Ahead of the International Day of Yoga (IDY) on 21 June, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan today proposed the inclusion of this posture-based physical activity in the school curriculum.
Inaugurating the National Yoga Olympiad – 2022 and quiz competition as the chief guest, he noted that yoga has served humanity in alleviating suffering and building resilience, especially during the post-Covid era.
The minister highlighted that to encourage healthier choices and bring people even closer together, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has suitably chosen this year’s IYD theme as Yoga For Humanity.
He further said that Yoga was India’s gift to the world and it has gained tremendous popularity globally since the UN General Assembly adopted Modi’s proposal to celebrate 21 June as IYD. Yoga was uniting the world in the pursuit of good health and wellness, he added.
Pradhan stressed that the NEP 2020 lays special emphasis on the physical and emotional well-being of both students and teachers. Sports-integrated learning will inculcate sportsman spirit and help students adopt fitness as a lifelong attitude, he added.
He said Yoga was an integral part of health, wellness and physical education. He suggested to the NCERT to include the ancient wisdom of Yoga in the curriculum. He also suggested to the NCERT to conduct yoga olympiads at the school, block, district and state levels. He said Involving school students from every block will further the legacy of yoga and also help in making yoga a lifestyle.