New Delhi, July 11 (IANS) Over 500 people, including children, Wednesday participated in a walkathon organised here to spread awareness on population stabilisation on the occasion of the World Population Day.

The walkathon was held in association with Jansankhya Sthirata Kosh, an autonomous body under the health ministry, was flagged off from India Gate by MP Naveen Jindal and Planning Commission member Syeda Hameed.

Through this walkathon we aim to raise awareness and address needs of the people, including the needs for healthy mothers and planned families to achieve population stabilisation, said Jindal.

According to the health ministry, steps required to stabilise population are: Reducing infant mortality rate, increasing age of marriage and delaying first child, improve access to contraceptives and reproductive health services and ending discrimination against girl child.