March 18: B. Borooah College today got a gymnasium of its own.

The new gym was inaugurated in a hall on the first floor of a building on its premises. The college authorities invited Mr Universe Mahadev Deka to inaugurate the gym formally as well as to inspire the students to exercise regularly.

The gym will remain open for students, teachers and all other employees of the college everyday from 7am to 9am and again from 3pm to 6pm. One hour, from 3pm to 4pm, will be exclusively for teachers and other employees of the college.

“The gym has been set up at a cost of Rs 6.5 lakh. Out of that amount, Rs 5 lakh was provided by the UGC while the rest of the amount was given by the college,” said principal Satyendra Narayan Barman.

Barman said earlier they had submitted a proposal to the UGC to set up the gym. “They accepted our proposal. The UGC has the option of funding in schemes like setting up gyms in colleges. Every college can avail the facility,” he said.

Deka answered the students’ queries on health and exercise after the inauguration. He gave them valuable tips to keep themselves healthy. “Never exercise more than 40 minutes in a gym. Excessive exercise will damage your health. The ideal time to exercise is between 35 and 40 minutes,” he said.

“Exercise is essential to keep a healthy balance between the mind and the body. Please spare at least some time everyday for physical exercise. Regular exercise helps in controlling secretion of various hormones of the body,” Deka told the students.

The students were happy to get the gym. The college authorities have charged a nominal monthly fee for users of the gymnasium. “Earlier, the students had to go to other private gyms. But this one is much cheaper with good facilities,” said Rajdeep Gogoi, general secretary of the students’ union of the college.