Baba Ramdev was on Thursday awarded the Knowledge Millennium Award 2007 for his contribution to the field of Ayurveda and making Yoga popular among masses.

"Baba Ramdev is being conferred with the Knowledge Millennium Award 2007 for his extraordinary contribution in the field of Ayurveda and Vedic Yoga," said M L Chugh, chairman, ASSOCHAM Knowledge Millennium council.

Ramdev, while receiving the award, expressed his concern over the standards of health services in the country and said: "Earlier, diabetes was spreading like epidemic and now arthritis has replaced it. It is through yoga that we can overcome these diseases."

"Indian government spends Rs 500,000 crore on health industry annually. We can save up to 50 per cent of this amount through optimisation of lifestyle by practising yoga," Ramdev said.

The award, instituted in 1999 by ASSCOHAM, is conferred on persons for their extraordinary contribution in different fields.