Branch and the Santhebennur Project), promote health, development and environmental awareness as well as family planning. The NGO structure facilitates innovation in t he introduction of new programmes and in the way in which public attit udes are shaped.