HRD Ministry to organize several programmes to popularise Yoga

New Delhi, June 17 (Punjab Post Bureau) – Yoga is a way of living that aims towards ‘a healthy mind in a healthy body’ and to inculcate the benefits of yoga in our everyday life the Ministry of Human Resource Development has taken various initiatives to promote it among the masses specially the students and faculties in all parts of the country on 3^rd International Day of Yoga (21^st June, 2017).

Initiatives taken by Department of School Education and Literacy:

Yoga Olympiad 2017 is the Second Olympiad involving school children from upper-Primary to secondary stages will be organized by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) from 18^th-20^th June, 2017 at NCERT, New Delhi.

The idea behind conducting an Olympiad is that it should feel like an Olympic Sports event or peace run in the field of yoga. The message intended through the yoga Olympiad is to achieve peace, harmony and love in collaboration. The Yoga Olympiad will be organised by NCERT along with the Regional Institute of Education (RIEs) this year. The theme for the Yoga Olympiad is ‘Yoga for Health and Harmony’.

 The objective of the Yoga Olympiad is to understand the yogic practices to apply it in one’s life. It aims to develop a healthy habit and humane values in children. It also intends to develop physical, emotional and mental health through yogic activities.

 NCERT has already initiated the process to conduct the Yoga Olympiad for the year 2017. They have sent the Scheme and General Guidelines for Yoga Olympiad, 2017 to all the States / U.T.s with a request to organize Yoga Olympiad up to State level and send teams for participation in the National Level Yoga Olympiad to be held at New Delhi. In the National level Yoga Olympiad, scheduled to be held in New Delhi from 18^th June to 20^th June 2017, State / U.T. level winning teams of students consisting of four boys and four girls at upper primary stage and four boys and four girls at the secondary stage will participate.

 Besides, this Department has also request all the Education Secretaries of States / U.Ts. to issue necessary instructions to the concerned authorities in their respective States / U.Ts. to facilitate successful conduct of the International Yoga Olympiad Day of Yoga, 2017 by encouraging participation of students / staff in large numbers. Similar instructions have also been issued to all the autonomous organizations under the Deptt. of SE&L.