Isha Yoga Foundation to set up farmers’ training centre

Minister for Municipal Administration and Rural Development S.P. Velumani watering a sapling planted on the bunds of Ukkulam lake at Semmedu village near Coimbatore along with founder of the Isha Yoga Foundation Jaggi Vasudev on Sunday.

A farmers’ training centre will be set up at Alandurai by Isha Yoga Foundation, its founder Jaggi Vasudev said here on Sunday.

Speaking at the launch of the sapling planting programme on the bunds of the Ukkulam lake at Semmedu village in Alandurai panchayat, Jaggi Vasudev said the training centre will be established within two years

He said the foundation also plans to encourage home stay in four to five villages in Alandurai panchayat. The aim is to take the rich culture of our country to the rest of the world through foreign tourists. About 50 families will be trained for this purpose, he said.

The foundation is also looking at afforestation drives in the nearby villages with the support of the State Government.

About 1,500 saplings of 20 species will be planted on the bunds of the lake. The tree guards have been provided by the foundation and the villagers will take up maintenance of the saplings. The project is a joint initiative of the State Government, Isha Foundation, Ukkulam Lake Irrigation Area Farmers’ Association and Semmedu villagers.

Minister for Municipal Administration and Rural Development S.P. Velumani, who also took part in the function, said that he had appealed to the Isha Foundation to extend its support for desilting the Siruvani Dam. The government will go in for a massive tree planting programme across the State on February 24 to mark the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.