Odisha to establish three Ayurvedic medical colleges, promote yoga in schools

Reasserting the government’s commitment to promoting holistic healthcare and traditional systems of medicine, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday announced the establishment of three new Ayurvedic medical colleges in Gajapati, Malkangiri and Rayagada districts, besides unveiling measures to strengthen yoga and AYUSH education across the state.

The announcement came as the state observed the International Day of Yoga 2026 with a large-scale celebration at Kalinga Stadium, where thousands of yoga enthusiasts, students and government officials participated in a mass yoga session.

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Addressing the gathering, Majhi described yoga as a harmonious blend of physical fitness, mental well-being and spiritual awakening, asserting that it is not confined to any religion but is a timeless gift from India to humanity.

He said yoga had evolved into a global movement under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, earning worldwide recognition and reinforcing India’s rich cultural heritage.

Referring to this year’s International Yoga Day theme, “Yoga for Healthy Ageing,” the Chief Minister said regular practice of yoga and pranayama offers an effective, affordable and sustainable way to tackle age-related ailments such as hypertension, diabetes, anxiety and loneliness. The health and well-being of senior citizens, he said, constitute a valuable social asset that must be preserved.

Majhi also urged the youth to embrace yoga as part of their daily routine, saying the growing dependence on mobile phones and social media has increased stress and lifestyle-related disorders. Practising yoga for 20 to 30 minutes every day, he said, could significantly improve physical fitness, emotional resilience and mental health.

Announcing a major expansion of the state’s AYUSH infrastructure, the Chief Minister said new Ayurvedic Medical Colleges would be established in Gajapati, Malkangiri and Rayagada districts to improve access to traditional healthcare and medical education.

He further informed that a state-of-the-art Yoga and Naturopathy Institute is under construction over 20 acres at Binjhagiri in Jatni, while the foundation stone for a Central Ayurvedic Medical College has already been laid at Rairangpur. The government is also working towards integrating yoga into school education and public health initiatives to encourage healthier lifestyles from an early age, he added.

Earlier, Majhi joined Prime Minister Modi’s live International Yoga Day address, broadcast from Kolkata, through virtual mode. Following the Prime Minister’s address, he joined ministers, senior bureaucrats, students and yoga practitioners in performing the Common Yoga Protocol at Kalinga Stadium.

Among those present were Higher Education, Sports & Youth Services and Odia Language, Literature & Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond, Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Minister Gokulananda Mallik, Kandhamal MP Sukanta Kumar Panigrahi, Chief Secretary Anu Garg, Development Commissioner D. K. Singh, Sports and Youth Services Commissioner-cum-Secretary Bhupinder Singh Poonia, senior officials, sportspersons and media representatives.