Kerala to Achieve Cent Per Cent Physical Literacy in 10 Years: CM Pinarayi Vijayan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
Kerala has set an ambitious goal of achieving cent per cent physical literacy in 10 years for which Yoga can contribute significantly, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said today.

The Chief Minister was inaugurating a two-day colloquium on “Yoga in Life Sciences& Beyond—Emerging Possibilities for a New World Order”, organised by Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB) and the International Yoga Research Foundation on RGCB campus here.

The event is organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Ayush, University Centre for Yogic Sciences, Bengaluru, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology, Regional Cancer Centre and World Ayurveda Foundation.

“Kerala has made outstanding progress in the health sector. Still, in the area of social health there are some shortcomings which need to be addressed seriously. We also need to work on a special action plan to tackle lifestyle diseases, besides regularly updating the health data to plug the loop holes,” the Chief Minister said.

A project to set up 1000 Ayush Yoga Clubs across local bodies in the state is on the anvil, for imparting Yoga training to at least 20 individuals in a ward at a time, the Chief Minister said.

Also, a number of schemes involving a total outlay of Rs 18. 65 crore are under way for improving the infrastructure of the Yoga health centres under the Ayush Mission and also as part of the state-level schemes.

“Collective efforts are needed to address the future health challenges, and the propagation of Yoga and facilitating its proper training will strengthen the efforts in that direction,” Vijayan said.

By facilitating Yoga, Kerala can also become a total health tourism destination, attracting visitors seeking wellness solutions, he said.

Yoga envisions harmony of physical and mental health. It is based on this vision that the state government launched several projects to popularise Yoga, the Chief Minister said.

Sri M, the Founder President, The Satsang Foundation, delivered key-note address on “The need for research in Yoga Science”. The Chief Minister also released Sri. M’s book “Yoga Niriswararkum’ (Yoga also for Godless) on the occasion.

RGCB Director Prof. Chandrabhas Narayana welcomed the gathering.

In his key-note address, Sri M said it was important to promote research on Yoga which will help people have a scientific and realistic understanding about it .The events like this colloquium will help bring Yoga to the scientific mainstream, he added.

Dr Chandrabhas Narayana said this event is aimed at giving a proper perspective to the society about the scientific aspects of yoga.

Former Chief Secretary V P Joy, Dr Avinash Pandey, Director, Inter University Centre for Yogic Sciences, Dr Rekha Nair, Director, RCC, Dr Sanjay Behari, Director Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology, Prof S K Ishtiaque Ahmed, Registrar Moulana Azad National Urdu University, Prof Goapalakrishnan K, and A Jayakumar, Member Governing Body, International Yoga Research Foundation, spoke.

Kavita Narayan, FACHE, Technical Advisor MoHW, proposed a vote of thanks.