The inter-ministerial meeting to discuss the celebration of International Day of Yoga (IDY)- 2023 was held at New Delhi today. Several Union Ministers attended the meeting and gave suggestions regarding increasing the outreach, pooling up of resources so as to reflect whole government approach and to put in joint efforts in mission mode to take IDY-2023 to greater heights.

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister of Ayush and Ports, Shipping & Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said that International Day of Yoga has already become an international event and every year Ministry of Ayush, in collaboration with other central ministries and Yoga stakeholder institutions, organizes International Day of Yoga at Global scale with a view to maximizing public involvement and participation.He further emphasized that with the active support of various ministries and the stakeholder organizations, the IDY 2023 is sure to reach every nook and corner of India and to all nations of the world. 

Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Shri Giriraj Singh, Minister of Labour and Employment Shri Bhupendra Yadav, Minister of Tourism, Culture and DoNERShri G. Krishna Reddy, Minister of Law and Justice Shri Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Shri PurshottamRupala, Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Vierndra Kumar, Minister of state for Ministry of Earth Science, Science and Technology Shri Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Ayush & WCD Dr. MunjparaMahendrabhai, Minister of State of Health and Family Welfare Dr. Bharti Panwar, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Krishna Pal Gurjar, Minister of State for DefenceShri Ajay Bhatt, Minister of State for Ministry of Home affairs Shri Ajay Mishra, Minister of State for Ministry of Finance Shri Bhagwat Karad along with senior officials of Ministry of Ayush and other ministries were present in the meeting.

Secretary Ayush Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha and Special Secretary joint secretary, Ayush Smt. Kavita Gargappraised Ministers about the preparation so far and outlined IDY objectives, initiatives, and achievements of various IDY’s. The presentation from Ministry of Ayush also included suggested activities for IDY 2023. Secretary MoEFCC Ms. Leena Nandan, Secretary Sports Ms. Sujata Chaturvedi, Secretary Youth affairs Ms. MeetaRajivlochan, Secretary Rural Development Mr. Shailesh Kumar Singh, Secretary Labour and Employment Ms. Arti Ahuja, Secretary Textile Ms. Rachna Shah along with other senior officials from various ministries were also present. 

Ministry of Ayush has successfully organized various IDY’s since 2015. The key objective behind IDY celebration is branding India Globally as well as creating awareness about physical-mental fitness etc. The IDY resolution of the United Nations General Assembly in December 2014 came at the initiative of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and was passed by unanimous consent, which was a record in itself. Since 2015, the IDY has evolved into a mass movement for health, around the world.

SK