Sterilization through “Coercion”?: Girl Child Promotion Schemes and Family Planning in India

In India, the acceptance of family planning is voluntary and couples have the freedom and choice to accept any method they want. However, the recent conditional cash transfer (CCT) schemes for promoting the survival and welfare of girl children in the wake of alarmingly skewed child sex ratio have used inadvertently to increase sterilization coverage. The acceptance of terminal method of family planning by parents is one of the eligibility criteria to enroll the girl child in ‘popular’ schemes such as Bhagyalakshmi (Karnataka), Ladli Lakshmi (Madhya Pradesh), Girl Child Protection Scheme (Andhra Pradesh), Indira Gandhi Balika Suraksha Yojana (Himachal Pradesh),and Balri Rakshak Yojana (Punjab). It also raises a larger question - why is family planning linked with girl child promotion schemes? A study sponsored by UNFPA found that many poor parents are induced to accept family planning to join the schemes which provide financial benefits. This led to female sterilization because that was considered more socially acceptable. Many believe sex selective abortions as a danger of aggressively pursuing female sterilization and small family norm in the context of son preference. Interestingly, the measures designed to reverse sex selection also encourages sterilization, which may go against the human rights of women.