Background and Policy Origins
- The campaign occurred during the National Emergency (1975–77), under India’s broader population control efforts.
- It was part of India’s National Family Planning Programme, which had historically supported voluntary sterilisation as a method of birth control.
- The policy was influenced by global support for population control, including from organizations such as the Ford Foundation, World Bank, and IMF.
Relevance : GS 1(Post Independence)
Scale and Statistics
- A significant increase in sterilisation numbers was recorded:
- 1975: Approx. 1.3 million vasectomies
- 1976: Approx. 2.6 million
- 1977: Total sterilisation procedures rose to approx. 8.3 million (both male and female)
- The highest concentration of procedures occurred in northern Indian states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh.
- Many enumerated figures were documented in studies by researchers such as Pai Panandiker and K.G. Jolly.
Implementation and Methods
- Enumeration and sterilisation drives were conducted across urban and rural areas.
- Field-level functionaries — including local officials, teachers, health workers, and law enforcement — were involved in implementation.
- Measures to encourage participation included:
- Incentives: monetary compensation, food grains, or job-related benefits.
- Administrative pressure: In some areas, compliance became linked to access to government schemes and services.
Reported Outcomes
- According to the Shah Commission of Inquiry:
- 1,778 deaths were reported due to sterilisation procedures.
- Instances of coercion and procedural irregularities were noted.
- In some areas, public protests and legal actions were recorded in response to specific incidents.
Comparative Global Context
- India was not alone; other countries also implemented population control policies during the 20th century:
- United States: ~60,000 people sterilised under state eugenics laws (1907–1979).
- Sweden: ~63,000 sterilised under public health policies (1935–1976).
- Germany: ~400,000 sterilisations under the 1933 law on “genetic health”.
- Peru (1990s): ~3,00,000 people, mostly rural women, sterilised under family planning drives.
- China: Under the One-Child Policy, sterilisation was widely practiced to control population growth.
Public Memory and Long-Term Impact
- In India, the 1975–77 sterilisation drive became a notable event in the history of public health administration and governance during the Emergency.
- It is often discussed in relation to:
- The evolution of health rights
- The balance between population control and individual consent
- The need for procedural safeguards in public health interventions.
