Uttarakhand launches India's first dedicated yoga policy
DEHRADUN: After pioneering the Uniform Civil Code, Uttarakhand has taken another groundbreaking step by becoming the first state in India to implement a dedicated Yoga Policy. The Pushkar Singh Dhami-led cabinet approved the landmark initiative on Wednesday, setting an ambitious goal to establish Uttarakhand as a global center for yoga and wellness.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stated the government's commitment to this vision under the newly introduced Yoga Policy 2025. 'We aim to create a robust yoga ecosystem in the state,' said officials. As part of the initiative, the state will establish five international yoga hubs and a Directorate of Yoga and Naturopathy to streamline efforts and ensure quality standards across institutions.
Shailesh Bagouli, Secretary to the Chief Minister, explained the policy's broader objective: promoting yoga as a tool for health and wellness across all sections of society. "Community-based special health programmes will be designed to cater to the needs of different age groups," he said.
The new policy places a strong emphasis on yoga tourism, seeking to position Uttarakhand as a leading international destination for holistic health. To achieve this, the government plans to implement stringent guidelines for yoga teaching institutions and integrate yoga education into school and college curricula. Capacity-building programmes in collaboration with national and global institutions will help train a large pool of qualified yoga experts.
The five new international yoga hubs will be set up at Jageshwar, Mukteshwar, Vyas Valley, Tehri Lake, and Kolidhek Lake. These will complement the existing infrastructure in Rishikesh, already a globally recognized yoga destination.
The proposed Directorate of Yoga and Naturopathy will be responsible for overseeing the registration, recognition, and regulation of yoga centres. It will also introduce a rating system to maintain standards and foster national and international partnerships in the field.
To encourage investment and growth in the yoga sector, the Dhami government has announced substantial incentives. Yoga centres established in hill regions will receive up to 50% of the project cost or a maximum of Rs 20 lakh as government grants. Those in the plains will be eligible for 25% or up to Rs 10 lakh.
Over the next five years, the government plans to invest Rs 35 crore in the initiative, with projections to generate over 13,000 jobs. Nearly 2,500 yoga teachers will be certified, and more than 10,000 yoga instructors are expected to gain employment under the policy framework.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
‘Mature' ex-partner offered to pay for MTP at 25+ weeks: HC
Mumbai: Even as Bombay high court permitted a woman to terminate her over 25-week pregnancy, her estranged partner offered to be with her during the "entire ordeal" and bear the expenses. "He immediately offered to deposit an amount of Rs 1 lakh in the account of the petitioner for medical and legal expenses to be incurred by her. He appeared to be a mature person and accepted responsibility. He also assured us that he will accompany the petitioner to the hospital, if she so desired, and remain with her during the entire ordeal," said Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Neela Gokhale in the June 19 order. The woman (31), sought the HC's nod as she had crossed the 24-week legally permissible limit. Her petition stated the pregnancy was due to the failure of a contraceptive device used by her and her then partner. As they are no longer in a relationship, she was not desirous of continuing with the pregnancy. Her parents were not aware of her pregnancy and would not support her, leaving her to fend for herself. She was also between jobs. Her advocate, Nikita Raje, said she has no financial or emotional support to carry the pregnancy to full term. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo Her former partner was unwilling to offer any assistance. Following the HC order, the J J Hospital medical board examined her and found no foetal anomaly. The judges took note of the "pertinent" opinion on her psychiatric evaluation. The woman had a history of sadness and stress, alcohol consumption, smoking, and experimenting with cannabis. She had undergone surgeries for illnesses in the past. However, she was found fit to make a decision for medical termination of pregnacy (MTP) and to undergo the MTP procedure. The judges interacted with the woman. She appeared to be "extremely disturbed having to face these challenges". "The petitioner has thus clearly made a conscious decision to terminate the pregnancy," they said. Considering a Supreme Court decision that the pregnant person's view must be regarded, the woman's right to reproductive freedom, and the psychiatric evaluation, the judges were "satisfied that the continuance of the pregnancy shall adversely affect the already disturbed psychological condition of the petitioner". Finding the woman "was left in a lurch by her own circumstances" as well as her partner's refusal to support her, "despite being an active participant in bringing about the present situation," the judges permitted her to implead him. They accepted his offer and directed him to deposit the amount the amount in the woman's account.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
From ashrams to drawing rooms, Yoga travels far and wide in tech-age
