New Delhi: Noting that use of contraceptives was low in the country, a Parliamentary Committee has asked the authorities to consider family welfare as a thrust area and enhance Budgetary allocation besides raising incentives to promote small family norm.

"Despite efforts made by the Department to create awareness about the usage of contraceptives, it appears to be far from reality, as the desired results are not foreseen," the Parliamentary Standing Committee report on the action taken by the Department of Family Welfare said.

"The Committee is baffled to know that the Planning Commission whose basic mandate is to control the population, does not consider family welfare, as special thrust area," it said.

Population, in fact, neutralises fruits of development and reduces the per capita availability of resources, it said, adding population control has to have equal emphasis as is being given to areas like power, railways, road, transport etc.

Thus, the Budgetary allocation for the Department should be raised during the next financial year.

Stating that amount of incentives given for adopting small family norms was not adequate enough to encourage people to adopt these norms vigorously, the Committee said enhancing these incentives to appropriate extent should be considered.

PTI