World Population Day 2025 Highlights Planned Parenthood and Women's Empowerment
- Union Health Minister JP Nadda emphasized the importance of healthy timing and spacing of pregnancy for maternal and child well-being.
- Family planning services are being delivered nationwide through public health facilities like Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.
- Poonam Muttreja stressed shifting focus from population control to women’s empowerment, healthcare access, and reproductive autonomy.
On World Population Day, observed annually on July 11, Union Health Minister JP Nadda emphasized the importance of planned parenthood for ensuring maternal and child health. This year’s theme, “Healthy Timing and Spacing of Pregnancy for the Health and Well-being of Mother and Child”, underscores informed reproductive choices.
Nadda highlighted the slogan, “Maa banne ki umr wahi, jab tan aur man ki taiyari sahi”, promoting physical and emotional readiness for motherhood. He affirmed that the government is delivering family planning services through public health facilities, including Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, to promote healthier families.
India, now the world's most populous country with over 1.46 billion people, faces evolving demographic needs. Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director of the Population Foundation of India, stressed the importance of shifting focus from numbers to women’s empowerment and reproductive autonomy.
Muttreja highlighted the declining fertility rate and urged policymakers to prioritize education, healthcare, skilling, and job creation. “India’s population story is one of possibility, not crisis”, she said, adding that development stems from empowering individuals, especially women, to make informed choices.
Both leaders called for gender equality, shared responsibility in parenting, and the importance of timely and spaced pregnancies to ensure better health outcomes. As India navigates its demographic challenges, the call is clear: investing in people especially women and youth will shape a stronger, healthier nation.
