PM Modi Nominates Omar Abdullah, Anand Mahindra, and Other Prominent Figures for Nationwide Anti-Obesity Campaign
New Delhi, Feb 24: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has nominated 10 distinguished personalities from various fields to lead a nationwide awareness campaign against obesity and promote reduced consumption of edible oil. The initiative aims to encourage healthier eating habits and lifestyle changes across India.
Among those nominated are Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra, renowned actor Mohanlal, Bhojpuri singer-actor Nirahua, Olympian shooter Manu Bhaker, weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, actor R. Madhavan, singer Shreya Ghoshal, and philanthropist and Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murty.
In his post on X, the Prime Minister urged the nominees to actively participate in the campaign and nominate 10 more individuals each to expand the movement. This follows his call to action during the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ program, where he highlighted the rising health risks associated with obesity and excessive oil consumption.
Anand Mahindra emphasized that a healthy population is essential for achieving India’s vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047. He noted that small changes, such as reducing cooking oil usage by even 10%, can significantly contribute to personal health, financial savings, and environmental well-being. Following his nomination, he passed the challenge forward to Bollywood actors Anil Kapoor and Gul Panag, Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath, Chess Grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand, and badminton champion P.V. Sindhu.
Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani highlighted that reducing oil consumption would not only improve health but also reduce India’s dependence on edible oil imports, benefiting the economy. He nominated business leaders such as Harsh Goenka, Ritu Dalmia, Mukesh Bansal, and Uday Kotak to support the campaign.
Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murty nominated former Olympian P.T. Usha, ex-cricketers Anil Kumble and Venkatesh Prasad, former IPS officer and Governor Kiran Bedi, and author Amish Tripathi, further expanding the initiative’s reach.
Olympic silver medalist Mirabai Chanu expressed her gratitude for being nominated and called for a collective effort towards a ‘Fit India’. She nominated world chess champion D. Gukesh, Paralympian Avani Lekhara, former shooter Gagan Narang, and badminton star P.V. Sindhu to carry forward the message.
With the participation of influential personalities from politics, sports, business, and entertainment, the campaign is set to gain widespread momentum. The Prime Minister’s call to action is expected to encourage millions of Indians to adopt healthier dietary practices and promote fitness, contributing to the nation’s overall well-being.
