Governor Kavinder Gupta today flagged off a mini marathon from the historic Ridge Ground, Shimla, on the occasion of World Environment Day. The event was jointly organized by the Himachal Pradesh Police, Department of Environment, Science, Technology and Climate Change and the Census Directorate, Himachal Pradesh.
The marathon was organised around the theme 'Clean Environment and Drug-Free Life' and witnessed enthusiastic participation from people across Himachal Pradesh and neighbouring states. Members of the Central Armed Police Forces, students from schools, colleges and universities, senior citizens and specially-abled participants all took part in large numbers.
The main aim of the event was to raise awareness about the harmful effects of drug abuse while encouraging environmental protection, good health and social responsibility.The marathon also helped spread awareness about the Self-Enumeration Campaign being conducted by the Census Department.
Addressing the gathering, the Governor said that the people of Himachal Pradesh are fortunate to live in a state with a clean environment and fresh air, which play an important role in maintaining good health. He stressed the need to protect and preserve the state's natural beauty for future generations.
The Governor praised the enthusiastic response from participants and said that such involvement shows a growing commitment towards environmental conservation and social causes. He said that the development should never come at the cost of environmental sustainability and stressed that environment conservation and a drug-free society are essential for a better future.
Expressing concern over the increasing problem of drug abuse, the Governor appreciated the efforts of the Himachal Pradesh Police in spreading awareness through innovative programmes. He said that protecting young people from the dangers of drugs is a shared responsibility and requires support from all sections of society.
He said that if everyone works together, Himachal Pradesh can certainly become a drug-free state. The Governor also highlighted the importance of public participation in the success of social campaigns.
He appreciated the efforts of the organizing departments for ensuring the involvement of people from all walks of life and expressed confidence that such initiatives would bring lasting positive results. Speaking about cleanliness, Shri Gupta said that maintaining cleanliness should begin at home and become a daily habit.
He urged people to adopt clean living practices and contribute towards building a healthier and more sustainable society. Earlier, the Governor administered a pledge to all participants, encouraging them to remain committed to cleanliness, environmental protection and a drug-free lifestyle.
He also interacted with participants and encouraged them to help protect Himachal Pradesh's green environment and stay away from substance abuse. The Governor visited an exhibition organised by the Department of Environment, Science, Technology and Climate Change and appreciated its efforts to promote environmental awareness. Sh. Gupta also signed the 'Harit Himachal and Chitta-Mukt Himachal' campaign wall and reaffirmed his commitment to both causes.
Mayor MC Shimla Surinder Chauhan, Director General of Police Ashok Tiwari, Secretary, Department of Environment, Science, Technology and Climate Change Sushil Kumar Singla, Director Census Operations, Himachal Pradesh, Deep Shikha Sharma, along with senior officers and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.