Speaking
ahead of the second IYD celebrations, he said that his ministry would consider
such a demand and request Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the interest of
promoting a practice with multiple benefits to the masses.
“It
is not needed, nobody has demanded that. Last year, also no such demand came.
But if the demand comes, I will request the Prime Minister to do so.
“Yoga’s
time is early morning. It will go on around 8 am. There is no need of a holiday
but if there is a demand for that, we will request the government,” Naik said
during the National Health Editors’ Conference on the theme – ‘Yoga for
Holistic Health – Recent Researches’ in Delhi.
June
21 this year falls on Tuesday while last year, it fell on a Sunday.
He
also dismissed the controversy related to chanting of Om during the event and
said it has not been made compulsory.
“There
is always some opposition whenever some good work is done. There is no
opposition this year to it. We have not made it compulsory. Without OM, yoga
cannot be complete. We have made those people who are opposing understand this
and it seems they have understood,” he said.
A
fresh controversy had broke out recently over the UGC’s directive asking
universities and colleges to follow Ayush ministry’s yoga protocol that begins
with chanting of ‘Om’ and some Sanskrit sholakas during Yoga Day celebrations
on June 21.
Both
the government and BJP, however had insisted that last year’s protocol has been
maintained and no changes have been made. “There is no compulsion to chant ‘Om’,”
the Ministry had earlier said.
Asked
about the controversy which had erupted over performing of ‘Suryanamaskar
asana, the minister said that this particular ‘asana’ had not been kept last
year and this year, it will not be performed.
“The
Surya namashkar asana, last year also we had not taken it. It’s a complex
exercise. It is difficult to do in 45 minutes and for people who are new to the
exercise.
Therefore
we have not kept this one,” Naik said. Ayush Ministry officials said that yoga
has been added in the physical activity sessions in various schools for class
six to tenth but it has not been made compulsory.
Naik
said that a circular has also been issued by the HRD Minister to all the
schools to include yoga and while many schools have adopted it, for others,
“work is in progress”.
“HRD
minister has sent circular to schools. Work is in progress. All schools have
started adopting,” Naik said.
Asked
about the total budget of the Ministry for this year’s celebrations, Ministry
secretary Ajit Sharan said that every ministry is spending its own money and
Ayush Ministry is not supporting anybody in terms of funds for celebrating
this.
“Although
if all is taken collectively, it may be hundreds of crores. But from the
AYUSH
Ministry side, the sum is around Rs 15 crore,” he said.
Naik
said that most of the modern day health problems are because of faulty
life-style and yoga is an “efficacious” means to overcome these disorders.
Source
: http://www.deccanchronicle.com/
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