New Delhi, Aug 16 (PTI) AYUSH Minister Sarbabanda Sonowal on Monday said the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga (MDNIY) has the potential to become the world's best educational institution in the field of yoga.

He was addressing MDNIY students and faculty during his maiden visit to the institute after taking charge as the minister of AYUSH.

Also Read | JKPSC Recruitment 2021: Admit Card For Written Exams on August 25 Released At jkpsc.nic.in; Here Are Steps To Download The Hall Ticket.

"MDNIY can become the number one institute for students all over the world. We need to make global efforts for this. If the US can set up an institute like Harvard, why can't we," Sonowal was quoted as saying in an AYUSH Ministry statement.

He also said that it could open avenues for thousands of students worldwide to visit India for education and research in yoga.

Also Read | Andhra Pradesh Shocker: Woman Kills Minor Daughters, Dies by Suicide in Guntur.

Sonowal emphasised the need for a global approach to fulfil the dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"People are standing at India's doorstep in search of beautiful and healthy bodies. At present, MDNIY has all the work, including yoga education, training, medicine and research. There should be hostel arrangements for the students at the university who come from different parts of the country. Excellent hostel facilities at MDNIY will add value to the institution," he said.

The AYUSH Minister visited all the classes of the institute and interacted with students, the statement said.

He told them that he practises yoga every morning for about 30 minutes, it said.

The MDNIY has so far given yoga training to 18,000 paramilitary soldiers in the last few years, its director, Dr Ishwar V Basavaradi, said.

He added that an attempt has been made to introduce yoga to inmates and prisoners of Tihar Jail.

"Yoga system gives new dimensions to our life. It should be included in your daily routine," he was quoted as saying in the statement.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)