Government to hold 500 Yoga Camps from June 21

Shimla, June 4 (IANS): The union government plans to hold 500 camps across the country from June 21 to study yoga’s good effects on containing lifestyle diseases like diabetes and hypertension, union Health Minister J.P. Nadda said on Thursday.

“Our focus till now has been on communicable diseases. But now, non-communicable diseases are on the rise and scientific research tells us that all these are lifestyle diseases,” the minister told a press conference here.

Nadda said the government had set up Ayush departments as tertiary care units in all hospitals to tackle lifestyle issues. The camps would be organised by Bengaluru-based S. Vyasa Institute along with some other NGOs. The United Nations General Assembly had in December 2014 declared June 21 to be observed as International Yoga Day.