Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) [India], July 20 : Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports, Raksha Nikhil Khadse, on Sunday highlighted the benefits of cycling, describing it as a tool for both personal health and environmental protection. She made the remarks while participating in the 'Sundays on Cycle' campaign at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in Varanasi, led by Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya.
Addressing the youth, Khadse said the initiative was gaining momentum across the country and emphasised its long-term impact in promoting fitness and drug-free lifestyles.
"Under 'Fit India Sundays on Cycle', cycling movement is taking place in the country every Sunday. I think we are seeing a good response everywhere. Even here in Kashi, we had this event in BHU. You can see that a large number of youth participated in this," MoS Raksha Khadse told ANI.
We would like to give one message that you can maintain your fitness through cycling, and also maintain the environment. We have started this initiative because you need to begin somewhere. If you do not begin, nothing will happen. I know that it will take time, but at least the thinking process of youth has begun - that's why they have to be free of drugs and what are its disadvantages, this is harming the country and them too. It is important for this to reach the youth...I am confident that we will be able to see the impact in 5-10 years," she added.
Meanwhile, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya, led the 'Fit India Sundays on Cycle' campaign at Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi. He further stated that a three-day summit titled 'Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat' was underway in Kashi and that 'Sundays on Cycle' was being observed as a national campaign.
"In Kashi, a summit of three days is being conducted for the Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat. 'Sundays on the cycle' take place like a campaign in the nation. Today, all educational institutions have conveyed this message through 'Sundays on cycles', doing so in more than 6,000 places... PM Modi started the Fit India movement, and through 'Sundays on cycle', the youth of the nation will stay fit..." he said.
On Saturday, Mandaviya inaugurated the 'Youth Spiritual Summit' at the Rudraksh International Cooperation and Convention Centre in Varanasi. The summit focuses on the theme 'Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat'.
While addressing the emerging drug nexus in India, Union MoS for Youth Affairs and Sports, Raksha Khadse, expressed concern over the increasing exposure of school children to narcotics and the misuse of digital platforms to target young minds. Highlighting the Government's zero-tolerance policy under the Prime Minister's leadership, she stressed the need to convert the insights of the Chintan Shivir into actionable outcomes.
Additionally, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Virendra Kumar, emphasised that this Summit is a collective 'Sankalp'. It calls for the active participation of every citizen in turning the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan into a true 'Jan Andolan'. Furthermore, he stated, 'Nasha nahi, Navnirman chahiye.' To realise this dream, we must take this Sankalp beyond the Summit, into every home, every family, and every community. Only then can we accelerate our path to a developed nation."
The summit and cycling initiative reflect the Government of India's commitment to building a value-based youth movement under the vision of 'Nasha Mukt Bharat' as part of the broader goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports stated.
The 'Fit India Sundays on Cycle' is organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS), in collaboration with the Cycling Federation of India (CFI), My Bikes and MY Bharat. The cycling drive is organised simultaneously in the capitals of all States and union territories, as well as at SAI Regional Centres, National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs), SAI Training Centres (STCs), Khelo India State Centres of Excellence (KISCEs), and Khelo India Centres (KICs) across various age groups.
The 32nd edition of the 'Fit India Sundays on Cycle' is being organised at 6000 locations across the country in partnership with several educational institutions, including Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Kendriya Vidayalaya Sangathan, Council for the Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE), DAV College Management Committee, Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti and Bal Bharati Public School.