Jammu, Jan 12: In a move towards making health and environment a priority for all the staff and officers, EPFO Jammu on Thursday presented bicycles and yoga mats to all the staff and officers of the office. The bicycles and yoga mats were handed over by Regional Provident Fund Commissioner–I, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, Rizwan Uddin.
Speaking on the occasion, Rizwan Uddin said, “These bicycles may be used by staff and officers for daily commuting which will not only aid in attaining better health and fitness but also make a positive contribution in making the city clean and green in addition to avoiding and minimizing the traffic congestion, especially in the times of increasing trend of sedentary lifestyle where lifestyle disorders such as obesity, hypertension, high blood pressure and diabetes among others are on the rise.”
Sharing more details, he said the entire team of EPFO would ride bicycles together as 30 cycles were procured from the award money that the office received after being declared as ‘Best Performing Remote Office’.
“The Committee was constituted to use the award money for employees’ welfare and Staff Welfare Committee of EPFO, Jammu took a unanimous decision to procure thirty bicycles for the officers and staff,” the Regional Commissioner said, adding that the decision was taken considering various factors, including overall welfare of staff, long traffic jams in Jammu, cause of health and environment.
Sharing his own experience of cycling, Rizwan Uddin, a passionate cyclist himself, said that he initially pursued cycling as a hobby and has reasons to believe that cycling contributes to a positive lifestyle. The office is around 8 kilometers away from his home and he has been in the habit of using bicycles as a mode of transportation and rides bicycles daily to the office and back home.
“Cycling not only promotes good health among the staff but also plays a significant role in reducing carbon footprint which ultimately helps our environment and saves money,” he said. When you travel by your car and motorbike then it consumes fuel and incurs greater expenses. Bicycling is economic in many aspects- it saves time, gym time, petrol and space on the road. Moreover, it is an option which is good for your health besides boosting your savings.”
He further said, “If 20 percent of people start riding a bicycle, then it will reduce pollution as well as make the city the smartest. In many countries, it has become an important part of urban planning.”
Yoga mats were distributed to all the staff and officers of EPFO RO Jammu which will also contribute towards boosting the health and fitness of all staff. Presenting the yoga mats, Rizwan Uddin said, “Yoga is a great way to promote preventive healthcare which promotes practitioners’ health holistically in terms of physical, mental, and emotional well-being
