Mangaluru: Anti Pollution Drive celebrated International Yoga Day on June 21 with Paurakarmikas (civic workers) of Mangaluru City Corporation. Yoga Day was observed with a one hour yoga live demonstration and participatory programme from 7.00 am at Padua High School, in the city.

The programme was organized by Anti Pollution Drive in association with Antony Waste Handling Cell Pvt Ltd and Yoga Kuteera, here.

The yoga session was conducted by Radhakrishna Shetty, a renowned yoga guru belonging to Yoga Kuteera, Kadri, here. MLC capt Ganesh Karnik, mayor Harinath Jogi and officials of Antony Waste Handling Cell Pvt Ltd also participated in the programme.

The event evoked excellent response with as many as 300 Paurakarmikas enthusiastically performing yoga under the directions of the yoga exponent. Radhakrishna Shetty demonstrated some basic easy-to-learn yoga exercises which can be practiced daily by the participants. Laughter therapy session was a highlight of the programme which the participants enjoyed very much.

Addressing the participants, Capt. Karnik said: “Yoga gives mental peace. Since you are doing public work which is stressful, doing yoga everyday will give you relief and promote your health.”

Mayor Sri Harinath Jogi said, “It is not enough to be physically fit, but also you should be mentally strong. Hence you should take time to perform yoga to maintain physical and mental balance.” He further appreciated APD Foundation’s initiative for promoting the health of Paurakarmikas.

“The objective of this programme was to educate our Paurakarmikas to safeguard their health and well being with simple yoga techniques. Paurakarmikas are the people who keep our city clean and expose themselves to hazardous conditions, toxic materials and pollutants. It is for the city to reciprocate their services by ensuring their welfare,” said Abdullah A Rehman, Founder of Anti-Pollution Drive (APD) Foundation.

Coordinators of APD Foundation Arjun Rai, Rakshith Shetty and Madhu Mailankody and Santhosh Nair, the Project Head of Antony Waste Handling Cell Pvt. Ltd. Were present on the occasion.

Anti Pollution Drive (APD), is a registered non-profit organization. It was established on 2nd October 2014, to coincide with ‘Swach Bharath’ Campaign launched by the Prime Minister. APD has a committed team of environmentally aware and conscientious volunteers, attempting to curb the levels of air pollution in our cities, across the country. The group is primarily focusing on air pollution, because it is one of the major causes of death and many life threatening?diseases, affecting vital parts of the human body.