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85. The growth of young people is another issue. More employment opportunities are
necessary for the 20 to 21 million young working people expected in year 2003. Increasing
population and labour force would dwindle natural resources and bring about environmental
degradation. Some areas of degraded forests in the country are being cut down and converted
to cropland, while some areas are increasingly used for fuel-wood extraction and livestock
breeding. Thus there is an urgent need to address these problems in some regions of the
country.
86. National and international population movement have increased in scale and
complexity. Although migration, at present, is within the manageable limit, policy and
programme measures should be prepared for emerging issues in this field.
87. The status and rights of women in Myanmar are equal with men in legal, social, economic
and family decision-making matters. The importance of women's contribution to social and
economic dvelopment is also fully recognized. Despite some progress in gender responsive
programmes, there is the need to promote women's role in resource management, maintaining
environmental quality and decision-making relating to population and sustainable developmenL
88. The interrelationship between .rapid population growth and poverty is complex. As a
result of population growth and its consequences, the number of poor. underserved people
are increasing in some population groups and sub regions. Most of the health and education
services do not reach these groups and places. The existing programmes for these population
groups need to be strengthened. To serve these population groups human resources
development is an important factor. Fertility control programmes .which limit population
growth should be well supported for development of human resource because they enhance
people's employment, education, skill and capability development
89. A series of diverse and complex population programmes are required to tackle the
problems of population and development in the country. There are a number of ongoing
programmes. Many programmes require large amount of human and financial resources. The
need for mobilizing additional resources is greater today than ever before.
90. Population data, research and information dissemination are important components in
population policy analysis, development, formulation and implementation.
While
considerable progress has been made in information and database development in the country
during recent years, there remains an urgent need to improve the content, quality and
timeliness of data. National skills for research, policy analysis and the development of
integrated management information system need to be strengthenedand upgraded. Finally it
is necessary to promote the utilization of relevant data for decentralized and local level
planning.