PANAJI: The Health Minister, Mr Laxmikant Parsekar, has said that due to the increase in population, unemployment, shortage of natural resources, housing problems and mental problems are increasing and to get rid of all these we have to be more serious about population stabilisation.
The Health Minister was speaking during the flagging off a State Level Road Rally, organised by the State Family Welfare Bureau under Directorate of Health Services in collaboration with Urban Health Centre, Panaji from Kala Academy campus on Wednesday.
Deputy Director of Health Dr Dipak Kabadi and senior doctors of DHS, Dr Vandana Patankar, Dr Preetam Naik, Dr Mangala Tamba and others were present on the occasion.
Speaking further, Mr Parsekar said that July 11 is observed annually as the World Population Day since 1989 to spread awareness on global population growth.
The minister said that the United Nations had authorised the event as a vehicle to spread awareness on population issues as they have a huge impact on development and environment.
Commenting on India's population, he said that "India is the second most populous country in the world. In the last century, global population increased by three times while the population of India increased by five times. The population explosion in the country may derail all development activities and progress if it is not tackled immediately. Slower growth of population will certainly benefit all aspect of development in education, health, agriculture, urbanisation, and environment."
The minister also added that stabilising population growth is an essential requirement for development of sustainable economy towards achieving the goal.
He felt that an opportunity should be created to enable people to take up gainful and productive activities, which can improve the quality of life.
The rally proceeded via St Inez junction, 18th June Road, M G Road, to culminate at Azad Maidan, Panaji. Around 500 students from various schools and colleges from Panaji jurisdiction participated in the rally.
The theme of year 2012 is ‘Universal Access to Reproductive Health Services’ and the slogan for this year is ‘Khushhali Ka Aadhar, Chhota Parivar’.
