Panaji: Students from across the state actively participated in various World Population Day programmes held on Friday, 11th July, 2008.

A number of road-rallies, competitions and seminars, were organized on the theme of "Plan your Future - Plan Your Family", yesterday.

Local MLA, Victoria Fernandes, flagged off the State Level Students Rally at a function organized at Kala Academy, Campal (Panaji) to mark the World Population Day.

About 500 students from various schools and colleges in the city and outskirts participated in the State Level Rally which wended through St. Inez Junction, M.G. Road and culminated at Azad Maidan.

The Rally was organized by the State Family Welfare Bureau of the Directorate of Health Services.

Similar rallies were also organized in the commercial city of Margao and at various other places.

The State Family Welfare Bureau also organized rallies, competition, talks and other programmes relating to the theme, at all Urban Health Centers, Community Health Centers and Primary Health Centers of the state.

World Population Day is observed every year on July 11, to create awareness on the need of family planning and leading a prosperous, healthy and comfortable life.

By - Sanjay Borkar

The writer is an NNE freelance journalist based in Goa.