India Inc gives mixed response to Yoga Day, preparation hassles deter many

For many in India Inc, it is business as usual. Many companies are organising any event. But then there are those who would wake up early and perform asanas.

Current Affairs News: Many in India Inc. might not wake up early this year along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to perform asanas on the fourth edition of International Yoga Day. Unlike last few years, when corporate India, startup communities, ecommerce and fintech players went all out by organising yoga meets with professional instructors and giving out free yoga mats and branded sportswear, this time the excitement seems to be pallid even though there are exceptions.

For quite a few, it is business as usual. Many companies are organising any event. “It takes a lot of time to organise an event as one has to rally employees, which is a lot of effort. Not everyone is ready to come early in the morning, plus the weather is quite warm and by the time everyone gathers it would be quite hot. Also bringing in instructors, organising for food and refreshments add to costs. That is why we took a conscious decision not to organise Yoga Day this year,” said a senior human resource development manager at one of the biggest IT companies in the country.

Till last year, a lot of companies used to start preparrations for Yoga Day months in advance. Yoga was even made a part of the corporate internal activities spend of many companies. Some companies spent between Rs 20,000 and Rs 70,000 to bring in celebrity yoga experts for an hour’s session. Some even made participation in the June 21 event mandatory for employees.

"For us, fitness is a daily activity. We have an in-house gym and yoga instructors, among other things. If someone wants to do yoga on that day, they can obviously go to the gym and do it. But we are not doing anything special,” said a senior vice-president of an ecommerce firm.

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