Union Minister Shripad Yesso Naik on Friday called upon the people to come forward and participate in the International Yoga Day celebrations being held in Chandigarh on June 21 in large numbers making Yoga a mass movement.
Addressing a press conference regarding the arrangements being made for the celebrations, he appealed the people from all walks of life to come forward to promote the rich cultural heritage of India especially Yoga as unifying phenomena throughout the world.
Naik said Yoga is also being made as part of syllabus and curriculum at school, college and university level. He said that two-day International Conference on Yoga for Body and Beyond will be held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on 22nd and 23rd June. Vice President, M. Hamid Ansari is expected to inaugurate the conference.
IDY will be celebrated across the nation. All State/UT governments have been asked to celebrate the event at the state headquarter, district, block and village level.
Member of Parliament from Chandigarh, Kirron Kher urged the people to rise above politics to promote Yoga specially in girls. Ajit M. Sharan, Secretary, AYUSH clarified that an amount of 15 crore is being spent throughout the country for the promotion of Yoga by AYUSH Ministry.
The participating institutions, states and corporate bodies are also funding the Yoga Promotion Programmes under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities. Yoga classes will continue even after the main function on International Yoga Day.
Parimal Rail, Advisor to the Administrator and Anurag Aggarwal, Home Secretary, UT Chandigarh were also present on the occasion.