RONO HILLS, Aug 29: Students and faculty members of Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) here celebrated the National Sports Day with great enthusiasm on Thursday.
The celebration featured a ‘Walk for fit India’ programme, in which personnel from the NDRF also took part.
The walkathon saw the participation of RGU Vice Chancellor Prof Saket Kushwaha, Registrar Prof Tomo Riba, NDRF Commandant Umesh Kemar Thapaliyal, senior faculty members of the university, and students.
“The highlight of the walk was the inspiring songs presented by the band of students from the RGU’s fine arts & music department,” the university informed in a release.
The RGU’s physical education department organised sports and recreational activities, along with an ‘inter-hostel fitness contest’ and an ’employees’ fitness contest’. More than 700 students participated in these events.
The celebration also featured screening of the live telecast of the launch of the ‘Fit India Movement’ by the prime minister.
Chairing the programme, the VC emphasized that “Cleanliness and health should be a part of our daily life.”
Prof Kushwaha also said the idea of the ‘Fit India Movement’ was “not new.”
“With the celebration of World Yoga Day and widespread yoga practice, the Fit India Movement had already started,” he said.
The live telecast was followed by a prize distribution ceremony for the competitions held on the occasion. The VC announced that the fitness contests would be made an annual event, and committed to contribute out of pocket the prize money for the next five years.
The RGU’s NSS Cell Programme Officer Dr John Gangmei also spoke.
In Itanagar, the sports directorate organised a rally from the secretariat gate to the state sports complex in Chimpu to mark the National Sports Day and the launch of the ‘Fit India Movement’.
The rally saw the participation of students from the Sangay Lhaden Sports Academy and scores of sports lovers. It was flagged off by Sports Minister Mama Natung, in the presence Dr Arunima Sinha (the first Indian amputee to climb Mt Everest), and former national football team captain P Renedy Singh.
In the evening, the sports department in a function honoured eminent sports personalities, and gave away cash incentives to achievers and medal winners in various sports disciplines.
During the function, Dr Sinha and Singh gave motivational speeches, while Natung enumerated his department’s key policies, and assured to take up the matter of providing incentives to coaches at the highest level.
The minister urged the people of the state to draw inspiration from the ‘Fit India Movement’ and launch a ‘Hum fit toh Arunachal fit’ movement.
In West Siang HQ Aalo, a futsal competition was organized at the North East Frontier Technical University (NEFTU) to mark the National Sports Day.
Addressing the students and faculty members, the university’s research dean Prof R Sughathan urged them to inculcate the spirit of fitness of body and mind, besides education.
The KGBV in Namsai also observed the ‘Fit India Movement’.
Addressing the school’s staff and students, KGBV Headmaster Indrajeet Dey spoke about the importance of the day, and highlighted the significance of staying fit and healthy. (With DIPRO input)
