Cabinet approves Yoga and Naturotherapy bill

The state Cabinet on Wednesday approved the draft of Maharashtra Yoga and Naturotherapy Bill, 2016. The objective of the bill is to promote yoga and naturotherapy in the state. As per the proposed act, a council for yoga and naturopathy practitioners will be set up in the state, on the lines of medical councils.

State education minister Vinod Tawde said that the bill would be tabled in both the house of the state legislature in the next session.

“The main purpose of this bill is to regulate the education and professional practice of yoga and naturotherapy so that these ancient sciences can be further developed. The proposed council for yoga and naturotherapy will regulate the professionals of these sciences,” he said.

As per the draft bill, the council will be responsible for giving approval to educational institutes in these fields, curricula, registration of institutes, giving recognition to research institutes and guiding the government regarding it, inspecting the approved institutes, giving them accreditation, maintaining records of people working in these fields and preparing a code of conduct for them.

The council will also have the power to take action against employees of institutes. Also, there is a provision for penal action against the institutes and professionals that operate without legal registration with the council.