Dispur for yoga but not compulsory in school: CM

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, June 23: With the politics of yoga or no yoga in schools is sweeping the country, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today made his government's stand clear that 'the State Government is for Yoga but not making it compulsory in government schools and other educatiol institutions across the State'.

In a bid to make yoga a more integral part of the physical education programme in Central Government-run schools, the Human Resource Development Ministry on Monday released course material and syllabus for yoga designed by NCERT for classes VI-X, while also introducing yoga as a training module in teacher education programmes. Yoga is already taught as an optiol subject in government-run schools like the Kendriya Vidyalayas and vodaya Vidyalayas under the co-scholastic activity of Physical Education. Sources say the NCERT is soon likely to issue guidelines that would ensure yoga is taught in one out of the three physical education classes that are conducted every week in these schools.

Meanwhile, in a statement issued today, the Assam Chief Minister pointed out that Union Minister for Human Resources Smriti Irani should accord equal priority to Yoga as well as extending fincial assistance to model schools. "More and more model schools are needed, especially in tea and tribal belts, minorities and other backward parts of Assam," he said.

Meanwhile, Irani today made it clear that yoga education would be introduced in all Central Government schools for classes 6 to 10, but not as reported by the media. She said the government has no intention to make yoga compulsory as reported by a section of media.