Fit India Campaign – An Effort by Government of India towards Fitness of Indians
This article talks about Fit India campaign launched by Prime Minister of India with the objective of making Indians aware about the life skills for acquiring fitness and eliminating diseases. It also provides some data about health disorders of country and explains how minute changes in our life style can save us from premature mortality.
Introduction
Idea of Fit India Campaign
About Fit India Campaign
Comparison with Other Countries
Statistics
“Fit India Campaign” may be a solution
Features of Campaign
Benefits of Fitness Campaign
Conclusion
Introduction
A fitness campaign was launched by Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi on the event of sports day which falls on 29th August, birthday of former hockey player of India, Major Dhyan Chand. Since fitness is closely associated with the sports, therefore this was the best occasion for its launch.
Idea of Fit India Campaign
It is a well known fact that healthy mind resides in a healthy body. Health is the first and foremost criteria required to be productive. Every citizen should be endowed with health and fitness. To achieve this goal, a movement is required to be inculcated in minds of people. Their routine activities should be optimized to such an extent that fitness gets itself driven by their life style. Thus, awareness is the key which will educate everyone about habits to be incorporated in one’s lifestyle.
About Fit India Campaign
On the launch of Fit India Campaign, Prime Minister said that fitness is integral to Indian culture. It is a parameter of success of a family, society and nation also. It is beyond sports. It is visible in our playing arts like dance, martial arts, yoga etc. It is essential for New India’s success. Government is only a catalyst. It means that government will play only facilitative role while real participants are people of India. They have to be aware and should spread the movement to every nook and corner of the country. Every family should have its agenda of fitness.
Comparison with Other Countries
Health is a key factor for development of human resources. Thus, other countries are actively moving in this direction. China is acting in mission mode for its campaign of “Healthy China” of 2030. Australia has set a target of engaging its 15% population in exercise by 2030. Target of Great Britain is to add 5 lakh more people in exercise by 2020. Similarly, USA has objective of linking its 1000 cities with Free Fitness Campaign. Though India is walking on same line but its expenditure on sports persons is far less as compared to other countries. India spends only 3 paisa per sportsperson per day. USA spends Rs.22, Britain spends 50 paisa and even Jamaica spends 19 paisa per sportsperson per day. India needs to increase its sport expenditure.
Statistics
According to World Health Organization (WHO), in 2016, about 95, 69,000 people died in India due to diseases. Out of them, 63% deaths were due to non communicable diseases. 27% mortality was attributed to cardiovascular disorders (CVDs), 9% due to cancer, 11% was related to respiratory issues, 3% due to diabetes and 13% due to other non communicable diseases. Out of total, 26% deaths were due to communicable diseases, genetic disorders and malnutrition.
A data from IHME (Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation) reveals that in 2017, the highest number of deaths in India was due to heart problems. Most of the deaths in India occur due to Ischemic heart disease, stroke, diarrhea, low respiratory tract infection, tuberculosis, neonatal disorder, asthma, diabetes, chronic kidney disease etc. The other most common health problems in India are iron deficiency, headache, lower back pain, blindness, vision disorders. Neonatal disorders and diabetes often lead to disabilities.
“Fit India Campaign” may be a solution
WHO say that by taking healthy balanced diet, avoiding tobacco and its products, doing physical activity can be helpful in 80% reduction of premature deaths due to cardiovascular disorders (CVDs), type II diabetes and stroke. These measures can also cause 40% reduction in deaths due to cancer.
Features of Campaign
The “Fit India Campaign” is initiated through Ministry of Sports but will also be joined by other ministries like Ministry of Human Resource Development, Ministry of Urban Development and Ministry of Rural Development. The components of this campaign will vary from child education, habits of sanitation, to programs for elderly. The celebrities from cinema, entertainment and sports will be associated. Awareness programs about sports and fitness also will be run through panchayats and municipal bodies. Ministry of Human Resource Development has declared to provide a financial support of Rs 800 Cr which will be distributed to schools in amounts ranging from Rs 15000 to Rs 75000.
Benefits of Fitness Campaign
- Sports will not only improve the health of people but will also act as a career opportunity for youth.
- Traditional sports will reoccupy their reputational positions. Their revival will enrich the culture.
- The physical and mental development of children will be possible in a better way because physical activities on one hand increase the physical strength and on the other hand secrete hormones which increase mental happiness.
- When two generations will play together then generation gap will also get reduced.
- Awareness about sanitation will reduce communicable diseases like diarrhea which is one of the major causes of child mortality in India.
- Awareness about life style disorders will help in improving life styles of people leading to reduction of non communicable diseases like CVDs, Type II diabetes etc.
Conclusion
At different time points different state governments have taken suitable steps for improving health of the communities. Now, an all India step has been initiated by the government of India which will be successful only if we all participate in it and make it a public movement.
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