Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a nation-wide campaign to encourage people to inculcate physical activity and sports in their everyday lives, named ‘Fit India Movement’, on Thursday, August 29.
Here are the highlights of PM Modi's speech at the launch:
On being successful
-- "The relationship of success and fitness is also interlinked. Take any field today, look at your icons, see their success stories, whether they are in sports, films, business, most of them are fit."
-- "This is not just a coincidence. If you read about their lifestyle, you will find that one such thing is common in every such person. Common character of successful people is their focus on fitness."
-- "If you are in any profession, you have to bring efficiency in your profession, then mental and physical fitness is important.Whether it is Boardroom or Bollywood, whoever is fit touches the sky."
-- "When we pay attention to fitness, try to be fit, then it also gives us a chance to understand our body.It is surprising, but we know very little about our body, our strength, our weaknesses."
-- "When we embark on our journey of fitness, we begin to understand our body better. I have seen many people who have known and recognized the power of their body. This has also boosted his confidence, which has helped him in building a better personality."
-- Even though the government has began the Fit India Movement, all of you have to lead it The people of the country will carry forward this campaign and will reach the height of success. I can say from my personal experiences that there is Investment Zero in it, but the returns are unlimited."
-- "There is no elevator to success, you have to take the stairs."
Lifestyle diseases
-- "Today, many lifestyle diseases like diabetes, hypertension are increasing in India. Look around you, you will find many people suffering from them. Earlier we used to hear that the risk of heart attack increases after the age of 50-60, now the youth of 35-40 years are having heart attack."
-- "Lifestyle diseases are happening due to lifestyle disorders. Lifestyle disorders can be cured by making lifestyle changes."
-- "There are diseases that can be overcome by making small changes in your lifestyle. The name to inspire the country for these changes is #FitIndiaMovement."
-- Spontaneous physical exertion, fitness, exercise, should be the topics of discussion in everyday life in the family. This is not the case in India suddenly. Rather, such campaigns are felt in need all over the world today."
Changing times
-- "Fitness has been an integral part of our way of life. But over time, we have become indifferent to fitness."
-- "I give you an example of how times have changed. Till a few decades ago, a normal person used to walk 8-10 kilometers in a day. Then gradually technology changed, modern means came and the person's walking was reduced."
-- "What is the situation now? Technology has made us this condition that we are short on moving and now the same technology tells us by number that today you walked so many steps, 5 thousand steps have not been done yet, 2 thousand steps have not been done, let's go now."
-- "Some people get excited and talk about fitness and also buy fitness related gadgets. But after a few days those gadgets are placed in the corner of the house. People keep fitness app in mobile, but after some time do not use that app."
After a cultural show, PM Narendra Modi begins his speech. He welcomes everyone to the launch of the Movement.
"Today, on National Sports Day we pledge to strength Fit India Movement," he says.
He pays tribute to Hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand, whose birthday anniversary is today. "His won medal is the result of his austerity and austerity, it is also a measure of new India's new passion and new confidence," he says.
"Today is also the day to congratulate our young players, who are constantly giving new glory to the glory of the tricolor on the world stage. Be it Badminton, Tennis, Athletics, Boxing, Wrestling or other sports, our players are giving new wings to our expectations and aspirations," he says.
"Sports is directly related to fitness. But the Fit India Movement that has started today has expanded beyond sports. Fitness is not a word but a necessary condition of healthy and prosperous life," he adds.
PM Narendra Modi arrives at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, New Delhi, where the event is being held.
At the launch, the Prime Minister will deliver an address and will administer a fitness pledge.
"This is the first time a fitness movement is being launched with participation of all the people, I want to thank all the people for this," Union Minister Kiren Rijiju says in his welcome speech.
Committee formed to advise government on campaign
A committee comprising government officials, members of Indian Olympic Association (IOA), national sports federations, private bodies and fitness promoters has been formed to advise the government on the campaign.
The 28-member committee, which will be under the chairmanship of sports minister Kiren Rijiju, has 12 members from the government, including secretaries of Sports, Secondary Education, Ayush, Youth Affairs, among others.
IOA President and seven NSF heads, including those of boxing, athletics, football and cycling, are also a part of the committee.
Representatives of private bodies such as Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), Reliance Foundation, JSW Cement and JSW Paints, SE TransStadia Pvt. Ltd., Tata Trusts, ASSOCHAM India, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), and actors Shilpa Shetty and Milind Soman will also be involved.
Last year, then sports minister Rajyavardhan Rathore had also floated a fitness campaign called #HumFitTohIndiaFit. He had posted a video on Twitter doing 10 push-ups while encouraging sports personalities and people to share pictures and videos on the site to show how they kept themselves fit.
