Chapter 4: Prioritizing Tubectomy Over Vasectomy: Analyzing the Sexist Barrier Blocks on Women's Choice to Be Sterilized

India is the most populous nation in the world, making up around 17.76% of all people on the planet. With a population estimated by the United Nations (UN) to be over 1.43 billion, India has surpassed China to become the world’s most populated country, expanding at a pace of 0.81% (United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, 2024).

India was the first nation to initiate the National Family Welfare Program in 1951 in response to this population crisis, with the objective of reducing the birth rate to a level that would ensure population stabilization in accordance with the economic needs of the country (Noel & Ajeet, 2014). Despite an increase in male sterilization during 1970s (emergency period), which was propelled by mass forced vasectomy camps, enhanced incentives, and extensive public campaigns, the program did not attain widespread social acceptance. As a result, sterilization obligations become a primary responsibility of women.