Kollam: A panchayat in Pathanamthitta is set to become the country’s first ‘complete yoga village.’ The CPM-led Kunnamthanam panchayat has ensured the participation of at least one representative from over 7,000 families in the panchayat in yoga practice being conducted in public halls at 40 centres. The initiative started two months ago and over 10,000 people regularly practise it.
The panchayat introduced the system after realising that most of the people sought treatment at places like the primary health centre, ayurveda centre and homoeopathic clinic for lifestyle diseases. “Therefore, we wanted to turn the entire area into a complete yoga village to improve the physical wellness of the people,” Mr K.K. Radhakrishna Kurup, panchayat president, told DC.
The panchayat committee consulted Mr M.G. Dileep, a yoga master and junior superintendent with the agriculture office in Pathanamthitta, for giving training to the people.
It set up organising committees of Kudumbasree, MNREGA workers, local neighbourhood groups and cultural and community organisations for the purpose. The training was officially started in all the 15 wards of the village at 40 centres over two months ago. The panchayat has also given yoga training to some 50 other state workers under the programme. Community organisations and worship places, including churches, have given their halls for the training without considering yoga as part of any religion.
The blood samples of sugar and cholesterol patients in the panchayat were tested prior to the training. After 15 days of practice, the levels had improved. Over 1, 300 students of standard I to XII in the schools in the panchayat were also given preliminary training.
Training sessions are in progress at the panchayat community hall prior to the formal declaration of the panchyat as a complete yoga village, which will be done at the NSS higher secondary school ground on Thursday.
