Family Planning Week 1966

The rapid growth of population presents a significant challenge worldwide, and in India, where food scarcity is already a pressing concern, the implications of this “population explosion” are particularly severe. In mid-1966, India’s population surpassed 500 million and continues to grow at a rate exceeding 12 million annually. Despite comprising 14% of the world’s population, India must support its people on just 2.4% of the world’s land area.

Recognizing the threat posed by overpopulation, the Government of India initiated the world’s first official Family Planning Programme in 1952. Family planning, along with the imperative for increased food production, became central to the nation’s development efforts. Substantial resources have been allocated to this high-priority program, with a focus on promoting all proven contraceptive methods and implementing a comprehensive mass education campaign.

Training and research centers have been established across the country to support various aspects of the program. The overarching goal is to reduce India’s annual birth rate from 40 per thousand to 25 over the next decade. The success of this program hinges on the cooperation and active participation of all citizens in this national endeavor.

In observance of Family Planning Week, the Posts & Telegraphs Department is issuing a special postage stamp on December 12th, 1966, to underscore the importance of this critical initiative.