Population data contribute to ensuring correct voter lists, not losing opportunities for all eligible voters and successfully holding a free and fair general election.
Vice-Senior General Soe Win underscored that population data are essential for effective management to allocate natural resources and finance, construction of infrastructures such as schools, hospitals, health units, roads and bridges, care for those with disabilities and older persons and creation of employment opportunities.
Patron of the Central Census Commission Vice-Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win delivered an address at the ceremony to mark the 2024 World Population Day at the Myanmar International Convention Centre II in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning.
Speaking on the occasion, the Vice-Senior General highlighted that the increasing global population brings food deficiency, shortage of drinking water, climate change, spreading of infectious diseases, worse impacts of natural disasters, inequality and high rate of poverty in addition to problems on the social standard gap.
He continued that the majority of developing countries are experiencing a lesser number of children, a shortage of labour and an increasing number of older persons due to a remarkable decline in birth rates. At the same time, some developing countries and least developed countries are also facing high birth rates, lower standards of education, a larger number of jobless people, and a high rate of poverty, he added.
He pointed out that this year’s theme, “Helping vulnerable population in emergencies”, aims to improve life safety, prestige and health for fulfilling the requirements of families and society from vulnerable older persons, girls, children, those with disabilities and poor persons.
The Vice-Senior General spotted that UN member states have agreed to implement sustainable development goals adopted by the UN to overcome global challenges such as poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, and lack of peace and justice.
He said that the majority of global countries, including technologically developing countries, conduct census-taking measures as usual to obtain these data.
He emphasized that the United Nations has issued the Principles and Recommendations to enumerate the census, adding that as population and socioeconomic data can be obtained from population census in different areas of the nation, collection of population census is essential for all.
The Vice-Senior General said the significant characteristic of the census is that it provides data to the minor administrative areas, such as wards and village-tracts. Data from the census can support statistics on population and socioeconomic data for adopting correct policies, strategies and tactics as well as drawing projects, he added.
He recounted that the 2019 interim census was taken in order to know changes in socioeconomic data and compare data from these censuses before collecting one more census, and these data are helpful till today.
He underlined that Myanmar is making preparations to take population and household census from 1 to 15 October 2024 with the aim of ensuring firmness of estimated annual population data of the nation and taking correct data for sector-wise development projects and research works.
He continued that as the enumeration of the census is a single project for ensuring the availability of socioeconomic data, which is vital for adopting development projects and policies of the nation, it is necessary to strive for the successful undertaking of the census-taking process as a national duty.
The Vice-Senior General stressed that population data will contribute to ensuring correct voter lists, not losing opportunities for all eligible voters and successfully holding a free and fair general election.
The Vice-Senior General noted that everybody needs to lend a helping hand to those from the vulnerable group, whereas regional authorities need to prepare emergency management plans.
Union Minister for Immigration and Population U Myint Kyaing reported on the population’s role in the development of Myanmar.
A video clip on helping vulnerable population in emergencies was presented.
The ceremony was also attended by SAC members, the chairman of the Union Election Commission, Union ministers, the Nay Pyi Taw Council chairman, deputy ministers and departmental heads, diplomats, and officials.
After the ceremony, the Vice-Senior General visited the booths to mark the 2024 World Population Day. — MNA/TTA
Salient points from the speech of the Vice-Senior General at the 2024 World Population Day ceremony
1. Population data are essential for effective management for allocating natural resources and finance, construction of infrastructures such as schools, hospitals, health units, roads and bridges, care for those with disabilities and older persons and creation of employment opportunities.
2. The increasing global population brings food deficiency, shortage of drinking water, climate change, spreading of infectious diseases, worse impacts of natural disasters, inequality and high rate of poverty in addition to problems on the social standard gap.
3. This year’s theme, “Helping vulnerable population in emergencies”, aims to improve life safety, prestige and health to fulfil the requirements of those from vulnerable groups.
