“Indigenous population to increase”

SHILLONG, JULY 24: The population of indigenous people residing in Shillong, the capital city of the state is likely to cross 2 lakh by the end of this year even as officials expressed concern over the increase in teenage pregnancy in the state.

“The population (only indigenous people) in Shillong will cross 2 lakh marks by the end of 2017,” Health & Family Welfare secretary HM Shangpliang said.

Delivering his key note address at the state level advocacy meeting on world population day held at U Soso Tham Auditorium here, Shangpliang said the indigenous population is increasing by over 10, 000 every year.

Further highlighting more on how populated Shillong city is, the government official said as per 2011 census the total population in the state capital was at 3,54,325 out of which 1,76,591 are males and 1,77,724 are females.

Setting aside the floating population, he however said that the indigenous population has witnessed an increased by over 47,000 during the last five years (2012 to 2016).

In 2012, the indigenous population was at 1.51 lakh, in 2013 – 1.62 lakh, 2014 – 1.64 lakh, 2015 – 1.83 lakh and 2016 – 1.98 lakh, he said while predicting that the state’s population will definite increase in the coming years.

Stating that the situation is a matter of concern, Shangpliang said that India which is having a population of 1,311 million is closed to China, which is the most populated country in the world, at 1,376 million population.

“But prediction says that by 2030 India is going to be the most populated country with 1,528 million population and China with 1,416 million population,” he added.

Lauding the Centre for coming up with this year’s theme which is – “A new wave, a new belief/trust, families prosper with total responsibility”, he said everything should come in a way that we have a population with responsibility.

He however said that teenage pregnancy among young girls especially in rural areas of the state is a matter of serious concern.

“We have to go deeper into these details,” Shangpliang said while appealing the need to spread this message especially to those people who settle down at a young age of 15-16 years.

According to him, unless you have a safe family planning, you will mess your home as your responsibility starts from the day you start your family.

Addressing on the occasion as chief guest, SCPCR chairperson Meena Kharkongor lamented the fact that there is a lack of proper education and awareness programmes with regards to family planning.

Kharkongor said that the rise in population demands a strong mechanism to sensitize people on the adverse effects of population explosion in relation to employment, education, health issues and others. To have a proper family planning and having happier and healthier families, the families themselves must voluntarily take up the cause, she added.

She also said that female education in the rural areas holds the key in addressing the ever increasing population growth.

Organized by the National Health Mission, Meghalaya and the Directorate of Health Services (MCH & FW), the state level advocacy meeting was attended by students from different colleges besides government officials.

World Population day is an annual event, observed on July 11 every year, which seeks to raise awareness of global population issues. Its main objective is to highlight the causes of population explosion and put forward remedial strategies for better and healthier lives.

The World Population Day activities in Meghalaya have been observed for over a month-long period starting with ‘Mobilization Fortnight’ from 27^th June to 10^th July, 2017 and ‘Population Stabilization Fortnight’ from 10^th-24^th July, 2017.