In a sporting move, the Tamil Nadu Government announced on Thursday that Yoga has been made compulsory in all schools in the State. The declaration was made by KA Sengottaiyan, Tamil Nadu Minister for School Education, Sports and Youth Welfare in the legislative Assembly while summing up the debate on the demand for grants by his department.
“It has been decided that all schools in the State would have daily yoga classes for the benefit of students,” said Sengottaiyan. The Minister’s announcement was greeted with thumping of the desk by the treasury bench. The announcement assumed significance because it was made days before the International Yoga Day, which is to be observed on June 21.
Sengottaiyan , while speaking to reporters last week at Chennai had said that introduction of Yoga and traffic rules in school syllabus would be some of the important points he will make during the debate on grants for his department in the legislative Assembly.
The impact of the announcement could be understood from the fact that Ma Foi Pandiarajan, Former Minister for School Education, who belongs to the rival faction of the AIADMK, was the first to welcome and congratulate Sengottaiyan. “The decision to make Yoga compulsory in all schools is a welcome move. This will save the children from stress and strain,” said Pandiarajan before rushing to his daily Yoga class from the legislative Assembly.
Former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had introduced yoga in all schools in the State. A Government Order issued on July 6, 2012 during the tenure of Jayalalithaa as Chief Minister had stated that simple yoga should be practiced in all schools for 15 minutes daily.
With Thursday’s announcement, Yoga becomes a part of the school curriculum all over Tamil Nadu.