K M Dayashankar
HYDERABAD, JUNE 21, 2024: The 10th International Day of Yoga – Yoga for Self & Society was celebrated at NIEPID (National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities) (Divyangjan), under DEPwD (Dept. of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities) (Divyangjan), Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India at it premises located at Manovikasnagar, Bowenpally, Secunderabad in a grandeur and fervour on Friday.
The countdown event of 10th International Yoga Day was organised by NIEPID on 30th May, 2024 at its campus in order to ensure that the PwDs participate in the main event with complete zeal and enthusiasm. The participants were provided with videos of common yoga protocol so that they can practice the same.
The 10th International Yoga celebrations took off in the morning with the dawn of sun and persons with disabilities coming to the location with full enthusiasm. The NIEPID has made vast arrangements for all the PWDs and also for their escorts to perform the Yogasanas comfortably. Yoga Mats and T-shirts were provided to all the participants. More than 1200 persons with disabilities from about 30 Non-Government Organisations from twin cities of Secunderabad-Hyderabad and also from other parts of Telangana participated and performed Yogasanas.
Major B.V.Ram Kumar, Director (O) of NIEPID speaking on the occasion expressed his heartfelt happiness and thanked all the participants. He said that it is a pride moment to see that persons with disabilities gathering in such a big number, which is probably the biggest this year, to take part in the Yoga event. He said that Yoga not only promotes physical health but also contributes for the mental health in individuals. He also thanked Shri Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary, Department of Persons with Disabilities and other authorities of DEPwD, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India for release of funds for the celebrations. He said that the Yogasanas are demonstrated as per the protocol of AYUSH and photos are uploaded on Bhuvana Portal of ISRO.
The Persons with Disabilities and Maj.B.V.Ramkumar, Dr.Sravan Reddy, Shri G.Srinivasulu, Shri Dashrath Choudhary, Dr.Sunita Pourush, Shri Ummar Khan, Director of Helen Keller Institute and staff of NIEPID performed Yogasanas while Special Education Teacher of NIEPID demonstrated the Asanas.
All the participants were provided with Yoga Mats and T-shirts so that they can continue Yoga at home further too. The programme ended with Vote of thanks by Dr.Yatheendra Kumar, Coordinator of 10th International Yoga Day.
