‘India has to keep its youth in good health to become a developed nation'

COIMBATORE: India needs to keep its youth in good health, C. Rajendran, Commissioner, Customs and Central Excise, Coimbatore, said here on Monday.
Speaking at The Hindu-KG Hospital ‘Special Preventive Health Check-up for Teachers', he said the quality of health of the 64-crore youth was important than their being a majority of the population. “India needs fit, healthy youth to become a developed nation. And it is the only way the country can catch up with China.”
Chinese followed a healthy lifestyle; most of their food items were boiled. Indians, on the other hand, fried most of their items. Their lifestyle had also changed. “Is it development or degradation?”
Mr. Rajendran said it was regrettable that India was high on the list of nations with most diabetic, heart patients, persons with Hepatitis B and other diseases. “This is no way to catch up with China, whose share in world production was far higher than India's,” he said.
Teachers' role in shaping India was important because they could make or destroy a generation. In that context, their health was important. And they could not afford to fail because their failure would mean the failure of a generation.
He also asked the teachers to constantly update their knowledge. Quoting a Tirukkural, he said, “If somebody has knowledge, go beg him or her to learn that.”
G. Bakthavathsalam, Chairman, KG Hospital, asked the teachers not to show their anger on students. Students should not undergo corporal punishment, or any physical or mental stress on account of the teachers.
He asked them to consider teaching as God's calling and said it was no nine-to-five job. Only happy teachers would make good teachers. To be happy they needed to be in good health, he added.
The Hindu-KG Hospital medical camp is open for teachers, including retired, and their family members. Master health check-up is provided at a nominal cost. It is a goodwill gesture from the organisers to the teachers to commemorate Teachers' Day. Those interested could register for the health check-up at the special counter at KG Hospital, Arts College Road, Coimbatore. The offer is valid from September 7 to 14. For further details, contact R. Jeyakumar, General Manager, on 98422-21801 or R. Gandhirajan, PRO, at 98422-66630.