Proposing its own national population policy on the occasion of the World Population Day, the IMA said an apex committee could be set up under the PM's leadership, comprising representatives from all ministries. The association has identified three factors which, from its point of view, explain the failure of family planning so far: failure to eradicate illiteracy and the resultant gender bias, extreme centralisation of the programme resulting in a limited reach, and lack of people involvement.

For each of these factors, IMA proposes an action plan. First, modifying the education of girls, considering that ``when you educate a girl you educate a family.'' Secondly, broadening the approach in order to give it a national impact, which basically comes to decentralising, delegating responsibility to the Gram Panchayats, Nagar Palikas, and the Private Medical Service Providers, who already take care of 80% of the curative healthcare need.

Finally, maximising participation of all sections of the society, meaning individuals, corporations, NGOs, charitable, educational and religious institutions as well as political parties.

India, the IMA pointed out, was the first country to launch a national family planning programme way back in 1951. Still, little has been achieved on the population control front. Annual population growth is a stupendous 17 million, and the consequences on the quality of life, social harmony and the ecosystem are inevitably proportional.

And it will become the most populous country in the world by 2050, with a population of over 162 crore, which is approaching the billion figure by the day.