A project to slow population growth in a Maharashtra district has encouraged other states to study it—some are even considering replicating it—even as the first couples who signed up for the experiment are set to receive the promised financial incentive next month for agreeing to put off having

children.

A brainchild of the Satara district administration, the project was launched with funds from the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in August 2007 to take steps to curb the birth rate which stood at 17 births per thousand people per year.

Although NRHM State Project Director Madhukar Chaudhari appreciates Satara’s success, he also has a word of caution. “Two years is a small period for evaluating the impact of the project.

They are reporting success, however it needs to be closely analysed,” he said.

Nevertheless, the governments of Assam and Delhi had sought details of the project and its impact in order to replicate it in their states.

Satara initiated the scheme after it saw a gradual increase in birth rates. In 2005 and 2006, the birth rate in the district was 16.5 and 16.7 respectively. The project was the first step taken by the administration to control it.

Under the scheme, married couples who put off having children by two years would be paid Rs 5,000 at the end of those two years while for those who postponed their first born by three years, the amount promised was Rs 7,500.

In the first phase of the scheme, 977 couples from across the district registered until March 2008 and the number has since risen to 2,366. There were “defaults” too, with 155 couples dropping off midway and having children.

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