An advocacy program on population issues and family planning held in Thimphu yesterday saw discussions on major population issues and concerns.
Rural-urban migration was pointed out as one of the major population issues facing Bhutan.
The Gross National Happiness Commission (GNHC) said young people are migrating to urban places in droves for education and in search of jobs.
This has resulted in farmlands being left fallow which, in turn, has caused wild animals to come into conflict with humans.
Rural-urban migration has also led to other social problems including substance abuse, water shortage and mounting waste problem.
According to the Population and Housing Censes of Bhutan 2017, the urban population growth increased to 37 per cent last year from 30 per cent in 2005.
Increasing youth unemployment was cited as another factor contributing to the growing social problems in the country.
Concerns were also raised over Bhutan’s declining young population.
“The size of young population is shrinking. It has come down to 26 per cent in 2017 from 33 per cent in 2005. This is one area we have to work on,” Bholanath Bhattarai, a Sr. Research Officer with GNHC, said.
The GNHC has developed a population policy and the education ministry has drafted an education policy to address the country’s declining fertility rate and other population related concerns.
Similarly, the health ministry will revise the health policy in the 12th Five Year Plan.
“Interventions are already being made to align policies with the 12th Five Year Plan, such as how to address unemployment issues, solve rural-urban migration and bring development in rural areas,” GNHC’s Bholanath Bhattarai said.
