Two central ministers flagged off the third "Slum Yuva Daud"

New Delhi, June 25: Two central ministers flagged off the third "Slum Yuva Daud" here on Sunday which saw thousands of youths taking part in the race from Kasturba Gandhi Polytechnic, Pitampura, to Pitampura Sports Complex in west Delhi.

Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Vijay Goel and Union Environment and Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan flagged off the race, along with Olympic medallist wrestler Sushil Kumar.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national Vice President Shyam Jaju and national General Secretary Anil Jain also attended the event.

"This is not just any other run ... we are running for a better tomorrow, a New India, where each youngster is a capable being, and sports being one field in which we must grow big and powerful," a statement from the Youth Affairs Ministry quoted Goel as saying. 

The Environment Minister also urged the youths to plant trees and nurture them for "for their safe and green future". 

Sushil Kumar appreciated the ministries' initiative of Slum Yuva Daud, for it helped one in "tapping the future sports stars". 

The initiative is part of the Adopt a Slum Campaign launched by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, which aims at highlighting the government's pro-people schemes among masses.

A total of 11 Slum Yuva Runs have been planned, out of which three have already been held successfully with mass participation.