Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jun 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday spotlighted an article written by Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Annapurna Devi, describing how Yoga has evolved into a national movement, empowering women and nurturing children across India.
Sharing the piece on his social media handle, PM Modi urged citizens to read the Op-Ed titled “Yoga as a Mass Campaign to Build a Healthier India”, which outlines the far-reaching impact of Yoga on health, wellness, and empowerment at the grassroots level.
Minister Annapurna Devi emphasized that Yoga is not just an ancient practice but a transformative tool in achieving ‘Viksit Bharat’, particularly by improving the health outcomes of women and children, who make up two-thirds of the population and are more vulnerable to health issues.
“Yoga strengthens physical and mental health across all age groups of women—from hormonal balance and emotional well-being to improved muscular and skeletal function,” she wrote. Highlighting prenatal and postnatal Yoga, she noted its benefits in easing pregnancy discomforts, supporting childbirth, and boosting recovery and lactation after delivery.
The article also explained how her ministry is utilizing over 25 lakh anganwadi workers to spread awareness and integrate Yoga into the daily lives of women and children through schemes like Mission Saksham, Anganwadi Services, and Poshan 2.0.
For children, Annapurna Devi highlighted Yoga as a solution to modern lifestyle problems such as screen addiction, academic stress, and poor sleep, noting improvements in focus, memory, emotional balance, and stress resilience.
The minister also stressed the importance of increasing women’s participation in the workforce, suggesting that better health through Yoga can support India’s economic growth. “Greater female labour force participation could raise manufacturing output by 9% and help India attain developed-nation status by 2047,” she noted.
Ending on an aspirational note, she wrote, “From IT to defence, women are leading in every domain. With Yoga as a foundation, they must continue unlocking their full potential to shape India's future.”