Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Home Affairs addressed a question in Lok Sabha regarding sterilization records during the National Emergency (1975-1977). The government established the Shah Commission in 1977 to investigate Emergency-era excesses, including the use of force in family planning programs. The Shah Commission Report, which included details on sterilization targets and reported complaints, was tabled in Parliament on August 31, 1978.
Key Points / Main Content:
Shah Commission and Investigation:
* A Commission of Enquiry, chaired by Justice J. C. Shah, was set up on May 28, 1977, to investigate Emergency-era excesses, malpractices, and misdeeds.
* The investigation included the use of force in the implementation of the family planning program.
Sterilization Targets and Achievements:
* The then Government had set sterilization targets for States/Union Territories under the Family Planning Programme for the years 1975-76 and 1976-77.
* Annexure provides details on targets set and the number of sterilizations undertaken in each State/Union Territory during those two years.
* In 1975-76, the target was 24,85,000 sterilizations, with an achievement of 26,24,755.
* In 1976-77, the target was 42,55,500 sterilizations, with an achievement of 81,32,209.
Complaints and Reports:
* 548 complaints of sterilization of unmarried persons were reported to the Shah Commission.
* 1774 cases of death linked to sterilization during the Emergency period were reported to the Shah Commission.
Report Tabling:
* The Shah Commission Report was tabled in Parliament on August 31, 1978.
Impact Analysis:
Government of India:
* Impact: The government is responsible for addressing the findings of the Shah Commission and any resulting actions.
* Action Required: Review the Shah Commission Report and take appropriate measures based on its findings.
States and Union Territories:
* Impact: States and UTs are implicated in the sterilization programs and achievements during the Emergency.
* Action Required: Review the data related to their region and address any outstanding issues.
Affected Persons/Victims of Sterilization:
* Impact: Individuals who were forcibly sterilized or affected by sterilization-related deaths during the Emergency.
* Action Required: Await potential redressal mechanisms based on the Shah Commission Report (if instituted).
Parliament:
* Impact: Parliament received and reviewed the Shah Commission Report.
* Action Required: Consider any legislative or oversight actions based on the report's findings.
Key Entities Referenced
National Emergency: Refers to the period from 1975 to 1977 in India, during which civil liberties were suspended.
Family Planning Programme: A government initiative focused on population control, which included sterilization programs during the Emergency.
Commission of Enquiry: A commission set up by the Government to investigate excesses, malpractices, and misdeeds during the Emergency.
Justice J. C Shah: Retired Chief Justice of the Honble Supreme Court of India and the Chairman of the Commission of Enquiry.
Shah Commission Report: The report produced by the Commission of Enquiry, tabled in Parliament on 31.08.1978, detailing findings on the Emergency period including use of force in the implementation of the family planning programme.
Andhra Pradesh: A state in India where sterilization targets and achievements were tracked under the Family Planning Programme.
Uttar Pradesh: A state in India where sterilization targets and achievements were tracked under the Family Planning Programme.
Maharashtra: A state in India where sterilization targets and achievements were tracked under the Family Planning Programme.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4156
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 19TH AUGUST, 2025/ SRAVANA 28, 1947 (SAKA)
DATA ON STERILIZATION
4156. SHRI KONDA VISHWESHWAR REDDY:
Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government maintains records of the number of
sterilizations both forcible and voluntary conducted across the country
during the National Emergency period from 1975 to 1977;
(b) if so, the details thereof, State and year-wise;
(c) whether any distinction is made in Government records between
voluntary and coercive sterilizations during that period;
(d) whether any official inquiries or reports were commissioned
post-Emergency to assess the human rights violations or irregularities in
sterilization drives; and
(e) if so, the details and findings of such reports and whether any
compensation or redressal mechanisms were instituted for affected
persons?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI NITYANAND RAI)
(a) to (e): The Government had set up a Commission of Enquiry under the
Chairmanship of Justice J. C Shah (retired Chief Justice of Hon’ble
Supreme Court of India) on 28.05.1977 to inquire into, inter-alia, excesses,-2-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 4156 FOR 19.08.2025
malpractices and misdeeds during the Emergency including use of force
in the implementation of the family planning programme.
As per the Report, the then Government had set targets for
sterilization in the years 1975-76 and 1976-77 for States/Union Territories
under Family Planning programme. Details on the targets given and the
number of sterilizations undertaken in the States/ Union Territories in the
two years is at Annexure. Further, a total of 548 complaints of sterilization
of unmarried persons and 1774 cases of death linked to sterilization during
the Emergency period were also reported to the Shah Commission. The
Shah Commission Report was tabled in Parliament on 31.08.1978.
*******ANNEXURE
L.S.US.Q.NO. 4156 FOR 19.08.2025
NUMBER OF STERILIZATION AS FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAMME CONDUCTED
ACROSS THE COUNTRY DURING EMERGENCY:
Name of State/UT 1975-76 1976-77
Target set Achievement Target set Achievement
by by
Government Government
of India of India
Andhra Pradesh 2,94,200 1,65,163 4,00,000 7,41,713
Assam 67,300 1,47,545 1,70,000 2,26,205
Bihar 2,02,500 1,65,531 3,00,000 6,80,000
Gujarat 1,82,400 1,53,000 2,00,000 3,17,000
Haryana 74,300 57,942 52,000 2,22,000
Himachal Pradesh 18,600 16,830 31,500 1,00,740
Jammu & Kashmir 7,000 9,502 31,000 15,794
Karnataka 1,39,000 1,20,671 2,44,500 4,88,861
(upto
28.02.77)
Kerala 1,48,400 1,56,622 2,22,500 2,06,600
Madhya Pradesh 1,63,800 1,12,000 2,67,500 10,01,000
Maharashtra 3,18,300 6,11,000 5,62,000 8,33,000
Manipur 1,600 847 4,500 6,286
Meghalaya 1,500 2,100 3,500 7,513
Nagaland - - - 355
Orissa 1,09,200 1,25,040 1,95,500 3,22,984
Punjab 43,100 53,083 46,500 1,39,905
Rajasthan 1,06,100 86,000 1,75,000 3,64,760
Sikkim - - - 262
Tamil Nadu 2,11,300 2,70,691 5,00,000 5,69,756
Tripura 3,400 4,140 9,000 12,600
Uttar Pradesh 1,75,000 1,28,000 4,00,000 8,37,000
West Bengal 1,96,100 2,06,421 3,92,500 8,80,000
Andaman & Nicobar 200 242 500 1,376
Islands
Arunachal Pradesh 100 22 600 268
Chandigarh 1,300 1,163 2,000 2,590
Dadra & Nagar 350 241 600 695
Haveli
Delhi 11,200 22,510 29,000 1,38,517
Goa, Daman & Diu 4,400 2,800 8,000 5,571
Lakshadweep 50 56 200 149
Mizoram 900 905 1,800 679
Pondicherry 3,400 4,688 5,300 8,030
Total 24,85,000 26,24,755 42,55,500 81,32,209
(SOURCE: J C SHAH COMMISSION REPORT)