Population policy 'needs revamp'

The Indonesian Coalition for Population and Development says the government should manage population growth in an integrated manner in accordance with the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.

The goals were formulated in September 2000 and were designed as a blueprint for building a better world in the 21st century. All 192 United Nations member states have agreed to try meet the criteria by 2015.

The coalition's head, Indra Abidin, said Friday the government should install a minister or an official of a similar capacity to supervise population matters.

"Matters pertaining to the population are currently managed separately in different ministries," Abidin said, referring to the Manpower and Transmigration Ministry and the Health Ministry.

"The government needs to pay attention to the rapidly increasing population and the need to improve the quality of life for the people," he said.

Indonesia's population is projected to double in the next 47 years if left unattended. According to 2006 World Bank data, Indonesia currently has a population of around 220 million, of which 17.8 percent live under the poverty line.

Abidin also said he was disappointed with the government's stance on the amendment of the 1992 Population and Family Planning Law.

"The government wants family planning to be part of its health programs. The government sees the family planning program only in the context of pregnancy and contraception," he said.

He argued that the family planning program should address marital age and planned parenthood, as well as improve the endurance and prosperity of families.

National Family Planning Coordinating Board (BKKBN) chief Sugiri Syarief told The Jakarta Post that the family planning law amendment should focus on the establishment of an institution to handle population problems and should incorporate the family planning program.

"Population is a broad matter. Indonesia doesn't have an institution dealing solely with that matter," Sugiri said, adding that BKKBN is the body that currently deals with population problems.

"The existence of a specific institution will motivate people to obey and implement the law," he said.

Sugiri declined to comment, however, on Abidin's proposal that marital age and planned parenthood be addressed in the national family planning policy.

Indonesia once had a population and environment ministry, though this was decommissioned by Cabinet in 2000 under then president Abdurrahman Wahid.

The eight Millennium Development Goals are: to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; to achieve universal primary education; to promote gender equality and women's empowerment; to reduce child mortality; to improve maternal health; to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; to ensure environmental sustainability and to develop a global partnership for development.



Source : www.thejakartapost.com