North East population higher than national average: Joshi

Shillong, Jun 4 (UNI) Meghalaya Governor B L Joshi has urged governments in North Eastern states to improve the quality of life for people in the region, while taking into account the growth rate of population in the area.

''The man-power planners must look at this problem on term basis and accordingly Human Resources must, now, receive the high priority,'' Mr Joshi said at seminar on 'Population Dynamics in North East India' here today.

Mr Joshi said the improved quality of life would depend on adequate health and nutrition, planned expansion of population high percentage and higher standard of education, cultural growth and secure a social security base.

Pointing out that the population growth in the region is higher than the national average, the Governor said micro-surveys are necessary for understating the growth of population in the region.

''This high growth rate of population is a serious concern with its social and economic ramification. The decadal (1991-2001) growth rate of population of the region was 22.16 per cent as against national average rate of 21.31 per cent,'' he asserted.

Mr Joshi said the new settlement pattern, particularly in Asom and Tripura, reflects heavier concentration in bordering districts, resulting demographic change in the population distribution and a change in the ecology of the borders.

The two-day seminar was organised by the North East India Council for Social Science Research and attended by senior social scientists from all over the country.

UNI