Cabinet approves Uttarakhand Yoga policy with provisions for subsidies
Yoga policy has been approved to develop Uttarakhand as the global capital of yoga and wellness. In this policy, the state government will grant a subsidy of 50 percent or maximum 20 lakh rupees in hilly areas, 25 percent or maximum 10 lakh rupees in plain areas to develop yoga and meditation centers. Apart from this, more than 13 thousand people will get employment opportunities in the state.
To develop yoga as a social, educational, economic and tourism based model, the cabinet has approved the Uttarakhand Yoga Policy before International Yoga Day. In this policy, investment was encouraged to develop infrastructure for yoga and wellness. In which the state government will give subsidy up to Rs 20 lakh on building yoga and meditation centers. Apart from this, Jageshwar, Mukteshwar, Vyas Valley, Tehri Lake, Koli Dhek Lake will be developed as yoga hubs. By March 2026, a target has been set to provide yoga facilities in all AYUSH Health and Wellness Centers of the state.
Yoga centers will be registered
A provision has been made in the policy to register 100% of yoga centers and institutions. For this, a special online yoga platform will be started. Till now there is no provision for registration of yoga centers operating in the state.
Grant up to 10 lakh will be given on research projects
To promote research in the field of yoga, meditation and naturopathy, a provision has been made in the policy to grant up to 10 lakh to the project. Universities, research institutes, health organizations, Ayurveda institutions and NGOs will be given the benefit of grant for research. For this, a provision of one crore rupees was made in the policy. Apart from this, the government will reimburse Rs 250 per session for the yoga instructor to be placed in the yoga centers to be established in the already running homestays, resorts, hotels, schools, colleges in the state. A yoga instructor will be reimbursed for 20 yoga sessions per month.
A Directorate of Yoga and Naturopathy will be formed
A provision has been made in the policy to establish the Directorate of Yoga and Naturopathy. Which will monitor the operation, regulation, grant distribution and various activities of the policy. The directorate will include a director, joint director, deputy director, yoga expert, registrar and other necessary staff. The work of the directorate will be to ensure the quality of yoga centers, registration and recognition from the Yoga Certification Board, create a rating system for yoga centers as well as establish national and international cooperation through MoUs.
35 crores will be spent on subsidy in five years
The state government will spend 35 crores in five years on the subsidy given in the yoga policy. It has an estimated expenditure of 25 crores for yoga centers, one crore for research, 1.81 crores for teacher certification and 7.5 crores on assistance in conducting yoga sessions in existing institutions. A high-level state committee will be formed to review and monitor the policy. The examination fee will be reimbursed to the yoga instructors who are successful in the certification examination of the Yoga Certification Board. Every year 500 yoga instructors will get the benefit of this. Also, 10 thousand yoga instructors will get employment in hotels and homestays.
With the approval of the Yoga Policy, Uttarakhand will move rapidly towards becoming the global capital of Yoga and Wellness. A provision of grants has been made in the policy to promote investment, research and training.
