Uttarakhand is the only State in the country which has prepared a proper road map for Yoga promotion, claimed the Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat while addressing the media here on Monday. Elaborating the State Government's plan he informed that 68 Ayurvedic hospitals have been earmarked where daily Yoga sessions would start in next 15 days.
The CM had unveiled the State Government's plans on International Yoga day; on Monday he held discussions with senior officials of concerned departments and issued time frame for the declarations. He informed that 25 urban local bodies have been asked to identify in a month's time, a park in their locality where Yoga Corner could be developed for common people. He added that in Dehradun and Haldwani the state police have been asked to develop Yoga corners. Rawat said that 150 government schools in Rishikesh (Dehradun) and Jageshwar (Almora) zones have been identified where Yoga and Wellness centres would be developed. These centers would start functioning from July. He informed that to link Yoga with tourism the State Government has identified 12 places located in serene locations. The department of tourism would develop Gairsain and Gwaldam in Chamoli district, Hanol and Devvan in Dehradun, Surnol and Harshil in Uttarkashi, Munsyari and Chakodi in Pithoragarh, Mayawati in Champawat, Jageshwar in Almora, Madannegi in Tehri and Khirsu in Pauri district. Apart from these destinations the VIP Ghat in Haridwar and GMVN campus in Rishikesh have been selected as places where regular Yoga sessions for would be organised for tourists.
The CM informed that he has asked the senior officials of tourism department to prepare a plan in which Yoga sessions can be started in snow clad destinations located in high altitudes. He said that the state government would appoint Yoga instructors in these facilities. The CM said that he has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide grant to the state government so that it is able to give employment to these Yoga instructors. Replying to a question, Rawat said that the announcements related to Yoga promotion by the state government should not be termed as knee jerk reaction after the Narendra Modi government decided to celebrate International Yoga day in a grand manner as the state government was working on it for last one month. He however accepted that the hype forced him to prepone his declaration which he was intending to make at Jageshwar.
The CM rued the fact that the central government has steeply reduced the funds under the central assistance to Uttarakhand. He informed that central government had provided Rs2372.83 crores in the first quarter (April, May, June) in the financial year 2014-15 while the central assistance in the first quarter in current financial year is only Rs1961.56 Crores which means a cut of Rs411.27 Crores. He said that it is unfortunate that the while the central government has provided budgets to Nasik, Ujjain and Patna where small festivals associated with Kumbh would be organised it has failed to provide a single penny for Ardh Kumbh where more than 8 crore people are expected to congregate.The State Government has raised a demand of Rs5 Crore from Central government for organizing Ardh Kumbh in Haridwar in the year 2016.