Chandigarh-Haryana youth have distinguished themselves both nationally and internationally through their talent and skills. Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi frequently commends the power of youth. A healthy body is fundamental to a fulfilling life, and it has been said that the first happiness lies in good health. Only healthy individuals can foster a healthy society, and a robust society is the cornerstone of a country's and a state's development and progress.
The Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini expressed this while addressing gathering before flagging off a marathon at the grounds of Sector 13-17 in the historic city of Panipat on Sunday. He said that the marathon aims to raise awareness about fitness while promoting love and brotherhood among citizens. During the event, the Chief Minister honored the winners and administered an oath to the youth to stay away from drugs. He congratulated all participants in the 21 km, 10 km, and 5 km races, saying that involvement in such events sends a positive message to society and inspires all, especially children and young people.
To further the Prime Minister's Fit India Mission, the state has consistently promoted marathons, sports, yoga, and Raahgiri initiatives in Haryana. The Chief Minister expressed gratitude to the administration and participating organizations for the event's success. He also joined marathon runners in an open vehicle and visited various stalls set up by local institutions.
In his remarks, the Chief Minister expressed confidence that the program would achieve its objectives, praising the enthusiasm shown by participants, including a significant number of school and college students, young athletes, police personnel, and even senior citizens over the age of 60, who actively participated in the marathon.
He highlighted the remarkable turnout and enthusiasm from the citizens of Panipat, stating that the event was a celebration of joy, excitement, and unity. The Chief Minister acknowledged the achievements of Haryana’s athletes across various sectors, including manufacturing in Manesar, startups in Gurugram, and the sports arena.
Referring to Prime Minister Modi’s Fit India initiative launched on August 29, 2019, the Chief Minister underscored its goal of making fitness a fundamental aspect of daily life. He said that the Prime Minister's promotion of yoga, recognized worldwide, has greatly contributed to fitness awareness, especially with June 21 being designated as International Yoga Day since 2015.
The Chief Minister encouraged attendees to inspire their families and neighbors to embrace fitness, affirming the government’s commitment to prioritizing public health. He mentioned plans to establish open-air gymnasiums in every block as part of their Sankalp Patra initiative.
He said that the enthusiasm generated by the marathon has transformed the Fit India initiative into a mass movement. The growing participation in parks, sports stadiums, and open spaces across cities such as Panipat, Gurugram, and Faridabad is evidence of this trend, aligning Haryana with major cities like Delhi and Mumbai in hosting annual fitness events.
The marathon was part of the Haryana Uday program, launched in June 2023, aimed at fostering public welfare through community engagement. The Chief Minister expressed satisfaction with the outreach success of Haryana Uday, pledging to organize more events in the future, including initiatives focused on cooperation between police and the public, Raahgiri, Cyclothons, sports competitions in crime-affected areas, and de-addiction campaigns.
On this occasion Development and Panchayat Minister, Sh. Krishan Lal Panwar said that such events inspire youth to seek new directions and foster interest in sports. He commended the entire administration and all social and religious organizations involved for their efforts in making the event a success.
During the program, School Education Minister Sh. Mahipal Dhanda said that this is an awareness campaign. He emphasized that the event, held on the historic land of Panipat, successfully made the general public 100 percent aware of the issues at hand.
On this occasion, Panipat MLA, Sh. Pramod Vij, Samalkha MLA, Sh. Manmohan Bhadana, Chief Minister's Special Officer (Community Policing and Outreach), Sh. Pankaj Nain, Deputy Commissioner, Dr. Virender Kumar Dahiya, and representatives from various social and religious organizations were also present.