Shillong, July 11: The Office of the District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO), East Khasi Hills District on Thursday organised a programme to mark World Population Day, 2019 and the launch of the Population Stabilization Fortnight 2019 at Sohryngkham Community Hall, Lulong, Sohryngkham, East Khasi Hills District.

The programme was attended by MLA, Mawryngkneng Constituency David Nongrum in the presence of BDO, Mawryngkneng, CR&D Block,R. Wahlang, Additional DMHO, East Khasi Hills, Shillong, Dr J.B Ranee, Senior Medical and Health Officer, i/c Mawryngkneng PHC Dr. A Kharduit, village Headman, heath officials, ASHAs, anganwadi workers, elders, teachers and students among others.

Speaking at the programme,  Nongrum stated that the primary objective of the observance of World Population Day is to create awareness to the public on the need to adopt family planning measures to ensure that families prosper, the resultant effect of which is the prosperity of the state and the nation at large.

He also said that the need of the hour is the forging of a close coordination between all the stakeholders including parents, educational institutions, village authorities and the government, in respect of awareness creation on the importance of small families as big families often result in constraints in educational and employment opportunities for children who are the future of the country.

As part of the observation, an extempore speech competition and poster competition was also organized on the occasion.

It may be mentioned that World Population Day, first observed on the 11th of July in the year 1989, presents an occasion to raise awareness on the ever increasing world population and the problems associated with it including the threat to depletion of natural resources and the challenges it poses to livelihood and the environment.