"The government is striving to cut population growth to below one percent," he said adding it had so far been quite high, namely 1.5 percent.
He said the efforts to be made by the government would be among other things revitalizing the family planning program. "There must be revitalization of the family planning program. There must be special efforts to control population growth," he said.
He said the government would increase its budget allocation for the family planning program and distribute contraceptives to the poor.
It would also set up offices of Family Planning Coordinating Board in regions where they did not yet exist, he said.
He said the present population growth was linked to economic growth and food resilience.
To implement the government`s idea, Agung called on all people to participate and help to make the family planning program a success.
He also asked community leaders to also set an example to the people living around them with regard to the family planning program. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
