Chandigarh, 21 June (H.S.): Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Sunday

announced a series of major initiatives aimed at integrating yoga into the

state's education system, public institutions, and sports policy during the

state-level celebrations of the 12th International Yoga Day in Panchkula.

Addressing yoga practitioners from

across India and several foreign countries, as well as residents of the state,

the Chief Minister said that yoga has already been introduced in the Class 8

curriculum during the current academic session. He further announced that from

the upcoming academic session, yoga education will be incorporated into the

curriculum for students from Classes 3 to 9.

The initiative, he said, is intended

to promote the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of students and

encourage a healthy lifestyle from an early age.

To ensure effective implementation

of yoga education, the Chief Minister announced that Physical Training

Instructors (PTIs), District Physical Instructors (DPIs), Post Graduate

Teachers (PGTs), and selected Primary Teachers (PRTs) would receive special

training in Yogasana. The training will enable schools across Haryana to

conduct regular yoga sessions and provide quality yoga instruction to students.

In another significant announcement,

Saini said that questions related to yoga would be made mandatory in

recruitment examinations conducted by the Haryana Staff Selection Commission

(HSSC) and the Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC). Necessary amendments to

examination policies will be introduced to implement this decision.

The Chief Minister also announced

the establishment of a state-level institute dedicated to naturopathy and yoga

in Morni. The institute will offer undergraduate courses in yoga and natural

therapy, creating new opportunities for education and research in these fields.

He further stated that yoga would

become a major component of the five Centres of Excellence being established in

universities across the state. These centres will promote yoga education,

training, research, and innovation.

In order to provide greater

institutional recognition to yoga, the Higher Education Department’s sports

departments will be renamed as “Sports and Yoga Departments.” The Chief

Minister also announced that Yogasana would be included as a sports discipline

in Haryana’s sports policy, with suitable amendments to be made in the near

future.

He added that elements of Ayurveda

would also be incorporated into the yoga curriculum and that the government

would soon fill the previously sanctioned vacant posts of AYUSH yoga coaches.

Earlier, Haryana Health and AYUSH

Minister Arti Singh Rao said that yoga has evolved into a mass movement due to

the vision and inspiration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She said yoga today

embodies the spirit of “One Earth, One Family, One Nation and One Future.”

She also launched the ‘Sanjeevani

Yoga’ programme of the AYUSH Department, aimed at promoting elderly care and

health services.

The Chief Minister further announced

that collective singing of the Haryana state anthem would begin during morning

assemblies in all government schools to instill pride, discipline, and national

consciousness among students.

The event witnessed participation

from yoga practitioners representing 16 countries, including Afghanistan,

Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Gambia, Iraq, Lesotho, Madagascar, South Sudan,

Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. Personnel from the ITBP, CRPF, and Haryana

Police also participated in the celebrations, making the occasion a truly international

event.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH