SHILLONG: The World Population Day 2018 is being observed by the Government of Meghalaya through a month-long programme comprising mobilisation fortnight during June 27 to July 10 and population stabilization fortnight from July 11th to 24th this year.
The observation of World Population Day and Stabilisation Fortnight 2018 under the theme “Bright future begins with welfare of a family” was organised by the office of the District Medical & Health Officer, East Khasi Hills District, Shillong at Mawkdok Community Hall on Friday.
Speaking as the Chief Guest on the occasion, Gavin M Mylliem, MLA, Sohra Constituency stated that he was pleased to hear about the theme “Bright future begins with welfare of a family” as it relates to Family Planning, which is an important factor for combating population growth.
He expressed his happiness over the efforts put in by the Government through the District Medical & Health Officer, East Khasi Hills, Shillong to stabilize the population at a level consistent with the requirement of national economy. He added that the burgeoning population occurring due to our ignorance and greed was one of the main factors for destruction of the environment. The theme of the World Population Day 2018 adopted by the United Nations is “Family Planning is a Human Right”.
“As human beings, we keep on producing offspring without taking into account, whether we are able to provide for our children with their basic needs such as education, health care and this gives rise to poverty, rendering a bleak future for our children,” he said pointing out that early marriage is the main reason for broken families.
He appealed to all the youth to delay their entry into marriage despite the legal marriage age for male being 21 years and for female 18 years, as it is necessary for one to become financially stable before starting a family.
Earlier, delivering the keynote address, Dr J B Ranee, District MCH Officer, East Khasi Hills, Shillong reported that, currently the rate of population growth of the world is 83 – 84 million every year. In 2014, the population of East Khasi Hills District was eight lakhs and by 2018 it had increased drastically to 10 lakhs.
The programme was followed by a prize distribution, where the chief guest gave away prizes to winners of the extempore speeches and posters presentation competitions held in the morning.
Earlier in the day, a rally was taken out by school students, ASHA workers and staff of the various Health Centres on the occasion of World Population Day 2018.