Gandhinagar, March 12 (NationPress) In a significant move, Gujarat’s lawmakers have been called upon to advocate for yoga within their constituencies through a 'One Booth, One Yoga Class' initiative, part of the state government's effort to combat rising obesity rates and foster healthier lifestyles.

This appeal was made during a dedicated yoga dialogue event named 'Ek Kadam Yogmay Vidhansabha Taraf', hosted by the Gujarat State Yoga Board at the newly constructed MLA residences in Gandhinagar, attended by Assembly Speaker Shankar Chaudhary.

The gathering aimed to unite MLAs in brainstorming strategies to enhance yoga activities at the community level.

This initiative is integral to the state’s 'Swasth Gujarat – Medasvita Mukt Gujarat' campaign, which seeks to promote healthier lifestyles and confront the escalating obesity crisis.

Organizers expressed that the goal is to elevate yoga into a widespread movement, championed by elected officials, thereby aligning with the broader vision of 'Viksit Gujarat, Viksit Bharat'.

The campaign is a response to concerns highlighted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio program regarding the increasing prevalence of obesity.

In light of this, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel declared that this year would be recognized as the 'Swasth Gujarat' campaign year during the recent Assembly session.

State officials have stated that a series of events will be held throughout Gujarat to advance this initiative.

The program is being spearheaded by Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, under the guidance of Sports Minister Jayram Gamit, with oversight from Gujarat State Yoga Board chairman Sheeshpal Rajput.

At the event in Gandhinagar, MLAs were urged to broaden yoga practices in their areas to establish what has been termed a 'Yogmay Vidhansabha'.

The plan is to hold at least one yoga class in every polling booth area, promoting greater community engagement.

Officials involved with the initiative emphasized that yoga should be perceived not just as physical exercise, but as a holistic way of life that can tackle lifestyle-related health issues.

They stressed the necessity of integrating yoga practice with a well-balanced diet to combat obesity and associated health complications.

The Gujarat State Yoga Board reported that over 50 lakh individuals in the state have already engaged with yoga through its initiatives.

The current campaign aims to extend this reach to five crore citizens, leveraging the support of MLAs and community-driven efforts.

"This initiative aims to bolster Gujarat’s contribution to the national objective of fostering a healthier populace, contributing to the vision of a developed India," officials noted.