Member of Parliament Subodh Kant Sahay wants the State Government to recruit yoga instructors apart from the recruitment of Physical Education teachers in schools. Since yoga helps in relieving stress, he wants this traditional fitness exercise to be given to the staffs of Secretariat during break hours.
“The Jharkhand Government will be following five-day in a week work culture from January 1 next year. This shortening of working days is because of work stress dealt by the staff. In such scenario, I will request the State Government to provide the staff yoga sessions during the break hours from work. Yoga eases tension,” he said while inaugurating the five day 38th National Yoga Championship on Saturday at Harivansh Tana Bhagat Indoor Stadium.
Sahay is willing to take more initiatives in the field of yoga. He said, “I would request the State Government to recruit yoga instructors apart from physical education teachers in schools. With this recruitment school children will get the scope of balancing their mind and soul. There is a need to have a Yoga director in the sports department as well.”
Sahay who had been a Tourism Minister in the Union Ministry earlier feels yoga as an attraction for the tourist industry.
As many as 713 participants along with 100 officials from 28 States of India including the national and international yoga achievers of different age genres are contesting in this national meet. Events are scheduled from Sunday morning.
Sponsorship on behalf of central and State Government to yoga federations was a concern here. Srijan, a female student of Ranchi, who recently bagged silver medal at the 3rd Asian Yoga Championships in Malaysia, on behalf of India said, “50 per cent sponsorship to a foreign tour is taken care of by our association and the remaining is done by our parents. But, the financial support of state government is always a hope inspite of gaining international appreciation.”
Similar were the words of Haryana’s Neelam Insaan, an international yoga achiever. She said, “Our State was the winner of last year’s national yoga championship. Most of our team mates have bagged medals in Asian yoga meets and World championships. But, central government has done nothing to sponsor us. All is done through our mentor Saint Gurmeet and state government.”
“The State Government did not grant us funds to host this mega-event. With no hope left, we decided to approach corporate people,” said Jharkhand Yoga Association acting secretary Sanjay Jha. Ranchi, for the fourth time is hosting such championship. Previously, it was held in 1988, 2001 and 2008 for 12th, 26th and 32nd national championships respectively. The championship divided into four types of competitions namely national yogasana, artistic yoga, artistic pair yoga and rhythmic competitions from 8 to 35 years old male and females are to be presented.