Fit India Movement

Fit India Movement 

Maha Media 29 August 2019

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the ‘Fit India Movement’ at the Indira Gandhi Stadium Complex in New Delhi on Thursday. The country also observes August 29 as National Sports Day every year to commemorate the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand who had led India to three Olympic gold medals in the years – 1928, 1932 and 1936. He had scored over 400 goals in 22 years, spanning from 1926 to 1948. 

The fitness has always been an integral part of our culture. But there is indifference towards fitness issues now. With increasing use of technology, physical activity has reduced. The reality is that we walk less and use more technology which resulted in increasing number of lifestyle diseases such as diabetics, hypertension and blood pressures.  Earlier we used to hear that the risk of heart attack increases after the age of 50-60, but now the youth of 35-40 years of age are having heart attack. In fact, these diseases have become common among Indians. These lifestyle diseases are happening due to lifestyle disorders. And lifestyle disorders can be cured by making lifestyle changes.

As far as the ‘happiness index’ is concerned, India has performed poorly till now. On March 20, 2019, the United Nation released its World Happiness Report that put India in the 140th position in a list of 156 nations. The last three years rankings have been 118, 122 and 132, respectively. 

However, India has improved its ranking on a global healthcare access and quality (HAQ) index (based on 32 causes of death which could be prevented through proper medical care) from 153 in 1990 to 145 in 2016.  But, it still ranks behind Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Brazil, Russia and South Africa and well below the global average. At a time when the global HAQ index average is 54.4, India’s scored 41.2 (2016).  

To focus on improving India’s global healthcare and happiness index, the mission the ‘Fit India Movement’ will help people to take more interest physical fitness and making change in lifestyle.

The government over the years has launched many schemes related to sports on Major Dhyan Chand’s birth anniversary. The PM had launched the Khelo India scheme last year.  

For Maha Media

Prabhakar Purandare