Lok Sabha Question No. 84 (STARRED), answered on 2022-07-22
Subject: Promotion of Yoga among Women
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: Hemant Tukaram Godse

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYURVEDA, YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (AYUSH)

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 84 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22 ND  JULY, 2022

## PROMOTION OF YOGA AMONG WOMEN

## *84. SHRI HEMANT TUKARAM GODSE:

Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has in place or proposes to formulate any policy/scheme(s)  to  promote  yoga  activity  especially  for  women  considering  the fact that the yoga and yogic principles/practices help in improving overall health, boost  confidence  and  inner  strength  for  women,  especially  housewives  and working women;
- (b) if so, the details of such policy/schemes framed/ being framed for the purpose; and
- (c) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to promote yoga and aspects of yogic practices, which are proved to be supportive/beneficial for women?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF AYURVEDA, YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY(AYUSH)

(SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

- (a) to (  c) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 84* FOR 22 ND  JULY, 2022

(a)  &  (b)  Ministry  of  Ayush,  at  present,  does  not  have  a  policy/  scheme  for promoting  Yoga  activities  especially  for  women.  Also,  no  proposal  is  there  for such a policy/ scheme currently with Ministry of Ayush.

However, Ministry of Ayush promotes Yoga activities in the country through its  two  autonomous  bodies  namely  Morarji  Desai  National  Institute  of  Yoga (MDNIY), New Delhi and Central Council for Research in Yoga & Naturopathy (CCRYN), New Delhi. MDNIY provides various courses for Yoga education and imparts Yoga training through its centres. CCRYN is the apex body for research and development in the Yoga and Naturopathy systems. The details of activities and  programs  of  MDNIY  and  CCRYN  are  available  on  the  websites  i.e. yogamdniy.nic.in and www.ccryn.gov.in respectively.

Various Schemes of Ministry of Ayush under which the promotion of Yoga is also included are given below:

- I. Information Education and Communication (IEC): An Information Education and Communication (IEC) Scheme, has also been devised by the Ministry,  activities  under  which  include  steps  to  reach  out  to  people  to promote  awareness  about  Yoga.  IEC  activities  include  public  events, conferences,  exhibitions,  camps  and  programs  on  TV,  Radio,  Print-Media etc.
- II. AYURSWASTHYA  Yojana:  Ministry  is  implementing  a  Central  Sector Scheme namely AYURSWASTHYA  Yojana. Under the Centre of Excellence  (CoE)  component  of  AYURSWASTHYA  Yojana,  financial assistance is provided to individual Organizations/Institutes for establishing and upgrading their functions & facilities and/or for research & development activities  in  Ayush  including  Yoga  based  on  the  merit  of  the  proposal received from them.
- III. AYURGYAN Yojana: There is a component of Research & Innovation in Ayush under Central Sector Scheme namely AYURGYAN Yojana. Under this component, funds are provided for Research activities in all streams of Ayush including Yoga.
- IV. National  Ayush  Mission  (NAM):  The  Ministry  of  Ayush  is  implementing the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National Ayush Mission (NAM) in the country  for  promotion  and  development  of  the  Ayush  system  including Yoga. Under NAM, financial assistance is being provided to the State/UT Governments  for  different  activities  as  proposed  by  them  in  their  State Annual Action Plans (SAAPs).

(c) Under National Nutrition Mission, MDNIY has prepared four Yoga booklets. These Yoga booklets are as under:

- i. Yoga for Children
- ii. Yoga for Adolescents
- iii. Yoga for Pregnant Woman
- iv. Yoga for Lactating Mother

In  addition,  MDNIY  has  also  published  a  magazine  in  collaboration  with Indian  Menopause  Society  (IMS).  The  magazine  in  detail  covers  Yoga  for  40+ aged women. The magazine is publically available at the website of MDNIY i.e. yogamdniy.nic.in.

Further,  Ministry  of  Ayush  being  the  nodal  Ministry  for  observation  of International Day of Yoga (IDY), organizes various activities and programmes in collaboration with various stake-holders. Women yoga enthusiasts take active parts in all the programmes and activities of observation of IDY every year.

For  promoting  Yoga,  National  Institute  of  Naturopathy  (NIN),  Pune  had undertaken  training  for  ASHA  workers  in  association  with  Pune  Zilla  Parishad during 7th IDY. ASHA workers were trained in Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) so that  they  could  train  other  women  in  the  rural  areas.  During  the  8th  IDY,  NIN encouraged  women  groups  working  in  industrial  areas  of  Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, Pune to participate in Yoga programmes.

For  promoting  Yoga  and  Naturopathy,  NIN  is  conducting  a  one  year  certificate course  called  'Treatment  Assistant  Training  Course'  (TATC)  with  an  annual admission capacity of 80. The course carries components of Yoga in its theory and practical curriculum. Fifty percent of the admission is reserved for women. NIN has successfully completed 29 batches of TATC so far.

Under National Ayush Mission (NAM), Ministry of Ayush is implementing the  operationalization  of  12,500  Ayush  Health  and  Wellness  Centers  (HWCs) through State/UT Governments. At these Ayush HWCs, Yoga will be taught to the public including women  for  general  health  promotion  as  community-based intervention by qualified Yoga Instructors.

Further, Y-break App consists of Asanas, Pranayam and Dhyana launched by the  Ministry  on  1 st September,  2021,  is  a  5-minute  Yoga  protocol,  especially designed  for  working  professionals  which  include  working  women  also  to  destress,  refresh  and  re-focus  at  their  workplace  to  increase  their  productivity. Similarly,  other  digital  assets  such  as  Namaste  Yoga  App,  Yoga  Portal  having Yoga related information is available for all including women.

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