In Tamil Nadu, government family welfare services are now including treatment for problems with childbearing. Couples will receive counseling and treatment.
Tamil Nadu Family Welfare
Family welfare services are being expanded in Tamil Nadu. These services will now focus not only on family planning and spacing, but will also help couples facing difficulties conceiving. To this end, government hospitals are planning to provide pre-conception counseling and infertility treatment. This service will be expanded to district-level government hospitals. The government has taken this step amid the state's steadily declining birth rate and growing elderly population.
Treatment will be available in government hospitals.
Couples struggling to conceive will now receive more support through the government health system. Plans have been made to provide infertility treatment at district headquarters hospitals. In addition, necessary pre-conception counseling will be provided by doctors. Plans are underway to extend this treatment to areas without government medical college hospitals. Special procedures to help with conception will also be made available in some areas. Information about this will be provided at health centers and primary health centers. Health workers working in villages will also help couples in need reach the right hospital. This will ensure that people receive appropriate information and treatment at an early stage.
The birth rate is continuously decreasing in the state.
According to government data, the number of births in Tamil Nadu has steadily declined over the past few years. In 2020, approximately 9.39 lakh births were recorded in the state, while in 2025, this number dropped to approximately 8.02 lakh. The average number of children a woman has in her lifetime has also declined to 1.3. To maintain a stable population over the long term, this figure is considered to be around 2.1. On the other hand, the number of elderly people in the state is increasing. Currently, the population of people aged 60 years and above is approximately 16 percent. This figure is projected to reach approximately 20 percent by 2036. In view of this changing population, the government is making new changes in family welfare services.
There will be no pressure to have a child.
This government plan does not mean that every couple will be encouraged to have children. Family planning and contraception services will continue as before. Safe abortions will also be available. The government's primary focus is on couples who desire children but are unable to conceive. Furthermore, the plan does not promote multiple births. Health department data also reveals that maternal mortality rates are higher among women who have multiple pregnancies. Therefore, the government's focus is on providing treatment and appropriate counseling to needy couples rather than encouraging them to have more children.
