Chandigarh (Balwinder Singh): Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini flagged off a Youth Marathon and Tiranga Yatra at Nooni Shekhpura Mode in Narnaul on Sunday, delivering a public message against drug abuse while encouraging community participation in health initiatives. Emphasizing the dual importance of physical fitness and civic engagement, the Chief Minister personally joined the runners by completing the five-kilometre course alongside participating youth, state officials, and sports figures.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Saini highlighted that a healthy, drug-free youth population forms the foundation of a developed nation. He noted that the anti-drug awareness campaign, initially launched from Yamunanagar on July 26, has gained momentum across Haryana through public events like marathons, cyclothons, and community outreach programs. He shared that over 2,483 public awareness programs reaching more than 17 lakh citizens have been conducted under the ‘Haryana Uday’ initiative, alongside the setting up of 160 de-addiction centres across the state.
The event also marked the commencement of the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign, which this year is dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the national song Vande Mataram. Saini called upon citizens, educational institutions, and civic organizations to actively participate in patriotic processions and pay respect to freedom fighters while adhering to proper protocols for handling the national flag. Following the marathon, the Chief Minister planted a sapling under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ environmental drive and presented cash prizes and trophies to the winners of the 10-kilometre and 5-kilometre running categories.
