The National Family Welfare Programme is a demographic as well as a welfare programme meant for stabilising the population level, and at the same time, improving maternal and child health care. However, due to inconsistency of data on population coverage, procurement, and application of vaccines, and also due to scanty issue of family welfare materials, and incorrect and inflated reporting, the reported figures of achievement in the State were unreliable. Highlights:

1. Expenditure (Rs.23.90 crore) on salaries alone accounted for 75 per cent of the total expenditure (Rs.31.99 crore) under the Programme during 1995-2000. The Department stated that excess staff were appointed on the recommendation of Ministers and higher authorities.
2. There was an excess expenditure of Rs.1.43 crore in 182 Sub-centres due to appointment of staff far in excess of actual requirement.
3. The monthly progress reports submitted by departmental officers contained inflated/incorrect figures and the entire reporting process was unreliable.
4. Vaccine vials shown as issued, by the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare, were more than the number of vials actually received.
5. Fictitious issue of BCG (350 Amp), OP (3840 vials), Measles (2400 vials), TT (2000 vials), DT (800 vials) and DPT (1360 vials) vaccines by the DH&FW to the field units.