Chief minister Harish Rawat has directed officials to initiate a Yoga programme to link Yoga with the State’s economy. This programme should facilitate programmes related to Yoga throughout the year in the State which will boost tourism and income generation. A concrete action plan should be made for starting Yoga related activities in the prominent tourist destinations of Uttarakhand. The CM issued these instructions while chairing a meet with officials in Dehradun on Wednesday.
Rawat said that Uttarakhand has among the best locations in the world for boosting the State’s economy through Yoga. The department concerned should draft a concrete action plan for encouraging Yoga. Those operating Yoga centres in the private sector should also be encouraged. Discussions should be held with such entrepreneurs to draft a policy for encouraging such activities. Grant will also be given under the Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali tourism self employment scheme so as to boost the number of youth generating self employment through establishment of Yoga and Dhyan centres. Ayurveda will also be linked to this scheme. Rawat directed officials to identify important tourist destinations of the State like Harshil, Munsyari, Rudraprayag, Rishikesh and other locations where Yoga centres can be developed. Yoga parks should be developed in the cities which should also prove beneficial to the elderly.
Principal secretary, Medical Health, Om Prakash said that as per the Central Government guidelines for International Day of Yoga on June 21, a programme will be held on the Pavilion Ground in Dehradun. CS N Ravi Shankar, additional chief secretary Rakesh Sharma, disaster management secretary R Meenakshi Sundaram were present in the meeting.