International Yoga Day: Vacations cut short in Rajasthan govt schools

Government schools in Rajasthan opened from Monday with shortened summer vacations to celebrate International Yoga Day. Traditionally, schools in the state reopen in July after the summer vacations. Private schools, as usual, will open in the first week of July.

Education minister Vasudev Devnani decided last week to cut short summer vacations so that teachers can make preparations for the event.

To make the event a success, the minister’s order read, “The entire staff of each school has to ensure that they should make necessary arrangements for Yoga (Day) on June 20. On June 21, you should ensure that students of private schools and people living in the nearby areas should join yoga from 7 am till 8 am.”

However, smarting from the 2015 goof up when he made attendance for teachers compulsory on days which clashed with the Eid holiday, in 2016 the minister didn’t make Yoga Day compulsory for the teachers. However, according to Suresh Sharma, treasurer, Rajasthan Shikshak Sangh, schools will reopen before Yoga Day, and teachers who are not present will be marked absent. So, they are actually obligated to make it to the event.

The Rajasthan Urdu Teachers Association, though, has consented to attend Yoga Day without chanting “om”. Amin Kayamkhani, president of the association, said, “It is our duty to make Yoga Day a successful event, but any attempt to impose religious belief will not be tolerated.”

It is estimated that 2.75 lakh teachers will attend the event. Health minister Rajendra Singh Rathore informed that the state level Yoga programme to be held at SMS stadium, Jaipur will be attended by around 30,000 people including chief minister Vasundhara Raje and union minister Uma Bharti.