16-day yoga campaign reaches out to 1200 students in 12 districts
Shillong, June 21: Meghalaya Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma on Saturday underscored that yoga transcends religious boundaries and urged citizens to embrace it for holistic health.
“Yoga is not related to any religion. It is for our physical and mental well-being,” Sangma said, speaking at the International Yoga Day celebration in Shillong. He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for inspiring the global community to adopt yoga as a practice for daily life.
Highlighting the mounting toll of stress in modern society, Sangma recalled a personal tragedy to stress the urgency of self-care. “One of my aunts was seriously ill and my uncle, who was caring for her, went through sleepless nights and ignored his own health. Before she passed away, he suffered a stroke and died — all due to stress,” he shared.
“Stress is a silent killer,” he added. “In today’s world, we are compromising our health. That’s why yoga is vital — to restore physical and mental balance.”
The Minister encouraged students and professionals alike to make yoga a regular habit to counter unhealthy lifestyles caused by irregular sleep, poor nutrition, and work-related anxiety.
Saturday’s event also marked the conclusion of a 16-day statewide yoga campaign led by wellness startup IYKA-ARAM. The campaign, titled “Sustainable Yoga for All,” reached more than 1,200 students across 12 districts through school sessions and a state-level yoga trek.
The final session, held in Shillong, was attended by both Minister Sangma and Education Secretary Swapnil Tembe.
Founded by Dr. Emidaka Dkhar, IYKA-ARAM conducted sessions in towns including Tura, Jowai, Nongstoin, and Williamnagar. The initiative was supported by the Ministry of AYUSH, the Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy (CCRYN), the Ministry of Education, and Meghalaya’s Health and Education departments.
Earlier this year, IYKA-ARAM also partnered with the Meghalaya Police to conduct a mental health-focused yoga session, underscoring the expanding reach of the practice beyond traditional settings.
