Bathinda: Punjab’s ‘CM Di Yogshalas’ have emerged as a large-scale public yoga initiative, with over 3.23 lakh people participating in sessions across the state, according to information obtained under the RTI Act.The 10,953 yogshalas are being run by 1,443 trained and certified yoga instructors/trainers, with the govt spending Rs 76 crore on the initiative since its inception more than three years ago. The details were revealed in an RTI reply procured by Bathinda-based RTI activist Sanjeev Goyal.The reply from Hoshiarpur-based Guru Ravidas Ayurved University states that the initiative was launched on April 5, 2023, to promote yoga and encourage people to stay fit and away from drugs. The yogshalas across all 23 districts attract participants during morning and evening sessions.Patiala has the highest number of yogshalas at 745, followed by Hoshiarpur (732) and Ludhiana (718). Hoshiarpur also has the highest participation, with 23,682 people, followed by Sangrur (23,152) and Patiala (21,475).The maximum yoga instructors/trainers are 92 each in Sangrur and Ludhiana, followed by 91 each in Hoshiarpur and Patiala, and 89 each in Ferozepur and Gurdaspur.Though the concept of yogshalas was conceived in 2022, it took shape in April 2023. Since then, Rs 76.02 crore has been spent on the initiative, covering infrastructure and operational costs, said Sanjeev Goyal.
