• Programme to promote healthy living with focus on wellness and preventive health through healthy habits, diet, exercise, and holistic health
• Programme kicked off with a webinar titled ‘Illness to Wellness – The Yoga Way’with discussion on the role of yoga in fighting the COVID-19 health crisis
• Webinar revealed that the Delhi Government has deployed 30 yoga instructors in COVID centres to help the patients; and yoga therapy is being extended to the contact chain like family members, police personnel, medical professionals among others.

MUMBAI, 17^th JULY, 2020 (GPN):The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), one of the apex trade associations of India has started a national health & wellness awareness program called ‘Illness to Wellness’ to promote healthy living and preventive health through holistic measures.

Dr Ishwar V. Basavaraddi, director, Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga, Ministry of Ayush, Government of India -File Photo GPN

Mr Rajiv Chandran, director and office-in-charge, UN Information Centre -File Photo GPN

While sharing his perspective, Mr Rajiv Chandran, director and office-in-charge, UN Information Centre emphatically stated that United Nations embraced the Yoga and 175 out of 193 countries unanimously agreed to celebrate Yoga as an annual International Day. The COVID–19 pandemic has completely transformed the concept of wellness. Now, wellness is not merely an individual’s concern rather a community strategy and is being viewed in a very broader perspective of people’s relationship with planet and the society.”

(Padma Shri) Guruji Dr. H. R. Nagendra, Chancellor, Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana & President, Indian Yoga Association -Photo By GPN

Promoting adoption of correct lifestyle and wellness strategy, (Padma Shri) Guruji Dr. H. R. Nagendra, Chancellor, Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana & President, Indian Yoga Association  said “During the present COVID pandemic situations, Yoga – A Way of Life – can bring wellness for people at large. Coronavirus has the potential to infect and affect the human lives, however our immune system is also very strong as WBC (white blood cells) acts a gigantic robust army to defend from many viruses including corona. Stress weakens our immunity system and thus it becomes a victim of virus (corona) attack. He further stated that although one can cure through medicines, vaccinations and other supplements, the solution to strengthen our immunity is Yoga only.”

Mr Anil Rajput, Chairman, ASSOCHAM CSR Council -File Photo GPN

Sharing his views, Mr Anil Rajput, Chairman, ASSOCHAM CSR Council said, “COVID pandemic has taught human race the hard lesson that medical science may not have readymade answers to emerging health crises. Therefore, we need to go back to the basics by putting focus on preventive measures and healthy living. Illness to Wellness has been timely conceived to bring the spotlight back on aspects we perhaps know at the back of our mind, but many are not able to practice in the rush of a busy life, such as the importance of healthy diet, exercise, hygienic habits, timely preventive practices among others.” ENDS

PROFILE: Mr. Anil Rajput
Head, Corporate Affairs, ITC Ltd.

He serves as Head of Corporate Affairs at ITC Ltd. from 2007 and is a Non-Executive Director on the Board of International Travel House, a Subsidiary of ITC Ltd, engaged in the Travel & Tourism Business, since May 2000.

He is an MBA from FMS, Delhi University and joined ITC Limited in 1976. During the course of the last 41 years, he has held various positions in the ITC Ltd. Starting his career in the finance function, he was seconded to International Travel House Ltd. in 1983 as part of the start-up team. During his tenure with International Travel House Ltd., he assumed the charge of General Manager-Travel at the age of 27 years and laid the strong foundation for its domestic networking across India. Upon completion of his secondment in International Travel House Ltd. in 1989, he was assigned the responsibility in ITC’s Hotels Division as Divisional Project Controller. He was elevated as Vice President – Project, Finance and Development. During his tenure with Hotels Division, he was instrumented with various hotel projects – to name a few, ITC Kakatiya at Hyderabad, ITC Rajputana at Jaipur, ITC Sonar Bangla at Kolkata, ITC Grand Maratha and ITC Grand Central at Mumbai. In the year 2003, he moved to ITC’s Corporate Affairs function as Vice President Corporate Affairs.

Currently he is also holding the following Membership of Academic / Professional Organizations:

1. Non-Official Member, Managing Body of Indian Red Cross Society (Delhi Branch) and Executive Council, St. John Ambulance , Delhi Centre
2. Member on Executive Committee of

PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry
The Associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry of India
Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry
International Chamber of Commerce, India (ICC India)
3. Chairman, FICCI CASCADE (Committee on Anti-Smuggling & Counterfeiting)
4. Co-Chairman, FICCI – IPR Committee (Intellectual Property Rights)
5. Member, FICCI Corporate Law Committee
6. Chairman, ASSOCHAM CSR Committee.
7. Chairman, ASSOCHAM National Council on Advertising, Marketing Brand Promotion and Protection.
8. Secretary, Cuisine India Society
9. Faculty of Management Studies (FMS)
10. Skal International