Local bodies achieving complete yoga integration will be honoured: Veena George

Health Minister Veena George has said that local self-governing bodies achieving Sampoorna Yoga (complete yoga integration) will receive special recognition for their efforts. This move, she said, is intended to inspire other local bodies and encourage widespread adoption of yoga practices at the grassroots level.

The Minister was inaugurating the State-level International Day of Yoga celebrations online, held in Thrissur, on Saturday. The State aims to transform all panchayats, municipalities, and Corporations into fully yoga-integrated zones, with the ultimate goal of establishing Kerala as a Sampoorna Yoga State.

She noted that Kerala has accorded special importance to yoga and is implementing measures to integrate it into daily life. “As part of this effort, over 10,000 yoga clubs have already been set up across the State, and steps are under way to establish at least one yoga club in every panchayat.

Provisions have also been made to train and promote yoga through AYUSH centres and wellness programmes, including yoga, have been launched in collaboration with people’s health centres and community health clubs, she said.

Lifestyle diseases

Kerala, with the highest life expectancy in the country and among the lowest maternal and infant mortality rates, leads in health indicators. However, lifestyle diseases and rising morbidity rates remain significant challenges. The State has taken up multiple initiatives to tackle these issues, and yoga is seen as a vital tool in improving both physical and mental health, the Minister noted. “Yoga is not just a practice but a way of life and culture and everyone should be part of it,” said the Minister.

Thrissur District Collector Arjun Pandian presided over the function. Various AYUSH yoga clubs staged mass yoga demonstration. Reni M.K., yoga naturopathy medical officer, Rama Varma District Ayurveda Hospital, Thrissur, delivered yoga day message.

Other dignitaries who were present on the occasion include Health department Additional Chief Secretary Rajan N. Khobragade; National AYUSH Mission’s State Mission Director D. Sajith Babu; Director of Ayurveda Medical Education T.D. Sreekumar; ISM district medical officer Agnes Cletus; AYUSH Mission State programme manager R. Jayanarayanan; NHM district programme manager P. Sajeev Kumar; and District AYUSH Mission programme manager Nikhila Narayanan.