New Delhi, March 15 (UNI) Delhi’s Education and Sports Minister Ashish Sood on Sunday participated as the chief guest in the ”Sunday on Cycle” fitness event organised at Connaught Place here under the Government of India’s Fit India Movement aimed at encouraging citizens to adopt a healthy and active lifestyle.
The programme was organised at Connaught Place with the support of the Sports Authority of India, the Raahgiri Foundation and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C).
Addressing participants, Sood said initiatives such as ”Sunday on Cycle” have the potential to grow into a mass movement that will inspire citizens to stay fit while also contributing to a healthier environment.
He said the Fit India Cycling Drive was launched in Delhi on December 17, 2024 by union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports and Labour and Employment Mansukh Mandaviya with the objective of integrating fitness into daily life. The campaign has since evolved into a nationwide initiative with “Sunday on Cycle” events now being organised across the country.
According to organisers, the campaign has so far been conducted at more than 2.5 lakh locations with around 2.7 million cyclists participating.
Sood also referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mention of the initiative during the 117th episode of “Mann Ki Baat”, where he emphasised the need to combat obesity and promote regular physical activity.
The minister said Sunday’s programme was the 68th edition of the initiative and highlighted that cycling promotes both personal fitness and environmental awareness.
“If the culture of cycling is promoted in place of petrol-driven vehicles, it can significantly help reduce pollution and improve Delhi’s environmental conditions,” he said.
Sood added that more people in Delhi should be encouraged to adopt cycling as it is also an effective form of physical exercise.
He said the government is also considering efforts to develop cycling-friendly lanes and infrastructure to enable citizens to use bicycles safely and conveniently.
During the programme, representatives from the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre also created awareness about cyber crimes and urged citizens to remain vigilant.
Sood said cyber crimes are increasing rapidly and criminals are targeting not only common citizens but also senior citizens.
He appealed to people to understand and make use of the I4C portal and awareness initiatives to protect themselves and their families from cyber fraud.
Appealing to citizens, Sood encouraged Delhi residents to make ”Sunday on Cycle” a part of their weekly routine and support the effort to transform the initiative into a large-scale public movement.
During the event, Sood also honoured several distinguished participants with mementos, including Arjuna Awardee Antim Panghal; Neelam, gold medallist at the 2023 U-23 Asian Wrestling Championship; Priya Malik, U-20 World Champion in women’s freestyle wrestling (76 kg); Virender Dahiya, head coach of the Indian women’s wrestling team; and Bharti, coach of the Indian women’s wrestling team.
