Thousands participate in Jammu ‘Runs for Unity’ as civic drive links fitness with cleanliness
The Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) on Sunday organised the “Jammu Runs for Unity” marathon at Bahu Plaza, drawing enthusiastic participation from residents across age groups and sections of society. The event was designed to promote messages of unity, environmental cleanliness, responsible citizenship and a sustained focus on keeping pilgrimage routes tidy ahead of the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra.
The marathon was formally flagged off by Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar, IAS, in the presence of Commissioner, Jammu Municipal Corporation, Dr Devansh Yadav, IAS, along with senior JMC officers including the Joint Commissioner (H&S), Joint Commissioner (Admin) and the Health Officer. Organisers said the event attracted participation from thousands of residents, including children and youth.
- Objective: Create awareness on cleanliness, environmental protection and responsible civic behaviour.
- Location: Bahu Plaza, Jammu.
- Participation: Mixed-age citizens from different sections of society, with competitive categories for men and women over 5 km and 10 km.
Organisers underlined that the marathon was not only a sporting event but also part of a wider civic effort to ensure that the city, its public spaces and approaches to pilgrimage sites remain clean and hygienic during the upcoming yatra season. Certificates and prizes were distributed at the conclusion of the run to winners in each category.
“The overwhelming response reflected the strong spirit of unity, community participation and collective responsibility among the people of Jammu,” organisers said.
Winners across categories
Prizes and certificates were presented to top finishers in the respective categories. The podium finishers named by the JMC were:
| Category | First | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 KM Men | Vivek Sharma | Raghav Sharma | Mohd. Kaif |
| 5 KM Women | Kriti Devi | Neelam Dutta | Sheetal Devi |
| 10 KM Men | Balvinder Singh | Suraj Kumar | Rohit Sharma |
| 10 KM Women | Dishu Thakur | Deepanshi | Aditi Kohli |
Officials said the successful conduct of the run reaffirmed the JMC’s commitment to engaging citizens in initiatives that promote a cleaner, greener and healthier Jammu.
Local context and implications
The marathon comes at a time when municipal authorities across the region intensify preparations for pilgrimage seasons. Jammu, as a gateway and a city hosting several pre-yatra activities, frequently coordinates cleanliness drives and public-awareness campaigns aimed at maintaining hygiene along routes used by pilgrims.
By linking a mass-participation sporting event to messages about environmental protection and civic responsibility, the JMC sought to broaden outreach beyond conventional awareness programmes. The high turnout underlined public appetite for community events that combine health, civic pride and social causes.
Officers at the event emphasised that such public engagement helps supplement administrative measures — including waste management, sanitation deployment and volunteer coordination — that are stepped up during the yatra. They said continued citizen cooperation would be essential to keep public spaces and pilgrimage approaches clean and sustainable.
The marathon also served as an example of municipal efforts to foster participatory governance at the grassroots by involving schools, neighbourhood groups and volunteers in civic campaigns. Authorities said follow-up activities would include neighbourhood clean-ups and educational outreach ahead of the main pilgrimage period.
No disruptions were reported during the event and traffic management was coordinated by local authorities to ensure safety of participants and commuters. The JMC said it will continue to organise similar outreach drives to engage different segments of Jammu’s population in civic initiatives.
