Mumbai / Pune :  August 13, 2021

As part of the Fit India Freedom Run 2.0, fifty National Security Guard (NSG) Commandos  joined its All India launch at the National Stadium, New Delhi, along with participants drawn from other para-military forces and civilians from across 10 locations of historic significance. These included CRPF from Azad Park in Allahabad, CISF from Cellular Jail in Port Blair, ITBP from Lahaul-Spiti in Himachal Pradesh, Seema Suraksha Bal from Tezpur, Assam, BSF from Indo-Pak Border at Attari, Punjab, Railways from Jhansi Railway Station. While Nehru Yuva Kendra Sanghatan joined from Leh and Chennai.

 

Launching the Freedom Run, the Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Shri Anurag Singh Thakur  appealed to everyone to take part in the nationwide fit India Freedom Run 2.0 and make it a people’s movement- "Jan Bhagidari se Jan Aandolan". He has also exhorted citizens to make a resolve to include daily physical activity of at least 30 minutes in their lives -“FITNESS KI DOSE, AADHA GHANTA ROZ”.

Gateway of India Freedom Run

The Freedom Run in Mumbai started from Gateway of India, the iconic monument facing the Arabian Sea, from where the last of the British troops left India in 1948, following our independence.

 

The NSG Commandoes passed through a route that included iconic buildings of Mumbai such as the Bombay High Court, Nariman Point and finished the run at Gateway of India.  Speaking to the media on the occasion, Group Commander of NSG, Col. Nitesh Kumar said: “All participant commandoes observed appropriate protocols, keeping in view the COVID-19 situation.” . 

 

Union Minister Shri Thakur appreciated the efforts of Group Commander Col. Nitesh Kumar and his team of 50 commandos for participating in the run, not withstanding challenging weather conditions.

 

Freedom Run from August Kranti Maidan

At the historic August Kranti Maidan, the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sanghatan (NYKS) had organized the Freedom Run in which 20 volunteers participated.  The freedom run began after the administration of Fitness Pledge at the August Kranti Stambh.  This was the place, then known as Gowalia Tank, from where Mahatma Gandhi had given the call of Quit India in 1942.

 

 

Freedom Run in Pune

Nehru Yuva Kendra Pune and National Service Scheme (NSS) organized Freedom Run from  Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune. The city, then known as Poona, played a prominent role in the freedom movement and was also the birth place of  Hutatma Shivram Hari Rajguru, who was hanged to death along with his associates Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev for his involvement in a British officer's assassination.  Shri Milind Deshmukh, Secretary, Servants of India Society Established by Gopal Krushan Gokhale, was the Chief Guest at the event.

 

NYKS also organised a run at Raigad, the birthplace of Vasudev Balwant Phadake. V.B. Phadke was among the first brigade of Indian revolutionaries and the first Indian leader to go to villages to preach about 'Swaraj'.  Similar Freedom Runs were held at other key district headquarters in Maharashtra like Wardha, Akola, Hingoli, Chandrapur  as well as Nagpur

 

Freedom Run to cover all 744 districts of the country

Fit India Freedom Run 2.0  which has been conceptualized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, as part of #Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav  will be held in 75 districts and at 75 villages in each district till 2nd October 2021.  A total of 744 districts will be covered over one and a half months.

 

The aim of this nationwide initiative is to encourage people to take up fitness activities such as running and sports in their daily lives and get freedom from obesity, laziness, stress, anxiety, diseases etc.

Prominent people, Public Representatives, Panchayat leaders, social workers, sports persons, media personalities, doctors, farmers and Army personnel are being requested to participate, encourage and motivate the people by gracing these events at various levels.

People are encouraged to register and upload their run on Fit India portal https://fitindia.gov.in and promote freedom run on their social media channels with #Run4India and #AzadikaAmritMahotsav hashtags.

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PIB Mum | DJM/ Prarthna / PK

 

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