Yoga, meditation for Rajasthan govt schools

The Rajasthan government is contemplating the introduction of yoga, surya namaskar and meditation in all government schools.

This follows the recommendation of a committee set up by the Education Minister, Vasudev Devnani, to suggest measures to improve the mental and physical well-being of students in the State.

While the government is yet to announce the decision formally, it has agreed, in principle, to introduce yoga, surya namaskar and meditation in schools. A senior official told

The Hindu that even the United Nations had now accepted yoga as a means to better health and announced June 21 as International Yoga Day.

There are 84,661 government schools in Rajasthan with 3.29 lakh teachers and 85.54 lakh students enrolled in classes I – XII.

However, the move has brought sharp criticism from the Rajasthan Teachers Association (Shekhawat) that says it amounts to violation of an individual’s right to freedom of religion as enshrined in the Constitution.

“We do not approach any issue with a closed mind but this is totally against the Constitution,” Prakash Mishra, spokesperson of the association told

The Hindu . “Surya namaskar involves chanting of mantras which we cannot impose on students, particularly those from the minorities. Hinduism also has atheists and those who do not believe in idol worship. What about them?” Mr. Mishra sought to know.