In a powerful message on International Women’s Day, Union Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya participated in Kolkata’s Fit India Pink Cyclothon, underscoring that a strong society begins with empowered women. ‘Making women strong is making society strong,’ he proclaimed, linking women’s fitness and sports involvement to national development.
The event, part of the ongoing Sunday on Cycle campaign, drew crowds eager to pedal for health and unity. Mandaviya praised cycling’s dual benefits for personal wellness and environmental sustainability, calling it a simple yet impactful habit.
He elaborated on how increased female participation in athletics not only boosts individual health but elevates families and communities. This, in turn, propels the country forward on the path of progress.
Joining the minister were sports icons like Arjuna award-winner and Olympian Bombayla Devi Laishram, Everest summiteer Piyali Basak, Kolkata Scouts leader Avinash Kumar Gupta, footballer Adrijja Sarkhel, and Olympian Sushmita Singha Roy, making the ride a star-studded affair.
The Sunday on Cycle drive, kicked off by Mandaviya last December, builds on PM Modi’s 2019 Fit India initiative. Weekly events aim to embed fitness into everyday routines, with this session spotlighting women’s strength.
As bicycles rolled through Kolkata’s streets, the cyclothon symbolized a pedaling push towards gender equality and collective well-being, inspiring participants to keep the momentum going.