The two-month long campaign is to pay tribute to the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabbhai Patel: Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar
Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct. 7: “The Unity March is a historic campaign that carries forward the vision of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’, ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Viksit Bharat’ with the aim of involving maximum number of school and college students and youth,” said the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar, IAS, while chairing a meeting in the Conference Hall of A&N Secretariat here today.
The Chief Secretary stated that the two-month-long national campaign, launched by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports yesterday and simultaneously rolled out across the A&N Islands, will culminate on December 6, 2025. The campaign, he said, pays tribute to the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and his contribution to the nation.
The Chief Secretary emphasized that special focus will be laid on engaging students, youth, and volunteers from every corner of the Islands through activities such as padyatras, cultural events, competitions, and awareness drives that reinforce the ideals of unity, patriotism, and self-reliance. “The Administration is committed to ensuring that this campaign reaches every household, village, and community in the A&N Islands,” he said. He directed that the implementation of the Unity March in all three districts viz. South Andaman, North & Middle Andaman, and Nicobar will be closely monitored to ensure meaningful participation. The Chief Secretary also called for close coordination among Departments of Education, Sports & Youth Affairs along with active support from the Sri Vijaya Puram Municipal Council, Panchayati Raj Institutions, and Tribal Councils. “It is the collective effort of our institutions and citizens that will make this campaign a true people’s movement,” he remarked.
The Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Education), Ms. Chanchal Yadav, IAS, Secretary (Education), Shri L. Kumar, IAS, Director (Education), Shri Vikram Singh and District Youth Officers of MY Bharat were also present on the occasion.
In her address, the Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Education) said that it’s a proud moment that the State Level Sardar @ 150 Unity March Campaign has been launched in A&N Islands with the objective to awaken the spirit of unity and patriotism, particularly among young individuals. She further stated that to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports along with MY Bharat is organizing the Sardar@150 Unity March campaign at various levels across the country to honor the Iron man of India. As a part of this campaign, Hon’ble Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Ji had launched the digital phase of the campaign across the nation yesterday where youth have been urged to actively take part in various competitions like National Social Media Reel Competition, essay writing competition and Sardar@150 Young Leaders Program quiz. All registrations, competitions, and digital activities will be conducted through the MY Bharat Portal: https://mybharat.gov.in/megaevents, providing a single platform for youth to actively participate in these events.
She further stated that the second phase of the campaign will start in the last week of October during which district-level padyatras of 8-10 km will be organized in all the three districts. Students from schools and colleges and NGOs, volunteer organizations will be invited to take part in the event, to take forward the dream and resolve of Sardar Patel to build the India of his vision.
The Commissioner-cum-Secretary also mentioned that these are not just mere activities, but are powerful mediums to spread Sardar Patel’s ideas and vision to every individual across the country and in these Islands too. The greatest tribute to Sardar Patel will be when young people embraces his ideals and draw inspiration to follow his footsteps towards the progress of the nation. She urged every young individual to take part in the campaign & its activities, to be a part of the historic initiative and to take pledge for ‘One India, Self-Reliant India, United India, Developed India’.