In a message here on the eve of the World Population Day, the Chief Minister said that rapidly increasing population was the biggest challenge before the nation. He pointed out that the escalating population was the root cause of poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and economic inequality and because of massive population, benefits of developmental projects were not yielding desired results. He said that it was high time to check the population explosion otherwise it would have serious consequences which would not spare anyone.

He made a fervent appeal to governmental and non-governmental organisations, besides the elected representatives of the public, to make their significant contribution in making family welfare programme a big success.

Haryana Governor Mahabir Prasad, in his message, urged the people to take a pledge on the occasion of the World Population Day to contribute their mite in implementing the ideal of ``Small family, a happy family'' in its true letter and spirit for the prosperity and happiness of an individual, the state, the nation and the society.

The Governor reminded that population in the country had crossed the colossal figure of 97 crore which had rendered development plans and projects fruitless.

Increase in the population in the state to about 1.93 crore from July 86 lakh in 1966 at the time of inception of the state had created numerous problems for the state government in implementing development and welfare schemes successfully, he said and added that it was therefore the right time to check increase in population of the state.

He complimented the people, organisations and the state government, who had been making concerted efforts to control the increasing population. He hoped that they would carry on their sincere efforts for furthering the noble cause without keeping caste, creed, religion and community distinctions in mind.

Haryana Health Minister O.P. Mahajan also called upon the people to give their unstinted cooperation to check the menace of growing population and adopt small family norms for healthy and prosperous state.

He said that the escalating population was posing a great threat to the humanity and hampering the development process in a big way.

He appealed to the people to adopt small family norms as it was not only beneficial for them, but also for the state and the country. He also urged the intellectuals, social organisations and educationists to educate the people about the benefits of small families.