Compulsory yoga at work on June 21: Govt to all staff

Panaji: In an order, state govt has made it compulsory for all its employees to participate in yoga sessions held on International Yoga Day on June 21. The employees must perform yoga on their office premises or at institutions such as schools, colleges, panchayats, or municipalities where such sessions are organised.“International Yoga Day is celebrated every year on June 21 to promote awareness about the many benefits of practising yoga for physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing,” the circular reads. “The state of Goa joins the nation in observing this important day through participation in yoga sessions across govt offices and public institutions.”The circular states that employees attending sessions outside their department/office will have to take a photograph as proof of participation and submit it to their respective head office.All heads of departments/offices/autonomous bodies/corporations have also been directed to make all necessary arrangements to conduct yoga sessions in their offices and sub-offices on June 21.The departments have been told to make their office premises available to a list of organisations provided by the state by approaching them to conduct yoga sessions. The departments have been urged to do this without hampering essential services.

Bharat Swabhiman Trust, Tapobhumi Yoga Gurukul, Art of Living organisations, Brahma Kumaris, Patanjali Yog Samiti, Mahila Patanjali Yog Samiti, Yogasana Sports Association, Ambika Yog Kutir, and Prati Yogayana are the organisations with which departments have been asked to collaborate.The departments have been told to register each event and upload the participation details to a designated website.In another circular, the govt employees have been asked to attempt to complete the ‘Y Break — Yoga Break at Workplace’ course on the iGOT Karmayogi platform. “It will undoubtedly have a beneficial and useful impact on govt employees in their professional and personal lives,” the circular says.