The Haryana Government has decided to impart yoga in the government schools of the state. For this, 857 Yoga Sahayaks will now be employed at PM SHRI, Model Sanskriti and cluster schools of the State. The decision was taken during a review meeting of Haryana Yoga Aayog chaired by Additional Chief Secretary, AYUSH Department, Sh. Sudhir Rajpal. During the meeting, the Additional Chief Secretary informed that an International Meditation Centre will be set up in the State. He directed officials of Kurukshetra Development Board and Shri Krishna AYUSH University to identify land for this purpose and expedite the process.
He also directed the Panchayat Department to undertake renovation of Yoga Gymnasiums constructed across Haryana and submit a report in this regard within a week. A fund of over Rs 8 crore has been sanctioned for this purpose.
To enhance the yoga proficiency of AYUSH doctors in the State, the government will send them for specialized training at renowned institutions such as the Patanjali Yoga Kendra in Haridwar and the Yoga Training Centre in Patti Kalyana at Panipat. Dr. Jaideep Arya, Chairman, Haryana Yoga Aayog, informed that on May 27, 2025, 25 days before International Yoga Day, a state-level programme will be organized where 2000 AYUSH Yoga Assistants, AYUSH Department officials and representatives of Yoga institutions will participate in Surya Namaskar Abhiyan.
The departments/institutions/players doing the best work under Surya Namaskar Abhiyan-2025 will be honoured in the respective district or state-level programme on the occasion of International Yoga Day on June 21, 2025. Dr. Jaideep Arya also led a delegation of non-official members and met Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini in Chandigarh today.
The meeting also highlighted that 4-day Yoga Shivirs (workshops) have already commenced across all districts of the state, starting 75 days before International Yoga Day. Additionally, plans for the construction of 1,000 new Yoga Gymnasiums in the fiscal year 2025-26 were discussed, with the initial facilities to be operated from schools.
Regarding construction of AYUSH Yoga Centers on the land of Urban Local Bodies at all district levels, the Additional Chief Secretary said this work has already been done in Ambala and Sonipat and the parks under HUDA can be used for setting up such centres.
Regarding proposal to open a Yoga and Naturopathy College, the Additional Chief Secretary asked officials to study the model of Government College of Yoga Education & Health in Sector 23, Chandigarh, and make efforts to find suitable land in Naraingarh or nearby areas for this purpose.
Emphasizing the importance of integrating yoga into the education system, Sh. Rajpal stressed the need for capacity building among physical education teachers in schools. He urged the creation of a model syllabus for yoga, which would be shared with all universities for inclusion in the curriculum.
The meeting also discussed inclusion of Non-Olympic sports like Yoga in Haryana Sports Department's Sports Policy-2015 and providing benefits like gradation, cash prize, scholarship etc. to the players of Yogasana sport equally like other prestigious sports.
Sh. Sanjeev Verma, Director General, AYUSH, Sh. DK Behera, Director, Development and Panchayats, Sh. Jitender Dahiya, Director, Secondary Education, Dr Vandana Disodia, Additional Director, AYUSH, Dr. Roshan Lal, Vice-Chairman, Haryana Yoga Aayog, Dr Rajkumar, Registrar, Dr Sushma Nain, Deputy Director, AYUSH, Dr Dilip Misra, State Administrative Officer, AYUSH and senior officers of various departments were present in the meeting.