SPREADING THE MESSAGE: Mascots form part of the rally for World Population Day organised by the Medical Department, Chennai Division, Southern Railway, on Monday. — Photo: V. Ganesan

CHENNAI: "Equality Empowers," the designated theme for this World Population Day, was the stress of several functions, rallies and meetings organised to observe the international day.

Equal access to education, income, assets and services will benefit everyone, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) executive director, Thoraya Obaid, said in her statement on the occasion of World Population Day, setting the tone for this year's celebrations.

As part of its task for the day, the Government brought together around 1,500 students from 20 schools to participate in a run from Gandhi Statue on the beach to Island Grounds on Monday morning.

They carried posters and placards stressing the importance of keeping families small.

ICF rally

At the Integral Coach Factory, here, children of the ICF Railway School took part in a rally, in which St. John's Ambulance Brigade Personnel, Scouts and Guides and the Home Guard of the ICF also joined in.

The two-hour rally was flagged off by David Chellaraj, Chief Medical Superintendent, ICF Hospital, at 9 a.m. Participants carrying banners and placards went up to ICF Shell Administrative office.

Yet another rally was organised by the Southern Railway, from Egmore to its headquarters in Park Town.

Staff of the Southern Railway, Medical Department, Chennai Division, members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, members of Southern Railway's State Bharat Scouts and Guides, teachers and NSS volunteers from the Railway Mixed Higher Secondary School, Perambur, participated in the rally, which was received at Park Town by Thomas Varghese, general manager, Southern Railway.

Awareness drive

An awareness drive to spread the theme was conducted at Chennai Central station with street-plays and rangoli.

All the health units in the Chennai division also conducted awareness programmes on population control and gender equality.

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