Our Correspondent / New Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today urged schools, neighbourhoods and youth to come forward to revive and promote traditional games like Gilli-Danda, Kho Kho and Pitthoo.
In his monthly Mann ki Baat address on All India Radio, Mr Modi said, traditional sports and games are structured in such a manner that along with physical ability, they enhance our logical thinking, concentration, alertness and energy levels. Mr Modi said, the unity intrinsic to our country’s diversity can be witnessed in these games.
Sharing his thoughts about Fit India campaign, the Prime Minister said, everybody is now getting connected to this campaign – from film fraternity to world of sports to the common man. He said, it is heartwarming to accept ‘Hum Fit Toh India Fit’ challenge of Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli.
The Prime Minister also said, a team comprising five tribal students of an Ashram School in Chandrapur, Maharashtra scaled the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest and these young boys and girls had been selected under Mission Shaurya.
Mr Modi said, just a while ago, 16 year old Shivangi Pathak became the youngest Indian woman to scale Everest from the Nepal Side. He said, Ajit Bajajand his daughter became the first ever father-daughter duo to ascend the Everest.
On India hosting the World Environment Day celebrations on the 5th of next month, with the theme ‘Beat plastic pollution’, the Prime Minister termed it a very important achievement for the country. He said, it is an acknowledgement as well as recognition of country’s growing leadership in the direction of tackling climate change. Mr Modi appealed to the people not to use low grade polythene and low grade plastics and try to curb the negative impact of plastic pollution on envrionment and wild life and health.
The Prime Minister also said, the rainy season is fast approaching and we can set a target of achieving record plantation of trees this time and maintain the saplings till they grow.
The Prime Minister also remembered country’s first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on his death anniversary today. He said, this was the month of May in 1857, when Indians had displayed their strength against the British.