Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore

Mangalore, Jul 12: The Dakshina Kannada district administration in collaboration with the district health and family welfare department and National service scheme, Mangalore University observed world population day at RAPCC auditorium in district Wenlock hospital on Thursday July 11.

Forest minister and district in-charge minister B Ramanth Rai inaugurated the programme by lighting the lamp. MLA J R Lobo presided over the function while MLA Mohiuddin Bava, district commissioner N Prakash, zp CEO K N Vijayprakash, Dr Rukmini, Dr Ramakrishna Rao shared the dais.

            
 

Inaugurating the programme, minister Rai said "A family will live happily, if they have fewer children. The population of India is crossing 200 crores and the government is doing its best to prevent the increasing population by creating awareness programmes."

"The population is increasing drastically mainly because of lack of education, superstitious belief, poverty and other factors. Only by providing education to all the people, population growth can be controlled," said Rai.

"When the population of a country increases, the problems like poverty, unemployment also increase. To build a strong nation, importance must  be given to three aspects like population growth, increasing literacy rate and eliminating corruption, opined minister Ramanath Rai.

"Hence, we should all join hands together to prevent future challenge of growing population," he added.

MLA J R Lobo in his address said "The main reason for population growth is superstitious belief and other problems among the people living in rural areas’. To prevent this, education given be given the top priority leaving aside other beliefs," he said.

"If such programmes do not reach rural people, then it is of no value," said Lobo adding that religious institutions should come forward to create awareness on maintaining the population growth.