Speaker flags off Swami Vivekananda Jayanti walkathon

A Walkathon took place on Friday to celebrate Swami Vivekananda Jayanti, flagged off by Haryana Speaker Gian Chand Gupta from Rajhans in Sector 5. The event, organized by the Sports Promotion Society Panchkula in collaboration with the District Administration and Municipal Corporation Panchkula, saw the participation of various dignitaries including Mayor Kulbhushan Goyal and Deputy Commissioner Sushil Sarwan.

The walk started from Sector 5, passing through prominent locations like Pallavi Hotel, Cactus Garden, Bus Stand, Tawa Chowk, Anupam Sweets, Sector 11-14 Chowk, Sector 10-15 Chowk, Sector 9-16 Agrasen Chowk, and concluded at the ground in front of PNB in Sector 5. Speaker Gian Chand Gupta, riding in an open jeep, energized the participants with patriotic slogans.

During the programme, Gupta paid homage to Swami Vivekananda and emphasised his enduring influence as a source of inspiration for the youth. He highlighted Swami Vivekananda’s timeless message of “Arise, Awake, and stop not till the goal is achieved” and encouraged the youth to contribute to the unity and integrity of the country by adopting Swamiji’s teachings.

Gupta reiterated his commitment to making Panchkula clean, beautiful, and green, emphasizing the need for public participation. He addressed concerns about drugs, pollution, plastic usage, stray animals, encroachments, and slums in Panchkula, urging residents to actively engage in these initiatives. Making Panchkula drug-free was identified as a top priority, and Gupta urged the youth to stay away from drugs while encouraging others to do the same.

He acknowledged the efforts of NGOs and the administration in making Panchkula plastic-free, promoting cloth and jute bags. Gupta called for residents to plant at least one tree outside their homes to contribute to a pollution-free Panchkula. He emphasized the importance of individual actions, such as turning off vehicles at traffic lights, in environmental protection.

Gupta shared plans to make Panchkula encroachment-free, establish vending zones, and provide housing for those in need. He launched a song on Plastic Free Panchkula and praised a presentation by school children showcasing Haryanvi dance, Punjabi Giddha, Wusu, Taekwondo, and addressing seven concerns.