Mysuru: Marking World Population Day, an awareness rally to highlight the ills and dire consequences of population explosion, organised jointly by District Administration, Zilla Panchayat, Department of Health and Family Welfare and other organisations, was taken out in city this morning.

The rally, taken out by about 200 students of various Nursing Colleges, was flagged off by ZP President Nayeema Sulthana in front of SMT Hospital in Lakshmipuram. The rally passed through Srinivasa Circle, Nanjumalige Circle, Narayana Shastri Road, Chamundipuram Circle and JLB Road to Nadabrahma Sangeetha Sabha where a stage programme was held.

The rallyists carried placards with messages on ills of population explosion like ‘Small family — big development’, ‘Curtail population by educating women’ and ‘Population explosion triggers poverty and unemployment.’

District Surveillance Officer Dr. Kusuma, Taluk Health Officer Dr. Ravi, Leprosy Control Officer Dr. Manjunath and others were present.

The stage programme was inaugurated by MLA M.K. Somashekar. Former Mayor Purushotam and others were present. D. Banumaiah College Economics Professor B. Hirannaiah delivered a lecture.