Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government is taking steps for the inclusion of yoga in the school as well as public health programmes, said Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on the occasion of International Day of Yoga (IDY) today.

The Chief Minister said this while participating in the state-level celebration of IDY-2025 at Kalinga Stadium in the capital city here.

“The state government is organizing workshops in schools, colleges and sports centres in Odisha to create awareness on yoga. Steps are being taken to include yoga in school and public health programmes. We are committed to make Odisha a healthy, efficient and self-sufficient state,” said the Chief Minister.

Yoga camps are organised in all the 30 districts of Odisha, including both urban and rural areas, to create awareness on healthy lifestyle. Thousands of people are participating in these camps, Majhi added.

According to the Chief Minister, yoga has been a part of Indian culture and tradition for ages. However, the Union Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi made efforts to popularize yoga at the international level, he said.

“We should not consider yoga as a form of physical exercise. Yoga is a perfect solution for harmony between the mind, body and soul. It is not associated with any particular religion. Yoga has been accepted by people irrespective of their religious belief,” Majhi said.

Around 15,000 people from various walks of life, including ministers, legislators and government officials, participated in the state-level IDY-2025 celebration, organised by the Sports and Youth Services Department, at Kalinga Stadium in the capital city here.