VINOD BHAT
KOCHI, Feb 22: The 25-day-long CISF Vande Mataram Coastal Cyclothon–2026 culminated in a grand and emotionally charged ceremony at Kochi on Saturday, marking the successful completion of a 6,553-kilometre journey across India’s eastern and western coastlines. The nationwide outreach initiative, which began on January 28, evolved into a powerful movement connecting coastal communities with the message of unity, vigilance and national resolve.
The valedictory function was graced by Hon’ble Shri Bandi Sanjay Kumar, Minister of State for Home Affairs, and Shri Praveer Ranjan, Director General, CISF, along with senior officers of the Force. The event witnessed participation from prominent personalities from the film and sports fraternity, including Malayalam actors Shri Jayasurya, Shri Major Ravi and Shri Vijay Babu, actresses Miss Prayaga Martin and Miss Manasa Radhakrishnan, former footballer and Padma Shri Arjuna awardee Shri I.M. Vijayan, Indian badminton coach Shri Joy T Antony and noted music composer Shri Rathish Vega.
Flagged off virtually from New Delhi by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, the Cyclothon travelled through nine States and two Union Territories, linking historic ports, bustling industrial hubs, fishing villages and tourist beaches. Held under the unifying theme “Surakshit Tat, Samridh Bharat” (Secure Coasts, Prosperous India), the initiative commemorated 150 years of the iconic national song Vande Mataram and sought to embed the ideals of unity, collective responsibility and participative security among citizens.
Over the course of the expedition, 130 CISF cyclists, including a historic 50 per cent women contingent, pedalled not just across challenging terrain but deep into the social fabric of coastal India. From Lakhpat Fort in Gujarat to Bakkhali in West Bengal, passing through Mumbai’s Gateway of India, Goa’s shores, Karnataka’s New Mangalore Port, Odisha’s coastal belt and Tamil Nadu’s southern maritime stretches, the Cyclothon underscored the strategic and economic importance of India’s 7,500-kilometre coastline. With over 250 ports handling nearly 95 per cent of India’s trade by volume, the message was clear: coastal security is integral to economic prosperity and national resilience.
Throughout the journey, the cyclists engaged communities on pressing maritime threats such as narcotics trafficking, arms smuggling and infiltration, reinforcing the need for community vigilance as the first line of defence. In 52 carefully selected coastal villages, CISF personnel halted overnight, lived among residents and held open dialogues with fishermen, elders, youth groups and women’s self-help collectives. These engagements were marked by sincere discussions on livelihood challenges, environmental concerns, maritime risks and developmental aspirations.
Significantly, these 52 villages have now been formally adopted for year-long sustained engagement. With support from key stakeholders, including ONGC and port authorities through Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, structured programmes will focus on rural sports promotion, fitness and wellness camps, recruitment awareness and career guidance sessions, Swachh Bharat drives, plantation campaigns, awareness and facilitation of government welfare schemes, and school infrastructure support including distribution of educational kits.
CISF’s 47 coastal units will spearhead this long-term outreach drive to ensure continuity beyond the Cyclothon and transform awareness into enduring partnership.
Youth participation emerged as the strongest pillar of the movement. NCC cadets, school students and local sports clubs joined the cyclists in rallies and interactive sessions on maritime vigilance and national development. Recruitment awareness programmes demystified opportunities in uniformed services, while sports activities—from volleyball and football to tug-of-war—fostered camaraderie between CISF personnel and rural youth. The distribution of sports kits and school supplies added tangible value to the outreach, with many young participants experiencing their first direct engagement with a national security force.
The 50 per cent women participation in the cycling contingent stood out as a powerful symbol of change and empowerment. From Gujarat’s coastal settlements to Karnataka’s fishing hamlets and Tamil Nadu’s southern shores, the sight of women cyclists in uniform inspired admiration and aspiration.
Discussions on Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, girls’ education and women’s participation in nation-building resonated strongly in village interactions. Women’s self-help groups shared entrepreneurial journeys, linking economic empowerment with social security and dignity.
The Cyclothon also reaffirmed the central role of fishermen as ‘Tat Praharis’—natural sentinels of the coast. Interactive sessions at fishing docks highlighted how local vigilance can deter smuggling and suspicious maritime activity. Fishermen, panchayat leaders and youth forums pledged to act as responsible coastal guardians committed to protecting both livelihood and nation.
Environmental stewardship formed another key pillar of the initiative. Beach clean-ups, plantation drives and Swachh Bharat activities were conducted at multiple locations, reinforcing that secure and clean coasts are fundamental to tourism, fisheries and sustainable growth. Fitness demonstrations, martial arts displays and public cycling events amplified the message of discipline and resilience—values central to both national security and youth development.
The Kochi finale brought together representatives of coastal communities, youth groups, women’s collectives, sister security agencies, industry stakeholders and civil administration on a shared platform. Cultural performances, patriotic renditions of Vande Mataram and public pledges of vigilance marked the symbolic culmination of a journey that transcended geography.
Addressing the gathering, DG CISF Shri Praveer Ranjan remarked that the Cyclothon represented the emergence of a confident and aware coastal India. He emphasised that when young girls see women in uniform leading from the front and students cycle alongside security personnel, security transforms from a distant concept into a shared aspiration.
The Cyclothon, he noted, was not an endpoint but the beginning of a structured outreach framework aligning maritime security with citizen participation.
As the cyclists symbolically handed over the baton of vigilance to coastal communities at Kochi, the message resonated strongly: secure coasts are not built by forces alone, but by united citizens committed to safeguarding the nation’s maritime frontiers.
