In this critical examination of India's family planning programme, the author concludes that the health sector in India is influenced by ideas of eugenics and of Malthus. He explains how these ideas have moulded the discipline of demography and helped to construct the family planning programme.

The author looks for empirical evidence on the apparent reproductive profligacy of the poor and points to history to show repeated association between population and economic and health improvement. Questioning the motives behind the emphasis on reproductive health and rights, he maintains that neo-liberal economic policies have dealt a huge blow to ideas of the universal provision of health services.