Week-long campaign begins in Kanpur ahead of Int'l Yoga Day
2
Kanpur: Emphasising the importance of good health for a fulfilling life, district Magistrate Jitendra Pratap Singh on Sunday inaugurated Yoga Week in the city ahead of the 11th
International Yoga Day
(June 21).
The event, held at Nana Rao Park in Phoolbagh, was jointly organised by the district administration and the Ayush department.
Speaking at the launch, Singh said, "The first happiness is a healthy body. To achieve this, regular yoga practice is essential." He encouraged the residents to make yoga a part of their daily lives for physical fitness and mental peace. The event was formally inaugurated by local MP Ramesh Awasthi, who also participated in the yoga session.
Awasthi highlighted that this year's Yoga Day theme—Yoga for One Earth, One Health—echoes Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for global well-being through ancient Indian practices.
As part of the week-long campaign, yoga sessions will be held at various locations across the district from June 15 to June 21. The aim is to raise public awareness about the benefits of yoga and promote holistic health.
In his address, Awasthi also explained why June 21 is observed as International Yoga Day.
"It marks the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere and holds spiritual significance in many cultures," he said, recalling the Prime Minister's proposal at the United Nations that led to the global recognition of Yoga Day.
District officials, Ayush department staff, and over 200 participants attended the inaugural session. Concluding the event, Singh urged the public to take part in the daily yoga sessions and turn out in large numbers for the main Yoga Day celebration at Green Park Stadium on June 21.
As a symbol of environmental commitment, saplings were exchanged. While the district magistrate presented one to chief guest Ramesh Awasthi, the organisers gifted one to the DM.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
National Doctors' Day celebrated at SITAM
Vizianagaram: As part of National Doctors' Day celebrations, the Andhra Pradesh Library Association, Vizianagaram district branch, in collaboration with SITAM Engineering College, organised a programme at SITAM college. Prominent gynaecologist Dr Sanyasamma emphasised the profound reverence for doctors in Indian culture, where they are regarded as living embodiments of Lord Narayana. She highlighted how doctors often sacrifice their personal lives and endure their own struggles silently while attending to patients with compassion and a smile. Urologist Dr Jada Srikanth said that medicines may heal diseases, but only doctors can heal patients. 'Drawing a powerful comparison, he said that while soldiers protect the nation, it is doctors who protect the human body. Dr Balijepalli Praneeth and Dr Ungarala Kiran, faculty members at MIMS, reiterated the indispensable role doctors play in society. They pointed out that it is only when one falls ill and receives care that the true value of a doctor becomes evident. They stressed that the service rendered by doctors leaves a permanent impression on the minds of patients. As part of the programme, Dr Sashibhooshan Rao, alongside Samudrala Guruprasad, president of the Vizianagaram District Library Association, felicitated doctors for their contributions to the medical field.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
This doctors' day, a look at what Indian healthcare needs
We observed National Doctors' Day on July 1. It's a day when we come together to honour our healers and reflect on the profound role they play in shaping people's health in India. From small clinics providing primary care in rural areas to state-of-the-art super-speciality centres of excellence in metros, Indian doctors have consistently demonstrated their ability to lead with intelligence, skill, and compassion. Having spent a lifetime dedicated to healthcare, I have been privileged to witness the transformation brought about over the decades by medical professionals. Their ability to combine clinical acumen with adaptive innovation, while keeping pace with advances in medical science and technology, has helped raise the standards of care across the country. Today, Indian doctors are recognised globally for their competence and commitment to advancing the science and art of healing. We have come a long way since the days when the approach to healthcare was largely reactive. Today, a growing number of institutions and clinicians are embracing a more proactive, preventive, pro-health approach. This shift is vital. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) now account for a significant share of the nation's disease burden. With NCDs causing around 63 per cent of all fatalities in the country, prevention is an imperative. Early detection, timely intervention, and ongoing monitoring are becoming the new normal. Programmes that combine diagnostics, digital tools, and health risk profiling are helping individuals take charge of their health. This transformation is being driven by Indian doctors who are pioneering new models of care. Minimally invasive AI-enhanced robotic surgeries offering greater precision, personalised and precision medicine for conditions such as cancer, AI-assisted diagnostics, and remote monitoring are becoming integral to modern healthcare. Doctors across the country are embracing such advances without losing sight of the human touch. Technology may guide and enhance skills, but it is the doctor's knowledge and skill that heals. In recent years, we have also seen remarkable improvement in access to quality healthcare. Across India, new hospitals are coming up and public-private partnerships are upgrading district hospitals and smaller centres. Last-mile clinics powered by telemedicine are reaching previously underserved people. Digital health platforms are enhancing patient engagement, overcoming geographical barriers, and facilitating remote monitoring and evaluation. While the brick-and-mortar infrastructure and digital systems do make a difference, it is the doctor inside bringing it all to life. Within the Apollo Group, our dedicated team of doctors has touched over 200 million lives from over 150 countries and continues to touch millions of lives each year. India is the leading source of immigrant doctors in the US. From emergency medicine to preventive health, from cardiology and cancer care to neurosciences, organ transplants and other specialities, and from mother and child care to geriatric services, their contribution is immeasurable. They not only treat disease, but also educate patients' families, mentor young