Coercion in achieving the family planning targets led to the defeat of Congress (I) in general parliamentary elections, and the Janata Party which won the elections by mobilizing support of the masses to oppose “sterilization programme” declared a new population policy in June 1977. It was declared that the programme of family welfare (a new name for family planning) should be entirely voluntary. The statement of the population policy declared on 29 June 1977 is given below:

1. The President in his address to Parliament on 28.3.1977, stated that “Family planning will be pursued vigorously as a wholly voluntary programme and as an integral part of a comprehensive policy covering education, health, maternity and child care, family welfare, women's rights and nutrition”. The Prime Minister has on a number of occasions underlined the vital importance of family planning as a means of individual and national development and well being. This government is totally committed to the Family Welfare Programme and will spare no efforts to motivate the people to accept it voluntarily in their own interest and in the interest of their children as well as in the larger interest of the nation.

2. Family planning has, however, to be lifted from its old and narrow concept and given its proper place in the overall philosophy of welfare. It must embrace all aspects of family welfare, particularly those which are designed to protect and promote the health of mothers and children. It must become a part of the total concept of positive health. At the same time, it must find meaningful integration with other welfare programmes, viz. nutrition, food, clothing, shelter, availability of safe drinking water, education, employment and women's welfare. It will be our endeavour to bring about this integration in a greater degree. We expect the state to do the same.