Port Blair, Feb 17: With the current state of Pandemic and the impending lockdowns of previous year, much of our time now is spent in bringing back normalcy to our lives. The health and wellbeing of students and youth is of primary focus and one way of ensuring this is by engaging rural youths in co-curricular activities for an optimal period of time.

Foreseeing this, the Department of RD/PRIs has prioritized the development of sports activities amongst the youth of these islands.

An initiative has been undertaken by the Directorate, wherein it aims to equip each of the 70 Gram Panchayats with sports items worth Rs. 78 Lakh so that the youth are engaged proactively with a vision to lead a healthy and fit life. Participating in regular sports activities will also increase their self-esteem and reduce stress which would also keep them away from anti-social activities.

At an event organized at the Community Hall at Chouldari,  Shri Suneel Anchipaka, IAS, Secretary (RD) with his honorary presence distributed the acquired quality sports kits replete with items for indoor as well as outdoor sports like Cricket, Football, Volleyball, Carrom, Badminton etc to all Gram Panchayats under the Ferrargunj  Block

In his address, he said that engaging in sports activities helps students to become fit and avoid mental health issues, if any.