Mumbai: After making Surya Namaskar compulsory in schools, Education Minister Vinod Tawde has come up with a proposal to celebrate Yoga Day on 21st of every month. International Yoga Day is celebrated on June 21.
The minister announced the proposal on Thursday in a video conference with officers from Education Department across the State. He directed that yoga should be included in daily routine of school students.
“The United Nations accepted the resolution to celebrate International Yoga Day on June 21. Preparations are on to celebrate this day in all schools, which must keep aside a fixed time on 21st of every month to celebrate Yoga Day,” said Tawde, adding, “On 21st of every month, the schools should teach Yoga to the students for minimum half-an-hour. If there is a holiday on 21st, then this day should be celebrated before or after 21st. We should teach the students the benefits of Yoga, how it helps in personality development and how they can build concentration by practising Yoga.”
The Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation made Surya Namaskar compulsory in civic schools two years ago. That is not been implemented properly.
Ramesh Joshi, teachers’ leader said the BJP government is trying to force their ideology on all. “The government wants to saffronise education both, in the Centre and the states by introducing such proposals,” said Joshi.
Samajwadi Party leader Raees Shaikh asked why the government is forcing such things on students. “The government is eyeing the upcoming elections and so they are introducing such stupid ideas,” Shaikh said.
