Sports Minister Amar Bauri on Thursday reiterated the words of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and urged the people of Jharkhand to dedicate time to fitness and lead a healthy life. Addressing sportspersons, National Cadet Corps (NCC) volunteers and commoners at Jaipal Singh Stadium in Ranchi, Bauri said that the people of Jharkhand have always been fit due to their lifestyle. He, however, added that over-dependence on technology was making the youth unfit to a large extent.
“The people of Jharkhand, especially women, are naturally fit due to their lifestyle and food habits. If all the states take a pledge to get fit, then the entire country will automatically become fit,” Bauri said, asking Jharkhandis to follow the words of the Prime Minister. Bauri along with the sportspersons and students listened to Modi’s address to the nation at Jaipal Singh Stadium on Thursday.
Bauri also garlanded a statue of legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand, whose birth anniversary is celebrated as National Sports Day on August 29 every year. Known for his exceptional goal scoring ability, Chand had won three gold medals for India in the Olympics during his illustrious career as a hockey player.
Sports Secretary Rahul Sharma said that sportspersons from Jharkhand have won several medals in the past one year. His department, he added, is trying to get all the necessary sports equipment for the various training centres. “Fitness has become a national movement. Along with sportspersons, commoners too are participating in the mass campaign,” he said.
Sports Director AK Singh said that Prime Minister’s address was screened live in all the 24 districts of Jharkhand on Thursday. In Ranchi Collectorate, officials of the District Administration listened to Modi and pledged to stay fit.
Meanwhile, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) celebrated the day by organizing sports events in at least 100 locations across Jharkhand on Thursday. Following the directions of CRPF Inspector General Sanjay Anand Lathkar, the jawans also included common villagers in the sports activities. Lathkar attended the celebrations at a CRPF camp in Khunti, where he encouraged jawans and villagers to stay fit by participating in sports.
Central Coalfield Limited (CCL) on Thursday organized a friendly football match for disabled players at Gandhinagar ground in Ranchi. Each team was also given a cash award of Rs 5,000.
Doctors and health workers also celebrated the day across Jharkhand. A special screening of Modi’s address was organized at office of National Health Mission (NHM) in Ranchi on Thursday. NHM Director Shailesh Kumar Chourasia urged his subordinates and colleagues to stay fit. “Staying fit will not only keep you healthy but also make you more productive,” he said.
Fit India movement”, launched on the occasion of the National Sports Day, aims to encourage people to inculcate physical activity and sports in their everyday lives. PM Modi also administered a fitness pledge on the occasion.
