‘Stay Away from Drugs, instead Exercise to be Fit & Healthy’- Mangaluru University Vice Chancellor P S Yadapadithaya during the ‘Fit India Campaign’ held at University college, Mangaluru on 18 September 2020
Mangaluru: Fit India Movement is a nation-wide movement in India to encourage people to remain healthy and fit by including physical activities and sports in their daily lives. It was launched by Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi at Indira Gandhi Stadium in New Delhi on 29 August 2019 (National Sports Day). Fit India was founded by Shri Suparno Satpathy in the year 1993 and it was incorporated as a company in the year 2000. The campaign has a “Fitness Pledge” that reads “I promise to myself that I will devote time for physical activity and sports every day and I will encourage my family members and neighbours to be physically fit and make India a fit nation”.
And locally, Mangalore University in association with National Service Scheme (NSS) organized ‘FIT INDIA’ campaign/programme held at University College, Mangaluru on Friday, 18 September 2020. The programme was inaugurated by lighting the lamp by Prof P S Yadapadithaya-Vice Chancellor of Mangalore University, along with guest of honour-Dr Gananatha Shetty Ekkar-Karnataka State NSS Officer; and other chief guests, namely- Prof Appaji Gowda- Joint Director, Regional Office, DCE, Mangaluru; Khader Shah- Senior assistant Director, Information & Publicity Dept, DK; Prof Rajashekar Hebbar- Principal, Dr Dayanand Pai and Sathish Pai College, Mangaluru; Dr Udaya Kumar M A- Principal, University college, Mangaluru; K Raju Mogaveera KAS-Registrar, mangalore University; and Dr Nagarathana K A- NSS Coordinator, Mangalore University; among others.
In his inaugural address, Prof P S Yadapadithaya said “By exercising daily you can remain fit. To keep fit, apart from academics, we need to come out of the classroom, and involve yourselves in extra curricular activities. Every student should partake in at least one sport or games. As there is a rise in drug menace in the district, Youth should be alert and stay away from it.. Our institutions may not be having such problems, but we can’t relax. We need to keep our eyes and ears open, so that this problem does not enter our campuses and ruin the future of youth. We have also introduced various cells to address different issues related to women harassment, ragging etc and its high time to activate the Drug Cell to educate the students about this menace”.
Also speaking on the occasion, Dr. Gananatha Shetty Ekkar, the State NSS officer explained the need in such events and appreciated the efforts put in Mangalore University NSS unit for this unique programme. Following the programme , a Fit India Walk was held around the University College campus.