Lucknow: Once confined to ashrams and spiritual retreats, yoga has now expanded into a financially rewarding career, attracting professionals and wellness seekers alike. In Lucknow, several yoga instructors are riding this wave of global interest, earning anywhere between a few thousand to several lakhs through online and offline sessions. Bobby Khan, a yoga instructor and therapist, conducts online sessions for clients in Dubai, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Russia. His charges range from Rs 16,000 to Rs 20,000 for individual clients, Rs. 15,000 to Rs 18,000 for group classes, and Rs 10,000 for couple sessions. Offline private sessions cost between Rs. 9,000 to Rs. 10,000. In addition, Khan holds a government position as a yoga instructor at the Ministry of AYUSH, which brings him a monthly salary of Rs 8,000. "Yoga has become a global bridge for physical and mental healing, it's no longer limited to spiritual seekers or fitness enthusiasts. People from all walks of life CEOs, homemakers, students, even senior citizens are turning to yoga for stress relief, rehabilitation, and holistic well-being. The demand from international clients shows how Indian yoga has become a trusted solution for health challenges across the world," said Khan. Freelance instructor Sujit Kumar Yadav offers group sessions for Rs 7,000 to Rs10,000 and specialized home sessions for Rs 9,000 to Rs 10,000, especially for clients with physical ailments. His centre-based sessions are more affordable, priced at Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,500 per session. "Yoga is not just an ancient art, it's a modern necessity, in a fast-paced world, people are dealing with anxiety, chronic pain, lifestyle disorders, and burnout. Yoga offers a natural remedy, not just for the body, but for the mind and emotions as well. It empowers individuals to take charge of their health. I've seen firsthand how a few sessions can transform someone's energy, posture, and outlook on life. That's why people are willing to invest in it, both financially and emotionally," said Sujit Kumar Yadav Another instructor, Uday Pratap Singh, focuses on personalized sessions either at clients' homes or yoga centres. He charges Rs 8,000 to Rs 9,000 per session and often caters to NRIs and foreign tourists visiting Lucknow. "Many NRIs and tourists contact me during their visits to Lucknow, they come looking for authentic, traditional yoga experiences that they can't always find abroad. What surprises them is how deeply rooted yoga still is in our local culture, beyond just the asanas," said Singh. Sharda Tripathi, a yoga instructor associated with the Ministry of AYUSH, operates through a hybrid model. She charges Rs 350 per online session for clients in Bangalore and Delhi and ₹700 for local sessions in Lucknow, along with drawing Rs 5,000 in government salary. "Digital platforms have made yoga accessible across cities, earlier, people had to rely on local instructors or travel to yoga centres, which wasn't always feasible, especially for working professionals or those with mobility issues. Now, with just a phone or laptop, anyone can join a session from the comfort of their home." Highlighting the professional scope of yoga, Amarjit Yadav, faculty coordinator at the department of Yoga, Lucknow University, said, "Career options include AYUSH Ministry projects, UP govt wellness camps, private and govt educational institutions, and even Ayurvedic and homeopathic labs."
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
BMC squads destroy 50kg stale food in eateries
1 2 3 Bhubaneswar: Food inspection squads of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Saturday destroyed 50 kg of stale and contaminated food during checking of several hotels and restaurants in the city. The drive was carried out in view of jaundice and diarrhoea cases being reported from several areas. The inspection was carried out at Chandrasekharpur and IRC Village, from where multiple samples were taken for laboratory testing. Some food items, which had gone stale and were stored in unhygienic conditions were destroyed. "The surprise food quality inspection has been on since diarrhoea cases were reported in the city and it will continue. On Saturday, a penalty of Rs 8,000 was imposed on three hotels. They were warned not to serve stale food. If the hotels repeat the practice of serving stale food, they will be slapped with closure notices along with a penalty," said designated food safety officer Satyajit Patel. The Sanitation and Hygiene Inspection for Neat Environment (SHINE) team and food enforcement squad of BMC are carrying out the inspections. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo The SHINE team was formed in Aug last year to provide more teeth to sanitation enforcement. Earlier, the inspection teams checked eateries at Unit I, Unit II, Rasulgarh and Palasuni areas. "We want to ensure that the vendors don't keep stale food for the next day. The usual practice is leftover food on a given day (till night) is kept to be mixed up with freshly cooked food. This makes them unhygienic," Patel added. Food safety squads said fast food items and some local delicacies are mostly dumped at the source itself. "So far bacterial contamination has been detected in three food samples. Now, we will randomly check panipuri (gupchup) and dahi bara-aludam stalls to find out if the water they use is contaminated," Patel said. Laboratory tests also ascertain if any colour and preservatives that are not permissible in food are used. BMC officials said there are some shops, including eateries, which mostly carry out their business in the evening. Hence, the SHINE team has been asked to move around the eateries in the evening as well.
