Indian Railways to observe ‘Yoga Day’ on June 21

New Delhi: Indian Railways has issued orders to its over 13 lakh employees across the country to turn up at office at 9 a.m. on the International Yoga Day on June 21 and perform Yoga as all railway offices will remain open on forenoon on the day despite being a Sunday.

In a letter to all 16 zonal heads, PSUs and others, R R Prasad, Executive Director (Training & Manpower Planning) Railway Board has said that since it would be the first occasion for the celebration, it has been decided that lndian Railways may celebrate June 21, 2014 as the lnternational Yoga Day in a big way befitting the occasion and to spread awareness.

To observe the day, the railway has ordered that all offices will open on June 21 in the forenoon and officials may be directed to report at 9 a.m. and even there will be prize distribution to best practitioners of yoga.

It has called senior officials to organize Pranayam, Meditation, Yoga demonstrations by engaging, professional Yoga trainers and arranging mass participation by employees at 9am to 10am at all Zonal Headquarters, divisional Headquarters, production units, major workshops, depots and other units including training institutes.

“Arrange for show casing of promotional films on yoga and distribution of educational and communicational material on yoga, including pulling up posters to give wide publicity and coverage for the event,” said the order.

Central government is organising a mega event at Rajpath on the occasion of first International Yoga Day on June 21 where Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with his cabinet colleagues, celebrities and over 40,000 people will participate. The government plans to register the event in the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest number of people performing asanas at a time.

Ministry of Railways have already issued Policy earlier in 2014 regarding participation of Indian Railways personnel in Meditation/Yoga/Spiritual and other related programmes.  As part of the same, Special Casual Leave upto a maximum of nine (09) days inclusive of four (04) days journey time was allowed once in a year for once such programme, which would be granted by the respective Controlling Officers to willing employees and, Special Pass (as per entitlement) would be given once in a year to such Railway employee who has been granted SCL by the Controlling Officer – all subject to the convenience of the Administration.

Railways has now decided to not to limit it to just one day and has asked that it may be followed by a workshop on the usefulness of yoga through Professional Yoga practitioners giving a discourse and demonstration on the usefulness and health and spiritual benefits of yoga.  It has been observed by Railways that those who have been in Yoga practice have higher levels of productivity and hence it has been decided to promote Yoga in official functions, said the Railway Board official.

And to encourage the employees, railways called for Intra-Railway and Infra – Division and Infra -Workshop prizes may be distributed to the best practitioners of yoga.