professionals, and lead the charge against NCDs. India is often called the 'diabetes capital', 'cancer capital' and 'chronic heart disease capital'. We must erase this reputation and work to become known as the 'health capital of the world', not only through medical value travel or digital innovation but through our doctors' excellence. We must empower our doctors with continuing medical education and train them to use clinical digital tools. Investments in technology and infrastructure are important, but it's equally vital to value ethics, lifelong learning, and caregivers' well-being. On National Doctors' Day, I extend my deepest gratitude to every doctor who has chosen the path of healing. Let us support our doctors by giving them the space to innovate, the freedom to grow, and the recognition they deserve. In nurturing our doctors, we nurture the health of the nation as we move forward to achieve the vision of a Swasth Viksit Bharat. The writer is founder-chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group
Mint
2 hours ago
- Mint
What's that in your eye? Govt asked to ban mercury-based cosmetics
New Delhi: The Centre is deliberating a crack-down on cosmetic makers using mercury in their formulations after a government committee recommended a ban, according to officials and documents reviewed by Mint. A panel set by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has recommended that the use of mercury in cosmetic formulations be banned, documents showed. The Centre plans to identify cosmetics containing mercury and phase out their sale from the $20-billion Indian cosmetics market and from online platforms this year. Cosmetic manufacturers will have to provide self-declarations about their products being mercury-free. The products will then be put to rigorous laboratory tests for verification, officials said. A sub-committee established by the DCGI discussed banning the import, export, and manufacture of cosmetics containing over 1 part per million (ppm) of mercury, aligning with the global Minamata Convention—an international treaty designed to protect human health and the environment from the harmful effects of mercury and its compounds. Mercury content is limited under Rule 39 (5) of Cosmetics Rules, 2020. In cosmetics intended for use only in the area of eye, the level of mercury should not exceed 70 parts per million (0.007%), calculated as the metal, as a preservative. In other finished cosmetic products, 'unintentional mercury shall not exceed 1 ppm". The committee was chaired by (Prof) Dr S.N. Bhattacharya of RML Hospital's dermatology department, and included experts from pharmacology, toxicology, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), and the environment ministry. Mercury is a toxic element that affects both human health and the environment. Products such as skin-lightening creams, 'anti-aging solutions' for freckles and dark spots and certain makeup items are known to contain mercury. 'Mercury use in the formulation of cosmetics has to be stringently discouraged/stopped," the sub-committee recommended, according to minutes of a meeting reviewed by Mint. 'Keeping mercury stocks alive for even 'safe' proportions maintains its trade, creating multiple points for potential environmental contamination during stocking, manufacturing, procuring, and transportation," said a government official familiar with the matter requesting anonymity. 'Any mishap can lead to mercury exposure in the environment which can be harmful to everyone," the official said. 'So, the logical step is to require manufacturers to self-declare their use of mercury, propose alternative formulations, and give them a strict deadline for phasing out mercury. These companies will also be required to give mandatory certification and random testing by the CDSCO by picking samples from the market," said the official. 'The matter was discussed in the Drugs Consultative Committee meeting held recently. Minimata Convention 2023 discourages the use or cosmetics in household products. In fact, mercury thermometer and BP meters were also covered in Minimata Convention. Mercury presence is hazardous for human being. Mostly eye-preparations like eye shadow etc use some mercury content as perseverative. Currently, Indian regulations allow for a certain permissible limit of mercury in some products. A sub-committee was formed to look into this matter," said a second government official who also did not want to be named. The official also noted a clear trend towards phasing out mercury in the medical devices industry. 'Today, we are seeing digital BP meters and thermometers as mercury-based devices being phased out from the medical industry," the official stated. 'Wherever there is a casual approach in the handling of toxic substances, the risk to environmental and human life is high. There is a need for either comprehensive education on proper toxic substance management or, more effectively, the discouragement of mercury use altogether," the first official said. Ruchi Mittal, R&D Head of Kaya Ltd, a chain of skin and hair clinics, emphasized the severe health consequences of mercury in cosmetics. 'Mercury can be absorbed into the bloodstream, leading to internal health issues, autoimmune conditions and potentially irreversible damage to the nervous, immune, renal and developmental systems. This grave risk is why mercury use in cosmetics is already banned in many countries," said Mittal. Queries sent to the health ministry spokesperson and DCGI remained unanswered till press time. Top cosmetic brands available in India include Lakmé, L'Oréal Paris, Maybelline, Sugar Cosmetics, and Nykaa. 'L'Oréal does not intentionally add mercury to any of its products in India or anywhere in the world. L'Oréal is highly committed to consumer safety. All the products we manufacture, distribute and market are in full compliance with regulations, subjected to rigorous evaluation and follow the highest international standards," said a L'Oréal India spokesperson. The other brands mentioned above did not respond to a request for comment till press time. Dr. Sarita Sanke, dermatologist, Apollo Spectra Hospital, Delhi said that in order to implement this initiative effectively, strategies such as the strict monitoring, awareness campaigns and transparent reporting by both manufacturers and regulators should be adopted. Digital market places should adopt robust surveillance to prevent the sale of non-compliant products. 'Mercury in cosmetics may initially give the illusion of fairer, blemish-free skin, but it comes at the cost of long-term damage, including skin thinning, rashes, discoloration, and even permanent scarring."
