Taking a major stride towards promoting sports infrastructure in rural areas of the state, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal on Sunday inaugurated 98 newly constructed park-cum-vyayamshalas.
The park-cum-vyayamshalas were inaugurated through video conferencing here. A day before, the Chief Minister has inaugurated 12 such vyayamshalas in district Sonipat and with Sunday’s inauguration, the total number of such sports facilities in the state has reached to 511 with work on additional 300 park-cum-vyayamshalas expected to be completed within in next few months.
Speaking on this occasion, the Chief Minister said that this year, the State Government has proposed to set up additional 1000 park-cum-vyayamshalas in the state for which a provision of Rs 250 crore has also been made in the budget.
Besides, in line with the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s call for promoting AYUSH Health and Wellness Centres, the State Government is contemplating to set up a Health and Wellness Centre of two-three rooms in all its park-cum-vyayamshalas for achieving comprehensive health care, he said.
While Cooperation Minister Dr Banwari Lal and Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Om Prakash Yadav were present on this occasion here, Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chutala digitally joined the inauguration ceremony from Hisar.
Manohar Lal inaugurated one park-cum-vyayamshalas each in districts Ambala, Gurugram, Kaithal, Kurukshetra, Panchkula, Panipat and Rewari, 10 in district Bhiwani, 6 each in districts of Charkhi Dadri, Faridabad, Karnal and Mahendergarh, 7 in Fatehabad, 4 in Hisar, 9 in Jhajjar, 13 in Jind, 2 each in Palwal and Yamunanagar, 8 in Rohtak and 12 in Sirsa.
The Chief Minister had a day before inaugurated 12 park-cum-vyayamshalas in Sonipat. These park-cum-vyayamshalas have been constructed at a cost of over Rs 28.29 crore.
Greeting the people on the occasion of Guru Purnima, Manohar Lal further said that today’s function assumes a special significance as he is dedicating park-cum-vyayamshalas to the people on this pious occasion.
He said that as in the ancient times, Yoga was practiced in the Gurukuls for the overall development of mind, body and soul, these vyayamshalas would also not only help people staying physically fit but also play a vital role in their intellectual growth and development. The Chief Minister said that he himself practiced yoga daily for 45 minutes in the morning.Manohar Lal said that with the persistent efforts of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, Yoga got recognition not at the national level but world over as 170 countries have adopted yoga irrespective of different religion.Every year, June 21 is celebrated as International Yoga Day. This year, we celebrated 6th International Yoga Day. Due to COVID-19, this time people practiced yoga with their family members only by staying at their homes with social distancing, he added.
He also said that while acknowledging the benefit of Yoga in day-to-day life of people, the present State Government had decided to construct vyaymshalas in 1000 gram panchayats in the first phase out of total about 6500 gram panchayats in the state.
1107 park-cum-vyayamshalas were taken up for construction in the state which included 921 two acres vyayamshalas and 186 four acres vyayamshalas and with today's inauguration 511 such sports facilities have been completed, the Chief Minister said.
He further said that to ensure the active participation of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in the development process of the state, the work for maintenance and upkeep of these vyayamshalas would be handed over to zila parishads.
Apart from this, AYUSH assistants would also be recruited at district level who would be assigned different works in the park-cum-vyayamshalas for generating awareness among the people for improving the body immunity besides plantation of Ayurvedic medicinal plants in the park complex.
While underlining the significance of Yoga especially in this time when the whole world is battling with the Coronavirus crisis, he also said that the Prime Minister has called upon the people of the country to aspire for an Atamnirbhar Bharat.
We would only be able to realize his vision when each and every citizen of our country is in forefront be it in education, health, employment or any other field, he added.