Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched “Fit India Movement”at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi on National Sports Day onThursday. The programme aims to encourage all citizens to inculcate a cultureof fitness.

PM Modi urged people to make fitness a part of their dailyroutine and raise awareness about it. He said the launch of Fit India was astep towards a healthy India. “On this day a great sportsperson was born, MajorDhyan Chand. He amazed the world with his his fitness, stamina, and hockeystick,” PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister will also administer a fitness pledge inhis address, inviting all Indians to join in.

The Fit India campaign is supported by several nationalsports icons including World Badminton champion PV Sindhu, sprinter Hima Dasalong with celebrated wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik.

“I am taking the pledge, are you guys ready to take thepledge,” PV Sindhu said, in a video released by Sports Authority of India onAugust 27, encouraging followers to take out some time everyday to keep fit.ThePrime Minister had announced the launch of the campaign during his monthlyradio address, “Mann Ki Baat” on August 25 and said he wanted to see hislisteners fit and make them “fitness conscious”. He had indicated that thefitness programme will have fixed goals.

Arrangements were made for wide viewing of the launch;University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked affiliated higher educationalinstitutes to make arrangements for live viewing of the event by the students,faculty and staff

Institutes have also been instructed to prepare andimplement an institutional fitness plan incorporating sports/exercises/physicalactivities for fitness, into the daily routine. UGC has also asked institutesto encourage every person to walk 10,000 steps on Thursday.

Union sports minister Kiren Rijiju says the Prime Minister’sinitiative was receiving support from all sections of the society. “Tremendoussupporters are coming from all sections of the society to participate in the#FitIndiaMovement to be launched by @narendramodi ji on 29th Aug at 10am. ChiefMinisters, Corporates and many icons are taking amazing steps to make theprogramme a grand success.

Fit India Movement is the latest among several otherinitiatives by the Prime Minister to promote fitness and health. PM is a wellknown supporter of Yoga and has in the past attributed his fitness to regularyoga and breathing exercises.

Speaking about his fitness routine in a Google Hangout, thePrime Minsiter had said, “I am equally energetic from morning till night. Iguess the secret behind it is yoga and [breathing exercises]. Whenever I feeltired, I just practice deep breathing and that refreshes me again.”

The Prime Minister had also accepted Indian cricket teamcaptain Virat Kohli’s fitness challenge in May 2018 as part of a social mediacampaign, #HumFitTohIndiaFit and posted a video a month later, of himstretching and doing several yoga poses.

“Here are moments from my morning exercises. Apart fromYoga, I walk on a track inspired by the Panchtatvas or 5 elements of nature -Prithvi, Jal, Agni, Vayu, Aakash. This is extremely refreshing andrejuvenating. I also practice breathing exercises. #HumFitTohIndiaFit,” Modihad tweeted in June in response to Virat Kohli’s challenge.