Odisha marked World Population Day 2025 with a state-level event at Gita Govinda Sadan in Bhubaneswar, emphasising family planning, gender equality, and maternal health.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Mukesh Mahaling inaugurated the program and launched the “Population Stabilisation Fortnight,” urging collective efforts to build a healthy society.
The event highlighted Odisha’s remarkable progress in population control and the critical role of awareness in addressing population-related challenges.
Dr. Mahaling underscored the importance of family planning, reproductive rights, and women’s health, noting that the state has reduced the average number of children per couple to 1.8, surpassing the national average of 2.1. The unmet need for family planning has also dropped significantly from 13.6% to 7.2%, reflecting the success of Odisha’s initiatives. “A stable population is key to sustainable development. Our efforts in training service providers and engaging ASHA workers have yielded encouraging results,” he said.
The minister highlighted the role of community-level volunteers, particularly ASHA workers, in disseminating essential information and encouraging service uptake. He also addressed the harmful effects of rapid population growth and illegal practices like child marriage, which pose risks to maternal and child health. Proper birth spacing, he emphasised, is crucial for healthier outcomes for both mothers and children.
During the event, Dr. Mahaling felicitated health department staff, ASHA workers, doctors, and other healthcare professionals for their outstanding contributions to family planning. For the first time under the new government, financial assistance was provided to recognise their efforts. Several districts were also awarded for their exemplary performance in population control initiatives.
World Population Day, observed globally on July 11, aims to raise awareness about population issues, promote reproductive rights, and empower women to make informed reproductive choices.
The program included a welcome address by Dr. Rajashree Pattnaik, Director of Family Welfare, remarks by Dr. Amarendra Mohanty, Director of Health Services, and a vote of thanks by Dr. Muralidhar Padhi, Additional Director.
Odisha’s commitment to population stabilisation and sustainable development was reiterated, with a call to eliminate harmful practices such as child marriage and ensure access to family planning services.
Through awareness, education, and community engagement, the state aims to maintain its progress toward achieving a replacement-level fertility rate, thereby fostering a healthier and more equitable society.
