Government aims to lower birth rate

MEDAN, North Sumatra: The government aims to lower the birth rate from 2.6 children per fertile woman to 2.1 in 2015 by introducing a new birth control program, an official said here on Tuesday.

Head of the National Family Planning Coordination Board (BKKBN) Sumarjati Aroso said her institution plans to increase its performance by giving better access to birth control services.

Sumarjati said Indonesia's population increased by around three to four million people per year, which she said could become a major burden for the government.

Giving better access to birth control information and services would hopefully enable the government to decrease the birth rate, thus improving the quality of life of citizens, she said. --JP