Cyclothon promotes safe, healthy eating habits
After over 100 days since its flag-off on the World Food Day (October 16, 2018) Swasth Bharat Yatra, one of the world’s biggest cyclothons to nudge people to ‘eat right’ had a concluding ceremony in the Capital recently.
The minister of state for health and family welfare, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, was the chief guest for the occasion which was attended by many other dignitaries.
The Yatra began at six different locations — Leh, Panaji, Thiruvananthapuram, Puducherry, Kolkata and Agartala — on six different tracks, and had over 10,000 volunteer cyclists cover over 20,000km across 36 States and union territories (UTs) spreading the message of ‘Eat Safe, Eat Healthy and Eat Fortified’.
This Yatra is a part of the ‘Eat Right India’ movement, a one-of-a-kind pan-India public health revolution to create a sustainable culture and safe and healthy diets by promoting individual awareness, collective action, strengthening institutional systems and fostering partnerships.
Led by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, it is a collaborative effort of citizens, industry, social and professional organisations and other partners. The goal of this Yatra was achieved through engagement activities and events in more than 2,100 locations along the Yatra and the creation of over 21,000 local, community ‘Eat Right Champions’ who would sustain this movement in the future. With more than 10 lakh participants and 2.5 crore people reached, the yatra has made ‘Eat Right India’ a people’s movement.
The Yatra witnessed enthusiastic participation from all states and UTs. Their efforts were recognised through an awards ceremony at the Grand Finale in New Delhi. Tamil Nadu was declared the the ‘Best State Overall’ for its exemplary participation.