NDTV Lifestyle Launch Marks For Sports Under Fit India Movement

By Suparna Chakaraborthy

Thursday, March 17, 2011, 13:32

NDTV-NIRMAL Lifestyle launch the 'Fit India movement' 'Marks for Sports' will campaign for including Sports in the main curriculum across all school boards in the country.

HRD Minister, Shri Kapil Sibal and Development & Campaign Ambassador Actor Ranbir Kapoor come on board to support the campaign.

Also supporting the campaign are sportspersons MAK Pataudi, Baichung Bhutia, Vijender Singh, Gagan Narang and Panjak Advani among others.

NDTV & Nirmal Lifestyle today launched the “Fit India Movement" a first of its kind long- term campaign to change the way India thinks about fitness and inspire us to become a healthier nation. Mission 1 of the “Fit India Movement" is “Marks for Sports", which aims to develop fitter, active and healthier lifestyles for the youth of today. The core belief of this campaign lies within the premise that if schools and more importantly, different boards of education include Sports as a part of the main curriculum, then parents, as well as children, will devote more time to sports, setting them on the path of a lifetime of fitness.

To launch the Lifestyle 'Fit India Movement' initiative, Development & Campaign Ambassador, Ranbir Kapoor joined Dr. Prannoy Roy, Chairman, NDTV and Mr. Dharmesh Jain, Chairman & MD of Nirmal Lifestyle in New Delhi. Also present at the launch were legendary cricketer MAK Pataudi, Olympic boxer Vijender Singh, India"s Football Captain Baichung Bhutia, Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist Gagan Narang and seven times World Billiards and Snooker Champion Pankaj Advani.

The year-long 'Fit India Movement' 'Marks for Sports" campaign aims to reach out to policy and decision makers across the country with a series of activities. These will include special televised debates and discussion programmes with the Campaign Ambassador, televised interactive ground activities with sports persons and children and a signature drive asking for policy changes with pledges for donations and equipment. Also included will be a school connect programme, to motivate and encourage students and their parent to accept Sports as part of the main curriculum.

Commenting on the Initiative, said Development & Campaign Ambassador Actor Ranbir Kapoor, “Sports has become big in the hearts and mind of Indians now, especially after the success of our Athletes and Sport"s stars at the Olympic and Commonwealth Games. I really believe this is a great initiative to catalyze awareness for Sports and Fitness to be part of our daily lives. And what better way to do this than to make Sports a part of every child"s school curriculum. I know that I would have enjoyed my school days much more, had sports been given more importance"

Speaking at the event, Dr. Prannoy Roy, Chairman, NDTV, said “Indian parents are now so totally focussed on studies that we are ignoring other aspects of a child's development. As a result child obesity is rising alarmingly and most of young India is not fit. The consequence is a rise in disease and illnesses related to being unfit. It's time we focussed on redressing the balance and making India healthy and fit. Yes, focus on studies but focus on sports and fitness too."

According to Mr. Dharmesh Jain, Chairman & MD of Nirmal Lifestyle, “A major statement any country in the world makes between its journey from developing to developed nation is Sports. For India the time has arrived to parallel its economic development with sports development to create its own major space amongst developed nations".
“Physical fitness is the key to a successful lifestyle. The youth of today 'is' India's tomorrow. With this movement we urge school boards across India to initiate their participation to endorse a more active and healthier outlook in their student"s lives. We are extremely pleased and thankful to NDTV for partnering with us in this movement."

Baichung Bhutia voiced what all the panelists felt, that coaches and infrastructure were the most important aspects to be developed for future of sports in the country.

To which Gagan Narang added, “Kheloge koodoge banoge Nawaab, padhoge likhoge banoge kharab (if you play and be active you could become a King, but if you only study and do nothing else you will be worthless)"

LETS HELP OUR CHILDREN MAKE A MARK FOR THEMSELVES GIVE THEM “MARKS FOR SPORTS"