The Association for Social Service and Rehabilitation of the Aged (ASSRA), a Delhi-based social organisation, on Tuesday urged the Government to take appropriate measures to check rapid growth of population that has stood on the way of development in the country.
The organisation observed the World Population Day at an Adibasi hamlet under the remote Chhatabar gram panchayat in Khordha district.
“As on July 11, 2017, the world’s population has risen to 751,75,07,800, India’s to 134,29,38, 590 and Odisha’s to 4,55,96,577 according to a report. The world’s population will increase to 972, 514, 07, 994 and India’s to 170, 53 32 544 by the year 2050. It is estimated that India’s population will cross China’s by 2022-23,” informed the organisation.
It lamented that the Government is not seriously working to check population growth that has stood on the way of development.
“In the Adivasi hamlet of Chhatabar, each couple has five to six children. They don’t know about the ‘Small Family, Happy Family’ message. There is neither an Angawanwadi Centre nor an Asha worker to make them understand about importance of a small family. We tried a lot to make people understand about how small family brings happiness,” said social worker Sushant Sahoo.
He too expressed unhappiness that people are not being encouraged to obtain Green Card by parenting two children only.
Among others, Kandalei Primary School Headmaster Pabitra Mohan Nayak, teacher Subash Ojha and social worker Priyabrata Panda joined the World Population Day observance at Chhatabar.