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Clubbing them all for a healthy walk
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`But, of late, even youth are cultivating the habit to go for a walk, which shows that awareness of health among them is also picking up'
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Rallying for a common cause — good health. An everyday morning scene near the Vandiyur Lake!
THE CHIRPING notes of birds are loud and clear. Fresh air is blowing gently through the plants. Against this idyllic background, men and women of different kinds, fat and thin, tall and short, are taking a stroll. This is a common sight anyone can have if he or she passes through the road dividing the K.K.Nagar LIG Colony and the Vandiyur Lake.
The stroll is part of a morning routine of many of the residents. In fact, some from far off places too join this group and go for a walk as they do it as an exercise.
"Most of the walkers, who come here, are above 40. But, of late, even youth are cultivating the habit to go for a walk, which shows that awareness of health among them is also picking up", says Subramani, president of the Walkers Club. "The peak time is 6 am to 9 am and in the evening it is 4.30 to 7. While the number of men is almost the same in the morning and evening, women prefer evening most".
"Besides the health-conscious people, others, who have problems like diabetes, hypertension, obesity, etc., also come here to take a walk", points out Subramani classifying the kinds of walkers.
As for as the activities of the club are concerned, he says, "the club, which was started in 1986, today has over 500 members on its rolls. To become a life-member, a fee of Rs.500 is charged, besides an annual fee of Rs.100 as subscription".
The club has five office-bearers and a 14-member executive committee to plan the monthly activities.
"For the welfare of the members, the club has conducted a free ECG camp in coordination with the Apollo Hospitals and a free camp to test urine and blood sugar. Based on the results, the needy beneficiaries were subjected to a laser treatment at the Aravind Eye Hospital, which was also free of cost. Similarly, an ayurveda camp was also organised for the members", he says.
Detailing the other activities, Mr. Subramani says, "the club regularly organises meetings in which leading personalities of different fields are invited to the club to give speech on literary, spiritual and humour topics. There will also be discussions on various topics among members every day at the club".
"There are also a yoga centre, two shuttle courts and a sat sangh which are also well-utilised by the members", he says.
A manual carrying addresses of the members is also distributed and since December the club has been brining out a journal in which activities of the club and medical tips are given for the benefit of the members.
On the improvement front, the club has cleaned the track and filled it with red soil. A garden along the track is also being maintained. For the knowledge of the walkers, the distance is marked every 100 mts and the track, which was open till sometime ago, was recently fenced with the assistance from the Corporation.
Regarding future plans, Mr. Subramani says, "an indoor shuttle court at a cost of Rs.10 lakh is likely to come up. Funds for this project have been allotted from the MPs' Constituency Development Fund. The L&T has offered to beautify the walking stretch by creating a garden alongside the track".
About the suggestions of the club to improve the track, Mr. Subramani says, "it has been a long time request of the club to deepen the lake and introduce boating facility, which will generate good revenue for the Government. The track if circularly connected through Gomathipuram can cater for more people."
M.R.ARAVINDAN
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Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Thiruvananthapuram
Visakhapatnam
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