Shibaram Kotia of Koraput district has followed his passion to keep himself fit as well as let others do so. Around 35 youths have been staying fit by undergoing fitness trainings regularly at an open-air gym for free of cost set up by the tribal youth near Panjiaguda in Koraput district.
Shibaram’s initiative to set up the gym with fitness equipment made of easily available items in a forest is widely admired. The equipment at the gym are not iron-made or branded products as he preferred using those made of tree branches, bricks, tyres, concrete pieces and sand.
More than two years, youths have been undergoing training and many of them are planning to join police and defence forces.
Shibaram had joined a gym at Christianpetta in the town with the small savings of his father Sitaram, a rickshaw puller. After six months, he could not continue as he was unable to pay the fee further. Hence, he decided to set up an open-air gym for himself and to train youths free of cost.
